The Bishops have not stopped since they started. Now that sounds like a ridiculous statement but it’s true… following a huge tour last year around the UK and Europe, they were given a tiny window in which to record their self-titled debut album, before heading off back on the road to promote it.
“Last year we did about 130 shows, including a porno cinema in Austria, and this year it’s really, really busy,” Mike Bishop, the lead singer tells me. “We’re doing so much travelling because our album’s out here at the end of April and also out at a similar time in Germany, Austria and France, so we’ve got to pack all the gigs in round that.”
“Before we went into the studio we had 30 songs ready and chose which ones we wanted and which ones went down best live.
Heavily influenced by bands like The Hollies, The Everley Brothers and The Platters, Bath-born twins Mike and Pete Bishop hooked up with Scottish drummer Chris in London. Their Beatle-style dress and 60’s beat music caught the attention of producer Liam Watson, who has The White Stripes and The Zutons albums to his name. After seeing them play just one gig, he gladly produced first their debut single, and then the album after they signed with 1-2-3-4 Records.
“When we first went into the studio, he was wearing his lab coat and I thought it was a bit like Dr Frankenstein or something,” Mike says. “He’s an absolute pleasure to work with. It was good recording with someone with so much studio experience.”
Renowned for his old school equipment, Watson uses a Studer 8-track recorder, an ex-Abbey Road mixing desk and a raft of vintage amps. So they’re kind of a match made in heaven; a 60’s beat sound recorded on 60’s equipment. The front man agrees when this is put to him. “The sound of his gear is incredible – he has interesting production techniques; really revealing stuff. He’s worked hard on getting the sound from his studio just right and that comes across with the album.”
‘The Bishops’ was recorded at a sprint in about four and a half weeks, sandwiched between the end of their last tour and the beginning of this year’s schedule. See what I mean about not stopping?
The lead singer explains, “It was pretty hard work. I remember at the time thinking I had no idea how long this will take and then it was suddenly all done.”
He continues, “Before we went into the studio we had 30 songs ready and chose which ones we wanted and which ones went down best live. Liam also had his input, so we already had the momentum built up going into recording. It was a fantastic experience and we’ve come out with an album which I think is better than anything we had expected.”
The Bishops’ constant touring has obviously made the band’s album tracks tight and direct. They’re a mix of skiffley Mersey beat and later rock. Misting the eyes of those who remember those days and exciting the virgin ears of a new generation.
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