Interview: Ugly Clinic

In April the Scots of Ugly Clinic released their latest single, titled Hot Knife, while they released two other singles, Just So You Know and Pink Speed and Tequila, earlier this year. DutchMetalManiac’s Tim van Velthuysen recently interviewed them.

Hey, how are you?

Hello maniacs, we are Ugly Clinic and it’s a pleasure to meet you. Unfortunately, just like the rest of the world, we’re all locked up indoors right now and we can’t get out to play. Still, at least as musicians we can still pick up a guitar and write songs.

Can you tell us something about the history of Ugly Clinic?

We are a multi-generational band from Aberdeenshire in the North of Scotland, which is quite a remote area, far away from London. Bass player Davie X and rhythm guitarist Pete the Riff already knew one another from playing in a punk rock covers band. Richard (lead guitar), Jed (drums) and Chloe (vocals) were recruited specially for Ugly Clinic because they are great musicians and they have the required rock n’roll attitude!

For people not knowing you (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

We don’t copy anybody, or any specific era or genre. But as a group of individuals, our personal tastes tend towards the punk/metal/classic rock/goth side of music – bands like The Damned, The Jam, Motörhead, AC/DC, Blondie, Pink, Buzzcocks & Hanoi Rocks to name but a few. That’s where our influences mostly come from. With some weird left-field stuff thrown in sometimes for good measure!

When someone doesn’t know you yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

Pink Speed and Tequila. It’s so simple and dumb that when we wrote it we thought that surely it must have been done before by someone else. That’s normally a sign that you’re on to something good.

What makes Ugly Clinic unique?

Anything – and nothing. Nobody knows. If it was easy to do everyone would do it. We’re not an overtly political band, but what’s happening in the wider world affects us all personally in different ways, and that comes out in the songs and lyrics. I think because we are so far away from everywhere else, we aren’t so influenced by whatever the music industry decides to push as the latest trend – we tend to pick our own style and stick with it.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

Our new single Hot Knife is out now, available from all good digital distribution and streaming sites. We will continue to release songs from our first album throughout the rest of the year, and maybe press up some vinyl copies too. We’ve already started making demos for album number 2, and hopefully a whole lot of gigs once we are allowed to venture outside again.

Any upcoming gigs for Ugly Clinic? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We would love to play in The Netherlands. Our guitar player Pete the Riff lived in Haarlem for two years – and he loved it there so much he keeps going back for holidays.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Very boring. Even if we were not musicians, we would still be fans.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Our first rule is never copy. If you want to copy other people, join a covers band. Secondly, you have to give the audience a good show, and that means being well-rehearsed and professional. It doesn’t matter if you only play two chords the whole night – play them well!

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

When all this Coronavirus shit is over, come visit Scotland. Drink whisky. See Ugly Clinic live. You’ll love it.

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