MEET DROZ

Tell us a little about yourself in your own words.

My name is Simon although, I prefer Droz. I’ve been with The DekkerTones for 9 or 10 years. I joined after being hounded by Tina, when the band I used to play in, split up. I planned to take a bit of a break following the split up, but Tina had different ideas… Thanks Tina!!

How did you learn to sing/play your instrument?

I learnt to play trumpet at school but didn’t enjoy playing classical and exam pieces. It’s a shame I didn’t find Ska back then.

What inspired you to get into it and who are your biggest influences? I played recorder at lower school and when I moved to middle school I decided to play something bigger and better. The music teacher at the time, Ms Taylor, suggested the trumpet. As it happens, my uncle is a brilliant trumpet player. I stopped playing trumpet when I left school. Until one day my mate Archie came into the office and played Special Brew - it was that song that I thought I might be able to play that! The rest, as they say, is history

What’s your favourite song to play live?

There are quite a few, if I had to choose? it would be Guns of Navarone, Nite Club or Inner London Violence

What’s your favourite thing about being in the band? Making people in the crowd smile and or laugh.

What’s the worst thing to happen to you at a gig? Having my wife Tracey juggle her boobies at me whilst I was playing a solo. I was Tit-ma-tised! I can’t remember if the solo was any good… wait a minute that was probably the best thing that has happened to me!! The worst thing was having sticky trumpet values. Nightmare!

What’s your favourite lyric and how does it relate to you? It’s a line from Special Brew “I love you and I know that you love me to” Can be directed at so many things… Ska music… Special Brew… oh and my wife Tracey!

If the DekkerTones were stranded on a desert island, who would you sacrifice first?

If this is from the perspective of the band still needs to be able to perform; I would sacrifice me. Glenn could more than cover my parts and everyone else is needed.

What would you say to someone who thinks ska is music for old timers?

If it’s not Ska it’s not music - There are many different genres of Ska; there is something there for everyone. I find it’s sssooo infectious, you just have to dance / skank or at very least bop along to it. 10. If you had to pick a different genre to play, what would it be and why? Probably Northern Soul - there are some great horn lines and I find the dancing fascinating.

What’s your drink of choice on gig night? Coke Zero / Pepsi max or a nice cup of tea! Invariably I’m driving and I don’t really drink any more

If you could collaborate with any ska legend, who would it be? That’s a tough one - Desmond Dekker or The Specials, I think

If you could enforce any band rule, what would it be? Where selected we must play songs authentic!

If the DekkerTones were a tv show, who would be the villain, and who would be the hero? Not sure on this one… either Colin or Tina for the villain and Mick or Glenn for the hero

What ska song would you be happy to never hear ever again? That’s a hard one… Either My Boy Lollipop or Gangsters - not because I don’t like Gangsters, only because we’ve played it sssooo often!