TOURING with the once wild man of rock and roll is perhaps not what it once was but it’s been a great experience for Barnsley band The Sherlocks.
The four piece, all from Bolton-upon-Dearne, have just completed a European tour alongside former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.
It completes a long association between the band and the star who also used them as models for his Pretty Green clothing label.
Sherlocks’ drummer Brandon Crook, 25, believes Liam has mellowed but is proud of their links with him.
He told the Chronicle: “Liam’s a good bloke and he came out of his way to speak to us.
“We have played with some pretty big bands but I would say that Liam has been the best with us.
“He is absolutely sound and he has definitely calmed down a lot. He is a national treasure so the security around him is pretty high but he made a real effort to come and talk to us.
“He said that he liked one of our songs because the drums at the start sounded like Keith Moon.
“Liam has stopped bands from playing in his clothes shops because they don’t have the right look but he seems to like us. I think it’s because we’re northern lads and we’ve worked hard.”
The Sherlocks, who released their debut album ‘Live For The Moment’ to critical acclaim last year, are as much in vogue as their icon Liam at the moment and have a hectic schedule coming up.
They have a 16-date North American tour ahead of them in April and May before playing at a host of festivals back in the UK including Tramlines in Sheffield and the growing Y Not in Matlock.
And appearances at BBC’s Maida Vale studio and filming for Match Of The Day have also been shoehorned in this week.
“The year has been insane so far,” added Brandon.
“I haven’t had time to count how many countries we’ve been to so far. We started the year off in Japan and have just been around Europe before we go to America and Canada. You lose track a little bit.”
For all their jet-setting, the band, which consists of Brandon’s brother Kiaran (vocals) and brothers Andy Davidson (bass) and Josh Davidson (guitar), still rehearse at the Ex-Serviceman’s club in Bolton and were back there to practise a cover of Liam Payne and Rita Ora’s ‘For You’ on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio One show on Tuesday.
While cramming dates in, the band will also work on their second album.
Brandon added: “We have got about 25 songs which we need to whittle down to between ten or 12. We want to get the second album in the bag and then go out on tour again. It’s pretty non-stop but we are having a great time.”
