Glamour Of The Kill, or GOTK as real fans refer to them as, will be performing their own special brand of metalcore on the Bohemia stage on Friday, July 9.

Established in York in 2007, the quartet have been working hard making a name for themselves ever since.

Ahead of GOTK's appearance at Sonisphere Festival Davey Richard answered our emailed questions.

GLAMOUR OF THE KILL Q&A

Q: What is your motivation behind Glamour Of The Kill’s sound?
DR: We are four guys that take our influences from everywhere and we are not scared to show that in our songs. We give 100 per cent. We put our all into everything and I think the music we make is just what has been shaped up through years of touring and writing together. We always make sure the songs we write are going to make people have a good time and party with their friends. We want to be the biggest band in the world - I think that is our biggest motivation.

Q: What’s the story behind your stage name?
DR: A few years back we had stage names - having grown-up listening to bands like Motley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses and U2, and seeing their stage names like 'The Edge' or 'Slash' - we thought it would be a cool idea to do the same; but we have grown up a lot since then.

Q: Tell me how the band all met?
DR: Me, Chris and Mike have all been playing in bands since we were in nappys. I was playing in a band with Ben and when that broke up I stole him and introduced him to Chris and Mike. We sacked our drummer at the time and got Ben in and the rest is history!
We started writing music that was actually good and changed the name to Glamour Of The Kill.

Q: What’s your current favourite Glamour Of The Kill’s song you like to perform live and why?
DR:I love performing all of our songs live but the one that I always look forward too is Feeling Alive which is the first single off the new album. We play it last in our set and it is such a feel good song; it gives the audience one last chance to party before we get off stage.

Q: What on stage antics will the audience experience from you guys at this year’s Sonisphere Festival?
DR:When we played Sonisphere in 2009 we had a huge wall of death and we want a bigger one this year!
Just expect an energetic party. We are going to make sure that everyone gets involved and has a good time with us. It will be one to remember.

Q: Tell me about your fans, what are they like?
DR: Our fans mean the world to us. We have a loyal fanbase that has been with us from the start and we also have new ones that we make everyday. We always stick around after shows to meet them and get pictures with them because they have done so much for us, its the least we can do.

Q: Do you have any bizarre fan moments you can share?
DR: Not really bizarre just amazing moments really.
It's just amazing that people can wait outside a venue in the freezing cold for us, just to say 'Hi'. Or travel four hours to come to one of our show. We love it and we owe our fans a lot.

Q: Is there a musician who inspired you to become a musician?
DR: I love The Beatles and what they have achieved is something I think every musician wants to do in their lifetime. Complete world domination. I think seeing that motivates you and makes you want to do the same and push yourselves to new limits. They are a band that wrote hit after hit and that is something we want to do. We don’t ever want to write a shit album.

Q: What inspires your music?
DR: Everything. The sound we make is a mixture of things we are feeling at the time. As for lyrics we base most of them on things that other people go through so that people can relate to them.

Q: How do you write your songs
DR:It starts from a cool idea that one of the band members comes up with; and, when we all have an input, we all focus on it then a song pretty much comes from that one idea. We all have so many influences that parts stem from other parts and it makes it so much easier for a song to be born.

Q: What was your inspiration for writing The Summoning
DR:We had toured relentlessly for more than two years and we had a few songs already written for the album. We went into the studio and wrote around ten songs that we knew we wanted to be on the album. I think most of inspiration just came from everything we had been through as a band to that point. We knew we wanted to write an album that everyone loved and that we ourselves were proud of.

Q: What do you think about the state of metal music at the moment?
DR: I believe it is a very exciting time to be involved in the scene. There are some really amazing bands breaking through and pushing into arenas - just like what happened in the 80s! We are just excited to a apart of it.

Q: What have you learnt most about being a musician?
DR:That its a cut-throat business. A lot of what people say is bullshit and you are going to get a lot of setbacks but you just have to push through them because sometimes there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Q: When you were starting out what kind of job did you have to do to make ends meet
DR: I've had loads of little shitty jobs. I've worked in kitchens, building sites, retail shops pretty much anything, to see me through until the next tour. It gets hard but its something you have to do if you want to continue doing what you love.

