UK skate-punks Making Friends just released their outstanding debut full-length Fine Dying (here). Shortly, after the first playthrough of the record, TGEFM knew we wanted to chat with Making Friends about their sound, their experience in the scene and what’s next to come. Luckily for us, Dan and Pete of the band were willing and able to join us for the latest Roll of the Dice interview. Check it out below, get the record and get stoked on it.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! Congrats on the release of Fine Dying. To say I’ve been quite impressed would be an absolute understatement. I love it. What should our readers that are new to the band know about Making Friends, your history and your sound?
(Pete) We write fast songs, we play them even faster. We like catchy melodies, layered harmonies, sick guitar riffs and fast, fast, drums.
We live in Brighton and met playing in different bands in the punk scene here. We started rehearsing in 2020 and recorded our first EPs in 2021.
What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?
(Dan) So obviously our name is taken from a NUFAN (No Use For A Name) album and a Lagwagon song and these are both big influences but, weirdly enough, me and Ryan met via a friend because Ryan was the only other person we knew who had ever heard of Forus. So they were the catalyst even if we can’t play like that!
We’ve all got a few, what is your biggest regret? A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?
(Pete) We’ve hardly turned anything down yet! When we’ve all been available we’ve played almost anything and anywhere. In fact, there were probably a few shows we probably should have said no to. There are a few promoters in London who are just filling spaces (and their pockets) and don’t care who is on the line-up, won’t turn up to the show, and won’t promote it.
What have been some of the most memorable moments or experiences with the band so far? What’s been the most unexpected? The weirdest?
(Dan) We’ve supported Belvedere and Pulley, two of our favourites bands ever, so those two really stand out. We’ve become really good friends with a Spanish band called Delest (go check them out) and we have a sick time with them anytime they come over to visit.
(Pete) It was unexpected quite how supportive the DIY punk scene has been. We’ve made friends all over the UK and the rest of the world and so many people have helped us out or offered to help us out. We’ve got six DIY punk labels putting the album out on vinyl (and there were a couple more who offered) and they’re always up for giving their time and advice.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think
they should?
(Dan) Old Chase, Old Chase and Old Chase, ha ha. Everyone should listen to this band!
(Pete) There are so many sick small bands in the UK scene that are hardly talked about, but if you like us and you don’t know On a Hiding to Nothing, The Mustard, Fractures, or Old Chase, go check them out immediately. Away from skatepunk I think our friends Shackleford, Tailblock, Til I’m Bones, and H_ngm_n are seriously underrated.
What’s next for Making Friends?
(Dan) Hopefully some little tours abroad, and some more recording.
(Pete) Definitely more shows, we’d love to play more both around the UK and outside of it, and hopefully play some festivals. Being a small DIY band it’s hard to find a way to play more shows, but we’re beginning to make more contacts so hopefully all of that will come.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
