Ned's Atomic Dustbin

by James Bonisteel

Ned's Atomic Dustbin has been through a lot of changes since their birth. "Growth means change, and change requires adaptation" (Matt), a lesson this band has learned only too well since it's last album release 2-1/2 years ago.

Ned's has done a lot since "God Fodder." Ned's was one of headlining band's for the "Alternative Tribute to Freddie Mercury" to raise money for AIDS research.

Their new album "BrainBloodVolume" has also been doing well. The first single "All I Ask of Myself is that I Hold Together" has been putting them back up in the spotlight where they belong.

RAD:: So what part of England do you come from?
Ned's:: Well, in central England, West Midlands area, about eight miles south from Overhampton. We all pretty much live in the same town.
RAD:: Is that where all of you met?
Ned's:: We met at college in a small town a couple of miles from where we lived.
RAD:: Are any of you college graduates?
Ned's:: Well sort of and sort of not. When we formed in 1987, I was 17. So when it came around for me to do my final exams, I was touring and stuff like that. I kind of messed up really. I was one of thlly. I was one of those people with plenty of potential and very few end results. So now I have a very low-grade qualification in Geology and that's it.
RAD:: So I take it you like touring more than going to school.
Ned's:: Well, it's just the case of you only get this sort of opportunity once, so you've got to grab it. I would like to do both, but obviously school work had to suffer.
RAD:: So you have a new album out called "BrainBloodVolume." Where did that name come from?
Ned's:: Well, there's a certain school of theory--a medical theory--that thinks if you increase the volume of blood in the brain that you can increase your awareness in your empathy and your sensitivity. There were some people in the 60's who tried to increase their brain blood volume by drilling a hole into the skull to crack sort of a pressure release.
RAD:: That sounds pretty crazy
Ned's:: I don't know how crazy it is. People are trying to do that to themselves all the time, maybe not like that literally, but that's what people use drugs for and that's why people exercise--basically to release the pressure that's in them. I think it's something that everybody does in their own way; it's just that this is a particularly interesting way to relieve the pressures in your head.
RAD:: From your album "God Fodder" to the new album, do you think you have changed your style of music?
Ned's:: Yes, definitely. That's a part of getting older. The more you experience, the more knowledge you accumulate, the more you get used to playing with other people, the better you get with your instrument, you know?
RAD:: So do you think you're getting better as you go along?
Ned's:: I think we are definitely getting better. I'm pleased to be able to keep moving. I think we've been out of focus. Our sounds are a lot better. I think we're more aware of what we are doing now. We're sort of in the dark, just thrashing around.
RAD:: Actually, I think you did an excellent job on "God Fodder" and "Are You Normal." Didn't you tour with Pop Will Eat Itself once? How was that?
Ned's:: Yeah, we did a few gigs with the Poppies. They are from the same home town as us. We used to play in the same pubs and shit.
RAD:: Out of all the bands you have ever toured with, who has been your favorite?
Ned's:: I don't know. We haven't toured with many bands, really. We've done festivals; we've played with Killing Joke, which was just like amazing, because they are one of my favorite bands. I think that was ace. I was really nervous about going on before Killing Joke because I thought there was no way you can top them.
RAD:: You have been around since 1987, right? Did you have any other names for the band before you chose Ned's Atomic Dustbi Dustbin?
Ned's:: Well, we were going to do a gig at this small pub. It was like our first gig and we did not have a name. We were doing it just for laughs, and we were just having fun. So we needed a name like within a week and just basically pulled it out of a hat. "Yeah, all right." At that time we didn't think we would use it more than once.
RAD:: So did this name come from an old show on the BBC?
Ned's:: Yeah, BBC radio. It was called the "Goon Show."
RAD:: I do want to ask you one last question. If you had a chance to talk to any of your fans out there who were thinking of going into this business, what would you tell them?
Ned's:: Only do this if you are serious about doing it. This is a hard way to make a living, but if you love making music and touring then it is worth it.

The Wonder Stuff firmly established Ned's Atomic Dustbin as "the band most likely to create an in-concert riot." That just means that they are a great band who knows how to have fun with what they do best--PLAY MUSIC!!

ed- it appears that Ned's Atomic Dustbin has been dropped by their record label, Columbia. All the better for them to find a real record company. We wish them luck!