One of the most exciting bands to come from Birmingham for quite some time, the three piece that is Johnny Foreigner. Their take on jittering and noise-driven alternative rock is a joy to behold. Whilst in a hotel in New York recording their debut full length album, we managed to sneak in our 20 Questions to amuse them…

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
Woop woop woop.
2. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
Alexi: Sleeper - Vegas, Birmingham
Kelly: Guns ‘N Rose - Appetite for Destruction, Solihul.
Junior: Marvin from Harlem
3. What’s the best cure for a hangover?
A day off.
4. What’s on your rider?
We’re not at the dictating rider stage. We’re at the, “I know 2 thirds of you dont drink beer, have a crate of Carling” level. So either a load of drink that only Junior likes, or perhaps, at more forward thinking shows, 2 tokens each to be redeemed at the bar for a bottled beer or a soft drink. We’ve become experts in bartering for gin.
5. How do you get ready for a live show?
One of us throws up, one of us writes the set out and the other loses her bass.
6. What’s your favourite song to play live?
Changes all the time. Whatever’s newest, usually. Unless we screw it up.
7. What’s your guilty pleasure?
We dont feel guilty about any of our pleasures!
8. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
Embarrassing as it is, none of us are quite sure what a stoat is. So well go with goats cos they do horns good.
9. What was the last album you bought?
We never have that kind of money. If we did it’d be the Kevin Drew album. As it is, we’ll settle for blagged copies of the My Psychoanalyst album. Which is great.
10. If you could rid the world of one song - what would it be?
There’s waaaaaaay too many songs we hate to single one out.
11. Who would play you in a film based upon your life?
Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie and Tom Wagstaff.
12. Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Owls, Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Sunset Cinema Club and Dananananaykroyd.
13. If push comes to shove, what is your all-time favourite album?
Owls owls owls owls. Maybe, You Forgot It In People by BSS. But mostly Owls.
14. What’s your most memorable on the road story?
We made up something really horrible and at the last minute I’m wussing out of writing it. Starting to realise that all our anecdotes are you-had-to-be-there moments. Sorry!
15. If your life flashed before your eyes, what would be the highlights?
The last two weeks recording in New York. Replay over and over, please.
16. What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
Never return to a failed firework. ‘Tis a metaphor about girls. We don;t take notice though, we just refer to it knowingly…
17. If you had to leave a body part to science, what would it be?
Cankers! Still not sure what they are but we’ve all got them and they suck.
18. What’s the best book you’ve read and film you’ve seen in the last 6 months?
Alexei: The Forever War and Die Hard 4.
Junior: Pans Labyrinth and some wholesome John Grisham.
Kelly: Amores Peres and the Motley Crue biog.
19. What three things could you not live without?
Songs, opposite sex and, probably, weed.
20. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know.
We’ve been sharing a bed for the last fortnight. True!

Links
Johnny Foreigner [myspace]