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OUT OF THE SHADE

Lead singer and guitarist Callum Birchall sheds some light into The Shades and tells RUSH about Fame, Fortune and why he doesn't like Fried Chicken…

q/ So, apart from the famous “Cocktail Incident” what is THE most outrageous thing you have ever done personally?

a/ “Jesus, I remember this one time, I was out with Sam and Kyle and some bloke took us to this place off Bold Street and well, I hadn't tried Cocaine before…”

q/ A rumor has arisen that The Shades have a new Drummer and are releasing a new album later this month! Any truth?

a/ “I hate to be painfully Cliched but, maybe there is, maybe there isn't - you know I can’t say, I mean it’s safe to say we’re not down and out, not yet.”

q/ People often talk about chemistry and I know it’s a bit soon but how good was your chemistry with Sam Shaw?

a/ My relationship with Sam was as strong as it could get man, I mean, I grew up with the guy you know? We played Football, had laughs, made music together and he was just a great guy you know, a real good, honest guy.

q/ I know you've been struggling recently with your own problems with heroin but your rehab is showing positive results right?

a/ Right, I mean drugs are the best feeling in the world, but I mean, if you don’t learn how to deal with your limits then you risk getting f**ked, and that’s what happened to me: you do the drugs, don’t let them do you – if you think you’ll fall prey to addiction then just stick to Drinking and Eating or Sh*t.

q/ Do you still speak to Kyle and Shaun?

a/ Yeah I still speak to both of ‘em! We still go to our manager Nate’s every Tuesday to play Xbox and stuff, we have a strong friendship and of course I’m in a band with the guys you know, I don’t just, y’know, go and live on my secret Himalayan Mountain Range Villa for Ten years!

q/ How much have you changed in the last Ten Years?

a/ Not much at all, I suppose I monitor my sleeping more, I need more sleep to maintain a productive work rate, either that or getting ruined on Gin and Tonic…

q/ What angers you most about today generation of music and all that it entails?

a/ You know what really angers me? This perverted adaptation of the American dream of music where only “Solo Artists” are getting recognition from shows like “The X Factor”, you know, what happened to saving up for a sh*tty guitar and all your friends getting other sh*tty instruments and all getting together and being sh*tty in someone’s garage or something? Because that’s how all the great bands were formed, what you though The Beatles got famous of Pop Idol? No way!

q/ Did you ever think you would get this big?

a/ No way man, no way, never!

q/ Would you change anything about your musical career?

a/ I would definitely have done a lot more band stuff because you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone, and losing a band member in a car crash is a pretty terrible way to go I mean, it left us scarred for sure and there were many things I wish I’d said and done when he was still around.

q/ On a brighter note to finish, are you excited for the latest Justin Bier album?
a/ Oh f**king Jesus no (Laughter), what a compilation of nightmares, trauma and “Songs” dedicated to mentally deficient 15 year old girls, I’ll pass on that one (Laughter).