Episode 13: Frank Carter & Dean Richardson – Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. Image: Brian Rankin
Listen to the Trusty Chords podcast via your preferred platform of choice here.
For the majority of the last 20 years, one of the most explosive performers on the music scene has been Frank Carter. Unassuming with his short stature and red hair, Frank burst onto the scene as a member of Gallows back in 2005, blowing away everyone with his intense stage presence and mesmerisingly powerful voice.
After six years with Gallows, Frank left to form Pure Love, an alternative rock band that slightly eased off the pedal of intensity that we’d previously seen. After a few years there, Frank partnered with Heights guitarist Dean Richardson to form yet another new band, this time called Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.
From the release of their first album, Blossom, in 2015, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have been dishing out some truly amazing music. Whether it's pushing into those hardcore roots, easing into different areas, or just trying new things, there's no denying that the creative flame burns bright for both Frank and Dean on and off the stage.
This year, they released the album Dark Rainbow, and it’s certainly one you should spend some time with. In fact, that’s what a lot of fans did when Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes visited Australia back in April for a long-awaited local tour.
It’s now that I lift the veil on the world of podcasting and tell you that this week’s episode was recorded back in April, the day before the band kicked off their first Aussie tour in four years.
I’d actually chatted to Frank back in 2019, but this was the first time I’d spoken to him in person, and the first time I’d spoken to Dean, so it was a lovely chance to get up close and personal with them both for an hour.
At the time, I was also entirely unaware that Frank was not too far off announcing a special set of gigs effectively fronting the Sex Pistols when he performs Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols with Paul Cook, Glen Matlock, and Steve Jones this August. Had I known that, I might have thrown in a few more questions about English punk of the ‘70s. And by ‘more’, I mean ‘some’.
A small caveat ahead of this interview, however. This was the first episode I’d recorded in person, and there were a few technical issues with microphones not working, so the quality does suffer from time to time. However, if you can bear with it sounding a bit tinny, or room ambience seeping through from time to time, you’ll surely benefit in the long run. Similarly, you’ll also occasionally hear Elliot Russell in the background typing on his laptop – which makes sense given it was his hotel room we were recording from.
Additionally, I hadn’t actually realised Elliot’s role extended beyond the logistical side of things, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw him onstage at 170 Russell the next night performing with the band.
Anyway, I strongly urge you to check out Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes’ latest album, Dark Rainbow, and once you’re done giving that a spin, brave the technical issues, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.
Frank Carter & Dean Richardson’s Trusty Chords
Frank’s One Influential Artist
Jeff Buckley
Dean’s One Influential Artist
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Frank’s Three Impactful Albums
Pink Floyd – Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii (1972)
Deftones – White Pony (2000)
Mac Miller – Swimming (2018)
Dean’s Three Impactful Albums
Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells (1973)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus (2004)
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – Blossom (2015)
Frank’s Five Trusty Songs
Frank Ocean – 'Pink + White' (2016)
The Amazing Snakeheads – 'Here It Comes Again' (2014)
Soundgarden – 'The Day I Tried To Live' (1994)
bbno$ – 'edamame (feat. Rich Brian)' (2021)
Elton John – 'Your Song' (1970)
Dean’s Five Trusty Songs
Ludovico Einaudi – 'Time Lapse' (2013)
Antony And The Johnsons – 'Hope There's Someone' (2005)
Kevin Abstract – 'Runner' (2016)
Marie Davidson – 'Work It (Soulwax Remix)' (2019)
Black Pumas – 'Colors' (2019)
