SECTION 60

Sheffield’s Section 60 are a band that fit right in with us here at Awayday Radio, We caught up with them for a quick chat!!

PLEASE INTRODUCE US TO THE BAND

We are Section 60 from Sheffield.

Chris Perkins / Vocals

Daniel Smith (Smitt) / Lead Guitar

Michael Adshead (Addy) / Rhythm Guitar

Eddie Allen / Bass Guitar

Will Heathcote / Drums

Tell us how the band was formed

ADDY – I and one of my close pals had rented a flat together when we were younger, it was a bit like men behaving badly never any food in cupboards but on the plus side, we always had loads of cans of Lager and Cider in the fridge. Chris has fallen out with his girlfriend at the time, so he was spending a lot of time sleeping on our settee. To be honest we liked having him around so one night turned in to him just about moving in. We were always going to gigs together in Sheffield and Manchester and Saturdays after United had played if we were not hanging around the boozers in Sheffield city centre with the lads, we used to travel about watching various bands at little Venues, so the local music scene was what we were both passionate about. I had joked about been in a band before but not seriously and had not ever played a musical instrument or been in any proper bands when I was younger or growing up. My dad had an old guitar that was sat about in his house he had tried learning but fucked it off when he realised how hard it was so it was collecting dust so I asked if I could borrow it. He gave it to me and I took it to my flat with a book on guitar chords. We both ended up getting banned from watching united for 3 years after getting into a bit bother at football so I had nothing to do on my weekends so said to Chris we are starting a band up; I’m playing the guitar and you can sing. After he fell around laughing his bollocks off, he agreed and that was it. Saturday nights we would get pissed up and write a few lyrics and I would try to play a few chords on this old guitar with strings that had not been tuned or had any new strings fitted for years. We sounded absolutely wank but we didn’t give a fuck because we just enjoyed fucking about.

I knew Smitt played the guitar a bit and he was a close friend of one of ours.

I like him and knew he was the one who was going to join the band and when I bumped into him at a gig in Sheffield and said to him, you’re in our band, he was like yeah sound. So, he was in.

I dragged one of my other pals in to play the drums, he kept saying Addy I’ve never played the drums before or never even thought about playing the drums! but I said get a book that teaches you will be sound. I am not booking a practise room for another couple of weeks so you’ve plenty of time to learn HAHA

We had another lad in to play the bass who also had never played the bass before, so he qualified, and hay presto Section 60 was born.

We’ve had a few different drummers and bass players throughout the years but the band has always been me, Chris and Smitt. In the band now we’ve got Eddie on Bass and Will on drums both mad Unitedites and top lads!!

Section 60 means something to us football lads how did the name come about?

ADDY – Getting section 60 every week at football matches

CHRIS – Yeah, at first, we thought the name was a bit of a laugh, it was something we related to as it had happened to us quite a few times over the years

ADDY – They were never really filming lads faces because they knew who everyone was anyway just what you were wearing that day.

Your all Sheffield United fans, what is your thoughts on the season so far?

ADDY – I am a season ticket holder along with my young sons Lennon 10 and Tommy 7 watch United away most weeks, Last season before the pandemic kicked in, we were all buzzing. In my lifetime it has been the best time ever to be a blade and I can remember warning my lads who can’t ever remember united been shit they only know us been like Barcelona every week that bad times do happen I just didn’t see it happening this season!!

CHRIS – There’s no doubt we are struggling but fuck it….it is what it is. You get all these dick heads on social media who think they are Alf Ramsey they get on my tits. Look were in the premier league just enjoy it. IF…. We go down then we go down the club is still in the best position it has ever been in. What a time to be a blade!! Some fans are just off their nuts!!

