Exclusive Interview with Tyla from Dogs D'amour

The Dogs D'Amour are a rock and roll band formed in 1983 in London, England. Over the years the band has had various line-ups, the only constant being vocalist Tyla.

Our man on the scene, Bryan Heath, got to talk to the man himself on the cusp of their new UK tour and ask him a few questions regarding the old members and his notorious rock and roll life style.

How are the preparations for the tour coming along? Looking forward to it? What can the audience expect? 

YES, everything on schedule looking good and cant wait for it to start. 

Any plans to do any of the old material (Errol Flynn, satellite kid?) and what, if any new stuff do they intend to play?

Well if you just do new stuff the older fans moan and if you only do old stuff new fans moan so its hard to keep everyone happy so we will be doing a wide selection of everything old and new. should be about an 8 hour set, only joking about an hour and a half, basically if we don’t have a curfew I would keep going as long as the fans stay. 

You have a reputation for being the "rock star" (drinking lots, partying etc) does this still go on or has age calmed you down? 

Well I still like the odd drink or two but being a family guy with 2 kids its not best to get wasted with them around lol 

A lot of the old skool fans would like to see the original Dogs D'amour again,will there be any chance of the old line up getting together at some point?

Well one is in L.A one in Middlesborough  one in New York so booking a studio is a problem lol, no we still keep in touch, calls and emails but they are busy with their things and I'm just keeping on with mine. 

You have 18 solo albums..any plans for any more?? 

Oh yes, I just keep working you know pen and paper in pocket and it just comes when it comes, I have even written lyrics down on my oyster card in the past! I am redoing all the old albums including A graveyard of empty bottles, the record company didn’t want to do it so I'm going to do it myself with some new videos as well. I have already put a couple on YouTube so check it. 

You used to do the artwork for your covers do you still do the art? 

Yes yes that’s what I do I love it, I love painting guitars, becoming a musician was never my dream I just started doing it and I'm lucky to be still at it but art is always something I will love to do. 

I always thought of you as an American band as you had that look, I was surprised to discover you were actually British, do you get that a lot?

Yes some people think I'm American, Australian but I have a background from Portsmouth and the midlands. (said with an unmistakable midland accent!)

http://www.myspace.com/tylaandthedogsdamour 

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The Dogs D'Amour Live this December

 

 

The Dogs D’Amour

Plus special guests The Lucky Strikes

Sunday 4^th December 2011 – O₂ Academy2 Islington

Thursday 8^th December 2011 – O₂ Academy2 Oxford  

Friday 9^th December 2011 – O₂ Academy2 Liverpool

Saturday 10^th December 2011 – O₂ Academy2 Newcastle

Sunday 11^th December 2011 – O₂ Academy3 Birmingham

 

£12.00 adv + STBF (Regional) / £14.00 adv + STBF (London)

Tickets available from venue box office / 0844 477 2000 / ticketweb.co.uk 

 

Friday 21st October:As it approaches twenty five years since their breakthrough album ‘In the Dynamite Jet saloon’, The Dogs D’Amour will make a return to the live arena for five UK shows this December. Now legendary, Dogs D'Amour gigs are surrounded by tales of debauchery and destruction, unadulterated rock 'n' roll antics and excesses.  

 

Fronted by the inimitable Tyla, The Dogs D'Amour were unleashed onto an unsuspecting and somewhat mediocre UK music scene during the mid 1980s. With their ramshackle pirate-meets-Dickens style they pioneered a unique mixture of glam-punk and stonesy rock 'n' roll. They sang songs about sweet sorrows and told torrid tales of destruction - all perpetuated by their ‘do-or-die’ attitude. Their music and style stood out from the rest, as did their iconic artwork created by frontman Tyla. His quirky illustrations of mischievous rock n’ rollers up to no good adorned the bands album covers and sleeves.

 

The Dogs D’Amour played their debut gig in London, England on April 12th 1983. They had UK chart success with ‘Satellite Kid’, peaking in at Number 26, as well as several other Top 40 singles and albums. From 1994 Tyla focused on his demanding solo career and in 2000, The Dogs release ‘Happy Ever After’, and in 2002 the band opened for Alice Cooper on his European tour. In 2005 Warner Brothers release a best of ‘Heart Shaped Skulls’ featuring new artwork and liner notes from Tyla, plus all their promo videos on a DVD bonus disc. 2006 Tyla tours the Dogs in UK and Europe  for over 100 dates releasing a live DVD/CD of the shows titled ‘Unleashed’ whilst also maintaining a solo career which includes  well received Art Exhibitions in Europe and an extensive 6 month solo tour of the USA in 2007.

 

And now, 2011, in between all the Dogs activity, Tyla has managed to release an impressive 18 solo albums to date and has recently re-recorded ‘In the Dynamite Jet saloon’ for its 25^th Anniversary. He is also set to release his latest solo album ‘Quinguaginta’ marking his 50^th year on this earth. In true Tyla style the album is an eclectic mix of songs about real life, heart ache, tragedy and true love and a wonderful collection of soul searching anthems from a man who has never been afraid to put his heart out on the line.

 

For further info go to www.justanenglishoutlaw.com

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