Describe you time with The Wedding Present in 5 words...

awake hungover hungry drunk asleep


Tell us why exactly you left the band

I wanted to be in Sonic Youth/Pixies whilst David and Simon wanted to be in a weak 'Belle and Sebastian', so it got very frustrating. That and a
growing mistrust on a business level, meant I became extremely isolated from the band, it
became a job, I love to play in bands but it has to be a band I love playing in.


In first few months after leaving The Wedding Present what aspects, if any, about being in the group did you miss most?

Touring definitely, being hopelessly drunk 70% of the time, driving 16 hours with a terrific hangover on an absolutely straight road. . . . .

Any regrets? Do you sometimes wish you were still involved?

I regret leaving when I did, because it was an extremely difficult time for me in my personal life, another six months or a year in the band would
have helped me through it, but I still would have left.

Do you have a song, or performance that you consider to be your defining moment in The Wedding Present?

That's a difficult question...

Do you have a favourite Wedding Present record that (a) you played on, and (b) you didn't play on?

(a) Sucker - the first TWP song I had a major part in writing,
(b)  I like the UFO theme tune cover on a b-side to one of the hit parade singles.


The thought of which venue/festival performance sends a shiver down your spine?

Phoenix '94 I think, my first festival, the best I ever played! I wouldn't go as far to say that it sends a shiver down my spine though, I just think I played pretty well. . .  so I'm proud of that one.

Tell us something that not many people know about David Gedge...

I can hear the lawyers as I type . . . . . .
 

Have you been to see The Wedding Present or Cinerama live since leaving the group?

I saw them a few months after I left at some festival, they were rubbish!! the sound was awful.  I asked my friend Keith (former bass player) if they were that bad when I was in the band and he said they were. . . oh well . . .

What is your relationship with David Gedge like now and would you ever consider re-joining The Wedding Present?

Non existent, consider rejoining? If I had the opportunity to go out on tour again with the band I think that would be fun, so I guess 'yes' is the answer there.

What are you doing now (what band are you now active in/what other career do you have)?

Full length album with 'Saucer' - sound like 'Low' kind of, very sweet. Current band 'Beachbuggy' - three album's in the bag, two recorded with Steve
Albini in Chicago, currently working on our fourth album for later this year. Also playing in 'Walker' band with former TWP guitar man Paul Dorrington, should be recording this summer.


Have you got a box full of 'TWP stuff' in the loft? Tell us what's are in it...

Yes lots of stuff, posters, tour itineraries/diaries, test pressings, loads of photos. I try to keep a copy of all the records that I play on but nobody tells me when stuff is re-released etc so I may have some gaps. Also t-shirts, old record contracts, crib notes on how to play some songs!!, rehearsal tapes etc.

 
Darren Belk specific Questions:

What are your best memories of when you used to follow TWP around the country as a fan?

Oh lots of great memories here, I met a lot of really nice people all over the place who let me stay on their floors etc, the first time I slept on the tour
van, the first time the band remembered me from a previous show, my first stage dive!, getting thrown out of the venue for stage diving! (actually thrown!!),  hearing new songs that weren't out yet, seeing some great support bands...and on and on and on. Tthe best thing is meeting like minded people, who are passionate about all kinds of music, I met a lot of people following bands around and a lot more since I've been in bands too, and am fortunate to have made a few lifelong friends along the way.