ADDY – To be honest we have been spoilt over the last few years that is why it has come as a bit of a shock how bad we are doing at the minute. We have had fuck all luck and barring Wolves at home and Chelsea away we have deserved something in most games but loosing just by a single goal here and there has taken its toll the last match away at Southampton was when I started to panic. All the confidence looked gone and the self-belief, we looked fucked before we had even kicked a ball. But to sum up this poor start to the season I think losing Jack o Connell has hit us hard and been one of the main reasons, losing him has had a massive effect on all the team. I know the keeper has been getting a bit of stick and filling Dean Henderson’s boots was never going to be easy, but I do not blame him, to be honest. The defence he has in front of him has performed completely different from last season.

Our Striker’s really struggled to get goals last season but different players did chip in, but it has been a nightmare so far and that has shown with the lack of goals this season. I was hoping Lys Mousett was going to be fit because he for me is the one who could be such a special player for us but now it is becoming apparent why his Bournemouth Career did not seem to take off, he always struggles with fitness. I would like wilder to start Brewster and give him more game time, bringing him on for 20 minutes here and there is not doing him any favours but I will say If we do get relegated, I’m still with Chris Wilder he’s the man for me no matter what. If he does not manage to keep us up, he will get us back up again. Keep the faith! If we stay up, he deserves a statue in Bramall lane car park and the keys to the City.

What are your musical influences?

ADDY – I love to listen to a lot of the Verve’s earlier stuff; they have a massive influence on my songwriting. I love the obvious bands like oasis and stone roses and up there with my favourite bands are Beautiful south, and the house martins but a band I love and have influenced me massively are Puressence from Manchester. They are the reason I wanted to be in a band and as far as I am concerned Puressence are one of the best bands in the world!

A band I’ve been listening too last in the few years are the DMAS but I always go back to the older bands I’ve always listened to.

CHRIS – It changes by what I’m listening to at a particular time, so this week it’s Townes Van Zandt & blaze Foley. Two incredible songwriters

How has the Pandemic affected the band’s plans?

CHRIS – Do not get me started on the Virus!!! Next question HAHA

ADDY – Haha Plans!! To be honest not affected the band’s plans in the slightest because we did not have any plans, we just go with the flow these days and we are not in it for any other reason than to just make music. I personally would not care if no one ever listens to our music, I know to people reading this that might sound crazy, but I only do it because I like making songs up with my pals it’s a buzz when we are doing our thing, Chris is a fucking top singer and Smitt is a top Songwriter If people like what we do then that is great but for me, it’s about being creative and scratching that itch in my mind. We all have busy lives and other priority’s now we are older, and the pandemic and lockdown gave me time to write songs and we started to do a few songs between us using a mobile phone recording app. We loved it and it gave us back that appetite.

SMITT – We would have been in the studio and got more songs recorded for the new album, we’ve got songs ready to go as soon as we can get back in!

You released some stuff a few years back and are now set to release something new. What have the band been up to in the years since the last release

ADDY – The band has never split up and to be honest it never will because it just a few close mates making songs up. We have times when we do not even mention the band then other months when we might decide to have a practice or to get in the studio. We have always got loads of songs up our sleeve and plenty of stuff to work on it just really depends on us making or having the time. We’ve probably got enough for about 3 new albums!

CHRIS – Personally, I’ve developed a drinking problem, just like Johnny Boy.

Tell us about the forthcoming release

ADDY – We are very excited about the new stuff as we are releasing it on Vinyl. We’ve always wanted to do something on vinyl and I think moving forward we will start to do more projects releasing new songs and some of the older stuff on Vinyl. We recorded it in Sheffield with Paul Tuffs and too be honest I cannot see us recording with anyone else now. Tufty knows our sound and recording with him is sound and he proper knows his stuff! We are putting it out on Tuftys record label Totem records. Café Totem was the best small music venue in Sheffield where we played many times and used to drink in on Saturdays before Sheffield United home games. It’s closed now but Sidney & Matilda is now the place to be and that will be where we will do our New single release gig once all this Covid is sorted.

