Allostene
- Genre
- Alternative, Funk, Grunge, Metal, Instrumental, Progressive, Rock
- Location
- Riverton, Western Australia
Interview with Allostene, 17.03.09
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How did your band meet?
The members of Allostene attended two of the worst neighbouring High Schools, Western Australia has to offer. After an open house party was shut down by Police one night a large number of people proceeded to a nearby Oval to commence drinking and other such antics. The bass player & guitarist approached a dreadlocked boy wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and began talking about all things Rock n Roll. They discovered he had already spent a number of years playing Lead Guitar with a Drummer, so they exchanged numbers and all got together one evening to Jam on some very ugly KISS, Metallica, AC/DC & Silverchair covers. Musically they all clicked exceptionally well so they made it a weekly ritual to practice together. After a short time they would perform at Partys, 17th, 18ths, Large gatherings and any opportunities possible, in front of an audience. After becoming bored with other people's songs, they began writing their own and named themselves Allostene.
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Where did the idea for your band's name come from?
Dale, the bassist, has always had a habit of making up his own words to describe verbs, nouns and adjectives. After a few too many brews one night, he scribbled something on a piece of paper and threw it in front of us. We had no idea what it meant, but damn it looked cool! The word has no existence or definition in any language of the world and we were very excited to give it a meaning, sound and an image. "Allostene. Know what I mean?"
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What music has inspired your band?
We've always been inspired by the Hard Rockin' greats that existed well before our time. Bands that brought something new to the table or took a style to the next level. From bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, David Bowie and Pink Floyd through the later years of Metallica, Primus, Soundgarden and Tool. We've always had a taste for the heavier side of music without comprimising the beauty of melody and rhythm and the importance of lyrics and hooks. We're inspired by bands that 'go against the grain' so to speak, and aren't persuaded to sound like those that are predominantly trendy.
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Use three words to sum up your band?
Glasses Half Empty.
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What venue would you most like to play at?
THE WESTMINSTER! :P We were somehow booked, at last minute, to perform a show at this place in August of last year. We arrived and began setting up our gear in a badly lit, corner of the room, and it wasn't until we all took a step back and looked around the venue that we realised it was a dirty, armpit of a Strip Club and we were performing to an audience of Bikies, Skinheads and terribly-underdressed Sheilas with teeth missing! Before we even started playing there was a savage brawl around the pool table and at least three yobbo's demanded that we play some Sepultura. We all skulled our beers and rocked a 40 minute set that concluded with MC5's "Kick Out The Jams" which was met with a standing ovation and someone yelling out "Hey! These c**** are alright!!" Damien quite narrowly escaped being belted by a 6ft 3 maori chick who didn't like the fact he was pretending to lick the strippers pole when he was strutting the catwalk during our set. But we escaped in one piece with one hell of a tale to tell.
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If you had a choice, who would be your support band?
For that gig above....? ... Sepultura! :P
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Three people dead or alive you would invite to your gig, and why?
1) Bill Hicks - the best comedian that ever lived. To be the opening act for our show and impart some wisdom to the unexpecting audience. 2) Dimebag Darrell - to jump onstage during our song "Wannabe" and shred a 10 minute solo/duet with Damien! 3) 'Cyrus The Virus' - a good friend of ours and a diehard Allostene fan who was killed in a motorbike accident last year. Just so we could party with him, one last time.
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What are you listening to at the moment?
the album: "The Alligator Festival" by Perth band, The Meaning Of. In our opinion the best and most underrated band to ever come out of Perth.
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Where will your band be in five years from now?
Well, it's just gone 6pm so ideally with a good meal in our bellies, a beer in our hands, warming up to go onstage and rock a show somewhere, whether it be in W.A, the Eastern States or somewhere overseas. And being 5 years from now, hopefully our drummer has the ability to grow some facial hair by then.
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Any tips you would like to share with your fellow muso's?
YES!! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COOL ABOUT STRAIGHT-LEG JEANS ON GUYS! End of story.
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Do you live the Rock n Roll lifestyle?
We were never taught the alternative. We were raised that way, and we'll die that way. Allostene now, just fills the third subject in: Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll!