Live4ever had the unique pleasure of getting access to the secret Babyshambles gig at The Proud Galleries in Camden last week. Our Peter Cornish-Barlow now cought up with Babyshambles drummer and Roses Kings Castles mastermind, Adam Ficek for an exclusive interview.
Adam joined Babyshambles in 2005, not long before the recording of ‘Down In Albion’. He replaced previous drummer, Gemma Clarke, who left the band after disagreements with management. Patrick Walden, who at the time was the Babyshambles guitarist, had played with Adam in the band ‘The White Sport’ so Ficek was the natural choice for the band. Before ‘The White Sport’, Adam had also played with ‘Mains Ignition’ and also has two jazz album recordings in his own right.
Constantly a creative force, Adam started his solo project, which goes by the name of ‘Roses Kings Castles’ http://www.roseskingscastles.com/ in 2007, of which he is the sole musician, singer and songwriter for the project. He has promised his fans to have a RKC release out every year. 2008 saw his first single ‘Sparkling Boots’ and also his debut album ‘Roses Kings Castles’ released. Then in 2009 saw the release of his understated, subtly beautiful EP ‘Apple & Engines’. Adam has also said their will be a new RKC album out sometime this year.
Live4ever: Hi there Adam, thanks very much for answering a few questions for us. I am obviously excited about the news of a new Babyshambles album this year. So what stage are the band in at this moment in time in regards to recording?
Adam Ficek: Just knocking about ideas really, there’s loads of ideas that just need sorting through and arranging.
L4E: Does the album have a title & release date yet?
AF: No
L4E: What can we expect from this new album? Any kind of different direction in sound or approach?
AF: I’d like to think it will be very open and perhaps texturally different from shotters, but I only have a quarter say, I’m currently listening to a lot more ‘American based’ guitar stuff at the moment, and harking back to my old old indie early nineties guitar stuff.
L4E: Working with Stephen Street on ‘Shotters Nation’ definitely gave the album a much more complete sound than Down In Albion. Has a decision been made yet as to whether you will be working with him again?
AF: No formal decision, but without Stephen you wouldn’t have had the past two releases. He does an awful lot more than articulate our ideas!
L4E: I hear there may be some tracks written by each of you on the album! Will you have songs featured on there?
AF: Maybe, there’s obviously ‘Pretty Sue’ and some other stuff we’ve been doing. I’m not very pushy when it comes to getting my songs in there, the guys know I have loads so if they feel the need, they’re there.
L4E: I believe there was some tension in the band last year over songwriting credits? I assume all thats been sorted now? So whats the overall mood like in the band at the moment?
AF: That stuff always happens, that’s why I stay out of it. I can just release under ‘Roses’ or ‘Adam Ficek’ , I won’t get any publishing money like the Babyshambles writing but at least it will be out there.
L4E: With Peter releasing his solo album last year, was there any doubt that Babyshambles may not continue at any point?
AF: No he signed a solo deal when we signed the Babyshambles deal so we knew it was going to happen.
L4E: You yourself have a solo project in the shape of Roses Kings Castles. I absolutely loved your last EP ‘Apple & Engines’ and was wondering if there were any plans to release another album?
AF: Yeah it’s all finished and ready to go for Spring, it was actually finished last August but we sat on it until now. The first single is being released in April and its called, ‘One Born Every Minute’. As I promised there will be a release every year for roses.
L4E: Being at the forefront of an exciting music scene, you must see some great new bands. Do you have anyone that you like at the moment that you feel deserve a mention?
AF: Am liking ‘The Cheek’ http://myspace.com/wearethecheek & ‘The Chapels’
L4E: Any albums over the last year that have made a real impression on you?
AF: Not really a fan of the new crop to be honest, it’s all ok, but nothing really blows me away, hopefully this year will be good.
L4E: Finally, do Babyshambles have any plans to tour this year? Has any dates been confirmed?
AF: There will be, nothing confirmed as yet.
So a new Babyshambles album is close to completion and as promised, we will see a new Roses Kings Castles album this year too. Thanks to Adam for the interview and if you want to check out any news or releases for him you can find them here:
http://www.myspace.com/roseskingscastles
http://www.roseskingscastles.com
Peter Cornish-Barlow
