New TIGERTAILZ Bassist Speaks

Über Röck has conducted an interview with new TIGERTAILZ bassist Sarah Firebrand. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Über Röck: Let's start with the basics… You're in TIGERTAILZ. How does that feel?!?

Sarah: Pretty damn special! It's still rather new and surreal at the moment and I don't think it will properly hit me until I walk out onstage with the guys to play a show, but so far, it feels great! I'm very excited about being a member of TIGERTAILZ and looking forward to a very mad 2010.

Über Röck: Tell us how your recruitment to the TAILZ actually happened — what was the process of you getting asked and then accepting their offer?

Sarah: I recently discovered that I have the fabulous Matt Blakout to thank for recommending me to Jay and Kim. Their manager Mikey contacted me and I was invited down to Cardiff to play with the band. I learnt the "Bezerk" album and we played it through. I thought it all went well, but at the end Kim left and Matt wasn't far behind and I was left slightly bemused and wondering if I was in the band or not ... it turns out Matt had a gig to rush off to and Kim just mysteriously vanishes every so often. Jay told me later I was in the band. When I shared my thoughts with Matt recently, he said the same thing happened with him at his audition — he said to Pepsi Tate, "Do you want my number then?" to which he replied "Nah, it's OK..."

Über Röck: You have some pretty big shoes to fill, with Pepsi Tate being legendary not only for his role in TIGERTAILZ but also as a poster boy for a whole U.K. music scene. How do you feel about this?

Sarah: Well, to be honest, it's rather daunting. The day I met the guys to play through the songs, I was very nervous — not only because I didn't want to make any mistakes, but also because I still don't really know what the fans will make of me. You only need to look online to see the number of fan sites and tributes dedicated to his memory. There's no way I can ever have the presence and the persona that Pepsi Tate had, but I can do my best to show everyone me — Sarah Firebrand as the new bass player in TIGERTAILZ. He wanted TIGERTAILZ to continue as a band, and I am here to help the guys make him proud. I won't be trying to fill his shoes, but hope that people will accept me in my own.

Über Röck: Since Pepsi's sad passing the band have continued with a temporary bass player but would I be right in saying that your recruitment is a permanent one?

Sarah: Well, providing I don't make a monumental cock-up, yes, I believe so! Since the tragic passing of Pepsi Tate, TIGERTAILZ have been lucky to have the extremely talented Nailz on bass guitar, but to the best of my knowledge there was never any intention on the band's part or his part for him to be a full-time member. He helped them out at a difficult time. Nailz is a great musician and was happy to hand over duties to someone like me. Come to think of it, Nailz was very highly regarded by the fans too, so I've really got my work cut out here, haven't I?!

Read the entire interview at Über Röck.