Date: 9th December 2005
Place: By email
Who came up with the idea of calling the band 'Three Peace Sweet'?
The band's pipers are also members of Kirkwall City Pipe Band, as is friend Duncan Hill. Duncan suggested the name as three original members shared the surname, Peace. That accounts for the 'Three Peace' part although the 'Sweet' word is perhaps more tongue-in-cheek!
How did you (or the original members, at least) get together and come up with the idea of forming a band?
Again the ideas came from the pipers who are always looking for something different - they like to deviate from the standard styles normally associated with pipe bands. There was a KCPB ceilidh coming up and they thought it would be good to form a new group to provide the entertainment. They took some well-known melodies, added a rock-based rhythm section and tore the place apart.
As the line up has changed, how much do you feel the band changes each time?
Three Peace Sweet will always be about shorts-wearing pipers belting out party music intermingled with songs. Inevitably as the line-up changes, we get different influences creeping in but it still sounds like Three Peace Sweet to me. It was very rough and ready in the early days (also great fun) but it has become slightly more refined through time.
How much involvement does each member have in writing songs? Who generally has the most creative input?
Andy Cant over time has probably written the most. He's not only a composer of music but is good with lyrics. However, more recently Davie Miller has been coming up with the majority of pipe tunes while Stewart Shearer and Kenneth Harcus have been developing their song-writing skills. I (Phil Anderson) generally work on most of the arrangements in the studio although Stewart also spends a lot of time with me when he's in town.
Your music has been reported as 'difficult to categorise'. How would you describe it to someone who has never heard it?
After playing at the Rootin' Aboot festival in Aberdeen, one write-up described us simply as a 'Big, bold band from the Orkney Islands.' Personally, I refer to it as energetic Contemporary Celtic but I've never been good at categorizing music. The beauty of this kind of band is that we just use whatever style we feel appropriate for the backing. Sometimes it's rock, sometimes reggae, even country at times.
What has been your favourite album so far?
For me.....probably Generations. At that point it seemed like the band was moving up a gear - things were progressing, evolving. We haven't been playing so much recently and third albums are always thought to be the hardest. We've had great feedback from the recently-released 'Blue Skies' so we're very happy on that score but there's always the fear that the band is moving in an adverse direction in the public's eyes. You can't keep things the same or people get fed up. Change things too much, and fans complain that the band's not like it used to be.
Which has been the best received generally?
It's hard to give an accurate answer. On Blue Skies release, we had a long list of potential customers to notify by e-mail. Many of them bought albums and gave us feedback as a result. We've therefore had more positive feedback from Blue Skies in a short period of time than from previous albums. Having said that, when our debut, Lightning Touches was released, the whole thing was new and every shop and house I visited had the album playing. It was also voted 'Best Celtic Album of 1999' by Moray Firth Radio. Six years on, the novelty has undoubtedly worn off but I think people's interest will still continue, in the songs in particular, as they are written about local subjects/history.
Did you ever think you would achieve as much success as you have?
I think it's amazing how well-known Three Peace Sweet have become, considering we've done so little touring. A friend in Aberdeen assured me I'd be surprised at how often the band's name is mentioned there. Unless we all give up our other commitments, success/touring will be limited. It's so hard to organize a band of that size with all members being so active in other projects. Also, being island-based, although offering a degree of uniqueness, causes many problems regarding travel. It's not viable to go to, say, Edinburgh for a one-off gig. It costs a lot of money and consumes about three days.
Kenneth is interested in music production - how much is he involved with the production of your own albums?
Unfortunately with Kenneth living on a different island, we don't see that much of him. In addition to him being a first class drummer, he's a very good bass player and has great musical ears but practicality gets in the way of heavy involvement in the studio.
Has he worked as a producer with any other artists?
He has played on several albums by Christian artist Michael Harcus (also from the island of Westray). Kenneth is not credited with production but comes up with a lot of ideas for arrangements and without doubt enhances any recording he plays on. He recently bought some recording equipment so we may hear some of his own productions soon.
You have played with various successful bands around Europe and America - which has been your favourite to be a part of?
I'd have to say the European pop group 'Middle Of The Road' was the most exciting experience for me. The scene was huge. We played at many massive and prestigious venues, appeared on loads of TV shows and took part in numerous publicity appearances, launching new-model cars, opening Asda-type shopping centres etc. Some shows even supplied police escorts to aid our transport. Oh....yes, the money was great too. We all lived in the UK and just flew back and fore to the gigs, being picked up by the promoters representatives at the airports. We toured with many other famous bands - some from the 60s such as the Tremolos and Mamas & Papas, 70s artists like the Rubettes, Suzi Quatro and Showaddywaddy. We once did a TV show with Status Quo and appeared with some more modern acts such as Alannah Myles, Steps and The Backstreet Boys. In pre-EC days, we couldn't cross a border between countries without giving the customs men signed photos - autogram cards as they called them.
And finally, who is your favourite Orcadian artist?
Golly!!! I've never thought about that. I think Derek (Dodds) Low has a great and potentially commercial voice. Unfortunately he doesn't live here any more. Leah Seator also has a very mature-sounding quality voice which could work well in any situation, whether a jazz club or rock festival. Douglas Montgomery is a great fiddle player with great attitude too. He also plays other instruments well. I guess none of them are promoting their own names too much, instead choosing to be band members. There's a relatively new band, Gutter Sound, who are excellent. The female lead vocalist was pregnant which may explain why they haven't been seen for a while but I hope they appear again....soon.