Interview With 'Welcome Back Delta'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

Hey, I'm Joe the lead singer and rhythm guitarist from Welcome Back Delta, we formed in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 2011, originally a 3 piece, me Phil and Steve we were joined swiftly by Rob on lead guitar which gave us a solid sound playing Rock and Blues.

In 2012 we released our first E.P ‘Growler’ which we recorded with Dave Draper. After the successful touring and sales of the E.P we used the sales to fuel our first Album in 2013 ‘Shocker’ again produced by Dave Draper. This allowed us to tour the UK several times. Playing with huge bands like Clutch, Lionize, Airbourne, Nick Oliveri (from QOTSA), ASIWYFA, and more!

When 2016 came around our second album ‘Sucker’ was ready to go, this time recorded by Reign Of Fury member Jon Priestly. Soon after we met our newest member and guitarist Andy 'Eugene' Hammond who has rounded out our roster with even more guitars. Our five years of touring have gotten us on stage for major festivals like Uprising, Headbangers Balls, Amplified, Hard Rock Hell, Giants Of Rock, Wychwood, Grillstock with next years Riffology and Giants Of Rock to come!

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

Previously we had all been in bands and had interacted in one way or another, either by seeing each other playing or jamming together. It was something different when we all came together and just seemed to..fit, for lack of a better word. We are all passionate about music and gigs and, well, it just seemed right. I can't imagine it happening any other way I guess.

Tell us about your latest Album and why our readers should check it out.

Our first album 'Shocker' shows our influences from many different genres, however our latest, 'Sucker' shows how we have brought it all together, it's a more coheasive and collaborative album. But the main thing? It'll get your feet tapping and your head bobbing, it's a Rock album, what more can you say?

Who would you say is the bands main song writer or is it a group effort and where do you draw your inspiration lyrically and musically from?

It's a very collaborative process really, we all tend to write our parts but will occasionally suggest ideas to each other and let it happen naturally. The infuence from each of us is as different as our music tastes, Blues to Metal, Funk to Grunge. For the lyrics, alot of them are personal experiences. Some of them are like a diary of hard times and some of them are more like reading a story, however most of them are about having the strength to overcome lifes difficulties. Most of them, I hope, can be interpreted in different ways though. Ultimately it won't matter to everyone what the lyrics mean to me. But more, what the listener gets from it.

As a band what do you believe is your greatest achievement to date and why?

A huge highlight was playing with Clutch, collectively they are a huge influence, so it was an honor.

The first time we played a gig and the audience started singing the lyrics back is another, it's a very strange feeling you get when people care enough about your music to learn the lyrics. It's a powerful feeling. Hopefully we will still have the greatest achievement ahead of us though.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

Nick Oliveri was very cool, he just gave you the impression of everything they say a Rock star should be. Clutch were really chilled out, nice fellas. Lionize and ASIWYFA were great too, very down to earth approchable group of guys. We've been lucky enough to meet some amazing musicians who we admire and respect, who not only write and perform phenomenal music but are also just great guys to chat with and have a beer.

What do you enjoy most about touring?

Playing music to people every day in a different town, that's ultimately what being in a band is about. Spreading your sound to as many people as possible, sharing your creativity. Also finding tasty restaurants, and the leisure centre in Swansea LC2 their water slides are ace!

If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

Rock, Blues, a bit of tongue in cheek chat, energy and coming away with a smile on your face. Can't say fairer than that.

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

For me at the moment, Red Fang. We get a few comparisons with them, they seem like a great bunch of guys and it would be a fun, rowdy tour! Ask the other guys in the band though and I'm sure you'd get a variety of answers.

You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

Probably Chris Cornell, I'd just like to learn more about him, what inspired him and what drove him to create and inspire so many musicians.

What is next for yourselves?

Giants Of Rock in January and Riffolution Festival in February!

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Hell yes! And technically so is Lethal Weapon, another criminally overlooked Christmas Movie.

We just want to say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Thanks for asking them.

Website - http://welcomebackdelta.co.uk/

Bandcamp - https://welcomebackdelta.bandcamp.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WelcomeBackDelta/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/wbdelta