It’s been a few years since I last checked in with classic NWOBHM-ers Dawn Trader. Here’s the latest from the band via an interview kindly given by Mick Preston and ably arranged via Ashley.
Q1: I last caught up with Dawn Trader back in November 2012 via Mick and my somewhat enthusiastic review of Castle. How has Castle been received – positively I hope?
Answer: The album was received well and sold worldwide. We had a vinyl deal in Europe and the album is still selling. Classic rock had Homebreaker as as a track of the week. Generally the album has been a success.
Q2: You were preparing for a spot on that year’s Hard Rock Hell gig. How did that go down?
Answer: We played the gig with a little trepidation. Some band members we not as enthusiastic about playing the gig as others. It was a no brainer, if some of the guys did not want to play then the others would and we did. We lost 3 of the guys from that line up so we drafted in Fraser Shaw from Line Of Fire to play bass and Wayne’s son stepped in on drums. Fraser had played with Trader before on guitar and we had both worked together in Bad Reputation,he was a natural. Wayne’s son Bradley had grown up with Trader and played in rehearsals and the like as a “boy”. We rehearsed a set within weeks and rocked it. We went on stage with little media attention and came off stage to 7 radio, TV and magazine interviews. The gig is amazing, the crew and organisers are top class, we would love to do it again.
Q3: What’s been happening in Dawn Trader land over the past three years or so? Anything you’d like to update the readers about?
Answer: We have all been very busy on other projects so Trader has not been as active as it could have been. Fraser is gigging Line Of Fire, Wayne is training as a piano tuner, Bradley went off to university to study music and was replaced by Ian MaKay so we had a period of re-writing material and working Ian into the band. Although the line up was playing well we missed the 2nd guitar. Finding the right fifth finger to fit the DT glove was essential. We wanted someone who knew Trader and what we are all about. There was really only one person, Dave Thompson (Devils Advocate) and over an 18 month period of sleeping in his shed and knocking on his door every day he decided he would love to join us. He is a great player with a lot of kudos from other guitarists. We have a happy band that play off each other and loving it.
Q4: NWOBHM rolls on forever. Bands from the “old days” reforming, old recordings reissued. It’s great. I’m awaiting the Geddes Axe anthology which is due out soon. Labels such as No Remorse and High Roller seen to have a lot of time for NWOBHM. Does the longevity of the “movement” (if that’s the right word) help to keep you going and enthusiastic too?
Answer: Classic rock is like classic cars they will always keep a faithful following and attract a new appreciation on the way. Yes it’s great to play to audiences of original fans at gigs with their younger family and new fans. We played with another reformed NWOBHM band SYZ (Sovereign) they were excellent. The energy that the music and the bands produce i believe is key to the longevity of the genre.
Q5: Thanks for sparing some time out from rehearsal. Are you prepping for any upcoming gigs, any new songs or recordings in the offing?
Answer: That’s OK, its my pleasure. We ARE busy rehearsing, relentless rehearsals, due mostly to the age of some of the band. Its hard work when you have to ask “which ones that?” just on the count in!!!!!! We’re aiming to have a written a new album by the end of 2016 and gigging at a “leisurely pace” tailored to gentlemen of a certain age. We still love it and would like to thank everyone for their support and messages from around the world asking when are we visiting their country. Well to everyone out there, someday, IF we can still get travel insurance. Keep rockin & peace. Mick
So there we are. Dawn Trader and NWOBHM continue to plough the furrow with a new album planned. All good news.
Check out the band’s web site at http://www.dawntrader.net