KING KRAKEN
Introduce us to King Kraken?
Adam Healey - lead guitar; Pete Rose - rhythm guitar; Karl Meyer bass guitar; Richard Mears - drums; Mark Donoghue - vocals.
How did you get together?
Myself (Richard) and Pete knew each other from other bands (The Boom Sons and Psycho Kiss) and had been talking for a long time about playing together. Pete knew Karl. We advertised for a singer and a lead guitarist, Mark joined first. We knew he was the one for us from the power in his voice, then Adam came along a week later. We had one jam together and by the end of that jam King Kraken had formed.
How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is heavy rock, we’re an amalgamation of lots of different styles and influences from Black Sabbath to Black Stone Cherry to Messugah, but with our own identity.
What is your earliest musical memory ?
My earliest musical memory would be hearing Little Richard’s music playing on the helicopter from the film Predator. I heard that and it stuck with me to this day.
What was your earliest influence?
That would most likely be Nirvana. I can remember being around 10 years old and still in primary school hearing Smells Like Teen Spirit and learning to play it on drums.
What made you want to pick up an instrument and play?
My best friend learnt how to play guitar at a young age and told me how fun it was to play drums, I had a drum machine to begin with and me and my bestie used to jam like that for a year until I got my first drum kit.
What was the first record you bought?
It was Deftones - My Own Summer single. I felt like a god that I bought that single on the day it came out.
What was the first gig you went to?
Slipknot’s first ever UK tour Cardiff date. I think I was about 13 maybe.
What are the best gigs you’ve been to?
Definitely the smaller venues that you get to see big bands in. I went to see Fear Factory in Bristol at the Anson Rooms which was amazing. Download Festival on the bigger side of things, witnessing Joey Jordison play with Metallica for the night because Lars Ulrich was ill was definitely something to remember.
What is the best gig you’ve played?
The Metal to the Masses finals was an unbelievable show. Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff was packed. We didn’t win, but having the chance to play a full room at this early stage of the band was unreal.
Who is your dream artist to work with?
Black Sabbath would be an absolutely wild dream, but if we had a chance to work with any of our influences that would be unreal
What’s for the future?
A ton of gigs, including Hard Rock Hell’s Highway to Hell finals is coming up which we’re very excited about.
Where can we find out more about you?
Www.facebook.com/kingkrakenuk
■■ If you have a gig coming up or are releasing material and would like to be featured in this column, email Dave Owens at david.owens@ mediawales.co.uk, call 029 2024 3628 or tweet @asoundreaction