Revolution Rabbit Deluxe Talk New Single, Music Video And More

Welsh post-punkers Revolution Rabbit Deluxe have released their new single ‘Parabellum’ and its accompanying music video. We at JLTT wanted to learn more and they kindly obliged:

Who is in Revolution Rabbit Deluxe, how did you meet and what do they play?

Rev Rabbit: The slightly surreal but almost true version: I (Rev Rabbit – Founder and singer of RRD) met Max Perera, our lead guitarist, cast adrift at sea. She was singing “where is my mind” by the Pixies. It was that which convinced me to persuade her to learn guitar and join forces with the rabbits. Lee Titterrell, our drummer, we picked up on the way to one of our gigs. He was attempting to hitchhike to 1920s London (long story). Tim Lawley, our bass player, we found on Craigslist. He was 50% off, seemed like a real deal at the time but I’m still waiting for my refund ☹️

What is your earliest musical memory?

Rev Rabbit: Music first intruded upon my awareness while watching a TV rerun of “Help” by the Beatles. They were singing “You’re Gonna Lose that Girl” and it really sparked my love of music and the emotions it can produce. Second, was my first ever listen to “Are Friends Electric” by Gary Numan. It made me realise that others were expressing similar thoughts and melodies to the ones that were in my head.

Max: Singing along to Beatles compilation tapes and Queen’s Greatest Hits 1 and 2 in the family car on long road trips as a small kid. This was one of the first ways in which I learned how to sing in the first place and also taught me the art of how harmonising works with backing vocals.

When did you begin songwriting?

Max: I started playing guitar when I was 11, and like many angsty teenagers I started writing terrible poetry when I was maybe around 14. It wasn’t until I was 16 I finally learned how to combine the two.

Rev Rabbit: When I realised that others felt the same way, I started learning to play to get my songs out of my head. My first guitar was an old Spanish with no strings so I threaded string on it so that I could learn the chord shapes, even if I couldn’t hear them.

Your new single ‘Parabellum’ is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

Rev Rabbit: The song came about as a direct result of the divisive and damaging election campaigns in the USA and UK. Its a plea for competing extreme ideologies to calm down, step away from the brink, and find some kind of peace. Some may say there can be no common ground but I think, unless we try, there never will be.

Where did you record the single and who produced it?

Rev Rabbit: It was recorded in a small industrial estate by Jeff Rose, of ex-Skindred fame. It was a collaborative affair so it was a bit of all five of us throwing in ideas and suggestions.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Max: Me clumsily spilling biscuit and cake crumbs all over the studio floor only for them to be immediately hoovered up by Rev Rabb’s two dogs.

Do you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the single?

Rev Rabbit: The main one for me was a Marshall in rack amp simulator. It cut down on lugging gear and sounded brilliant. Nice and chuggy.

Max also used the Marshall board. It was just smack on the nose with power and cutting edge.

Lee uses a Worldmax (Brass Hand Hammered) snare for a nice crack on his snare sound. He likes a nice crack

Tim’s setup is very simple which allows him to get a nice rumble on his Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision Bass.

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Rev Rabbit: Happiest: Rise – a song for the ground down to rise and live their best life despite disadvantages. Angriest: Tim Gurner Says – asking billionaire Tim Gurner to shut up and sit down. We don’t need the wealthy telling us what we need and how to live our lives

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

Rev Rabbit: This was a production by our bassist, Tim Lawley. The live sequences were filmed by Chris Peet of Northhouse Studios in Crumlin. Tim stitched and edited it himself and did a great job.

Who created/designed the single artwork?

Rev Rabbit: Again, Tim. He seems to have a flair for interesting ideas and follows through with style.

Was it a difficult single to write?

Rev Rabbit: The lyrics were straightforward. I was angry at some of the rhetoric around the elections. The song was a primitive structure missing a soaring chorus, so I messed about with it for a day or two until the idea of a key change by a tone occurred.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Rev Rabbit: For people to have noticed us and to garner a reputation for strongly composed meaningful songs played well.

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

Rev Rabbit: My ElectroHarmonix Green Russian moded Big Muff. My 100W eighties Laney Linebacker combo rocks.

Max: I use a Valeton Dapper Mini multi-fx pedal, paired with my Joyo Zombie 2 amp head or sometimes my Peavey Vypyr combo.

 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Rev Rabbit: Newbridge: Peaceful Victorian Welsh valleys village

Max: Max: Cardiff born, Cardiff bred. After I die, if anyone tries to bury me in Splott I will haunt them until the end of their days. I realise this is more than 5 words but there you go.

How do you look after your voices?

Rev Rabbit: You what now?

Max: Max: I like to gargle a mixture of wet sand and concrete while barking like an untrained seal.

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?

Rev Rabbit: 1984 – staggering novel, still relevant for our time, moody, grim, pessimistic. My ideal ground for writing.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Rev Rabbit: Max and I share many musical influences. Mainly Pixies, Beatles, Smashing Pumpkins, Feeder. Max also likes her metal (Sabbath, Mastodon etc). Something Rev Rabb is less keen on.

Max: Max: Only reason Rev Rabb doesn’t like metal is because he finds it too scary so he can only handle listening to it while cowering behind a sofa.

Rev Rabbit: Tim loves Mogwai and New Order. Lee is very eclectic but cannot be persuaded to listen to Rev Rabb’s XTC collection. A step too far even for Lee.

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025?

Rev Rabbit: Two more singles between now and 19th of September when our sixth and latest album comes out.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025?

Rev Rabbit: We’ve been busy recording so have put gigs on the backburner for now but we still play gigs that fall into our laps as they occur.

What makes Revolution Rabbit Deluxe happy and what makes you unhappy?

Rev Rabbit: Happy? Music, writing, and on a selfish note some recognition for our efforts. Unhappy? Politics in a broken system, inequality, injustice and Liverpool winning the league.