INTERVIEW WITH PAUL RIVERS - PROMOTER OF THE PITZ MUSIC VENUE MILTON KEYNES.
With Bedford Alternative Music, (JULY 2009).

Starting a series of interviews with local promoters in and around the Bedford area B.A.M. asks promoter of the Pitz music venue in Milton Keynes a few questions on his time at the venue, his early years and the current scene. Knowing Paul to be an extremely busy person I was both gratified and fascinated by the quick reply along with his views and knowledge. The recommended venue not far from Bedford can be found as part of the Woughton Leisure Centre, Rainbow Drive, Chaffron Way, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes.
With both local acts, Band Blitz BOTB gigs and some fantastic big name acts making it one of the best live music venues in the area and not far from Bedford - check it out sometime. The Pitz tickets + info, The Pitz Myspace

When did you first become interested in music and what were your early favourites and influences?

I STARTED LEANING TOWARDS MUSIC AND GUITAR BASED MUSIC WHEN I WAS AROUND 7/8 YRS OLD, DECIDED TO BECOME A ROCK FAN AT 10 & BY 12/13 I WAS HOOKED AND NOTHING ELSE SEEMED TO COME CLOSE, I GUESS EARLY INFLUENCES WERE: OZZY, RAINBOW, THIN LIZZY, MOTORHEAD, ACDC, THE DAMNED, SEX PISTOLS.. THE CLASSICS.

Did you used to go to gigs when you were younger either local or larger venues?

I DIDNT START GOING TO GIGS REGUARLY UNTIL I WAS 17 AS WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL I WAS THE ONLY KID IN THE WHOLE SCHOOL THAT LOVED HEAVY MUSIC, I GOT A DETENTION FOR SCRIBBLING BLACK SABBATH ON MY MATHS BOOK.. BUT A COUPLE OF MATES THAT WERE INTO MUSIC SCRIBBLED UB40 OR SIMPLE MINDS THEY DIDNT GO HEAVIER THAN U2 SO I WAS OUT ON MY OWN & DIDNT HAVE ANYONE TO GO TO GIGS WITH!! FIRST GIG I WENT TO WAS 'MONSTERS OF ROCK 1988' SAME YEAR DISCOVERED 'THE PITZ' AND WAS A PITZ KID MYSELF!

Were you ever in a band yourself and if so what memories do you have?

I WAS IN 2 BANDS, MY 1ST - 'RAT SALAD' WHICH WAS 1990 TO 1995, THEY WERE I GUESS HARDCORE/METAL BASED, AND WE WERE BACK IN THE DAY THE BIG BOYS OF MK, PACKING OUT ALL THE VENUES ETC. AND MY SECOND BAND WAS - 'OFF TARGET' WHICH WAS 1996 TO 2000 THEY WERE MORE LIKE ROCK/PUNK LIKE AN ENGLISH HOT WATER MUSIC SORT OF THING.. WE GOT SINGLE OF THE WEEK IN KERRANG WITH OFF TARGET AND LOADS OF REVIEWS ALL OVER EUROPE & AMERICA, I WAS THE SINGER AND ORGANISED A LOT OF THE GIGS ETC, DURING OFF TARGET I WAS ALSO CREWING AT THE PITZ AND GOT OFFERED THE CHANCE TO RUN IT IN 1998 IT WAS SUCH A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING TO NOT JUST BUILD UP THE PITZ BUT ALSO THE MK MUSIC SCENE, I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BANDS OR A COOL JOB, SO I LEFT THE BAND AND TOOK THE JOB.. BUT I LOVED BEING IN A BAND AND BEING A PART OF A GANG, TAKING ON THE WORLD AND DO MISS IT SOMETIMES!

How long have you been promoter at The Pitz and how did you get to be there?

I STARTED CREWING AT THE PITZ IN 1995 & HELPING A MATE DO HIS SHOWS IN LONDON, STARTED AT THE BOTTOM AT THE PITZ WORKED MY WAY UP ( I NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT) AND IN SUMMER 1998 TOOK OVER RUNNING THE PITZ AND HAVE BEEN PROMOTING EVER SINCE, I GUESS BEING IN POPULAR LOCAL BANDS, GETTING TO KNOW THE THEN PROMOTER AND KNOWING ALL THE LOCAL ACTS AND NOT BEING SCARED OF REAL TOUGH HARD WORK, ONCE I GOT MY CREW JOB I KNEW I COULD DO SOMETHING WITH THE PLACE, SO JUST WORKED HARD AND GAINED KNOWLEDGE AND GOT MY CHANCE!

