Ash Corner – The Adjusters – Interview Exclusive
Written by Dom Daley
Sunday, 27 June 2010 06:00
Some months ago I came across a band from the North West of England called The Adjusters who had just released their debut album called ‘Reckless Relations’ and to say that I was mightily impressed with what they had to offer would be something of an understatement. The style and attitude of the record had me purring and the fact that they were from the UK somewhat suprised me. Über Röck recently caught up with frontman Ash Corner and got him to put over just what The Adjusters are about and what it is that makes them tick. With a new guitar slinger in tow the band are back on track and hopefully will be playing at a venue near you someday soon. So without further delay, ladies and germs I give you Ash from The Adjusters…..
Firstly, give us a quick history of how you put the band together?
We all just met through local punk shows around the area and Neafcy (bass) who was in a band at the time asked me if I fancied trying out vocals for a more 70’s influenced band and
here we are today!
Who’s in the Adjusters now?
The 2010 line up is Phil Bowen on rhythm guitar, Andy Neafcy on bass, Fran Baxter on lead guitar and keys, Manning stirring the soup and me on vocals.
How did you come about signing to an American label? Was there any interest from UK labels?
Well, we recorded the 5 track EP ‘Can’t See’ and sent it out everywhere. We got some interest from London based label No Front Teeth Records and then the interest from Zodiac Killer Records; with what we wanted to do at the time Zodiac was the better option, but we’d love to possibly work with some UK based labels in the future!
Who are the band’s influences? And how did you get into the whole sound you have?
Just real rock ‘n’ roll, from the Dead Boys to the Rolling Stones, we’re very much into the early punk movement and rock ‘n’ roll music as far back as the 50’s – right through. There’s just not many bands today that are doing it for us, so I guess our sound is just a mixture, it has some great rock ‘n’ roll riffs but has the edge of ’77!
Was it difficult finding musicians with a common cause in 2009 – 2010? It seems that most people want to play the latest flavour whether it be emo or grunge or whatever 
the industry wants to pigeon hole as the latest thing, but ‘Reckless Relations’ sounds like it came from a far better era of music that doesn’t seem to interest many these days – would you say that’s fair?
Well when we first started out we all shared the same interests but as the band grew changes where made and people came and went and it’s a shame it didn’t work out with the other guys cause we practically all share the same interests but relationships can change when you’re in a band, but yeah it was hard finding new people this time around. Everyone seems to be either indie or screamo or whatever, but each to their own I guess. It just sucks that there’s very few in the UK that appreciate the kinda stuff us guys are into. Times change and if you aint into the ‘IN’ thing more often than not people won’t bat an eyelid at you! But we’re into it for the love of it and wherever it takes us we’re gonna have fun doin’ it!
Were there many songs written for the album that didn’t make the cut?
There were some from the early days which didn’t make it as we found our ground. I’d like to say our writing improved so a handful had to go, yeah.
What are the plans for the rest of 2010? And beyond?
Our plan now we have a solid line-up is to stick together, ha. Gig as much as possible, we just booked our first gig outside of the UK in France and we’re headlining the second day of a
festival there, and we’re going to continue to write and record for the second album.
If you could get on any tour who would you love to play with?
Personally I’d love to tour with Motorhead – they kill it and are still to this day a hard working band on the road.
How has the new guy settled in? You said he plays piano, is that going to feature more live or is it just for the studio?
Yeah, he’s doing real good. He’s just like the rest of us, committed and willing to work for it. Yeah, he’s doin a few songs on the live set that we recorded with keys!
Many new songs written? Are there any solid plans to get on with album number two?
Yeah, we got some songs for our second album already written and recorded and in the live set! We’re just kinda takin’ our time with this record cause although we are happy with the final 
outcome of ‘Reckless Relations’ I felt in some places we were rushed cause we had a bit of a deadline, but you can expect more of the same sound just bigger and better!
You must have one or two sordid stories from gigs gone by that you’d like to share with the readers?
Oh there’s far too many to mention! Some funny ones are when our bass player Neafcy paid a debt off by eating my vomit on film and the time we all somehow got in this VIP club in London where I spent £300 on drinks and Neafcy got kicked out twice. Then another time we played down Southampton and he took a girl back for the night then her and her mate got kicked out of the place we was stayin’, so the next morning we’re all nursing our hangovers and there’s a knock at the door and sure enough it was the girl and her friend from the night before, they remembered the place and drove back to take Neafcy for breakfast but he turned it down!
We like to play iPod shuffling here at Über Röck so without telling fibs put an MP3 player on shuffle and tell us the next 5 tracks that come up?
‘The Whole Of The Law’ – The Only Ones
‘No Club Lone Wolf’ – The Cramps
‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ – Elvis Presley
‘Fun Time’ – Iggy Pop
‘Turn Blue’ – Iggy Pop
What’s the best thing about being in a band and playing rock ‘n’ roll music?
For me just being on stage and doing a real good set, I find it’s the best way to get my frustration out too! Rock ‘n’ roll is very therapeutic!
Adversely, what’s the downside of being in The Adjusters if any?
The biggest downside in the past is not having five fully committed members, that and we have the worst luck ever! There’s always something going wrong every time we venture out; the toast never lands butter side up for the Adjusters!
You got on stage with Iggy Pop recently – do you regret missing a trick and not slipping him a copy of the album while you had his attention?
Ha ha, loadsa people said that “oh you shoulda gave him your cd”, truth is I was that outta it all I was trying to give him was a hug! Ha!
You’ve covered an Eddie And The Hot Rods track – any other covers played? What about live? If you had to put one cover on an album what would it be?
We usually play ‘Sonic Reducer’ by the Dead Boys but if we had to put a cover on an album I’d love to do our own take on ‘Proud Mary’ by CCR – that’s a good track.
It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the music buying public catch on and every other band will be playing old school rock ‘n’ roll like your good selves and XX Cortez 
and a few bands from the States who are flying the flag stateside like The Fast Boys and Flash Boys – any other new bands you’re listening to at the moment who will join the revolution?
The bands I’m listening to at the moment are Red Invasion (who sadly just disbanded), Biters, Prima Donna, The Hitz…. There’s some real good ones out there just not enough people know it!
Do you have a favourite track you like on the album that sums up the band?
The one that most sums up the band would be the last one, ‘Let’s Dance’ – Every lyric I wrote for that was just autobiographical!
If you were to sum up what The Adjusters are about in one sentence then let’s hear it?
Fast Times, Reckless Relationships, Booze, Birds and BAD LUCK!
Go get hold of ‘Reckless Relations’ my friends, you won’t be disappointed. Get with the hip kids and don’t forget to get down to one of their shows and tell ’em the Übers sent you. Cheers to Ash for taking the time and the pictures. The rock ‘n’ roll revolution has begun so don’t get left behind.
http://www.myspace.com/theadjusterspunknroll
Photo kudos to Kitaeur Photography – www.kiteru.co.uk