DJ Gramie the Autopsy Report
Your Name: Graham (AKA Gramie to my friends)
Your DJ Name: Gramie Dee. My name during my days with Blood Money, everyone out there rembered it so I kept it on, but more about that later.
Your Station: Not a station but a radio show that airs from several stations in syndication.
Station URL: All the stations can be found on the “stations” page over at the Autopsy Report website. (see below)
Your Website(s) URL: www.autopsyreport.co.uk
www.myspace.com/autopsyreport
http://www.mevio.com/channels/?cId=668059
http://autopsyreport.podomatic.com/
Plus a few podcast portals that have picked up on the show but I have no idea what all the URLs are. If you Google “autopsy report radio” it should bring up a few links.
Where are you from and tell us a little bit about your home town: Manchester in the United Kingdom. A huge metropolis with a small town feel. You know, the type of town you want to leave before you go nuts. Famous for its contributions to Brit pop and home of the infamous Hacienda club during the 80s, the metal scene struggles to be heard. But heard it is, if you know where to look.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Besides being a musician for more than 30 years, I am also a qualified graphic designer and web designer with letters after my name. I have worked in the design industry on and off for many years along side my musical career which has also been on and off. But we try. Also I am engaged to a wonderful gal who is Canadian and eventually I’ll move to Canada and tie the knot.
What inspired you to become a DJ? I was chatting in msn one night to a friend in Hawaii who at that time owned a web radio station. I had already sent him a bunch of CDs by my various bands but he asked if I’d be interested in doing a radio show on his station so I said, why not? And it’s grown since then. A bit like a monster in a lab when the infra red light hits it and it starts bubbling absorbing the scientists.
How do you choose the songs you play on your show? Do record companies ask you to play their artists’ songs?
I receive lots of submissions from both unsigned bands and record labels such as Metal Blade, Napalm, Nuclear Blast etc. I usually listen to ALL songs submitted for airplay and choose tracks that both appeal musically and fit within a reasonable time length. Meaning I’ll choose the shortest songs with the catchiest riffs if I can, just so they don’t take up too much time in the one hour show. I tend to avoid over long intros wherever possible, and 6 minute songs are in danger of being faded out.
Do you recommend any new artists or bands?
The Autopsy Report isn’t meant to be a judge but more of a showcase for unsigned or upcoming bands. All bands are treated with equal respect and are played alongside their more famous brothers and all the bands are stars on the Autopsy Report. Hence any band I play is a recommendation because that’s why the Autopsy Report exists. And that’s regardless of my own personal views. If there’s any music that I don’t like, I’ll still play it because I still appreciate what’s gone in to it, all the hard work and the belief that the bands have in themselves. But I won’t say I hate it on the show. Though I do say when I really love something. I hope my drift is being caught here lol.
What are your personal musical influences?
Well I am influenced by many different genres and styles of music be it classical, folk, even opera. But it always comes down to metal and rock as my biggest influence, mostly bands such as Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Budgie, Rush, Opeth, Slayer, Venom, but I could go on and on here.
Are you a musician yourself? If so, what do you play and do you have your own band?
I have played guitar for more than 30 years (yes I’m old) and currently play guitar (and sing?) with my band Morgueazm. We are not a gigging band, mainly due to the fact that the rest of the guys live 300 miles away. But we do release CD’s, with two available at present and a third planned once we get around to it. Morgueazm can be found at www.morgueazm.co.uk and www.myspace.com/morgueazmic
During the 80s I started out in a band called Wolfbane but we only released a few demo tapes and had to change the name when Blaze Bayley’s Wolfsbane hit the scene. We became Blood Money and were signed to infamous MWoBHM label; Ebony Records. We released two LPs which still keep popping up on the web and I get lots of fan mail from metalheads over the world that still hold a candle for Blood Money. Very nice indeed and brings a tear to my eye. It’s also my duty to tell you, all my bands are members of Heavycore. A rather grand network of bands around the world which is well worth joining if you want some good support. www.heavycore.net
What do you love most about Metal Music?
Where do I start? Should I say the aggression? The power? The volume? Or the feeling of freedom and “sticking it to the man”. Not to mention the countless sub genres that can fit any mood precisely, whether you are feeling morose, happy or downright homicidal. Also, it is the music that features my favourite instrument, the guitar. Many virtuosos have emerged from metal but the beauty is, even if you can’t play like Steve Vai, you can still rock out and split a few ear drums. That of course depends on your sub genre of choice.
What are your future plans for your radio program?
To continue doing it for as long as I breath. I have no wish to make money from it (as long as it doesn’t start costing me money). I just want to continue helping bands get a bit of themselves heard and if just one band gains one more fan just because I played them on the show, then I have succeeded in my continuing quest… grasshopper.
Do you have a saying you like to use? Like “stay classy San Diego”
Well I do tend to say the same thing at the end of each show. It wasn’t meant to be a catchphrase or anything like that but it seems to have stuck. I say “A great big horns up and I love you all.”
What was the first Album you ever bought?
First rock/metal album ever was Black Sabbath (the first self titled one). It was Tony Iommi who taught me to play guitar, though he doesn’t know it. I just spent hours on end playing his riffs.
What is the funniest thing that ever happened on your show?
Not much that’s funny can happen when you’re sat alone recording a radio show but on rare occasions I do invite guests on to the show. It was fairly recently that I invited a couple of metal friends in to choose the playlist. They brought much beer and I opened the whiskey, then a one hour show became two hours, full of drunken ramblings and dodgy sound levels. But I still used it. This was raw, real metal attitude all wrapped up in a 120MB mp3. How could I not be happy?
Have you interviewed, or met any interesting or famous people? If so who?
I’ve interviewed lots of bands famous and not, mostly by email and those can be found on the Autopsy Report website. But I have also interviewed bands face to face using a Dictaphone so I can play them on the show. The most famous of those was Paul Allender from Cradle of Filth. I was invited to interview him when the band played Manchester a couple of years back and the full interview can be heard in a player on the MySpace page. Damn nice fellow is is too. I’m attending a festival in Manchester this year and Blaze Bayley is headlining so I’ll be trying to grab a word with him then. I’ll be asking why he stole my first band’s name lol.
If you could hang out with a Rock star for a day, who would it be?
Without a doubt it would have to be the mighty Alice Cooper. But like Wayne and Garth, I’m probably not worthy.
Tell us something unique about yourself or your Show? I.E. Contests, you DJ naked, give away prizes, etc….
How did you know??? Well, because I record the show at home, and because it’s my private little den… plus it gets very warm at times, so for comfort I often sit around in shorts, or yes total bollock naked. And yes I do record the show like that. Good job it ain’t a webcam show. I’d sure lose custom.
I have run the occasional competition and they have been very well received but I am limited by availability of prizes. Remember earlier I said I didn’t want the show to cost me money? Bands do contribute sometimes and I’ve given out CD packs and tee shirts and will again in future if anyone else donates prizes.
I’m assuming it’s not for the money so I have to ask: why do you do what you do?
I think I’ve already answered this one in the other questions but to re-cap. To help as many bands as possible in their fight to be heard. To pay back a little to the greatest scene in existence for all those wonderful years it’s given me from touring, recording and partying. And because I just love doing it.