Frank Carter

Musician — Hemel Hempstead

01Profile

A Frank Carter Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Frank Carter - I’m from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

Describe your style in three words?
Tyrant Lizard-King style.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
At The Drive In - Reading Festival 2000
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - O2 2018
Foo Fighters - Firenze Rocks 2018

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana and Queen because they both embody everything I love about rock music. Freedom, spirit, passion and progression.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I’m heavily influenced by most subcultures. Everything from Punk to Trap. Subcultures are where the purest ideas are formed and usually, it’s the breeding ground for new potential mainstream culture.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I choose my daughter. I see her all the time but every single hour I spend with her is pure happiness and she makes me feel alive. I don’t think an hour with anyone else could beat what I get from an hour with her.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
I love the Reading and Leeds Festivals and they will always have an important place in my life. As for buildings... Brixton is a beautiful venue, so is the Underworld in Camden. For very different reasons.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Dale Barclay of The Amazing Snakeheads. He was pure rock n roll. His music and lyrics still inspire me constantly. 


Frank Carter is one of the UK Ambassadors for Record Store Day 2019.

Record Store Day brings together independent record shops from across the UK, celebrating their unique culture. Exclusive vinyl releases on the day and special artist performances and events mark the occasion, with thousands of record shops around the world celebrating in what has become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar.

Record Store Day 2019 will take place on Saturday 13th April 2019.

Find out more at recordstoreday.co.uk 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Madness - 'Our House' 
My dad was a DJ in the eighties - and this tune. I used to listen to it on repeat in the house and dance around with my brothers.

A song that defines the teenage you?
Rage Against The Machine - 'Killing In The Name Of' 
I grew up moshing to this track in local rock clubs it’s perfect in every way.

One record you would keep forever?
Pink Floyd - 'Dark Side Of The Moon' 
It’s as close to a perfect record as you get I think.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
I may not always love you,
but long as there are stars above you.
You’ll never need to doubt it,
I’ll make you so sure about it.
God only knows what I’d be without you...

'God Only Knows' - The Beach Boys

A song you wished you had written?
'The Less I Know The Better' - Tame Impala 
I think subconsciously I tried to write the lyrics to this song for ten years and then I hear this and just thought... “f*ck, he nailed it”.

Best song to turn up loud?
Elton John - 'Bennie And The Jets'
One of my favourite voices and performers of all time. This song is perfect to lose yourself to.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Bexey - 'Go Getta'
Bexey is a one-man melting pot of genres, pop and subcultures. This track makes me want to steal a car and drive until the sun goes down.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Brockhampton - 'Sweet'
The minute this tune comes in I have to dance. Doesn’t matter where I am. Perfect antipop song.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
Blur - 'The Universal'
When you’re feeling fragile in the morning whack this on and contemplate all the bad decisions you made the night before while making a brew and if you ain’t crying before the kettles boiled then you didn’t try hard enough.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Black Futures. Just took them on tour and they are absolutely brilliant.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Frank Carter - I’m from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

Describe your style in three words?
Tyrant Lizard-King style.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
At The Drive In - Reading Festival 2000
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - O2 2018
Foo Fighters - Firenze Rocks 2018

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana and Queen because they both embody everything I love about rock music. Freedom, spirit, passion and progression.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I’m heavily influenced by most subcultures. Everything from Punk to Trap. Subcultures are where the purest ideas are formed and usually, it’s the breeding ground for new potential mainstream culture.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I choose my daughter. I see her all the time but every single hour I spend with her is pure happiness and she makes me feel alive. I don’t think an hour with anyone else could beat what I get from an hour with her.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
I love the Reading and Leeds Festivals and they will always have an important place in my life. As for buildings... Brixton is a beautiful venue, so is the Underworld in Camden. For very different reasons.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Dale Barclay of The Amazing Snakeheads. He was pure rock n roll. His music and lyrics still inspire me constantly. 


Frank Carter is one of the UK Ambassadors for Record Store Day 2019.

Record Store Day brings together independent record shops from across the UK, celebrating their unique culture. Exclusive vinyl releases on the day and special artist performances and events mark the occasion, with thousands of record shops around the world celebrating in what has become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar.

Record Store Day 2019 will take place on Saturday 13th April 2019.

Find out more at recordstoreday.co.uk 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Madness - 'Our House' 
My dad was a DJ in the eighties - and this tune. I used to listen to it on repeat in the house and dance around with my brothers.

A song that defines the teenage you?
Rage Against The Machine - 'Killing In The Name Of' 
I grew up moshing to this track in local rock clubs it’s perfect in every way.

One record you would keep forever?
Pink Floyd - 'Dark Side Of The Moon' 
It’s as close to a perfect record as you get I think.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
I may not always love you,
but long as there are stars above you.
You’ll never need to doubt it,
I’ll make you so sure about it.
God only knows what I’d be without you...

'God Only Knows' - The Beach Boys

A song you wished you had written?
'The Less I Know The Better' - Tame Impala 
I think subconsciously I tried to write the lyrics to this song for ten years and then I hear this and just thought... “f*ck, he nailed it”.

Best song to turn up loud?
Elton John - 'Bennie And The Jets'
One of my favourite voices and performers of all time. This song is perfect to lose yourself to.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Bexey - 'Go Getta'
Bexey is a one-man melting pot of genres, pop and subcultures. This track makes me want to steal a car and drive until the sun goes down.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Brockhampton - 'Sweet'
The minute this tune comes in I have to dance. Doesn’t matter where I am. Perfect antipop song.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
Blur - 'The Universal'
When you’re feeling fragile in the morning whack this on and contemplate all the bad decisions you made the night before while making a brew and if you ain’t crying before the kettles boiled then you didn’t try hard enough.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Black Futures. Just took them on tour and they are absolutely brilliant.

 

05Videos

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - 'Crowbar'

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - 23 Live at Brixton - I Hate You