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 Can You Dig The Rattlesnake?
Rock n’ Roll, remember it? Loud, rebellious, ridiculous, dirty, nasty, Well perhaps it is something your not to familiar with given that to many it is now merely a hazy memory. The real crime however is that some people would like it to stay that way. Sure many bands these days have the rock, but you can’t have the rock and not have the roll, it’s the vital ingredient, it’s the feeling you get when your foot just wont stop stomping, the hairs on your neck stand to attention and your heart is moving as fast as the bass players loaded groove, it’s undeniable, and although it may not be around in person, it’s spirit lives on forever. But hang on a minute, five guys from the north east of Scotland are planning a raunchy, bluesy rock n’ roll attack on all of us, that just might resurrect the spirit of rock n’ roll and carry the torch onto a generation who are crying our for something more exciting than a few self –obsessed bands wallowing over their first girlfriend leaving them. Good rock n’ roll has depth, feelings, and emotions also, it thrives on them, but the difference is it has the power to uplift and inspire. It has the “lying in the gutter, but looking at the stars” mentality and Lady Mercedes know all about this, their music is raw and powerful, yet extremely soulful at the same time. Formed back in late 2002, originally as a four piece, Lady Mercedes are now made up of five very different characters, Brett McIntosh (vocals) Leigh Collingbourne (Guitar) Kris Harris (Guitar) Ray Evans (Bass) and Phil Collingbourne (Drums). While their influences come flying in from all over the place, there is a noticeable Stones, AC/DC, Muddy Waters, Doors, Faces, streak in their style. However, it is the sheer energy and spontaneity of Rock n’ Roll that unites them and drives the band, you see no two Lady Mercedes shows will ever be the same, which is exactly how they want it. 
“We’re really into trying to bring something exciting to wherever we play”, enthuses Guitarist Leigh, “that’s our aim, the last thing we want is to be overlooked, because I’ve seen so many bands and just been left feeling empty, a new height needs to be set in music I reckon, because it seems people don’t try hard enough these days, we look up to people like The Stones, AC/DC and Hendrix, people who live and die for their art, and it shows in their performance, you can feel it” but it’s not just all chaos and showmanship all the time, Leigh’s keen to add. “We take time over our song writing too because it’s something we really care about, Our musical integrity is something we plan to keep in tact you know, the energy has to be high but the sound and playing is the main priority”. After playing their local club circuit, for the best part of a year, the band won the chance to record their debut album with Aberdeen’s own Fat Hippy Records. The result, Red Light Fever, a gritty collection of gems that boasted the sinister voodoo swing of The Rattlesnake and The Dragon, the heart attack grind of Sounding Sweetly Evil, and the booze soaked, country stomp Hey Lady Hey. “I like the album”, says Leigh, “but we were young and quite new to the whole recording process when we cut it and I think it shows when listening to it now, it was basically knocked out in one weekend which was a lot of fun” With the album being sold locally to minor success, the band then decided to take Red Light Fever out on the road and embarked on a small British tour. However with such different and strong personalities, cracks began to emerge within the band which climaxed with Brothers Leigh and Phil parting company with the band. In the summer of 2004. “It was a strange time for us”, says guitarist Leigh, “on one hand we we’re really starting to get somewhere with the band, there was a real buzz starting to happen, but within us we just couldn’t get it together personally, perhaps it was the fact that we’d been living, pretty much, out of each others pockets for a long time you know? It should have been the best of times but there came a point where the two of us just had to get out and clear our heads a bit “. During this time the Collingbournes took the opportunity to form their own project, a harder and heavier outfit called The Money Shot, while founding members McIntosh and Evans persisted with Lady Mercedes, drafting in young guitarist Kris Harris to fill in the gaps with a handful of shows around Aberdeen. However after a year long hiatus, both camps remained uninspired and soon realised that for something brilliant to happen they may have to swallow their prides, deciding that with such a unique energy and in such a small town, these were the only group of people who could really make something special happen. Kris Harris was kept on guitar duties to give them that extra guitar bite and the band made a local come back with an epic show on New Years Eve 2005. “Things are better than ever now I feel” Leigh says, “We’ve all learned from our mistakes and it’s made us stronger, having Kris in is great too, it’s nice to have another guitar weaver because it’s something I’ve always wanted as a guitarist, but he also brings a good positive outlook to the band and helps with the communication side because he’s very straightforward”. 
Now Lady Mercedes have left their hometown of Aberdeen with an aim to find a bigger crowd to witness their dynamic energy which was demonstrated with a run of full house shows at London’s notorious Purple Turtle in Camden, the most recent only last month “that was a fantastic night for the band, on both a personal and business level”, explains guitarist Kris Harris. “Let’s make it clear that we didn't make the trip down to London to make up the numbers or anything, I mean this was our show, with our name at the top of the bill. Objectives for the band included making an impact on everyone in attendance by stamping our own unique brand of music on every head that entered the building. The crowd, the energy, the music, everything went according to plan you know. The band was well received and treated like heroes. But on a personal level, I mean were just a local band from a small town, so rocking Camden Town on a Saturday night, the heart and soul of the British Music scene, It doesn't get any better than that...Yet, but as they say, Good things come to those who wait”. So things are looking extremely promising for rock n roll’s best kept secret. But how long will they remain under wraps? The hunger is definitely stronger than ever as Harris elaborates, "Show me a modern band that have incredibly catchy songs, an image that will revolutionise posters on your bedroom wall, and who dish out dynamic live performances which will leave you in utter disbelief as to why they remain unsigned? Show me Lady Mercedes, and that isn’t me being arrogant, it’s just confidence and belief" As well as a new lease of life, the bands song writing partnership Brett McIntosh and Leigh Collingbourne, have also written an astonishing amount of new material, which has also seen them take their raw R&B sound in a slightly heavier and edgier direction which Leigh elaborates on, ”I think as songwriters we’re always growing, but were at a stage where Me and Brett both know each other really well, so we know what each other like and it makes writing a lot of fun, because we can just bounce idea’s off each other”. Some of the new titles that have been given a live airing include, Moneytalks, Cheap N’ Easy, You’ve Gotta Sin to Be Saved, The Shot Dead Boogie and Crumbs Of Lovin’. “We’ve been trying out some new songs at various shows and they’re being very well received” expresses the younger Collingbourne, Phil, “as a band we like to keep it as fresh for ourselves as we can, we’re just dying to cut them in a studio now”. So Rock n Roll? Does it ring any bells yet? well if your still unsure don’t panic because it looks like it just might be getting ready to rear it’s ugly head once more, well if these five hungry boys manage get their wicked way with us, and with a string of dates around Britain on the horizon, most notably a show at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern, and interest from some very important music industry figures, the odds are looking pretty good for both Rock n Roll and Lady Mercedes. Long live rock indeed. For more info on the band check out: www.myspace.com/ladymercedesuk To view more video clips please click on the links below:
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