Grand Slam Talk New Album, Musical Influences And More

Grand Slam co-founding member Laurence Archer, and front man Mike Dyer, make it extraordinarily clear that theirs has been a true journey of destiny, one where early unions ended up leaving unfinished business on the table, and one which finally sees Grand Slam attending to said-business with the brand-new album Wheel Of Fortune. Mike Dyer kindly spoke to us at JLTT: 

Who is in Grand Slam, what do they play and how did you all meet?
Grand Slam consists of Laurence Archer Guitarist, vocals and original founder member with Phil Lynott, Benji Reid Drums and percussion, Rocky Newton on bass, vocals and Me Mike Dyer.

What is your earliest musical memory?
I remember hearing love me do by the Beatles from my crib.

Your new album ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is out now. How did you want to approach making the album?
I think we all wanted this album to stand on its own two feet. Hit the ground album tipped its hat to the original unmastered songs written by Phil and Laurence. The original demos had only been lifted and sadly put out as ideas. I was very much our foundation. It was our coordinates if you like that set the course to where we want to be here rocking on the mighty Wheel of Fortune and how we naturally and organically sound. None of Grand slams tone is mimicked. It’s just simply the melding of four kindred spirits on a mission to rock spread love, fear, joy fun with, natural, hard hitting earworm rock songs, that are heartfelt, real life snapshots that reflect our inner fears. Life and past exploits.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?
The album was recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, Laurence produces the Mix we pull faces Laurence finds compromise and then we all are happy, it seems to work to me

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
One: leave the audience wanting more.
Two: leave the audience wanting more and buying our albums.(in order to feed my starving wife and the 13 kids)

One of the tracks is the single ‘Spitfire’. What is the story/inspiration behind the track?
Spitfire came from a piece that was really kicking in the studio that needed something it pumped but the words just didn’t come out of the pumping tribal musical chant. The guys done amazing job and I went in the vocal booth and whaled something in there. Slowly but surely a top line was appearing but then just before retiring frustrated this chant came out from which was almost tiredness and a Jim Morrison approach. I lay in bed and read story about a young boy who had a fear of heights. He eventually overcame his fear by jumping off a highboard and making himself do it. He became A Spitfire ace at the age of 17 but his ability to overcome his original fear finally, brought in sadly to his own death.
Continuation of the story from last week were after a few months of originally Recording spitfire at Chapel Studios. I was just retiring for Bed on the Friday night and crashed out. I have been having a few nightmares however this one was real and I woke up in a cold sweat around about 730 in the morning, I sat thinking of my late mum the very real nightmare. One minute I’m asleep next minute the screeching of a screaming engine and the whack of a wing crashing through my roof into me! later that mourning I called my wife told her of my dream.Then told the band that I had a nightmare and woke up in a cold sweat thinking that I had Ibeen hit by A Spitfire.
At 1:20 pm on the same day A Spitfire crashed sadly killing its pilot a few estates down from RAF Coningsby we could hear the rescue helicopters from the back of Chapel Studios.
Taking into consideration this was a long time since we’d last recorded their? And our latest single out is called Spitfire? Wheel of Fortune!!!

‘Spitfire’ is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?
I’m so blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people a dear friend of mine Fred Johanson whom I’ve worked with on many projects before bravely he his multi talented hands and experimented with his brave new masterclass in modern techniques fused with the most incredible real spitfire footage courtesy of flyaspitfire.com 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
SM 58!

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
My hometown was Bromborough overlooking Liverpool. Five words: sex drugs and rock roll.

How do you look after your voices?
I personally live in the gym, and like any muscle the vocal chords need to be trained and looked after. No milk! Ginger every morning lemon water and beetroot for my lungs. Did you know beetroot increases your lung function by up to 10%? I steam and Sauna every day and I stay hydrated.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a 2003 novel by Mitch Albom it really had an impact on me It follows the life and death of a ride mechanic named Eddie who is killed in an amusement park accident and sent to heaven, where he encounters five people who had a significant impact on him while he was alive.

Which of the tracks on your new album hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
a) happiest-Starcrossed lovers
b) angriest-Spitfire
c) most reflective? Afterlife and Feeling is strong Jo’s Song.

Who designed/created the album artwork?
Curt Evan’s @37design he’s a joy to work with and listens to ideas. The original cover artwork for Wheel of Fortune was by Paul Halliwell and then layout and pagination was compiled by Curt.

Given your extensive back catalogue, is it difficult picking a setlist and do you have a specific song selection process?
Yes, usually Laurence comes along with a set lift and we play it through and we find a roller coaster set of keeping us and more importantly all our Grand Slam fans fully satisfied.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
My musical knowledge came from my big sister who played everything. Soon as I heard the Beatles, Deep Purple, Free, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, sabbath and my first big influence was Roy Wood of The Move and later Wizard.

 Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?
We are currently just finishing off on our office work Recording further tracks for Japan and looking forward to getting out there and showing off our mighty Wheel Of Fortune.

Was it a difficult album to write?
No it was a very easy birth. Laurence brings along the foundation of an earworm. He will provide me a canvass to allow my lyrical imagination to run wild. Rocky brings the colour to vocals and he and Benjy Reid have a sixth sense. We are all working off the same blueprint.

What makes Grand Slam happy and what makes you unhappy?
Performing in front of live audiences is 2nd to none it’s a mighty responsibility privilege and feeling they can make you the happiest person on earth not performing is like being in a caged animal that is aware of the most precious of all commodities “Time