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24 September 2014

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Dominic says The Others are for everyone

The Other Dominic Masters

Helen Otter
Somerset may not be the most rock and roll place in the world, but that didn't stop Dominic Masters, who's originally from near Wells, forming this year's most hotly tipped band. I caught up with him just before The Others kick off their UK tour.

Whereabouts in Somerset are you from exactly?

I was actually born in Southmead [Hospital] in Bristol, but lived in Dulcote near Wells until I was four years old. Then I lived in Haybridge until I moved to London when I was 18 to study politics.

Are you looking forward to your UK tour?

Definitely. We've just come back from playing in Sweden, and we did the Nottingham University Freshers' Ball a few days ago.

This will actually be our second tour, and it's for five weeks across the UK. It will be the third time we've played at Mamba in Taunton, and we're looking forward to coming back.

We're making an effort to play the smaller towns, as music means a whole lot more to people if there's only one venue in a town.

Tell me the story of how you formed The Others

"Our approach is that you can be anyone you want to be a fan; you don't have to fit into a mold. It's who you are on the inside that matters"

Dominic Masters

I'd been in London for about a year and I started to go out quite a lot as I was bored with my job.

I went to a lot of the rock and roll clubs and started hanging out with the bands. So whenever I was asked if I was in a band, I just kept saying yes.

I was at The Last Rockers Club when Victor from The Parkinsons asked me what my band was called in front of a bunch of people.

I came up with The Others on the spot, which actually fits us really well as we're a band for everyone with a really strong community ethic.

Victor also arranged for us to play a set there, so within two weeks we had a gig lined up.

I called up some friends I hadn't spoken to in a while and formed the band. We wrote six songs in three days and rehearsed three times and then played the gig.

There were 150 people there and it was a really good set. We were booked again straight away and we've just gone on from there.

Would you have formed a band anyway if that hadn't happened?

Yeah, definitely. My first band failed and I was always going to form another one. This just gave me the kick up the arse I needed.

What's the band all about?

We're not afraid to deal with social issues. This is for the Poor is about being born into poverty. Stan Bowles is about platonic love.

We try to look after the outcasts, the disenfranchised, the disillusioned. We're libertarian, a socially inclusive band.

Has music always played a big part in your life then?

The Others want to look after their kids

Yeah, of course. My mum bought me my first album, Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. My musical influences are Pavement, Sonic Youth, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. All the band are into different music though so we have a lot of influences.

How did the 853 Kamikaze Stage Diving Division come about?

We've always talked to our fans over the couple of years it's taken us to get where we are. We have parties after the gigs and we text, phone and e-mail our fans. We're guaranteed a good audience and it's all about looking after the kids.

That's not what normally happens between bands and their fans. Why do you think you've got such a strong relationship with them?

I think the lyrics have a lot to do with it. They're about troubled subject matters which appeals to the kids.

Our approach is that you can be anyone you want to be a fan; you don't have to fit into a mold. It's who you are on the inside that matters.

If you come to one of our gigs you'll see so many different types of people: multiethnic, multisexual, fat people, and thin people. It's not like The Strokes' gigs where everyone looks the same.

When I perform I wear the same jeans and t-shirt. My press and PR people go mad at me but it's all I need. We want to break down the boundaries of celebrity and image.

Do you think you'll be able to maintain this relationship as you become more popular?

Yes, I believe we can. If the amount of fans we have keeps growing, it will get harder, but I've seen The Libertines do it, so I know we can. It's all about time management and we want to look after the kids.

last updated: 16/08/05

Have Your Say

Have you seen The Others live? Are you planning to see them when they play in Taunton? Did you know Dominic when he was growing up in Somerset?

The Others Rock
I saw The Others play in Birmingham and they were crazy yehhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Molly
Dom is God!!!

Dink
Yes I knew Dom growing up- always was the unusual one. Lovely Guy but I would say that I'm his Auntie...and yes all his family (except me) still live in and around Wells. Good Luck to you Dominic XXX

Marky Mark
I saw The Others play at the Academy 2 in Birmingham, and they were amazing, i'm keeping tabs to know when they're new album is out, and if they're gonna be playin in Birmingham again, very charismatic frontman in Dominic, liked him a lot!

Jasper
I saw The Others at Lowlands 2005 (The Netherlands) and the y were amazing! I love the bassist's sunglasses.

Rocio
I saw The Others play at reading festival 2005. Absolutely fantastic !

Donna Williams
Went to school with dominic saw the Others at glastonbury 2005. amazing to see you on stage.well done. says hi to william. dominic was a mad one at school i will always remember him.

KHGB
dom's one of the good guys.. he spreads his time between his friends, (Friends, not "fans") as much as is possible, and always makes time for you... how many guys would do that? truthfully? not many... dom love ya man x

kim
dom is a great guy, he really reaches out to the fans and it's amazing to be part of the whole community

amanda corke
All the best to you dom, (and Will)remember you fondly.Best of luckxx

amy
i think the others are great, wana catch them live when they tour. i remeber seein their video for 'william' an loved the song straigh away, the album is great too.

