Posted on January 19, 2010 - by Editor

Thinking Back And Looking Forward: Mike TV

All words by Emma Stone. Photo by Imelda Michalczyk.

Mike TV represented by Jhon Cosgrove AKA Pickled Jhon

Emma: You’ve recently put a new E.P up online which is free to download, or contributions.  Have you found that more people choose not to pay?

Mike TV: Hello we sure have! It’s an E.P called “Stopgap’ and has four new songs we have recorded with Peter Miles. It’s an interesting way to release something as you don’t have the initial outlay for the CDs and you can watch online how many people have downloaded it. I reckon that one in six people are paying for it, even if it’s only a nominal amount. At least I don’t have to queue in the Post Office to post CDs with the rest of our impatient nation.

Emma: Since changing your name to Mike TV, have you seen any changes in your fan base, or has the transition been pretty seamless?

Mike TV: I think people found it weird when we changed our name from Pickled Dick as they thought we were now a totally different band. We are the same band; we just changed our name and released a new CD. I guess the nation just loves dick more than we thought.

Emma: You’ve had a couple of line up additions and changes recently.  Is everyone all settled in and final now?

Mike TV: We have a fairly new drummer who’s called Glyn Mellor. He fits the band dynamic well as he doesn’t mind us talking shit for hours at gigs instead of playing our terrible music. We won’t be getting any new members except maybe a topless lady keyboard player like The Dandy Warhols.

Emma: Pop-punk as a genre seems to have seen better days. Has this affected you at all?

Mike TV: A little. I now have to wipe my arse with a five pound note instead of the more padded and luxurious ten pound note. We have never been ‘cool’ and we don’t really ever intend to be either.

Emma: Any plans to jump on the current bandwagon and opt for a heavier style?

Mike TV: We were thinking about incorporating those beautiful beatdown breakdown bullshit things and adding pinched harmonics then we realised we weren’t utter cunts. That whole scene is horrible and leaves a shitty taste in the mouth. They forgot to write the songs! Silly bands.

Emma:  Your merchandise/tshirts always seem a tad risqué!  Are you ever worried about offending anyone?

Mike TV: What a stupid question, please fuck off.

Emma: What’s your most memorable gig of 2009?

Mike TV: Playing at Midi Festival in China to over 10,000 music loving Chinese people. A very weird but fantastic day. Never thought I’d look round and see Domb’s hideous head on one of those massive screens.

Emma:  When can we hope to hear any more new recordings/material from you?

Mike TV: We will hopefully writing and recording a new album for 2010. It should be out towards the end of the year.

Emma: Do you have any tours lined up for early 2010?

Mike TV: Not really. Gonna be doing stuff again in April as we all have personal boring, life things to sort out early this year. I’m opening Petersfield’s first gay bar, Domb is doing his football referees badges, Rich is going to the south of France to become a wine taster and Glyn is training to be one of those ultimate cage fighters.

Emma: Any weird and wonderful New Year’s resolutions?

Mike TV: To stop lying in question 9 of interviews, to exercise the power of moderation and to make sure we release a new album.  You can download our latest and finest E.P from www.miketvmusic.bandcamp.com GO! Cheers.