"We had loads of fans when we played Norwich," offers Jennie.

"Every time we play Norwich, the gigs seem to sell out," adds Brooke.

Has the band achieved their intended goals for the year?

"Well, Will got his picture in Kerrang," reveals Bernie. "But we don't set many goals because it's so easy for them to fall down. Though one is to get into the top 100. 'Big Wheels' charted at number 107."

The band worked with Clive Martin for the album.

"Yeah he was great," begins Bernie. "One of the best geezers in the world. You can't faze him. Apart from twiddling the knobs you have to have someone that can make sure everything goes okay. It was the first album so it was weird and it was in a studio on it's own little island in Cornwall. Just us four and Clive."

How does the band feel about the constant harping over their ages? Does it annoy them?

"It did at first," answers Will. "It was really patronising because it was like, 'They're 17 AND they can play music'."

Bernie goes on, "Though after about a week no one wanted to be associated with that at all but the one thing that really annoyed us was how we were compared to bands that we really, really don't like. Like Symposium and Midget and we're like 'We're nothing like them. You know, screw you!' For the first week we just laughed it off but after the tenth person went 'They're 17 and they can play guitars." We were like, 'Grow up you sad fuckers'."

Interview by Simba Bhebhe 2000
Photography © Beggars Banquet 2006