Templeton Pek may be just one of the up-and-coming bands to have emerged from Birmingham’s music scene in the past year or so, but they’re one who is making a name for themselves. With a new EP in the works, along with several live dates, Jonathan Robert Muirhead caught up with them as they prepare to make that jump into the mainstream.
Is there the essence of Birmingham in your music?
Maybe it’s influenced us in some ways…but we don’t sing in Brummie accents or anything like that, ha.
Who do you see as peers?
Any bands that are in a similar position…we are a 100% independent band with a strong DIY ethic.
3Who are you looking to overthrow?
The king of the potato people. Erm..No-one really we’re just trying to get out and play to as many people as possible….maybe the all the fake, bandwagon jumping bands.
How did you guys gets started?
Kev and Neal were in the first incarnations of the band for a few years but we started to get more serious when Simon joined. We met him whilst we all worked at the Academy venue in Birmingham over many drunken nights and gigs.
If you were a Birmingham monument, which one would you be and why?
I’d be the big bronze bull outside the bullring…because there’d be no bullshit….because it’s made of bronze.
How have things gone for you thus far?
Everything seems to building slowly but well. We’ve been touring the UK a lot for a few years now and the seeds are starting to bloom…Europe’s starting to take notice too. we’re happy building this way though…I’d be worried if we were a ‘now’ band and just exploded….because inevitably those bands have a short shelf life.
Who gave you your first big break?
I don’t think we’ve had a big break yet ha-ha….we’ve been lucky to get some great slots on line-ups like Taste Of Chaos and Give It A Name, and recently we just toured Europe which was amazing….but when it comes to a big break, you’ll be the first to know when it happens.
Where do you see yourselves a year from now?
Probably doing the touring cycle for album number two…we’re looking to record it towards the end of this year…and hopefully we’ll get out to even more people and countries than on our first album.
Who’s the leader of the gang and why?
We’re more of a democracy than a dictatorship…as there are only 3 of us it’s easier to decide on stuff….no idea how bands with 5 or more do it.
What’s happening next?
Our UK tour starts on April 2nd to coincide our new release, the EP ‘Kill This Sound,’ which has brand new tracks and exclusive stuff not on the album on it.