FEATURE: Getting To Know…Too Close For Missiles

We caught up with Newcastle-based pop punk band Too Close For Missiles to find out a little more about them.

So, Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
John: I’m John. I like Pizza and coffee. I play guitar and sing. I also spend a lot of time songwriting!
Andy: I’m Tatters! I like motorcycles and beer, and I play bass.
Chris: I’m Chris, I play guitar and I make the world’s best pizza… if the rumours are to be believed.
Rob: Drums and spreadsheets.

What’s the first record you ever bought?
John: I remember going into HMV with my Dad when I was like 10/11 cause we’d just seen this insane new band on MTV and we both ended up with a copy of All Killer No Filler. To this day I love Sum 41!
Andy: First record I ever bought was One By One by Foo Fighters.
[John adds: No way, we bought that one that day too!]
Chris: First record I ever bought was actually a single on cassette in the 90’s. Deeper underground by Jamiroquai, part of the OST for the, I believe, universally praised Godzilla film.
Rob: I bought 2, bad by MJ and Ixnay on the hombre by offspring.

What’s your guilty pleasure musically?
John: Michael Buble. Legit.
Andy: Any ballad-esque song by Lady GaGa
Chris: I have 2 guilty pleasures musically, Meat Loaf (I doubt is a surprise to most) and Cher (which probably not a lot of people know). So Dead Ringer for Love is like the ultimate guilty pleasure for me.
Rob: Bit specific like, but Christina Grimmies version of wrecking ball.

Favourite Film of all time?
John: Die Hard. Obviously.
Andy: That one with Brad Pitt.. The one about soap! 
Chris: The Terminator, hands down… or Alien.
Rob: Stand By Me or Back To The Future… too close to call.

Your Guilty pleasure film?
John: Pitch Perfect. And I don’t even feel guilty. A Capella is great. Oh and Top Gun..
Andy: Top Gun. 
Chris: Any stupid old horror movie like troll 2, ghoulies, demons 1&2 etc.
Of course Top Gun is another..
Rob: Top Gun…

If you could recommend on TV show to binge watch what would it be?
John: True Detective Season 1. Unbelievable in every way. And Brooklyn 99 to cheer you up after, cause it rocks.
Andy: Altered Carbon.
Chris: Trailer Park Boys.
Rob: Too many man, Californication, Dexter, Rick & Morty 

Your favourite book?
John: I don’t read a lot these days but when I was a teenager I read a lot of Ben Elton. I’d say Popcorn was my favourite. 
Andy: Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion.
Chris: I’m not cultured enough to read.
Rob: A staggering work of heartbreaking genius by David Eggars.

Who or what makes you laugh the most?
John: My cat Stevie. 
Andy: Accurate Impressions of Mark Wahlburg.
Chris: Cats that can’t comprehend their own existence.
Rob: People who can’t reverse park.

Who or what makes you sad?
John: Bad Pizza. And bad coffee.
Andy: Matt Damon
Chris: People who put milk and sugar in the tea first.
Rob: The image conscious modern world that we live in… 

If you had a superpower what would it be?
John: This changes all the time for me, and is obviously something I’ve considered deeply. My favourite comic book characters tend to be the ones who are just badass without powers.. so right know I’d say the ability to control time. Simply so I can get more done! 
Andy: The ability to Teleport. 
Chris: Wizard, imagine the free rum.
Rob: Teleportation/Time Travel obviously 

And finally, you get to play a board game with any 3 famous people from history, who do you choose and what’s the game?
John: Hmm… I’ll go Mouse Trap.. a childhood favourite… With Terry Crewes, Bruce Willis and Chris Ramsey. I feel it would be hilarious. And after it’s over cause Terry smashed the board after rolling his millionth odd number thus never triggering the trap, we all go for beers and pizza!
Andy: Id play Jumanji with Taylor Momsen, Steve Irwin and Beethoven. 
Chris: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Wahlburg and Will Ferrell. No they’re not dead but you cannot deny their films and therefore they themselves are a part of history. The game is drink the beer and the board is coasters.
Rob: Cards Against Humanity with Einstein, Prince and The Queen.

You can listen to Too Close For Missiles’ new single on Spotify here.