What were the early days like getting started at the venue?

HARD WORK!!! THE PITZ WAS DEAD AND PULLING IN 30 PEOPLE TOPS AND THE CENTRE STARTED DOING MORE THEATRE THAN GIGS. ON TOP OF THAT THERE WASNT ANY MUSIC COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG ORIGINAL BANDS.. IT WAS ALL COVER BANDS IN AND AROUND MK THEY RULED THE ROOST. SO I HAD TO TAKE THE CLUB RIGHT BACK TO THE BARE BONES, START WITH REGULAR LOCAL NIGHTS, THEN ONCE GOT A REGULAR CROWD SLOWLY ADDING IN TOURING BANDS BUILDING UP THE CLUB AGAIN STARTING FROM SCRATCH AND ALSO BUILDING A MUSIC SCENE GETTING ALL THE BANDS SUPPORTING NIGHTS,EACH OTHER AND PLAYING THE NIGHTS ETC, BUILDING A COMMUNITY.. THE PITZ HAS BEEN IN EXISTANCE SINCE 1987, I WAS THE FIRST PROMOTER TO DO LOCAL BAND NIGHTS THERE. I USED TO WORK PRETTY MUCH 7 DAYS A WEEK JUST ALWAY PROMOTING, HANDING OUT FLYERS, NURTURING UP BANDS THAT COULD THEN PACK THE PLACE OUT, BUT IT WAS IMMENSLY EXCITING AND A MASSIVE BUZZ BUILDING SOMETHING HOWEVER SMALL AND PROVING EVERYONE WRONG THAT IT COULD BE DONE IN MK!

Are you a full time promoter or do you have a separate different day job?

FULL TIME PROMOTER, BUT ALONG THE WAY I HAVE WORKED WITH BANDS, HELPED PEOPLE GET STARTED PROMOTING, LECTURED STUDENTS ETC.

What big name bands have you met and played The Pitz or bands that have gone on to be bigger and which big and local bands have been your favourites?

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD A FEW BANDS - LOST PROPHETS, DANDY WARHOLS, PLACEBO, ASH, GOMEZ,MASTODON, SICK OF IT ALL, CLUTCH, HUNDRED REASONS, MANSUN, CAPDOWN,PARADISE LOST, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - ALL CAME THROUGH THE PITZ AND WENT ONTO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.

I WOULD SAY FOR LOCAL ACTS SOME OF MY FAVOURITES AND ACTS THAT HAVE REALLY DONE AMAZING SHOWS OVER THE YEARS ARE - BOSOMUNKEE, PHEMA, CAPDOWN, OUR MAN IN THE BRONZE AGE, HELLO HALLELUJAH, FELL SILENT, GRAVEL TRAP, RISE INSIDE.

What for you has been the best and most memorable gig nights that you have put on?

NOT ALWAYS BIG TOURING ACTS, ANYONE CAN DO THEM IF YOU GOT THE MONEY TO PAY THEIR FEE'S, IT WAS FOR ME THE FIRST LOCAL NIGHT THAT SOLD OUT AND DOING THE BAND BLITZ OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, JUST PACKING THE PLACE OUT AND WATCHING THE KIDS GO NUTZ TO LOCAL TALENT IS AMAZING.... FOR BIGGER ACTS PUTTING ON 'SICK OF IT ALL' AS THEY WERE MY HEROES WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND ALSO PUTTING ON 'CLUTCH' 3 TIMES AS THEY ARE ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVE BANDS AND LASTLY PUTTING ON 'GWAR' AND NOT BEING SHUT DOWN, THEY CAUSED MAYHEM AND FILLED THE THEATRE WITH SO MUCH FAKE BLOOD AND WATER WE HAD TO GET SWIMMING POOL SQUEEGEES AND GET THE WATER OUT THE BUILDING HAHA.

Any gig disasters, shows not going quite as planned etc?

PUTTING ON CAPDOWN IN THE BIGGER SPORTSHALL, SELLING ALMOST 1000 TICKETS AND END OF NIGHT WHEN ALL THE PARENTS CAME TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS, THEY BLOCKED ALL THE MAIN ROADS LEADING INTO THE CENTRE, THE POLICE THOUGHT IT WAS A MAJOR CAR CRASH AND SENT DOWN HELICOPTERS, POLICE DOGS EVERYONE.. AND IT WAS JUST MY LITTLE GIG!!

