If you had to pick the last song you ever heard what would it be and why?
An extremely perplexing question! Right now, the first song that has come to mind is At The Waterfront by Waterdown. But others would include The Cure’s To Wish Impossible Things, Judas Priest’s I’m A Rocker and Def Leppard’s Mirror, Mirror.

What is your favourite AKO song and why?
In terms of the material we’ve recorded, I think it would have to be new single The Last Goodbye (On the new album my favourite track will be The Sweetest Enemy or Broken Window to the Past). I wrote the Last Goodbye about one of the most difficult eras of my life, an era that I don’t think is yet over, despite it being over a year from its inception. In the face of futility, it was the only thing I could do. Writing it, recording it, playing it live and listening to it back – all extremely cathartic. Music gave some kind of form to the complexity of the emotions – and negativity became a constructive achievement. Okay, I couldn’t overcome the reality of the situation but I could write the song - I could do something. Terrifyingly, I recently gave a copy of it to the girl about whom it was written. Why? Who knows. I know that it ‘s ultimately a useless gesture - it will never really reach her, she’ll never really understand. But how could she? Oh, fuck…

What was your most influential album while growing up?
Before the age of 11 there are five key albums:
AC/DC- Highway to Hell
Def Leppard - Hysteria
The Cult – Sonic Temple
Judas Priest - Turbo
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
Teenage years were dominated by The Cure’s Disintegration and Therapy?’s Troublegum. I think you can hear the influence that all of the above artists have had in my compositions.

What has been your most embarrassing moment while in AKO?
A gig we played with Number One Son at The Garage in 2001. Our bassist at the time. JJ, didn’t turn up until 47 seconds before we were to go to onstage (No hard feelings dude, I understand that you had no choice) and then, 3rd song in, I broke a string. With no second guitar, I had to race offstage and desperately scramble through a sea of guitar strings looking for a replacement whilst the others stood around in awkward silence onstage. Metal Hammer, Kerrang!, Sony and Black Sabbath’s manager were there. Nice. Somehow, we got a 8/10 review in Metal Hammer though…

What song do you have in your CD player at the moment?
3 CD changer, tracks: Thursday- How Long is the Night?, White Lion -It’s Over, Waterdown – At the Waterfront. All about failed relationships. No surprise there…!

Who would you choose to play you in a story about your life?
Remember that kid from mid 90’s US series Eerie Indiana? No? Failing that, me. I did study Drama at Bristol University…!

What can fans expect from AKO in the future?
An amazing new album, more intense, evocative and powerful than anything we’ve done before. More melody, more aggression, more guitar solos! The new release should inaugurate our plans for Global domination. No, really.

Thanks Ben, is there anything you want to add or ask us?
Just to extend a thank you to everyone who’s stood by us for so long – especially Ronnie Lee, Rob Hamblett and Nikki Bennet. We really appreciate it.

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