Wanneroo Times, Tuesday, May 6,2003
BAND TURNS AROUND
GYROSCOPE is not the same punk/pop band that used to play gigs every weekend with bass player Brad Campbell’s mum tagging along as a guardian.
Lead vocalist and guitar player Dan Sanders said they had grown up. Their sound had matured to a more intense rock and they had now signed to major record label Festival Mushroom Records (FMR).
When the four band members started as 16-year-olds they achieved a lot in the three years they performed, supporting a number of big names – including Jebediah, 28 Days and Millencolin – and releasing three independent works.
However the boys admitted they lacked musical direction and were all happy for a chance to “touch base with real life” when drummer Rob Nassif decided to spend six months studying in Canada in 2001.
Nassif said they knew things were different from the first time they played together on his return.
“It was great, we wrote a new song and we had energy and drive,” he explained.
Last year the band played the Perth leg of the Big Day Out and a month later, were flown to Sydney to perform at The Metro.
Back in Perth, they signed a deal with Redline Records, owned by Jebediah and released their Take Time EP.
While touring with Jebediah they began writing new tracks and on their return, worked on their next release.
Lead vocalist and guitar player Dan Sanders said they wrote the songs, did the pre-production and produced a demo tape, which they then sent to a few record companies.
Nassif said a few labels showed interest, but other bands signed to FMR were really enthusiastic about the label.
Sanders explained that before signing, the band was adamant that they want to be able to keep doing their own thing.
“We are headstrong,” he said. “We designed the artwork for the EP, chose the single and we work on the website.”
The band, with more than 250 shows under their belts, wanted to show the industry they were serious.
“We are not serious guys but we are serious about music,” Nassif laughed. He added that they were thankful for the opportunities presented by Redline Records, believeing that without them, Gyroscope would not be in their current situation.
Although the sound is loud, with the driving guitars, the lyrics are quite emotional.
Sanders said they – he, Nassif, Campbell and guitarist Zoran Trivic – were serious about emotion and intensity.
“We like the sad, morbid way of writing a long song – like the Cure or Alkaline,” he said. “It’s quite dark, not like pop/punk which can be quite gummy.”
Gyroscope’s six-track EP Midnight Express is out this week and the band are launching it at two gigs – an all ages and an 18+ - at The Amplifier Bar, Perth, on May 10.
-Gab Knowles