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Yoga, Ace Ventura and energy drinks: Life on the road with Rolo Tomassi

Underground heroes and veterans of British motorway driving Rolo Tomassi share their secrets to surviving life on the road…

Yoga, Ace Ventura and energy drinks: Life on the road with Rolo Tomassi
Words:
Kerrang! staff
Photos:
Daniel Hill

Tonight, Rolo Tomassi will headline London's famed Electric Ballroom in Camden for their only UK headline show of the year. Supported by Heriot and Holy Fawn, it will be a one-night-only celebration of the heavy underground, and just how vital Tomassi still are to the scene.

Lifers in every sense, with James and Eva Spence starting this band when still effectively children, the mathemaniacal experimentalists have spent almost two decades in the back of vans, on living room floors and decimating stages of all sizes across the globe.

Ahead of their London headliner, we caught up with electro wizard and vocalist James to find out how Rolo survive on the road and why the best sound is silence.

The golden rule on tour is…
"Always remember to bring swimwear."

The one phrase you’re likely to hear on repeat on tour is…
“I would have thought so”

The first thing we do when we get to a venue is…
"Solve last night's problems."

Our dressing room music of choice is…
"Pure silence. It’s a quiet space!"

The one essential rider request is…
"The most extravagant local energy drink available."

The atmosphere just before we go onstage is…
"Toxic."

The one thing that annoys everyone on tour is…
"Having to deal with any form of border police."

Our favourite thing to watch on tour is…
"The Room or Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls."

We pass our free time before shows by…
"A mixture of yoga, pumping iron and binge-drinking."

The saddest thing about leaving tour to go home is…
"Knowing we won't all be in the same place again until the summer."

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