THE FLICKERS
Although their ways and means don’t always run a lawful course, it’s fair to say that, Blim and Clint Flicker have an idealistic streak of optimism, making us believe that justice will endure. They are resourceful kids, possibly even prodigies. It started in 1994 when Clint was joined by his cousin, Blim, in a garage band in splinkblicket Towpath, just off the canal by North Wharf Road (now demolished).
Another member of the band. Beatnik Webb had acquired a wooden shed which nobody used. He was two years older than Clint and three years older than Blim, and was a genius with sounds. His dad worked for a Radio station and got a DJ to do a rap as part of a series of radio inserts he was making. Well, Blim and Clint supplied the music and songs,then Beatnik spent a couple of weeks sneaking in and out of the radio studio,when it was on automatic during the night, building up tracks until he had enough for an album. It was released in 1997 and was called ‘Sublime and Ridiculous’. Blims dad ‘Glitzy’ played sax on a few tracks, they cut 100 copies and had to give them all away.
Shortly after, Beatnik’s dad got sacked by the Radio station and Beatnik sadly lost his mind when his shed subsided into the canal during a heavy metal recording session, he’s never been the same since. Blim is accident prone, his mum was a beauty queen (Eali de Cologne) and lived in L.A. where he was born. Some say the first words to pass Mrs Flicker’s lips were “Blimming Heck!” So he’s been known as ‘Blim’ ever since. The name stuck but Eali de Cologne didn’t and she hasn’t been heard of since a Christmas party incident in 1992.
Blim’s dad then took him touring, finally leaving him with his uncle (Gilbert) and aunt (Beanie) who also had a son, ‘Clint’. At the tender age of four years old Blim joined his cousin Clint’s garage band and the rest is history. Clint is a year older than his cousin, people always think they’re brothers when they’re on the street. He got his first guitar when he was three and is still learning how to play it. Blim was too shy to sing in the early days so Clint did most of the singing but the older cousin does claim to have a talent on the piano, when he feels like it. (He’s finally managed to master the first song on the first page of his grade 1 book).
The Flickers made there first album (The Final Line) whilst in rehab in there early teens and other than a few minor accidents, they’ve been on the straight and narrow since 2005. ‘The Hawk’ came next in 2007, made up from recordings made when they were evicted from there squat and needed a warm studio for the night. (Just as well the owners never found out).
‘Tregorya’ is their third album and will be released through Matchbox Recordings via Universal Music operations on 7 December 2009. . They spent about two years making it and think it’s their best so far. Luckily being in the studio doesn’t affect their ASBO’s, although they are restricted in their movements, so it’s difficult to organise venues for gigs.
THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
1. Who or what are your influences ?
Everything we've ever heard
2. What modern artists do you like?
The Gorillaz, Travis, Pink
3. If you could choose to record a song with any other artist/band alive or dead who would it be and why?
Blim would choose John Lennon
Clint would choose Nick Drake
4. Name your all time fave track by another artist ?
Blim chooses Strawberry Fields by the Beatles
Clint chooses Nature Boy by Nat King Cole
5. What sort of sound can we expect from your forthcoming CD ?
Pop, Indie, varied, mostly UP
6. What are your ambitions for your music. Where do you see yourself in 5 years ?
Regularly getting airplay
7. How would you describe your music and what genre do you think it fits into ?
pop/Indie
8. Where is your forthcoming CD being recorded and who is producing ?
Recorded at Splinkblicket studios and produced by Spuff Flicker.
9. In the U.K music and food has combined with celebrity rock and pop stars
now appearing and cooking on TV food shows.
Mum's egg and chips
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