INSIDE THE BAND: Tempered Elf 

Band Members:-
Chris Mannall – Vocals & Guitar
Kevin Godbold – Lead Guitar
Donna-Marie Smith – Bass & Vocals
Andy Parker - Drums

How many years have you been singing or playing your instrument for?
Chris – I've been trying hard to sing for about 3 years and messing around with the guitar for about 8 years although since the band formed I've been sticking in a few more hours practice.

Kevin – Can't remember!

Donna-Marie – I have been playing bass for 1 year, singing for 10 years.

Andy – 10 years

Who in music inspires you (person or band)?
Chris – Definitely the two most inspirational people to me have been Rob Flynn of Machine Head whose songs and passion helped me through some tough times and Fish ex of Marrilion whose lyrics sometimes baffle but always inspire me.

Kevin – Rory Gallagher or at least he did, The Levellers, Led Zeppelin, Mikey Barber and others who live it.

Donna-Marie – My late Grandfather. I've never met him but he was an absolutely phenomenal Bluegrass fiddle player. His music is still being recreated by great country artists.

Andy – Anyone who is talented but not cocky with it

What is your most prized possession?
Chris – My guitar
Kevin – My walking boots.
Donna-Marie – The 'One' Ring. It signifies my freedom and my ability to overcome the past.
Andy – My record collection and my drum kits

If you could be in someone else's shoes for the day, who would it be and why?
Chris – James Hetfields on the day he recorded the last Metallica album, then I could tell the rest of the band it sounds crap and we should record something better.

Kevin –Tony Blair, so I could sack John Prescott!

Donna-Marie – I would stay in my shoes as I am totally happy with my life and wouldn't want to change it for a second.

Andy – George Bush...to see what it's like to be president

Who is your favourite band?
Chris – Mostly Autumn, but there are so many more
Kevin –The Levellers
Donna-Marie – Marilyn Manson
Andy – U2 or Pearl Jam

What was the last album you bought?
Chris – Mostly Autumn - Passengers
Kevin – Shadow Play - Rory Gallagher
Donna-Marie – Binaural by Pearl Jam
Andy – Pearl Jam - Lost Dogs

What's the most embarrassing thing you've experienced?
Chris – Our second gig at a friends 40th when there where just 2 of us with acoustic guitars, it had everything you could fear from a nightmare gig

Kevin – Being thrown out of a lecture because I couldn't stop giggling!

Donna-Marie – I can't think of anything off the top of my head at the mo, soz.

Andy – Having stage fright when taking part in a Christmas play when I was nine years old, I had to be prompted on every line.

If you were given a role in a film, would you want to play a goodie or a baddie?
Chris – Baddie, but I'd be more of a loveable rogue
Kevin – Goodie, if I was a baddie people would laugh! 
Donna-Marie – I would definitely be the baddie!
Andy – Goodie, they always win and they always get the girl

If you could time travel, where would you go and why?

Chris – I'd go to the future cause it's always going to be way more intriguing than the past which has obviously been done before

Kevin – Firstly I would go back to periods of recent history when either the stock market or the property market was low with a wad, then I would go to periods in history when they were high, - then I would go to when they invented the Les Paul and to when they invented the Stratocaster. Then I would go back to The Iron Age and bury a message for Phil Harding to dig up!

Donna-Marie – I would go back to the Gunpowder Plot days. Guy Fawkes is so inspirational because he had the guts to stand up for what he believed in. He was totally unique and didn't follow the crowd.

Andy – I'd go to India to see the Taj Mahal being built

Describe yourself in five words?
Chris – Bit of a night owl
Kevin – Somehow gets away with it!
Donna-Marie – Intelligent, direct, courageous, insatiable, unique
Andy – Possible nightmare to deal with.