Zac Stephenson

ZAC STEPHENSON from SPECIAL NEEDS

1. Who are you?

I’ve been described as “the (drunken Irish) rosy-lipped bastard son of Liam Gallagher and Macauley Culkin.

2. No, really, who are you?

Zachery Stephenson, lead singer of up-and-coming beat combo Special Needs.

3. What are you up to at the moment?

Sitting in an internet cafe whilst the sun splits the stones outside. Later I’m gonna microwave some chips and watch Dog Soldiers before I take a taxi to the LSE for the gig tonight.

4. What three rules would make up your manifesto?

1. Always take the wrong path. It’s more interesting.
2. Try to be nice to people if you can. 
3. If you want to kiss a girl, ask nicely. You’d be surprised at how often they’ll say yes.

5. If you were the dictator of a modern industrial country, what would
you abolish? What laws would you implement?

I’d abolish adverts for Bacardi and ones that feature kids going to the toilet. Well anyone going to the toilet really but it’s mostly kids these days. I find it distasteful.
I’d increase Jobseeker’s Allowance but have a careful human culling policy. Who needs Keith Davidson or Kyle Johnson?

6. What are your lyrics about?

Our lyrics are about escape, romance, possibility.

7. What is your opinion on the contemporary music scene? What do you
like/dislike?

Despite the press at the moment I still think it’s mediocre. I like quite a few bands, but usually more a song or two by each band. At the moment my favourite bands are Razorlight, Metro Riots and Maximo Park. But that represents only me, not the rest of the boys. 

8. What distinguishes you from your peers?

That we have really done it the hard way for a start. We write songs about escaping from the city and the scene with a positive idea. About finding something beautiful where you least expect it. I don’t want to criticise anyone but I think there are quite a lot of lazy songwriters out there.

9. Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Rehab probably. No, being able to afford Crunchy Nut Cornflakes every day. Happy. In my early thirties worrying about going bald.

10. Any regrets?

Not really. Maybe the fact that it’s taken so long to make people understand what we’re about. And the fact that I’ve gotten drunk so much and pissed away so much time and money on making myself look stupid.
Je ne regrette rien.

http://www.specialneedsweb.com