Wez
I saw The Others at Download 10/6/05 I'd never herd of them befor that. They were given a rubish rateing in Kerang but I thaught they were amazing. Dominic Masters is a top frontman with loads of stage presents.

Tom
Dom is a top bloke! (i no his sister) hope da tour goes well!!

Mo
Went to school with Dom and used hang about with him. Man City fan if i recall. Good on ya son. Still got that anoying laugh?

Amy
I saw the Others last night (6/4/05) in Manchester and they were all so good, Dominic is a top performer...but they said they were gonna do an after-show party in a bar...i went, and i'm sure they didn't show. Does anyone know different? Surely it's not like Dom to do that to his fans?

Tom
I knew Dominic during my time at the blue school in Wells. As a group they play some good music. Dominic's singing style is a little less than easy on the ear to say the least. Good luck to them, but will they ever play in Wells again I wonder?

Jade
the others are a brilliant band who makes sure they look after their fans.

Adam Stone
I've seen them live and I knew Dom when he was growing up, he's still trying to grow up but I don't think he'll ever leave the playground. Fair play to the yung'un!!

steph
the others are great, they stand for a lot of things and their songs are a lot deeper than other songs out there, the fact that they care about their fans so much makes them different to a lot of other bands out there who just dont care.

Abby
I saw The Others on 25h January in Birmingham. Dom came outside and took me backstage as I was first in the queue. He said he respected his fans for respecting him. It was a fab night!!

Ron Callis
I used to work with Dom when were flogging ad space to big companies and we used to talk a lot over a pipe and a quiet pint near Goodge Street. I guess you could say we developed a love that had music at the soul of it, Dom and the band are great and a real difference in this age of aloofness within these so-called 'cool' bands. It was good to know that Dom was like me as I think we formed an extra special bond. He really believes in what he's doing - I'm still flogging ads!!!

sheryl pagan
i think that the others are really inspiring and they touch me in a way that no-one else does

abbie walsh
how cool are the others im going to see them on the 25th i cant wait !!!!

louise
ive only just heard the others and i think that they are fantastic i cant wait to see them live soon

MISHY GARDNER
GOING TO SEE THEM TOMORROW IN MANCHESTER.CANT WAIT ! WHY BE ORDAINARY WHEN YOU CAN BE EXTROIDANARY .

jak western
yes we all knew domanic hes a good man ive shared many good moments wiv the man especily in the wessex hotel ;)

Noddy
I haven't seen them or anything but the way Dominic referrs to his fans as "the kids" is about as patronising as it gets. It doesn't even work ironically.

Rob
Just saw the lead singer on Buzzcocks...he got 0wn3ed

jonn-boy rebel and the furious five fingers
i have seen the others twice now, i saw them at glastonbury 04 on the new bands stage and they rocked, i also saw them at the louisiana in bristol and guess what? they rocked again, they are a great band with a great sound and are destined for bigger and better things.

...
expect a wonderful gig from the others.

Charlie Barron
This Sunday i will be attending an Others gig! I do not have a clue what to expect!!

aveda
i heart the others

SeTaReH
I love Domin Masters. Pure - And - Simple. :)

Martin Cooke
I would like to say that Dominic`s first job was a Paper round for S.R.Cooke ih the City of Wells

Jo
I saw the others live at the brixton academy when they were supporting the libertines.It was tricky to get the crowd warmed up for such an amazing band but they tried hard.Now that they are much bigger im off to see them again at Scala and can't wait!

Robert Paul
I went to the Blue School in Wells with Dominic and I bumped into him in London recently. He told me he was in a band and I thought 'Aren't we all.' I didn't realise he was in The Others. When we were in school he had this strange club/cult where Ralf Harris was God, and each person in the club was a minister. I was the Minister for Dodgy Looking Eyes. Can't remember what he was. If anyone can, then let me know.

Liz
I saw The Others when they played the Moles club beginning of October and they were fantastic! Dominic knows how to work the crowd and everyone really enjoyed them. Not to mention that prior to their performance I spotted them in another pub eating dinner and my boyfriend asked for a lighter and they kindly gave him one :)

thedollflies
the others are great, no doubt about it, doms a great guy, frontman, performer, speaker, i could go on, reading 04, they were so energetic..best crowd as well. dom was very kind to put us down on the cavern gueslist, as i never really have any money. Come one and all Exeter Cavern, it`ll be one hell of a night.

lala
just wanna know when they'll be coming to this miserable city of L.A. Can't afford to go back to london so I'm stuck here waiting for them and babyshambles.

Miss k
What local school did Dominic go to, and does he still have family in the area?