CHRIS – IMO, it’s up there with the best stuff we’ve ever done. I know everyone says that but were proud of it. It’s funny because when we were bang at it and serious about the band, we were never in the position we are now in with how many songs are down on paper. It must be between 30-40 new songs we’ve got.

Who writes for the band? Is it a collective effort?

ADDY – Smitt did most of the writing with the older songs but between us 3 we have always chipped in and done most of the band things between us, whether its writing songs or doing the artwork or whatever. I squashed my finger in a work accident a few years back and did not think I would be able to play the guitar again so when it did heal, and I could carry on strumming that gave me the kick up the arse to start writing and get the band back up doing songs again.

Would you consider yourselves casuals?

CHRIS – Casual no, lad yes… to me there’s a difference

What clobber do you like to wear?

SMITT – I love my Clarks originals shoes!

CHRIS – Years ago, it had to be Stoney, CP or Paul & shark, but nowadays its whatever catches my eye. At the moment I’m going through a double denim stage!!

ADDY – I’ve always loved my Jackets and cagoules and a pair of Adidas.

A couple of Football questions lads. Most memorable football moment?

CHRIS – Will always be beating Wednesday at Hillsborough in the early 90s but saying that it could be the 4-2 the other year…the day the bouncing stopped. UTB!

ADDY – When we played in the semi-final of the FA CUP at Wembley in 2014 I had a dad/lad moment with my oldest lad who was only about 4 at the time and can remember sitting on the side of the road with him with my arm around him watching the sea of united fans walking about thinking god I fucking love this club!! We lost, of course, HAHA don’t we always but like Chris said beating Wednesday is always going to take some beating, it is the best feeling in the world. In Sheffield, you are either a blade or an owl. That is how we are brought up and it runs in families. Other supporters who do not have two teams in the city can have rivalry’s with other clubs but nothing at all like what we have with two teams in one city it’s far more intense. I personally hate playing Wednesday I get too nervous there is too much at stake if we lose.

Favourite football ground visited?

SMITT – Bramall lane of course

CHRIS – Obvious answer would be beautiful downtown Bramall lane, but I loved the camp Nou. I took my son Reni a couple of years ago; I was absolutely fucked but what a ground

ADDY – When you go to these new purpose-built stadiums you realise how great some of the older grounds were and are. Thank fuck we still play at Bramall lane it is a beautiful place. I like Villa Park, it is stunning and even though the away end at Anfield is shit with the low roof its still a proper impressive place to visit. Rochdale gets a mention because they play some right tunes at halftime!

And worst?

ADDY – West hams new ground fucking awful!! No Atmosphere whatsoever and you can hear a pin drop. It is a very strange place for football just doesn’t seem right and to make things worse with about 20 minutes to go about 25000 plastic fans leave to beat the traffic.

SMITT – Hillsborough

CHRIS – Saltergate, Recreation ground, Chesterfield F.C. and oxford united manor ground. Got piss wet through that day.

Favourite all-time player?

SMITT – Wayne Quinn, When I played in the U13s for Rotherham against United on the Bramall Lane pitch when the half time whistle blew, I walked off the pitch pretending I was Wayne Quinn, he used to walk with slightly bowed legs and feet pointing slightly inwards. I must have looked a right cunt but I loved him because he was left-footed like me and could put a right cross or free kick in just like me. HAHA

CHRIS – Maradona, without a question. For United, it would be Glynn Hodges. What was it that John Motson said on MOTD when we knocked Man United out of the FA Cup “This man’s left foot is Magic “fucking class!! HAHA!

ADDY – Keith Edward and Brian Deane

Back to the music, What’s your fan base like?

It’s a mixed bag to be honest, we get old and young but it’s always a great atmosphere at our gigs and one thing for sure they always seem to drink the bar dry!!

Any gigs in the pipeline for when things get back to normal?

ADDY – Yeah, hopefully we will do a few gigs to promote our new release once everything settles down and gets back to some sort of normality. I think people will be buzzing for live music and we’ve got a top loyal fan base who will turn out for us.