ALSO HAVING TO GO ONSTAGE AT A SOLD OUT 'OZRIC TENTACLES' GIG TO TELL PEOPLE THE GIG WAS CANCELLED AS THE DRUMMER JUST DONE HIS BACK IN.. THAT WAS A BIT NERVE WRACKING AND I GOT A LOT OF 'BOOS' THAT NIGHT HAHA.

Which band type nights would you say work better metal/punk/indie/rock etc?

REALLY ALL OF THEM, JUST NOT ALL TOGETHER OR AT ONCE. THE SECRET IS GUESSING WHAT GENRE IS POPULAR AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME AND LEANING TOWARDS THAT AND WHEN IT CHANGES.. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES, SOUNDS SAD BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE TRENDS ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OTHERWISE YOURE OVER! AND MY JOB IS TO GIVE POEOPLE A PLACE TO GO AND NIGHT OUT.. NOT FORCE MY TASTES DOWN THEIR THROATS, THATS COOL IF ITS JUST A LITTLE GIG IN A PUB, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO 500 PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THE PEOPLE!

How would you say the internet played a part with the promotion of the venue?

THE INTERNET HAS HELPED GET THE CLUB TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF MK.. BUT I THINK ITS DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD, BEFORE 2003 (WHEN MYSPACE WAS LAUNCHED) EVERYONE HAD TO GO OUT DO THE HARD GRAFT AND GET THEIR CROWD, ALSO THE CROWD STILL CAME OUT TO NOT JUST SEE A BAND BUT CATCH UP AND SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS, AFTER 2003 ONCE MYSPCAE AND THE VARIOUS OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES LAUNCHED, I THINK IT TURNED BANDS, PROMOTERS LAZY THEY WANTED BIG RETURNS FOR THE TINIEST OF EFFORT AND FOR PUNTERS, THERE WAS NO REASON TO GO OUT AND SEE THE BAND IN THE FLESH, YOU CAN NOW WATCH A LIVE CLIP, DOWNLOAD A TUNE, MESSAGE A FRIEND.. NO NEED TO ACTUALLY GO OUT ANYMORE. AND WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED FOR IT!

Does the Pitz get any budget funding for the running and putting on bands?

YES, ITS REALLY JUST A BIG COMMUNITY VENUE AND NEEDS A SHARE OF THE FUNDING THE CENTRE GETS TO KEEP IT GOING AS WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO CHARGE SILLY MONEY FOR TICKETS SO WILL NEVER REALLY BE ABLE TO MAKE BIG PROFITS.

Over the years would you say the live music scene has picked up, dropped or stayed the same?

UP'S AND DOWNS.. BUT I DO THINK ON A CLUB LEVER RECENTLY IT HAS GOT WORSE, THERE JUST DOESNT SEEM TO BE THE 'LOYALTY', 'INTEGRITY' & 'VALUES' IN A LOT OF THE NEW YOUNGER GENERATION GETTING INTO MUSIC,THEY ARE THE FUTURE.. BUT THEY DONT UNDERSTAND ABOUT SUPPORTING VENUES JUST TO KEEP THEM GOING OR SUPPORTING THE TOP LOCAL BAND BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SEE THEM BREAK NATIONALLY ETC.... LIKE I SAID THEY HAVE COMPUTERS, FACEBOOK AND HAIR STRAIGHTENERS NOW, TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND NOT FOR THE BETTER I'M AFRAID, FINDING KIDS THAT TRULY LOVE THEIR MUSIC AND ARE OUT ALL THE TIME WATCHING BANDS, SUPPORTING SCENES ETC HAS BECOME A LUXURY.. WE NEED A REVOLUTION..

How many bands a day/week do you get asking for a gig, where are they mainly from and how do you deal with them?

LOADS, INTO THE 100'S EASILY, TO THE POINT WHERE I GET SO MANY INQUIRES THROUGH THE PITZ MYSPACE I CANT EVEN ANSWER ALL OF THEM!, EVERYONE WANTS A GIG, I AM OVERWHELMED WITH BANDS.

How have the BOTB like band blitz nights been going, any memorable experiences from those?

