Focus on … Craig Smith

The last twelve months have seen the Scaremongers soar. Out of the long-cherished dreams of Armitage and Smith, they emerged, fully formed, their sound resonating along the backbone of England. Early gigs, a body of immortal double A-sides, representation on ITunes, Cherry Red and Cloudberry, radio airplay aplenty, first TV appearance on The Culture Show, and now first long-player, the instant classic Born In A Barn.

What constitutes this illustrious north country outfit? Armitage, again and again proven a colossus in the cultural life of these islands and beyond. Smith, the power behind, in front and on top of the throne. And the supporting Scaremongers, those vital moving parts in the band machine, sometime penumbral shapes who now and again step forward into the light. Time we got to know them all better . . .

The last year also saw the demise of Shoot, football magazine of choice in my youth. In a retro-fixated way, here we replicate the famed Shoot Focus on… interview format. First up, chief Clattermonger himself, Mr Craig Smith…

Name:
Craig Smith

Height:
An even 6 foot

Weight:
Fluctuates. 14 stone and a few pounds

Previous club:
Lloyd Almighty, The Dez Lawrence Soul Explosion, Route 56, Conscience, Phase

Famous relations:
My uncle's an Ewok!

Married:
Yes

Children:
None

Car:
Car-less

Favourite player:
Nick Watts, the keyboard player - I could listen to him for hours

Favourite other team:
Today it's Can. Any other day it might be Orange Juice, Jesus and Mary Chain, Black Keys, Smokey Robinson, Stereolab, St Etienne, Radiohead, Go Team, Lo Fidelity All Stars, Public Enemy, The Supremes, Beastie Boys, Velvet Underground, The Buzzcocks, Music For Grown Ups, The Walker Brothers, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The Cookies, The Shangri Las or any of a million other bands

Most difficult opponent:
The guitar - it beats me every time!

Most memorable match:
Presteigne - the gig at The Gramaphone was great, but we were a chucked-together group of musicians at that point. Presteigne was the first gig where we coalesced a bit, where we got an inkling that we'd the makings of a proper band

Biggest thrill:
Born In A Barn - I've wanted to release an album for 35 years

Biggest disappointment:
Born In A Barn - sometimes I can only hear what's wrong with it

Best country visited:
As a 'monger, it has to be Wales - it's the only country we've visited as a band.

Favourite food:
Ready Brek

Miscellaneous likes:
A Telecaster through a Fender amp with a bit of overdrive, dogs, pigs, donkeys

Miscellaneous dislikes:
Moths - we have an infestation

Favourite TV show:
Futurama, League of Gentlemen, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Match of the Day

Favourite singers:
Dusty Springfield, Otis Redding, Sam Moore, Beth Gibbons

Biggest influence on career:
Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous - it's why I picked up a guitar

Best friends:
My little brother, Armitage, The whole Scaremongers Crew

Biggest drag in soccer:
Not having enough time to dedicate to it. Or money.

International honours:
We did the gig in Wales - does that count?

Personal and professional ambition:
To do another album. And one after that. And another one after that.