artists » Mik Whitnall of Babyshambles

Until now Babyshambles’ music has taken a back seat to the tabloid headlines, but that’s about to change with the release of their new album Shotters Nation.

This latest album takes the band in a different direction, with a more together sound. Much of this can be attributed to the songwriting skills and guitar wizardry of Mik Whitnall who joined in 2006, replacing Patrick Walden.

Mik started playing guitar when he was 13 years old but the interest was there from an early age when he visited a music shop with his father, saw an electric guitar on the wall and was told “dont touch that - it’s really loud!”. He later went on to play with Kill City, Finley Quaye’s band, SKA group 100 Men and 1980’s punk outfit Skin Deep before joining Babyshambles.

He is, according to Pete Doherty, “the finest SKA guitarist in the UK”. We caught up with Mik at a London studio to talk about the album, the Autumn tour and of course Vox.

So you joined the band in 2006, how did that come about?

I used to manage the band at one point and was also a guitar tech. When Patrick left I stood in for him, but when he didn’t come back that was it - things just evolved. I’ve known Pete for about 10 years though, I met him at John Hassals house, the bass player from Libertines. Pete strolled in to do an audition and we’ve been friends ever since.

What ’s the process for the songwriting and how are you invloved in that?

Me and Pete work on the songs together. He has songs from when he was 15 years old and so have I. On the Blinding EP I wrote the SKA track I WISH. I used to play that particular song with a band I was in years ago. Pete really liked that tune and kept banging on about it, the band I was with back then liked it too. They were right because now that’s the song that all the crowd sing. There’s a football chant-style bit in the chorus that Pete made up that always goes down well at the gigs. On the new album it’s predominantly Pete’s writing but I have contributed to about a third of it.

How do you and Pete split the guitar parts?

I take care of the guitar parts!

What is it about Vox amps that appeals to you and what was your first Vox amp?
The sound, obviously and of course they look nice too. When I was a kid I used to listen to all the bands I was into and try and emulate the sound of their guitars. I’d buy all these pedals and this and that and I had a Vox amp at the time as well. I took a tape of one the bands into the shop and said ‘ I want to get this sound, how do I do it? ‘. The guy in the shop said ‘It’s just an AC30 turned up’. I got home, turned it up and I was blown away. That’s all I use now really, that and a pedal.
You have an AC15 and an AC30. Do you use them live and in the studio?

Yes, I am going to be using them on the upcoming tour in November. Stephen Street, our producer, loves the amps, the sound is wicked - really good. In the studio that was the amp we used the most. We had every amp you could think of available but we used the AC15 more than anything on the album. I know that Kaiser Chiefs also used that extensively on their album. I want one of the vintage ones!

How would you describe the Babyshambles sound and how do the Vox amps add to that?
I think our sound is quite punky but there’s a bit of everything in there really. There’s that guitar sound that was around in the 60s/ 70 s that’s half clean, half distorted and the Vox AC30 does that perfectly.
What’s the inspiration behind the new album ‘Shotters Nation’?

It was a natural thing. We share a flat and over a year and a half put all these songs together - it just evolved. So the inspiration was to make some great music and the influences were the friendships around us and what was happening in our lives at the time.

What in your opinion is the best track on the new album?

I like them all. They are all totally different so it depends what mood your in, but I like Crumb Begging Baghead. It has a 60’s garage punk feel to it - I like that.

You’ve got a tour coming up in the autumn - do you like been on the road?

Yes I love it. Just the whole experience. It makes me feel like I’m alive!

What’s next for Babyshambles?

World domination…

For more info on the band and to hear the fantastic new album check out www.babyshamblesofficial.blogspot.com