Days of Rona: Scott Black of Green Lung
The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.
Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.
Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan
Days of Rona: Scott Black of Green Lung (London, United Kingdom)
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How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?
Everyone’s health is fine thanks! One of us suspects he had the ‘rona. Luckily, he’s a strapping young chap — despite the horrid, doobie-based abuse he’d wrought on his lungs over the years, he’s made a full recovery.
The crisis has had a significant impact on the band. We’ve had to postpone a UK and Europe tour as well as a lot of festivals, etc.
The upside, however, is that it has given us more time to concentrate on music. We’ll be recording a new album later this year, so this situation is forcing us to write and refine songs remotely –- a fun and new way of writing for us!
On a personal level, I’ve started learning and recording one iconic guitar solo every day during the lockdown, which I am hugely enjoying. In the 16 days so far I’ve tackled solos that I’ve always wanted to learn including a bunch of Van Halen, Zakk Wylde and Brian May ones. My favorite so far is probably the monstrous “Sails of Charon” by The Scorpions.
I did it just as a fun little project to keep me busy and improve my chops, but it seems to be gaining some momentum of its own, which is very fun.
You can follow the project and see a new solo every day by following me on Instagram – @lockdownshred or subscribing to my YouTube channel here.
What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?
We’re all in South London, England, except for our drummer who lives somewhere shit. Luton, maybe?
Our government put a fairly casual lockdown into place just over two weeks ago [as of April 7], meaning that everyone should stay home except to get exercise or go shopping. Of course, British people being British people, loads of folk are completely ignoring it and taking the piss. My kitchen window overlooks a bit of grass. Last night, one bunch of absolute pillocks had a BBQ on it with about five families showing up.
I had to watch them breathing their stanky Corona-breath all over each other while I was doing the washing up. By the time I finished the dishes, I was glaring at them out of the window like Donald Sutherland at the end of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?
I should imagine it has been the most devastating for event organizers, promoters and agents. I feel terrible for all of the independent festivals and promoters who have put years of effort into building their companies who are now in serious trouble.
While bands are the most visible, it’s really the behind the scenes guys who are hardest hit. For example, our booking agent put loads time and effort into shows and tours which have been cancelled/postponed/whatever. For most agents, this is commission based work. Therefore, for that whole industry months’ worth of work has been wiped out.
Everyone’s been saying this already, but I’ll add my voice to the choir – IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO, DO NOT DEMAND REFUNDS FROM PROMOTERS / SMALL FESTIVALS / BANDS. IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO, REFUSE REFUNDS FROM PROMOTERS / SMALL FESTIVALS / BANDS.
Seeing the comments on the Facebook announcements from events and festivals make me very sad, seeing lots of bedwetters demanding refunds and getting angry at organisers who are doing everything in their power to salvage the situation. I think due to this attitude from the punters, you’re going to see very few festivals and promotion companies survive this and the live music scene may be quite barren.
What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?
Know that you’ll have a new Green Lung album to look forward to in the not-too-distant future!
Also, our new label Svart recently repressed Woodland Rites for the third time. Most of it has already sold out, so if you’ve always wanted a vinyl of the album, now’s your chance!
https://www.facebook.com/greenlungband
https://www.instagram.com/greenlungband/
http://www.greenlung.co.uk/
https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/
www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords
It’s hardly been a “casual lockdown” in the UK. The countries ground to a halt, the economy is fucked and people have been fined for sitting in their own front garden.