RED LORRY YELLOWLORRY Formed in the shadowed streets of Leeds in 1981,Red LorryYellowLorry carved their name into the annals of Post-Punk with a sound that was raw, relentless, and haunting. Led by Chris Reed’s cavernous vocals and the angular, droning guitars of Dave ‘Wolfie’ Wolfenden, their music pulsed with a dark energy—a hypnotic collision of Punk, Post-Punk, and Industrial, leaving an indelible mark on the underground scene. Their albums 'Talk About the Weather' (1985), 'Paint Your Wagon' (1986), and 'Blow' (1989) became anthems for those who craved something sharper, something darker. Singles like ‘Monkeys on Juice’ and ‘Spinning Round’ burned bright on the indie charts, while their uncompromising, grinding sound echoed in the hearts of fans from NewYork to Berlin. “Oh who gave us this today. Will see tomorrow fade away.“ Wolfie’s guitar work, draped in shadow and distortion, remains a cornerstone of the band's legacy—one that transcends time and genre, leaving an influence that lingers in the depths of Alternative Rock. Now, as Red Lorry Yellow Lorry return with their longawaited new album ‘Strange Kind Of Paradise’, we catch up with Dave ‘Wolfie’ Wolfenden. In this conversation, we’ll explore the band's journey—from their early days shaping an unforgettable sound to the present, as they continue to push the boundaries of their craft. Diving into the making of the album, the evolution of their music, and the enduring impact of the Lorries’ dark, hypnotic riffs. www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be - 24 - Hello Wolfie, on behalf of Peek-A-Boo, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. It's a real pleasure to have the chance to dive into your journey and the new album. It was 1982 when you joined Red Lorry Yellow Lorry—a different musical era. It must have been a magical moment, joining a band that was beginning to define its own unique sound. Looking back, what stands out for you most from those early days? What was it like becoming part of something that was starting to make such an impact? It’s always good to meet like minded individuals, particularly ones that you felt could work together in a band. That’s always inspiring. They walked it like they talked to it. I recognise that straight away theywere very serious about forging ahead and trying to make no one else seemed to be doing at the time. There was a lot of common ground … energy, attention to detail and playing gigs as if our lives depended on it. 1985’s ‘Talk About the Weather’ marked the debut album of Red LorryYellow Lorry. Given your key role in bringing it to life, what was the creative alchemy in its making like? It was a collaborative process. All the songs were worked out in a lot of detail as back in the day about 75% of the time was spent working on drum samples and getting into triggering time! So all the guitar parts were already worked out. The first album for a lot of bands is the easiest. You’ve been playing the songs for awhile live so you know how they go. We were just trying to capture the power an atmosphere on tape. There were no computers back then. As a guitarist, what first sparked your interest in playing the guitar? Were there any particular bands or guitarists that inspired you early on, or perhaps even shaped your approach to the instrument? Two of the first singles I bought as a child were ‘You Really Got Me’ and ‘Spirit In The Sky’.They both sounded dangerous. I didn’t know why as a kid later on I learned that this was the sound of fuzz. In my teen years, I liked rock stuff. Two bands that stood out for me were The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Groundhogs. I guess The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in some ways were the progenitors of Punk which I came to love. Tony McPhee was the guitarist in The Groundhogs. The way
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