Back in mid February, just a few days before Pete Shoulder and Luke Morley – otherwise known as The Union – were about to hit the road in support of their third album ‘The World Is Yours’, I caught up with the duo to chat about the band’s aspiration for their latest release and what fans could expect from the tour.

 

Unfortunately due to frontman Pete contracting a severe dose of man flu that meant he was unable to unleash his normally impeccable vocal chords, the tour ultimately had to be postponed after just seven nights.

 

However being the good sports that they are, tonight the band kickstart the rescheduled second leg of those dates bang smack near URHQ at Newport’s Steelhouse venue, so with that in mind we thought “what better time than today to finally run this beast of an interview?”

 

So here it is……

 

Okay guys thank you for taking the time to talk with Uber Rock – ‘The World Is Yours’ has just hit the records store (what’s left of them) racks, what should fans who might not have heard the record expect from the third album from The Union?

 

Pete Shoulder: Hopefully we’re getting better at what we do. I think it’s quite an interesting album musically, lyrically and sonically. We’ve taken a few more chances this time around.

 

Luke Morley: A more confident album. I think we become less encumbered by our history the further we go and our own style is now developing nicely.

 

I must say it sounds like the most rounded sounding to date or the most “Union” sounding (if that makes sense). How do you feel you’ve developed as a group since your ‘self-titled’ debut?

 

PS: Our approach to writing the songs hasn’t really changed that much. Our only rule is still to just write what we want and if we like it, it goes on the record. The fact that we’ve done a lot of touring with a steady rhythm section has definitely given the album more of a “band” feel.

 

LM: I think we have a greater sense of purpose now. The 1st album was exploratory in terms of us taking our first slightly cautious steps down the road. I feel we’re all more established in our roles and confident in the musical decisions we make.

 

Luke, you’ve certainly not shirked away from your album release schedule to date, what is it about working with Pete that makes you want to write more and more?

 

LM: The fact that we’re both fairly prolific as writers means coming up with good material is something that happens faster than if there was only one of us writing. The Union still allows us to write individually as well so we get to write in different ways, which is always inspiring.

 

There’s definitely a light and shade (or heavy and light) dynamic within The Union that works well on album but even more so live, how does it feel to you to be responsible for tracks as diverse as the rifftastic ‘The World Is Yours’ and something as musically at odds with it as, say, ‘Marie Celeste’?

 

PS.: It keeps us interested. I’ve got such a short attention span and I get bored very easily. I couldn’t be in a band where every song was in the same vein. I love all kinds of music and I want to do some exploring. When we put our first album out I think that threw a few people. Some people were actually pissed off saying things like “what’s with the country music?!!” I think they were expecting us to be a straight-ahead rock band, all of the time. But I think now we’ve established our own identity and those people have fallen by the wayside and the people that come along to the shows now know what we’re all about.

 

LM: We just write what we like and hope people like it. We’re not concerned with other people’s pre-conceived ideas of what we should sound like. In this business you have to trust your instincts completely even if other people don’t approve. We’re the ones that have to get up on stage and play the songs so we have to believe in what we’re doing 100%. Audiences are smart enough to know when you’re going through the motions and I like to think they can see that we’re the genuine article.

 

 

Talking of ‘Marie Celeste’, there has been a strong salt-water theme across all of your releases/ Where does this come from? You’re not pirates in your spare time are you? (laughing)

 

PS: We did consider calling the last album ‘Hello Sailor’ but we decided against it in the end. The nautical theme on ‘Siren’s Song’ was inspired by the riff of the song really. We thought it conjured up images of boats on the rolling seas. So that inspired the lyric. As far as ‘Marie Celeste’ is concerned, I was reading Long John Silver by Bjorn Larsson at the time of writing it, so it kind of influenced it. The song is all metaphorical so it’s not actually about a ship though.

 

Of the tracks on ‘The World Is Yours’, which one are you proudest of and why?

 

PS: I can’t really single out one track. I’m proud of all of them and all for different reasons.

 

LM: We’re really about making albums. Our ethic is very 70’s in that sense. It’s the whole thing that matters.

 

I must admit, Luke, that I smile every time I hear ‘Tonight I’m Alive’; it’s like what Whitesnake might have sounded like if those rumours of you joining had turned out to be true after all. What do you think of that comparison?

 

LM: I thought ‘Tonight I’m Alive’ was more of a nod to Tom Petty/Travelling Wilburys/Roger McGuinn but what do I know? I’m not sure if David would’ve wanted Whitesnake to walk down that particular path but who knows?

 

Of course you’re taking ‘The World Is Yours’ out on the road later this month, what can we expect from you guys, any surprises you can share?

 

PS: We’re going to do quite a few songs from the new album, so it will be interesting to see how they go down.

 

LM: More striptease from Dave, more dancing from Chris, more singing from Pete and more guitars from me! Just more really…..

 

I think the thing that has stuck with me most since last seeing The Union live at last year’s Steelhouse festival was that mid-set when you were subjected to a biblical proportions rain storm, no one (myself included) shifted an inch. Do you think we are all crazy or something? (laughing)

 

P.S: I thought you were all amazing! Thank you for sticking it out!

 

LM: I think you were all wet, but bless you all for not running into the shelter (not that there was any really!)

 

So, Luke, personally you’ve played guitar for the best part of you adult life, what do you think you might have done if you Danny and finally Harry hadn’t had a mutual love of day glow jumpsuits and formed a band together?

 

LM: The movie business has always interested me so probably that or writing maybe?

 

Talking of those guys you’re out on the road with the aforementioned Whitesnake, plus Journey playing UK arenas soon, but once again as a member of Thunder, what is the score with that band these days? Is it just a once a year thing for you guys to just have a few beers and have a catch up?

 

LM: Pretty much, yes. We’re all still mates and we have 20 years worth of music as a legacy so it’s nice to dust it off occasionally.

 

 

Before I let you go I just wanted to ask you what your aspirations are for ‘The World Is Yours’? I mean if we were to do this all over again in twelve months’ time where do you see the group, and what will this album have achieved for you?

 

PS: I hope this album manages to reach some people that haven’t heard us before. Making new friends is always good!

 

LM: I agree with Pete. We want to reach as many people as possible with the album through gigging, radio or whatever other means become open to us.

 

And finally is there anything you’d like to say to the Union fans out there that I might not have covered within this interview?

 

P.S: Did you know that after Humans, the most intelligent creatures on earth are Crows?

 

LM: I thought it was dolphins?????

 

Thank you chaps, and all the best with everything you have planned.

 

Both: Cheers

 

Postscript

 

Following The Union’s decision to postpone those remaining February UK tour dates, for the sake of Pete’s health the band will now play the following rescheduled dates as the remainder of the tour.

 

The dates are as follows:

 

March 23rd – Newport Steelhouse http://www.steelhouselive.co.uk/gig-guide.html

March 26th – Wolverhampton Slade Rooms http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/-/show-details/102230

March 27th – Bristol Fleece http://www.seetickets.com/event/the-union/the-fleece/664671

March 28th – London O2 Islington Academy http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/union-tickets/1295

 

All tickets for original dates will be valid and refunds will be offered to those who cannot make the new dates.

 

The Union have also added an extra date to this second run of shows at O2 Academy in Liverpool on Sunday, 24th March.

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/BEH24032?brand=o2academyliverpool&camefrom=CFC_UK_AMG_O2ACADEMYLIVERPOOL_THEUNION

 

 

http://www.theuniononline.com/official/

 

To pick up your copy of ‘The World Is Yours’ – CLICK HERE