Band Interview: Laser Flames On The Great Big News

Games, Brrraaains & a Head-Banging Life are very proud to bring you an interview with John Judkins (Guitars, Vocals) from emotive, hook-laden hard rock band Laser Flames on the Great Big News. You can read our review of their self-titled album (out on June 30th 2017) here.

1. How did you get started as a band?

Stevie and I were in a previous band together called Christine for a few years, and we had just recruited James to join on drums. The band broke up soon after that. We decided to keep moving on under a new name and grab a different bass player.

2. How would you describe your sound?

A moving mix of melody, aggression, thrash and country, with some black metal, doom and sludge thrown in.

3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?

If the band were to make a mixtape of agreeable music, it’d probably consist of Alice in Chains, Neurosis, Queens of the Stone Age, Virus, Big Business, High on Fire, Nirvana, Cat Power, Neil Young, Motorhead and so on.

4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?

We haven’t had any major releases out before the big change of YouTube/Spotify, so I can’t say that there’s a big loss/gain one way or another. But I do know that it’s much easier to connect with random people all over the world because of those items. So, I don’t necessarily feel that they are a bad thing.

5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

I run a record and video game store as my main gig, so that pretty much takes up most of my time. I brew beer and volunteer at kids rock camps when I have any more spare time. James pretty much plays music non-stop and is in several other bands. Brian works on a personal series of comic books in his off-time. Stevie just graduated from art school and spends most of her free time raising her daughter and working on art.

6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?

We hope to get back in the jam room and hash out other ideas once this album has had it’s run. No tours planned, but a few small weekend runs might be in the future.

We’d like to thank Laser Flames on the Great Big News for taking the time to speak with us & Dewar PR for arranging it. You can pick up music from Laser Flames on the Great Big News over on Bandcamp and via Apple Music below. You can find out much more about the band over on Facebook.