Interview Logan Wedgwood of Donkeypunk;

If you want to know more about Donkeypunk or listen to some of their music, head to www.donkeypunk.com or their Myspace, www.myspace.com/donkeypunk




Rock Rules •You have just finished your tour of New Zealand; do you have any plans to tour beyond those borders?
Logan: WE ARE PLANNING A TOUR OF JAPAN IN A FEW MONTHS AND A TOUR OF AUSTRALIA AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE ARE ALSO PLANNING ON PLAYING A FEW SHOWS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND IN A FEW WEEKS TOO



RR•Were there any memorable moments in your last tour?
Logan: EVERY MOMENT WAS MEMORABLE! THE GOOD AND THE BAD! WE HAD THINGS GO HORRIBLY WRONG WHICH WE LEARNT FROM AND DEALT WITH, BUT THE GOOD SHOWS THAT PACKED OUT AND WENT WELL ARE MEMORIES WE WILL KEEP FOREVER. SPECIFICALLY WHAT GOES ON TOUR STAYS ON TOUR


RR•What can fans expect from seeing you live?
Logan: A CRAZILY HIGH ENERGY SHOW WITH...CIRCUS MIDGETS AND ACTUAL DONKEYS....


RR•How long have you been playing music?
Logan: AS A BAND WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER A YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING LIVE SHOWS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. INDIVIDUALLY WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING MUSIC FOR YEARS. WE WERE ALL BORN TO BE IN A BAND, AND WERE LUCKY THAT WE GOT THE 5 GUYS TOGETHER THAT WE DID.

RR•What's your favourite thing about making music?

Logan: THAT MAGIC MOMENT, WHEN YOU ARE THROWING IDEAS AROUND PLAYING DIFFERENT PARTS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST CLICKS AND THINGS START WORKING AND A RAD SONG STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE. THEN WHEN YOU PLAY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME LIVE AND PEOPLE DIG IT. THATS WHAT ITS ABOUT FOR ME.


RR•What got you into it?

Logan: I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MUSIC. I LEARNT THE PIANO WHEN I WAS A KID, AND STUDIED CLASSICAL MUSIC IN HIGHSCHOOL. BUT WHAT GOT ME PLAYING THE DRUMS WAS AN ALBUM CALLED "THE COLOUR AND THE SHAPE" BY THE FOO FIGHTERS. I HEARD THE DRUMMING IN THE INTERLUDE FOR "EVERLONG" AND FROM THAT MOMENT DREAMED OF PLAYING THE DRUMS. IM SELF TAUGHT, SO WHEN I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A KIT I WOULD COME HOME AND PLAY ALONG TO FOO FIGHTERS ALBUMS EVERY DAY TRYING TO TEACH MYSELF HOW TO PLAY.


RR•What are your influences?

Logan: MY PERSONAL BIGGEST INFLUENCES AS A DRUMMER ARE DAVE GROHL AND TAYLOR HAWKINS, AND CHAD SMITH FROM THE CHILIS. MY OTHER FAVOURITE DRUMMERS ARE THE GUYS FROM AFI, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AVRIL LAVIGNE, TOOL, METALLICA, LIMP BIZKIT, THE LOST PROPHETS, BLINDSPOTT, SHIHAD, AND MUSE. MUSICALLY I JUST LOVE ROCK MUSIC. DRUMS THAT ARENT TO FLASHY, JUST LAY DOWN THE BEATS AND CRANK IT UP. HEAVY GUITARS, THUMPING BASS AND A GOOD OLD FASHIONED SCREAM OR BIG NOTE IN THE RIGHT PLACES.




RR•When did you know it was going to be your career?

Logan: WHEN WE FORMED DONKEYPUNK. ALL THE MEMBERS COULD FEEL THAT DONKEYPUNK HAD A CERTAIN MAGIC AND FELT THAT WE SHOULD GIVE IT EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOT. NOT EVERY BAND IS AS LUCKY AS WE ARE.




RR•What's next for the band?

Logan: PLANS FOR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SHOWS COMING UP IN AUCKLAND, THEN WE HAVE THE SOUTH ISLAND, JAPANESE AND OZZY TOUR. WE ARE RELEASING OUR SECOND SINGLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND FILMING ANOTHER MUSIC VID. IN JUNE WE ARE RECORDING OUR DEBUT ALBUM AT YORK STREET STUDIOS. AND THAT WILL KEEP US FAIRLY BUSY FOR THIS YEAR!


RR•What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Logan: I ALWAYS SAY FORMING THE THE BAND. ALSO MAKING PEOPLE SMILE AT OUR SHOWS. AND WE ARE PRETTY PROUD OF "JESTER OF KINGS" ITS OUR FAVOURITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE AS A BAND. AS YET WE ARENT BIG ENOUGH OR FAMOUS ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE WORLD. BUT WE ARE STILL PLANNING ON IT


RR•Where does the band name come from?

Logan: WE WILL NEVER GIVE THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION BUT TODAY ILL SAY WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE ASIAN MARKETS FOR $3.50.


RR•How did you guys find each other to create Donkeypunk?

Logan: RICHARD AND SAM STUCK TOGETHER AFTER THEIR LAST BAND BROKE UP. THEY ADVERTISED FOR A LEAD GUITARIST, A DRUMMER AND A BASS PLAYER. THE