Black Mamba Fever

Name
Louis Ashman

Where are you from?
Sheffield

What do you do?
I personally shriek and wail in a band called Black Mamba Fever, oh and I also hit the bass guitar ruddy hard. Even to the point where strings are snapped, tears are shed, and blood is drawn. I also enjoy long walks on the beach and bike rides.

Describe your style in three words?
Sweaty, Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The most influential British single ever released?
T .Rex - 'Metal Guru'
An example of how pop music isn’t what it used to be. I say that as though I’ve been around for years, but listening back to this track makes me yearn for modern pop music to be this well-crafted. I love the drive and the melody of this song, with Marc Bolan’s wailing vocals cutting through effectively well. Also lyrically my favourite refrain “Metal Guru how’s it been, just like a silver studded saber tooth dream, I’ll be clean you know pollution machine oh yeah”.

Best gig you have ever been to?
Late of the Pier at The Leadmill Sheffield 7/2/09
Fantastic band. Criminally underrated and I urge whoever is reading this to go and listen to their album Fantasy Black Channel. You won’t be disappointed. I remember the band having it all: the energy was there, the songs were incredibly tight, the audience was very responsive, essentially it was one of the first instances in which I watched a band grabbing the audience’s attention from the get go.

If you could play with any musical artist from history?
Probably Led Zeppelin. I’ve always thought we (Black Mamba Fever) could do an interesting cover of Misty Mountain Hop so we’d probably give that a stab. I imagine we wouldn’t be able to keep up with them though and instead would end up just watching them play. I think I just really want a free Led Zeppelin concert if I’m being honest. Just make sure Phil Collins isn’t invited.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
We are all heavily influenced by punk both in the UK and the US. I admire the energy of these records and how they effectively translate to recordings. So bands like The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, Gang of Four, Wire, Stiff Little Fingers to name just a few.

Sheffield four-piece, Black Mamba Fever, impressed us earlier in the year when they featured in our recent Sheffield Sound list of emerging bands to hear now.

Their promising debut single 'Feeling The Strain' is available to pre-order from Rough Trade at roughtrade.com/music/feeling-the-strain.

What was the first song you played on repeat?
The Ramones - 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'
It was part of a CD my dad made for me that contained mostly songs from School of Rock, as well as some his personal recommendations. It inspired me to grow my hair and buy a leather jacket. I’ve never looked back since.

A song from your favourite album?
The White Stripes - 'Ball and Biscuit' (from the album Elephant)
Jack White is a personal hero of mine and his guitar playing on this track is incredible. I also think the lyrics are great, in a sort of show off kind of manner that I feel only Jack White can convey effectively well.

One record you would keep forever?
David Bowie - 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' 
I could talk about this album for hours, so I’ll make this short. I remember hearing Moonage Daydream for the first time and being in awe of it. The opening bar chords and the manner in which Bowie articulates his love for someone in such a strange manner are out of this world. On top of this Mick Ronson’s guitar sound is just mind blowing, and I would listen for hours trying to work out how he managed to create this effect. This album for me is perfect. If you were to take anything or add anything it would ruin it, as every single track is flawless. And yet at the same time there is a variety that makes the whole album so compelling. The rock songs have the killer hooks, the ballads are haunting, and the pop songs are catchy as hell. I’ll leave it at that.

Song that defines the teenage you?
The Wombats - 'Little Miss Pipedream' 
In fact probably the first Wombats album as a whole if I’m being honest. Used to love this record. It’s one of those ones when you think “this album speaks to me”. It definitely hasn’t aged very well looking back on it. Guilty pleasure though. No regrets.

Song you wish you had written?
Lou Reed - 'Satellite of Love'
Lou Reed’s whole musical career is full of incredibly well-crafted songs. I’d personally have to choose this cut from Transformer. I love the whole concept of how jealousy plays out, particularly in the line “I’ve been told, that you’ve been bold, with Harry, Mark and John. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday through Thursday, with Harry, Mark and John”. The way he picks these incredibly common names makes the song that bit more relatable. And the Bowie backing vocals near the end are incredible.

Three new songs you can’t stop playing now?

Dobra - 'Spanish Sister'
Dobra have been going for some time now and have taken their time to craft this wonderful debut single. It really is beautiful and it has a brilliant video to go with it as well.

I Set the Sea on Fire - Wrong Kind of People
Amazing new single from these guys who have been on the Sheffield scene for a while and really don’t need any introduction. It has real energy from start to finish, plus any band that have a flute solo in their song get a yes from me.

Black Mamba Fever - 'Feeling the Strain'
And finally, just a shameful plug for my band’s new single. I listen to this all the time. Think it is one of the best tracks of this year if not ever. You should check it out and tell your friends how great it is as well.