Along with bands like Kasabian, midland rock outfit "The Enemy" (or if you're American, "The Enemy UK") have proven themselves capable of packing out venues such as Coventry's Ricoh Arena two nights in a row. They've supported legends The Rolling Stones, as well as Oasis and the Kaiser Chiefs, and there's a good chance that even if you haven't purchased any albums by The Enemy, you're likely to know some of their epic songs already, such as "Be Somebody". Grace, being a resourceful Jitty editor, and fan of The Enemy, tracks down Tom and asks him what the band have been up to lately:
You've been away for a while, what's been happening with The Enemy?
We took a little time out at the end of the last tour. We were all burned out after five years of touring and we needed some time to do normal stuff again.
We got back in the rehearsal room after about nine months and started writing for Album three. Since then we've written a lot of songs, narrowed it down to about thirty and we're now in the process of narrowing it down further to fifteen, which we will record and select the best ten/eleven for the album. Recording started this week and is sounding brilliant.
So in the press you've said to expect big things from The Enemy next year, what can we expect?
There will be a massive press tour in the early part of 2012 when we explain what the intricate plans are, but for now it's safe to say we'll be releasing singles in early 2012 and an album will follow shortly afterwards, within the first half of the year. There will be a massive open air gig in the midlands, and lots of festival appearances throughout the UK. We're looking to play in Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as the open air show, and we want to pay particular attention to London as I feel most areas of London are ignored by big bands. Then after the festivals, there will be an all out Enemy UK Tour. There will doubtless be shows in Europe, Japan and the states too towards the end of the year, but for now that's all I can really say.
You're working on a third album, what makes it different from 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns' and 'Music For The People?' Have you gone about writing and recording it in a different way from the previous two albums?
We've spent an unprecedented time writing. That's meant we've got a huge wealth of songs to choose from. We've never been in such a good position on album one or two where that's concerned. We're also working with a guy called Joby J Ford, who's from the American band "The Bronx" they're a proper guitar band, and the fusion of our uber Britishness and Joby's passion for big loud guitars and well recorded drums is a winning combination.
Obviously the enemy have been around for quite a while now, and you've said in an interview with the Coventry telegraph that it's really good that there's a new rehearsal studio opened in Coventry, what was it like when you were first starting out as a band? Where would you go to first start rehearsing?
When we first started we rehearsed in Leamington, under a railway bridge. A local Coventry band "Russian Girlfriend" owned a little rehearsal space there. It was £8 an hour, which we scraped together every Tuesday and spent all night there. Was brilliant fun. That said, there is a huge lack of rehearsal spaces, and creative forums in general for young people to express themselves. The new rehearsal rooms in Coventry marks the beginning of a council committed to caring for the creative people in our society. I think it's absolutely brilliant.
Do yourself, Liam or Andy have any side projects going on along side the band?
No not really...our focus has been Enemy Album Three. We want this album to be huge, we're working very hard to try and make an album that all the fans will love, that radio will play, and that will translate live since that's what the enemy is all about.
Finally being a local band yourselves and having a lot of experience, what tips would you give to bands that are just starting out, and if you could change anything about what you did while starting out what would it be?
Never give up. Lots of people will tell you it's impossible. We're proof that it's not. You get out what you put in, it's like any career, work hard and you will prosper. Take any opportunity, we played some right dives, because we were grateful for a gig... You have to have the right attitude, if you act like Bono before you've even sold a CD you're not going to go very far. We've sold a lot of CD's now! And I'm still grateful for every offer we get. Stay grounded, be nice.
To find out more about The Enemy you can visit their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/theenemy
Source: Interview by Grace, as seen on thejitty.com
Twitter: TheJitty
* OFFICIAL Enemy website: http://theenemy.com




























