The Oppostion

Hello boys, happy new year! First question: how are you?

I’m fine thanks. Very wet, damp, cold London.

Who's behind this stage name The Opposition

Mark Long, Ralph Hall and Bernard Husbands

Tell us about your career

We’ve been a band in various line ups since 1980. We’ve released albums in the UK, Europe and world wide and toured extensively, mainly in the early 80s.

Why reissue Breaking The Silence, Intimacy and Promises? What is the goal to improve?

Our old bass player, Marcus Bell, very sadly died a couple of years ago and it seemed like a good time to reflect and it’s something of a tribute to him. So we are relaunching the band with a new bass player and a new album and it seemed a good time to remind ourselves and the public of what had gone before.

How would you define your music?

I can’t – never been able to. I also find it difficult to define other people’s music. We are definitely a dance band, rap artists, soul, reggae or jazz. I suppose we could be loosely defined as alternative rock and in France there was a very good description of bands like ourselves – Cold Wave.

What are your musical influences?

Everything from Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Blue Nile, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, the Eels, and so on and so on…. Ralph, the drummer, is and was a massive Led Zeppelin fan – actually probably not Led Zeppelin but just Jon Bonham! Ralph’s new kit for future gigs is the massive Jon Bonham drum kit. So expect a loud version of the Opposition…

Do you come from a family of artists or am I next to the plate?

What does that mean? My dad was a van driver and my mum was a glass blower – so no is the answer to that question.

Without music life would be ...

Ordinary, less surprising, fewer goose pimple moments

Day or night?

Night - definitely

Studio or scene?

Both – they’re very different

To be compared to other artists, is it drunk or is it flattering?

It’s inevitable

The key piece of the 80s for you is which?

Being able to make earn money, living the dream.

A title that puts you in a good mood for the day ...

I don’t like being in a good mood

A ritual before going on stage?

Going to the loo

What can I wish you for 2018

Selfish: releasing our new album and touring – and a few people listening and coming along!

I was delighted to interview you, I leave you the last word.

Why Trump? Why Brexit?

Thank you very much and nice continuation

Crédit photo : Sacha Lehrfreund.