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OK iv typed up parts of a feature that was in Kerrang about the Kerrang XXV tour. I havnt typed up the whole thing cos it is really long but iv typed up all the bits that involve Aiden. Enjoy.
From the outside Jilly’s Rock World in Manchester looks harmless – just another night club in the north of England. Then suddenly the doors slam open and Bullet for my Valentine drummer Moose – in case of mistaken identity on part of the bouncers is ejected, protesting noisily into the night.
Inside at the aftershow for the rowdiest show on the Kerrang XXV tour so far, the scene is one of perfect chaos. Having been there all of 10 minuets, most of Aiden have a local rock chick attached to their faces. “There’s been a lot of partying on this tour,” laugh’s Aiden’s wiL Francis. “Those Bullet guys are crazy! They’re animals! Once the drinks star getting passed it’s a fucking full on party.
A few hours earlier on Saturday, January 21st, there’s already a couple of dozen fans waiting outside Manchester Academy, waiting for the bands. A flu-ridden Matt (Tuck BFMV) finally sticks his head out of the bus and starts to sign the paper thrust under his nose.
As Matt makes his way inside, he’s met by the sight of Still Remains’ Mike Church giving wiL a high-speed piggyback around the venue, before they collapse into a testosterone-fuelled frenzy of wrestling and nipple biting (wiL for the record, fights dirty)
“When we heard we got this tour we fucking nearly shit our pants,” laughs wiL. “We didn’t have any idea what the guys were like, so you’re always kind of scared there’re going to be dicks cos we’re the opening band, but they greeted us with open arms. The first day of the tour felt like we had already been friends for a really long time.”
It’s only a week into the tour and already a fan cracked her jaw open on the barrier during Hawthorne Heights’ Southampton set, and onstage bruises have been acquired by almost everyone concerned (wiL almost broke his foot the first night from kicking the air to hard, while Still Remains’ TJ Miller hit himself with his tambourine until he broke his instrument and turned his own leg purple). And most terrifying of all Angel from Aiden has developed a taste for the true evil that is Snakebite and black. If everyone gets to Brixton with their minds and bodies intact, it will be a miracle.
The show in Manchester is mayhem. Backstage, as the cheering out front becomes deafening, Aiden are bouncing up and down psyching themselves up. As they pile through a blistering set- and Still Remains’ Mike, guitarist Jordan Whelan and keyboard player Zach Roth form a three man circle-pit to the side of the stage – wiL walks over the crowds heads, and has his tie ripped from his body.
Back at Aiden and Still Remains’ shared bus a few girls have managed to blag their way on and are shooting venomous looks at anyone who is not a musician. While they are giggling with Aidens bassist Nick Wiggins, Still Remains distance themselves from anyone who is clearly trying to pull a band member.
Aiden and Still Remains use there Sunday day off to go to Liverpool for a headline Barfly show for a latter band. After getting to bed a 6am – there was more drinking and a fair bit more drumming to be done on the bus once Jilly’s hit closing time – everyone bar a teetotal Zach and wiL is feeling more then a little fragile. Aiden drummer Jake Davison deals with this by starting on the whisky and coke at 2pm (“It’s my day off!”).
After a week on the road the us smells like something has died in ti, but it’s home. Aiden guitarist Jake Wambold has his hyperactive little brother Troy on the road selling their merch. Livewires, the two of them barley stop talking for three whole days.
In Newcastle the screams that meet the bands are even more intense then in
Manchester. As Aiden cause a mutiny on the balcony (security guards frantically trying to make people sit down while the band encourage them to stand up and dance), Troy tells everyone in an Aiden shirt “that’s my brothers band “
It takes all of about 20 seconds for the Jager to finally be cracked open after the final encore as the building slowly empties, and with that, having apparently leant nothing about restraint in Manchester, it’s off to Legends night club for some more dancing to the Foos and Refused.
As K! leaves Aiden and Still Remains bus next morning, carefully stepping around gargantuan pools of pot noodles and alcohol puke outside (courtesy of a member each of Still Remains and Aiden who will remain nameless to spare their blushes), the only sound is the odd slight snore coming from the bunks. The chances are, the quiet won’t last long.
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