Still only boys

Joe Morgan of Inme explains how they are finding it hard to believe their major success isn't a dream.

The corniest filmmakers or most predictable comic book writers probably wouldn't dare to come up with the story of Inme.

"We grew together from the age of four in east London". Two lads called Joe Morgan and Simon Taylor began jamming together when they were eleven, Joe picking up the bass, Simon a pair of drumsticks. Two years later, Dave McPherson, who completed the line up with guitar and vocals, joined them.

Five years later, and the three lads are still together, despite a name change from Drowned to Inme along the way. They had also, through "dedication" and almost without realising, managed to morph into "a half decent band from the tuneless bashing just about everybody else produces in their early days."

"In March 2001, we were playing a show in North London which was being attended by an A&R man from Music For Nations." During their set, Inme had equipment problems and finished late. That meant that Mr Record Company person turned up just as they were starting their last song. He forgot all about the band he came to see and told Inme "he would be seeing them again".

A few showcases later and the lads themselves back in their rehearsal room playing to an audience of two, one of whom was the Managing Director of Music For Nations. The result was that they were signed up, and the last month, the third single, off their debut album, "Overgrown Eden", entered the UK charts at number 9. That was quickly followed up by the release of the album itself, which smashed into the charts as the highest new entry at number 15.

Speaking about this, Joe says: "I think it's freaked our friends a bit because we were just another young band a short time ago and we're still only boys. It does sound like a cliché, and is the kind of thing normally associated with Popstar programmes where kids are taken out of obscurity to the charts in a very short time."

And he adds: "We wake up every day thinking it was a dream and that it's all over and we are really aware it could end at any time so we're enjoying everything as it happens hoping that the clichés continue."

The hype in the UK is huge with NME tipping them to conquer 2003 and Metal Hammer dubbing them bona fide big players. "We hear it all the time, but the difference is that it's all true." The album is one of the most exciting sounds you'll hear this year and it's frightening to think how far these lads could go.

by PJ Ahern