Interviews: The River Filth

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Rock band The River Filth from Ireland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or just come out like that?

Steve Lawlor: The band’s original name was GFY which is an acronym of Good For You. You know how you feel when you’re driving town or something and another driver passes you in the bus lane and you think to yourself, “good for you, you will be early for work today!”….. but everybody thought it stood for something else for some reason…. Weirdoes

Steve Gunn: It’s from the TV show “Minder”. One of the characters says “he’s probably down with the river filth” in a cockney accent and we all got a kick out of it. I think Gerry came up with it. We tried to think of other names, but we came back to this one in the end.

Luca: When I first joined the band we were thinking call it Satan’s Cock but then we figured we wouldn’t go far with that name although I still think it’s an excellent name. Finally, Al came up with The River Filth which he got from an old TV show. That was it… cool name and we are all pretty happy with it. Actually that very same day after we called ourselves The River Filth we wrote the song The River Filth…. The riffs…. The chorus….we had the band name and the bare bones of the song in half an hour…. So yeah, good day indeed.

Al Browne: (My partner) Francesca actually came up with the name as we were watching it (Minder). When we heard it, she said to me “What about The River Filth?” and I said “Yeah!” 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Steve Lawlor: ‘Coz we don’t like crowds (wink!)

Steve Gunn: It’s the one we all dig the most

Luca: Because this is what we like to play…. We can’t play music we don’t like! 

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

Steve Lawlor: Some Yes, some no. We had long been aware of each other within the Dublin scene but some of us had closer associations than others. Al and I go back to our middle teens when we were on the same bill in a sweaty, Dublin city centre rock n roll dive bar called Breathing the Core, River Filth Interview, 17/02/25 The Underground back in the 80s. We’ve been running into each other in sweaty rock n roll dive bars ever since!

Steve Gunn: I Knew Gerry.

Luca: Al knew Steve Lawlor and Gerry since they were kids…. I met Al and Gerry in the mid 90s….. Gerry and Steve Gunn met each other a long time ago as well 

4. Each band member’s favourite band?

Steve Lawlor: Today it’s Strawberry Switchblade. Tomorrow it might be Napalm Death. Most days it’s Iron Maiden. It depends on whether the demons or the angels are winning out from day to day.

Steve Gunn: The Doors

Luca: Too many bands I love…. If I have to pick one it would be AC/DC…. When I first heard Back in Black in 1980 my life changed…. That was it…..and it still is to this day! 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Steve Lawlor: To be playing with the guys in this band is an inspiration in and of itself. It’s a special chemistry and synergy that just can’t be found that easily. I think we all feel lucky as hell to be in this band together. The right people in the room make the compositions come together pretty easily. For example, the song Riots’ Kiss on the forthcoming album came about when Luca told us of his experience during the recent riots in Dublin. He lives quite close to where it all kicked off and basically narrated his experience to us. I noticed that Gunner was furiously taking notes for lyric ideas.. He would later bring his theatre work’s dramatic insights to the scene with the notion of a kiss taking place during the pandemonium of a riot. Al had brought a killer riff into rehearsals that morning which is the bedrock of the tune. Gerry and I were feeling a bit Rolling Stonesy for the rhythm parts. Later Gerry and I tried to channel the chaos of a riot into the lead guitar parts. It’s such a natural way of working. Nothing contrived. Like explorers who need to see what’s over the next hill, we just want to see what riffs, backbeats, harmonies and arrangements lie undiscovered… Breathing the Core, River Filth Interview, 17/02/25

Steve Gunn: The music we love from the past and the world around us now. 

Luca: Anything and anyone in the 70s rock and roll would be the main inspiration I guess… Basically keeping it real and a no bullshit attitude 

6. Where was your last gig?

A great club in Dublin city centre called The Grand Social with our good friends in Lugosi…. People need to check those guys out too! 

7. Where would you like to act?

Steve Lawlor: Gunner’s the actor! If you mean a venue we’d like to play, I’m going with El Jem amphitheatre in Tunisia. Similar energy to Floyd’s Live in Pompeii but also where The Life of Brian and the OG Star Wars IV movies were shot. We could call it “Not The Messiah’s Filthy War in Space Special”. That would rock pretty damn hard...

Steve Gunn: If that’s for me, maybe Sean Baker’s next flick. If it’s for the Filth, maybe Wembley Stadium.

Luca: This question is only for Steve Gunn… He’s an actor…. The rest of us can only play rock n roll and we are not qualified for anything else whatsoever… 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Steve Lawlor: Having us stand in for Neil Young’s Crazy Horse would be interesting

Steve Gunn: Jesse Plemons, AC/DC

Luca: Yeah, AC/DC or the Rolling Stones would be a dream. 

9. Whom not?

Luca: If they put us on with some rapper or some stupid boy-band I don’t think it’s going to end well…

Steve Gunn: Play with anyone!

Steve Lawlor: Beyonce… I like country music too much! 

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stagefright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Steve Gunn: Nope. Not really. Just remember you’re doing something you love and enjoy it!

Luca: Stage fright? Not us… No way… personally I am fine on stage ….It’s when I’m off stage, then it’s frightening…dealing with people in this mad world is frightening… bottom line is people suck and music doesn’t…. as for tips for the beginners, I guess if they are freaked out, a couple of drinks before the gig usually helps.

Steve Lawlor: I tell myself that nerves are usually a sign that it’s gonna be a good gig. Then I play Stage Fright from The Last Waltz by The Band and let Rick and Robbie pull me out of the fear! 

11. What Bands have inspired you the most?

Steve Gunn: Black Sabbath, AC/DC

Luca: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Thin Lizzy

Steve Lawlor: Bands whose work stands up over time: AC/DC, Maiden, Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Strawberry Switchblade…. 

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

Steve Gunn: An opinion 

Steve Lawlor: C’mon now! I thought this was a family show!

Luca: They better not ask for money!.... you won’t believe how skint we are! 

13. What do you think of your fans?

Steve Lawlor: To me they’re the most important piece of kit on stage. Especially for indoor gigs. When it’s time for that big solo they come on and I’m there with my foot on a wedge, giving it everything, my hair blowing back. It’s just an awesome buzz!

Luca: First of all, I don’t like the word “fans”… I prefer “friends”. I consider everyone that shows up at one of our gigs as a friend and not a fan even if I don’t know them personally… rock and roll gigs are like a tribal thing… everyone is there to enjoy the music and have a good time…. That is a perfect gig to me…. We are all friends… that’s what it’s all about…. That’s what it should be!

Steve Lawlor: Oh dear, I fear I may have misunderstood the question…. Well said, Luca! 

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s fantastic! It’s so important to have a forum like this where new music, interviews, videos can be shared. It serves as a hub for those of us who make and appreciate real rock n roll and have not succumbed to the vacuous rubbish that pervades popular culture. There’s nothing like the hot sweaty reality of the real deal….. as the actress said to the bishop. Loving the compilation feature too. We hope to make it on to one soon! 

15. Something to add?

Steve Gunn: Gravy! 

Steve Lawlor: Add brown sauce to your cheese and onion crisp sandwiches… thank me later…. You’re welcome!