Interviews: Ugly Clinic

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock/Punk band Ugly Clinic, from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

The name comes from a Judge Dredd story in 2000AD comic. It’s the opposite of a beauty parlour, people go there to deliberately get ugly! As we generally despise all forms of bland, manufactured pretty-boy pop music, the name resonated with us.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We’re not sure we have any particular genre. We just think we are a Rock and Roll band. We don’t consider ourselves as revivalists, because we don’t copy anybody, or any specific era or genre. But as a group of individuals, our personal tastes tend towards the Punk/Metal/Classic Rock/Goth side of music. That’s where our influences mostly come from. With some weird left-field stuff thrown in sometimes for good measure!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Pete (rhythm guitar) and Davie (bass) worked together previously in a Punk revival tribute band. We come from Aberdeenshire in the North of Scotland, which is a pretty remote area. There’s only a small number of people with the necessary talent, energy, and ambition available to work with. It took a while to find Jed (drummer), Richard (lead guitar) and Chloe (vocals), but since we started working together, progress has been pretty swift.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Pete – The Damned

Davie – The Jam

Jed - Motorhead

Rich – AC/DC

Chloe - Pink

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Most of our songs start off with one of us coming up with the core of the idea then they will bring it to the rest of the band for development. If it’s a good song and everyone likes it, it moves forward – if it’s not so great, it tends to get put at the back of the queue! We don’t write material by continual jamming or studio experimentation – we play rock n’ roll, not Prog! Anything or anyone can inspire a song, from life’s day-to-day challenges to personal stories about past indiscretions!

6. Where was your last gig?

The Market Bar in Inverness, Scotland

7. Where would you like to perform?

Glastonbury festival

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

The Damned, Slash, Royal Republic

9. Whom not?

Any Boy Band

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I think it’s only normal to feel a bit nervous before any sort of public performance. It’s cool if you can use the extra adrenaline to inspire a better performance. A few beers before a gig can help with the nerves – not too many though, nobody likes to see a drunk blundering around on stage. Unless it’s Ozzy Osbourne of course.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The Clash, Hanoi Rocks, Buzzcocks, AC/DC, Blondie

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

A look up my Kilt!

13. What do you think of your fans?

For anyone who performs in public, it should be all about the fans, not you as an individual. You have to give the audience a good show, and that means being well-rehearsed and professional. It doesn’t matter if you only play two chords the whole night – play them well! We’re just starting out as a band, but we’ll sure take care to remember who it was who were with us right from the start.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a great site – it’s clear that a lot of time and energy and dedication have gone into it. You are obviously true fans of alternative music!

15. Something to add?

Check out the Ugly Clinic Facebook site and tunes to download on Spotify – ‘’Just So You Know’’ (a song about working in a shitty job with shitty people) and ‘’Pink Speed and Tequila’’ (a song about going out on the town for a good time)