Making a triumphant return on the 25th anniversary of their breakthrough album, ‘The Height of Callousness’, Spineshank have no plans on returning to the depths, with further tours coming up and even talk of new music in the works. Doing a full circle moment, returning to Donnington Park for the first time since 2005 for their second time, the band seem as eager as ever to be back on stage again. Aggy Gillon speaks to Jonny Santos (vocals), Rob Garcia (bass), Tommy Decker (drums) and Tommy Decker Jnr (guitar) about their future plans, milestone moments and the resurgence of Nu Metal.
You are playing tonight, how are you feeling ahead of your set?
All: Excited!
Tommy: Yeah we are very excited, we haven’t played Download since 2003 so it’s been a long time coming. This will be our second time playing.
Can you tell us the background on your recent reunion?
Tommy: Yeah, Spineshank was pretty much dead and we never thought this would happen but the interest came back and it just kind of happened out of nowhere and it snowballed. Now we have been touring for the last year and a half. It’s going well so there is no end in sight. It was the 25th anniversary of ‘The Height Of Callousness’ and for the past ten or fifteen years people have been asking us “are you going to bring Spineshank back?”. The answer was always no. We figured if it’s the 25th anniversary this is going to be the only time to do it. So it’s either now or never. We sucked it up and decided to do it and it’s been great.
What does playing Download festival mean to you?
Jonny: I think anytime we play with such a diverse group of bands that we are also fans of it is a special event because of the amount of people that it brings together. These are our people, you know? This is our culture so it’s kind of like a celebration of that culture which is really special I think in its own way.
Tommy: And the history of it, The Monsters Of Rock, Castle Donnington just being here at this place is something we used to see growing up so it’s an honour to be here.
You just did a tour with Drowning Pool?
Tommy Jnr: Yeah we just did a tour with them in November.
How was that? Did you guys know them back in the day as well?
Tommy: Yeah, we did Ozzfest with them. We have been friends with them for a long time. It was great! The tour was pretty much a sell out. Every show was amazing. We couldn’t ask for a better return to the UK.
Are there any plans for new music in the future?
Tommy: Yeah we are working on it but it’s early stages but you know we figured if we can make something that the world needs to hear then we’ll put it out.
So far in your career is there a particular moment that has been a standout moment for you guys?
Tommy: One for me was the first Download Festival where we got to share a stage with Iron Maiden. For me that was huge because it’s a band I’ve really looked up to. Just countless things, We never thought we would even be in the UK standing here playing for people. It’s been a wild ride.
Tommy Jnr: This is my first complete year with this band. To me it’s just cool getting to have all of these under my belt. First Download and first sold out tour.
Rob: I’m just happy about the resurgence that we have had and all the opportunities that have come with it in the past year and a half. I didn’t see it coming.
Jonny: I think the highlight is just being able to do this. People go their whole lives wishing they could do it. So I feel that the highlight is the privilege it is to be able to do it. That is the highlight in itself.
Do you guys think there is a resurgence in Nu Metal again?
Tommy Jnr: Yeah, I think TikTok and Deftones had a lot to do with that. Got a lot of the new generation into it.
How does it feel to be one of the spear headers in the genre?
Jonny: I don’t think we realised it at the time. Towards the end of the 00s by like 2008 or 2009 it pretty much died, you know? To a certain extent. I didn’t think it was going to be such a big movement that it turned out to be. So it was just one of those things where we had no idea that we were going to be a part of something that was going to be so huge that we were helping to pioneer.
It’s amazing. Kind of like the Grunge movement in the 90s and then we had Nu Metal. So, of course you touched on releasing new music in the future. How do you think you have progressed over the years and how will that reflect on the music that is to come?
Tommy: I think we found our sound when we did ‘Height of Caloussnes’. I think ever since then it’s just kind of building upon that because we found our voice. We like to bring new stuff in. Where it is going heavier or even more mellow but just kind of adding new things to it and trying to push the boundaries a little.
Have you got many more UK shows after this?
Tommy: Three more after this and in October we have five or six more.
Tommy Jnr: With Skindred, Alien Ant Farm and Orgy.
How does it feel to be back on the road and touring again?
Tommy: We are enjoying it but it hurts more now that we are a little bit older *laughs* but it’s fun. It’s great.
Tommy Jnr, How does your first time touring feel?
Tommy Jnr: It’s fun. I’ve been on tour with them since I was about four or five years old. It’s definitely different to be on the stage now.
You are continuing the rock n’ roll legacy. Have you got anything you would like to tell your fans?
Tommy: Thank you for sticking around for 25 years. It’s been incredible. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you guys. We love you for it.
Jonny: Thank you to the new fans as well. We will see you guys out there real soon.
Interview and photo by Aggy Gillon