Halesowen unsigned rockers have TREMENDOUS plans for their future

Mark is the frontman for Halesowen and Old Hill rockers TREMENDOUS, talking to us from his home-made office where he handles all things to do with the band. Eloquent and warm, it is hard not to get pulled into his world and listen at length to his views on music, fashion, and the wider scene.

"It's all happening at an alarming rate," he says. "It's been quite fast these past six months."

Few immediately outside of Halesowen really know the TREMENDOUS name - taken from 'a kind of catchphrase' of Mark's favourite comedian the American/Cuban Joey Diaz. But Mark is discussing life further afield.

"We recently made our American TV debut which really came out of nowhere. It was on a cable access channel and that was a very good little victory.

"It's weird. We just seem to get a lot of attention from radio stations and magazines in America. I guess it might be because we're seen as this quintessential British act. It's like that big British invasion of the 60s with the Beatles and the Stones. It's been something every two days or so at times, one thing after another.

"Really we're a small pea in the pod of the world. For something to have happened so early in our career is alarming."

And Mark believes there may be something from this area that makes our bands special.

"I grew up in Blackheath in Birmingham," the frontman, who gives his 'press age' as 21, adds. "There's a massive musical heritage around here. Led Zep, Sabbath, Judas Priest, Duran Duran. There must be something in the water.

"The four of us are just relatively broke lads from the West Midlands. We've done well. We only really finalised our line-up about four weeks ago.

"We signed a sync deal with Asylum, who are the small TV arm of the much bigger Legendary label. That happened six or seven months ago. We could go anywhere, or we may not last six months and could be back on the dole"

But that doesn't make them signed. A sync deal allows the buyer to use TREMENDOUS' material for commercials, movies, video games or TV shows. They've still had to do a lot of the hard work themselves.

"We set up our own record company - Horrendous Records," Mark adds. "There's no big ideas for it, it's just something to focus on. We'll just use it to push our own stuff, even if it's just used for paperwork."

And Mark has always envisaged the band as more than just a musical output. He has always been a fan of the fashion and image that surrounded the rock world of yesteryear. And he has made it into something of a hobby.

"I've always been interested in the style and fashion," he admits. "I've got a self storage lock-up full of stuff, hundreds of items. I've always gravitated towards that early 70s era of [Marc] Bolan, the Stones, Roxy Music. Being a band is both audio and visual, you have to look the part too.

"It's funny, we look like we've made money and are now wearing the clothes in a sloppy way. I've probably spent about £6,000 on clothes in the past three years."

And the TREMENDOUS boys are hoping to grow their name this side of the pond with their new single. Like Dreamers Do was released on June 1 and is their debut release. It is already getting praise, named as 'record of the week' on Wolfman Radio two weeks ago.

It is more than just a song to Mark, carrying a really personal element to it. His former manager and long-time friend Adrian Miller passed away in 2006 of a sudden heart attack. Miller, who previously had been involved with Sabbath and The Babys, was a big fan of the TREMENDOUS sound when Mark was working as a solo artist, so he has dedicated this track to him.

"The song was there when we were working together and he loved it. So it's in memory of him. I served my apprenticeship with him if you like. I learned a lot about the industry and cut my teeth on what it was all about.

"Adrian was very well known, he was one of the last of those larger than life music managers of the old days. He was a proper, bombastic Englishman.

"This is all in memory to him, and when we do the record that will be too. It keeps his spirit alive.

"We're hoping to get some success in the UK on the radio with the new single. We've had some. It's definitely there. But we've had more success in the States. They've just taken more of a shine to us."

Talking about that album, it's something they've already made great strides with.

"The album is recorded," Mark confirms. "We did bits at so many different places it's become a sort of 'Frankenstein' album.

"We did half locally with Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios. He's been at it for 30 or 40 years and is a very gifted producer. He nails that early Bowie and analogue sound we love.

"Some of it was done in London and some of it in Sweden too, including Like Dreamers Do.

"But just because it's done it doesn't need to be released right now. We're very curious to see how this and the next single does first. We'll see what momentum the singles bring and then think about releasing it in September or October."

To hear the TREMENDOUS sound for yourself visit their Soundcloud page at www.soundcloud.com/itsTremendous and for more information on the band and any future gig announcements see www.facebook.com/tremendousmusic