LAST YEAR IT DROPPED OFF A BIT, BUT 'THE BAND BLITZ' ON THE WHOLE WAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS, I RAN IT FOR 10 YEARS AND FOR THE FIRST, SAY, 7 YEARS EVERY HEAT AND FINAL SOLD OUT,SO YOUNG BANDS PLAYING IT GOT TO PLAY THEIR FIRST PROPER GIG TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, THE STUFF OF DREAMS AND A GREAT BOOST TO THE BANDS THAT TOOK PART.

What advice would you give to bands asking venues for a gig?

BRING PEOPLE, SIMPLE AS THAT!! PROBLEM WITH BANDS THESE DAYS IS THEY WANT THE BIG GIGS, WANT PAYING,WANT THE GLORY! BUT CANT BRING PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY THINK HARDCORE PROMOTING IS SENDING A BULLETIN ROUND MYSPACE!.. THE BEST WAY TO BUILD A CROWD IS STILL THE OLDEST WAY.. GET OUT THERE, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET STUCK IN WITH FLYERS, CHATTING, NETWORKING, SHAKING HANDS GIVING PEOPLE A BIT OF YOUR TIME AND BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PEOPLE, WHO IN TURN WILL APPRECIATE THE RESPECT YOUVE GIVEN THEM AND SLOWLY, IF YOURE AS GOOD AS YOU SAY YOU ARE, YOU WILL BUILD A CROWD AND ONCE YOU CAN BRING A REGULAR CROWD AND ALL THE PROMOTERS FIND OUT YOU CAN... YOU'LL HAVE THEM APPROACHING YOU TO PLAY THEIR NIGHT!

Havent you managed/looked after some MK bands and how did that go?

YEAH A FEW OVER THE YEARS, MORE GUIDING, NURTURING UNOFFICIAL MANAGER AND THE DEAL WAS IF THEY BROKE BIG THEY WOULD HOPEFULLY REMEBER ME HAHAH.. BUT ITS BEEN GOOD EXPERIENCE AND I ENJOYED IT, KIND OF TOOK ME BACK TO WHY I FIRST GOT INTO MUSIC.

How would you describe the MK scene at the moment and how would you say it differs from other areas?

I THINK MK IS STRUGGLING LIKE ALL THE MAIN TOWNS SURROUNDING THE CITY AT THE MOMENT, TIMES ARE HARD AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED, EVERYONE HAS TO FIGHT FOR EVERY PERSON.

Do you get much competition from other local places like some of the pubs/clubs and outside music venues?

NOT REALLY, MY MAIN COMPETITION IS 'THE ROADMENDERS' IN NORTHAMPTON AND THATS REALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE DOUBLE THE SIZE OF US SO WILL GET OFFERED THE BIGGER ACTS AND ITS A COLLEGE TOWN SO MORE YOUNG PEOPLE/STUDENTS, I THINK ALL THE TOWNS BEDFORD, NORTHAMPTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, MILTON KEYNES ARE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME FEW PEOPLE, WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER AND BACK IN THE DAY USED TO SHARE LOCAL BANDS AND CROWD AND IT GAVE THE BANDS A CHANCE TO PLAY A COUPLE OF TOWNS ALMOST LIKE A MINI TOUR, WHICH WAS GREAT TO TOUGHEN THEM UP, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT AS WE'RE SO CLOSE AND I DONT WANT TO SEE PLACES GO DOWN!

What other interests and activities do you have besides working with the music scene?

ERM.. TO BE HONEST EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED OR AN OFFSHOOT OF MUSIC, I LIKE ART, PHOTOGRAPHY ETC AND IT ALL STEMS FROM MUSIC.

Any promising MK new or young bands to look out for?

HEART OF A COWARD FOR METAL, RISE INSIDE HAVE JUST SPLIT INTO 2 BANDS ONCE THOSE BANDS ARE UP AND RUNNING THEY WILL BE PRETTY SPECIAL, FIRETONE, ALTERSKETCH, THE KRANX..CHECK EM OUT.

What have you got coming up at the Pitz for visitors to look forward to?

'EVITA', 'LINCHPIN', 'GUN', 'WE ARE THE OCEAN', 'DREADZONE'.

Have you anything else to say to sum up the interview?

THANKYOU FOR WANTING TO INTERVIEW ME KEITH, I APPRECIATE YOURS AND YOUR WEBSITES SUPPORT!

(I would like to thank Paul for taking part in this interview for Bedford Alternative Music www.bedfordalternativemusic.co.uk)