Hi everyone,

I'm back with your weekly Fused fix to keep you updated and give you a look behind the scenes.

This week I managed to get a bit of an insight into James Allen and Phil Middleton who started Fused. They write the songs, arrange the music, and get up and perform it all around full time jobs and other commitments so I feel quite lucky to be able to get them to answer a few quick questions.

Although they are good mates, they strike me as two different people entirely.

To show you the chalk and cheese-ness of it all, I asked them the "Inside the Actors Studio" questions. These are meant to give you a good insight into how people think and what they believe...

See for yourselves, The Questions are as follows:

What is your favorite word?

What is your least favorite word?

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

What turns you off?

What is your favorite curse word?

What sound or noise do you love?

What sound or noise do you hate?

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

What profession would you not like to do?

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?


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First up is James Allen...


Favourite Word - Love

Least favourite word - hate

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? - The Ocean. Its The purest of creations!

What turns you off? - Alex Barber

What is your favorite curse word? - Bushpig. Although I like the cockney rhyming word Toby at the moment. (Toby Jug = Mug!)

What sound or noise do you love? - The Valley, North Stand, Charlton goal!! Also the words "I love you"

What sound or noise do you hate? - The Valley, Jimmy Seed Stand, Away goal! bad times!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? - Musician, Professional footballer, Actor

What profession would you not like to do? - gay porn star!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? - Id love for him to say "Welcome to heaven mate, i've been keeping your seat warm....."


Next is Phil Middleton...

What is your favorite word? Heather

What is your least favorite word? Gash

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Anyone with the guts to write a song about something real and put it out for the world to hear.

What turns you off? People who can't be arsed

What is your favorite curse word? Shit,says it all without the harshness of fuck

What sound or noise do you love? Noah's laugh

What sound or noise do you hate? Too little bass drum

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Surgeon

What profession would you not like to do? Policeman

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Sorry I had to bring you here but someone has to shut James Allen up


You are the jury...you decide

But I think they are two very different people!

Until next time...see ya later Fused fans

Dave

x

Hi to everyone visiting FUSEDmusic,

My names Dave Smith and I'm now the main man in charge of keeping you updated on all the Fused related goings on in the world.

It's going to be my job to keep at least a weekly blog on what the band are doing and all the progress made in reaching that Holy Grail of independant music makers - getting signed!

I started off this blog with the line "Today it all begins again" because thats how it is! Truely Fused are off and running again after what seemed like an age! I should know as well because I've been to just about every single one of their gigs while I've been living down in London (bout a year and a bit) it was all bouncing at the beginning but then everything kind of slowed down for a while.

Being quite close to the band I can tell you that there were good reasons for the Fused boys to take a bit of a break:

1) There was a reshuffle in the line-up which saw James Allen and Phil Middleton (Fused co/founders) continue to play intimate acoustic venues which took them away from the energy and power of their electrically powered set for which they were establishing themselves.

2) James and Phil also being the song writers of Fused worked on new material to add to an evergrowing line up of established Fused creations such as "My Ship" and "Change the Record"

3) In preparation for Fused returning to live performances a new drummer was recruited in the shape of Steve Fuller, and he is awesome...worth seeing for his hair alone!

4) Last but most certainly not least another member of Fused entered the world! Phil became a daddy! I will keep you updated on this emerging child music prodigy as I get further info :) 


This weeks blog is coming off the back of the latest Fused gig at the Cressy Arms in Dartford. As mentioned earlier I havn't seen Fused in a while so I was expecting some possible rust in the live performance.

I was wrong - it was awesome

Fused played for an hour in the venue with a set featuring all original songs before the cover group Dirtbox were set to perform.

Although the place was crowded with punters Fused kicked the venue into life with an energy that suggested a point to prove. James Allen sounding sharp on vocals, Phil Middleton smooth and accurate on the guitar, and Steve Fuller in the engine room banging away like a madman all mixed into a potent cocktail which went down like a house on fire.

As an outside observer I think its a good sign when ordinary punters want to buy you drinks after the performance!

It is rather astounding I feel that a 3 piece band (in search of a Bass player btw) can produce this kind of sound. A rare sight indeed you may say except for dare I say...Nirvana...and as I recall they did quite well!

If this was a comeback gig then I think this is something quite special. I think you all should come to the next one because today, I think, it all begins again.

See you next time,


Dave  

Hi all

Bet you forgot about us, so i thought i'd update you all.

The site had been pretty neglected due to one thing and another!

We went through aline up change with Mikey and Nick leaving!

We have a great new drummer in the shape of Steve Fuller of Abraxus.

We are still awaiting a bassist

We have still been gigging and writing and just awaiting a bassit before we do a MASSIVE re launch

Hope to see you all there when we explode

Phil

Just to let you know of our new line up!!

Fused as of May 2008 are

Phil Middleton - Guitars

James Allen - Vocals

Nikki Waterton - Bass, Backing Vocals

Mikey Coyne - Drums

Phil - 13.09.2007

Hi, just to let you know we are looking to have a jam with bass and drummer just to see what it all sounds like then hopefully form full band.

If you are interested either message us on myspace or get in touch with me at phillmiddleton@hotmail.com or add me to MSN.

Hope to hear from you.

 

 

James - 08/08/2007

Alrite you lot!!

Sorry about the long wait for any news - we've been proper busy!

Doin' wat I hear you ask!

Well since I last bothered to write, we've done 3 gigs! 1 at the We Anchor in Hope which was class, 1 at an open mic in Greenwich (which was unfortunately cut short! We got a class song out of it tho!), and the last at The Bull and Vic in Dartford! We still have The Lark in the Park in Islington on the 14th of August to look forward to, and we've just been confirmed to play at The Phoenix all day festival thing on the 25th of August! We really can't wait now!

We've also recorded 12 of our songs, and are kind of working on getting them edited etc etc! Very fab and exciting stuff!!

Ordered my Jose Vanders EP the other week - Cant wait to get my hands on it!

Before I depart, I've simply got to honour the people that have been checking the site, and commenting and have got us to nearly 2500 plays which is fucking amazin! Also, thank u all for coming to see us! We love u all, and are truly grateful! Keep up the following, and spread the word!!

Peace and Love

Jim

x x

James - 04/07/2007

Hello again!

Well, we've just been rehearsin, and getting the set finalised! Also, there are a few wicked songs in the wings, so keep checkin back here for em!!

BIG NEWS though - two gigs lined up so far. Firstly, at We Hope In Anchor in Welling on Sunday the 29th July and another one (Which i cant wait for) is at The Lark in the Park, Islington on Tuesday the 14th August! That is gonna be fuckin wicked! Pete and the Libertines played there, so we're gonna be 'avin it!! Do your best to come along, 'cos i reckon its gonna be a top nite!!

Just been readin the comments on the myspace! Thanks very much for takin the time to check us out, and commentin on us! We do read em all, and we are well made up that your likin us! Also, thanks for listenin to the tunes that are up! In the few months the music has been up there, we've had over a thousand plays - YEAH, A THOUSAND!! Thanks a lot gang!! 

Til next time

Peace x