Trez Amigos

We met Charly and fish from the Trez Amigos to discuss their musical history, there influences, where they are now and where they see themselves in the future. A light hearted funny chat… .

How the 4Q doing?
Charly- good
Fish – bloody good, ta

Trez amigos, where did the name come from?
F – I was never told the name, I only found out our name when I saw it on a poster at one of the gigs we were playing at.
C – I came up with name, it means three friends.
F – Or two and a bass player (laughs)
C – When I was young, back in Switzerland, Me and my friends called ourselves the Trez amigos. It seemed like an appropriate name for the band
F – Charly only had three friends.
C – No, two including me, (laughs).

How did the band start?
F – It all started in my bedroom back in 1987 when I first heard iron maiden and I thought, oh in a few years time; I will play bass with a guy from Wigan and a guy from Switzerland. No honestly Charly started the band; they just asked me because they were desperate (laughs).
C – We had the opportunity to record after the previous band. It started with me and Dave as a studio project, and I met fish coincidentally because I was going out with his girlfriend and he was there.
F – When he says ‘going out’, he doesn’t mean ‘sexual relations’ (laughs). I was actually there with a couple of gay friends. We had just been to see Lue Reed at the Apollo and went to big hands. In walked Charly and he started chatting to my two gay friends. They then roped me into the musical project formally known as the show. My two gay friends fell out because one of them thought that the other was copping off with Charly
C – (Laughs), it’s actually true.
F – I went for an audition with Charly at his place. Charly lives with Dave, it’s like the monkeys.

Let’s talk about your style of music. Do you have any influences?
C – Its pop rock music generally but more from the blues side.
F – Being the youngest member of the band, I want to bring a sort of new age influence to it, a bit of punk, more of a candy floss punk.
C – (Looks at fish) you can’t say that many expressions, you’re talking bull.
F – I can’t stand Blink 182, but I’m a major capitalist and I know that stuff sells (laughs).
C – You don’t like them? I think we all have similar music tastes though, like ACDC for example. Apart from Dave who likes Elton John and Phil Collins. Apparently he’s been listening to Celine Dion.
F – It’s started to rub off in his drumming. He does want us to do the theme song from titanic within our set. Dave’s not here at the moment because he’s following the Celine Dion tour in Sri Lanka (laughs).

I’ll look forward to hearing your take on the Titanic theme tune. What else can we expect from the Trez Amigos in the near future?
F – We have a few tracks recorded which are heavily influenced by Manchester
C – We haven’t been together for long, so we are always looking for new gigs.
F – Yeah, first we need to get a new drummer (laughs), sorry Dave. No, seriously, just do some more recording, get some decent gigs, and get some gigs out of the area. Although I do love playing in Manchester, I do have a van. If anyone reading this fancies getting us some gigs, do please get in touch.
C – We have just started out looking seriously for gigs.
F – I think at the moment we are really tight with our music. We are like a precision punk rock band. It’s all down to the quality of the rhythm section in my opinion (laughs)
C – it’s especially important in a three piece band.

How would you describe the Manchester music scene?
C – it’s a very lively music scene. One drawback is that with so many bands, it’s hard to play the good venues.
F – To be fair, it can be easy approaching venues with just a C.D and them saying they like the music. In that way there isn’t not much pretentiousness. I’ve been playing gigs for years, I was in a signed band, but it was still rock hard getting people to listen to you. In Manchester, the venues are much more receptive.
C – If you’re good at what you’re doing and not trying to wing it, you’ll do well in Manchester. We had a record company that was interested in us. It ended up being a shit deal though that would have given us nothing in return.

It’s a shame the record deal didn’t work out. Would you ever change your music for the likes of a record label?
C – To an extent. I would still want to play the style I liked though, else what’s the point.
F – If they said, we are going to get axel young to produce your album, but would you mind if we made a few suggestions, then I’d be like, no, fuck off you c**t, what have you done. Start wearing decent trousers (laughs).

Haha, while we’re talking about the Manchester music scene, how did you both end up in Manchester?
F – Well, let’s go to the longest journey first (looks at Charly)
C – That’s fair enough; I formed the band (laughs)
F – (Speaking in German) Sie Deutsch
C – (Speaks even more German…), fish still thinks he can speak German. I think it’s important to also mention I’m from Switzerland, not from Germany.
F – (Speaks in German again…), I’ll translate that so you can put it in the magazine – I’m actually nearly fluent in German, and you play guitar like an arsehole (looks at Charly and laughs)
C – (Laughs), getting back to the question. I played in a band in Switzerland, who were quite successful for about 6 years. I was doing music in Switzerland and I realised that I really should come to England because of the big music scene. I brought my guitars and some members from the band. After three and a half months I decided to stay in Manchester. I was playing with Dave at this time. It’s been about two years now and I’m in a band with people I really want to play with
F – I moved to Manchester for two reasons; The Smiths and Joy Division.

Do you want to speak on behalf of Dave?
C – Well he’s from Wigan, so he was already from around here. He also goes to Uni in Manchester
F – So yeah that’s why we are in Manchester, plus you know, it’s a cool city. I love it. I’ve been around the world and I think Manchester is bloody great.

I know what you mean. I was in London last week and when I got back to Manchester I thought to myself, ‘oh yes, this is the place to be’.
F – (Looks at interviewer). Sorry Jacko, we are not interviewing you. Just keep your travelling journals to yourself (laughs).

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?
F – I keep playing in the band because Charly will get angry if I don’t (laughs), and I don’t like it when he’s angry
C – To be honest we know what it takes now, and we are going to start doing it.
F – Well you know, Bon Jovi isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re fucking successful. We’ll just carry on the way we are going and enjoy what we are doing.

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