Q: Do you have a partner or family; has following you’re dream had an impact on them
DR: I am engaged, but she is a model and is usually as busy as I am with travel and stuff. We go through weeks without seeing each other, but its true what they say... absence does make the heart grow fonder.

Q: What’s your hometown like that you grew up in?
DR: I grew up, and currently live in, York. Its a very nice little city with a lot of history. The music scene isn’t great so we always made sure, when we started the band, that we played out of York as much as we could and then come back to play in our hometown once a year.
York will always hold a place in my heart as its where all my family lives and its just a beautiful little city.

Q: Where do you like to “hang out”?
DR: I don’t really "hang out" anywhere when I'm not on tour; I like to spend time with my family and loved ones because you grow to miss them when your away. I love going to shows and checking out bands new and old. But most of my time is filled up with hanging out with my family.

Q: What did you learn at school outside the classroom?
DR:That your school years will make the best memories - so not to take everything to seriously and live your life to the full. We're all going to die so you might as well go down with a smile on your face.

Q: How old are you and the rest of the band members?
DR: Me and Mike are 22 and Ben and Chris are 23, so we are a young band. (But feeling old haha!)

Q: What music did your parents listen to when you were growing up?
DR: My parents listened to things like David Bowie and Bob Dylan. I wouldn’t say it has affected the way I write music but I think its influenced me a lot in different ways definitely.

Q: Did you have any musical instruments growing up at home?
DR:My sister had this big old acoustic that I actually learnt how to play guitar on. There was a string missing and there were scratches all over it, but it made a sound and I think it made me want to go out and buy a better looking one.

Q: Who were your music teachers and did they have any influence on your style?
DR: I attended Tadcaster Grammar, school which at the time was actually a pretty musical school. The teachers didn't have an influence on my style it was more the bands that came out of the school. The band Colour Of Fire went to our school and they influenced the sounds of our earlier bands.

Q: What was the first metal album you ever bought?
DR:I can't remember the first metal album I ever bought. I can remember my dad having a cupboard full of vinyls and I came across Iron Maiden's Number Of The Beast. That record really opened my eyes on how I wanted to write music and defined what I wanted our sound to be like! Everything from the galloping verses to the amazing catchy choruses. UP THE IRONS!!!!

Q:Who’s got the worst habit in the band?
DR: It has to be Chris our guitarist. He does this thing we all call "the monthly pick" - he picks his nose and I can't even describe to you what comes out of it. (Imagine the little green thing from Ghostbusters. It's definitely not for people to see with an uneasy stomach.)
Ben’s timekeeping is pretty bad too - but he’s got Irish blood in him so we'll let him off.

Q: What’s on Glamour Of The Kill’s rider for Sonisphere Festival?
DR: We're not really a diva-band when it comes to riders. As long as there is enough alcohol to take down an elephant then that’s good with us! We usually get 36 beers, a bottle of Jack, energy drinks and some snacks to munch on before we play.

Q: What’s your favourite drink
DR: I love beer But I think my favourite drink would have to be Jack Daniels and Coke! There is just nothing better than playing a show and getting off stage to a nice tall iced-cold glass of Uncle Jack! I love it!

Q: What is the most rock and roll thing you’d like to buy or do?
DR: I think it would always have to be something to do with the band: I'd love to spend loads of money on our stage show! Have loads of over the top pyro and us zip-lining everywhere. We are all massive fans of KISS and watching their stage show makes you want to step yours up.

Q: After Sonisphere what’s next for Glamour Of The Kill?
DR: We're doing a few shows to keep us busy, but we have just changed management so we are currently getting everything sorted with that. We still have a lot of touring that needs to be done for this album cycle so we can't wait to get all over the world - and to make sure that everyone gets the chance to hear The Summoning live!