"There's something pretty wierd going on there!"
 August 1998 and summer has finally descended upon the southeast England.
In the shady refuge of the front room of the drummer of the country's top new band, conversation erupts.
Richard Peters asks Richard Nicholson, traditionally the quietest Secret, the questions...
Left:Richard Nicholson at Boom! Studios, June 1998. Photography: Gavin Richardson
Richard Peters: how are you doing, rich, all right mate?
Richard: Yeah, not bad
RP: Getting any sun?
R: Er, yeah...got a bit yesterday on the golf course
RP: You played golf!?
R: Yes, eighteen holes and so I got a bit of sun
RP: did you win?
R: No I lost actually...quite badly
RP: Who did you play?
R: Erm, Neil and Gavin out of the band...we like to get a few holes in now and then
RP: So do you play a lot?
R: No...not a lot at all
RP: Obviously!...anyway, you've got Gavin, Neil and Simon in The Secrets...how long have you been a member?
R: Myself, i suppose about four and a half years
RP: So how did they form?
R: Well, Gavin and Simon got together at first quite a few years ago and they were looking for a bass player so i started playing bass for them because i played a bit of guitar before. i played bass for The Secrets for a few years but now i'm playing guitar which is my chosen instrument
RP: So it was the three of you to start with; so when did the fourth member, Neil, join?
R: I think it was about one and a half years ago
RP: And he took over the bass guitar?
R: Yeah he took over bass duties so I could play guitar.
RP: How did you actually come up with The Secrets' name?
R: (laughs) I think somebody actually opened up a dictionary and threw a dart at it!!
RP: Superb! So you say you, Gavin and Simon were the original members of The Secrets. how did you actually meet Gavin?
R: I met Gavin when I came up to Watford to go to college. We were on the same course, a graphic design course, and we just got together; both being musicians we had something in common
RP: So you hit it off straight away. What about Simon: I take it you met Simon through Gavin then?
R: Yeah, that's right. I mean Gavin was the first one to meet Simon and they got together with the idea of getting a band together and just asked me if I'd like to play
RP: How did you meet Neil?
R: We were looking for a bass player and neil was a friend of a friend and so we hooked up with him and hit it off straight away really: he really fitted in with the band
RP: In your opinion, what makes The Secrets a unique band from any other band in Watford and maybe nationwide?
R: I think it's because we are all such different people really. erm...although we all get along and have a good laugh together we all have very different interests and very different views...we can have our rows and that sort of thing
RP: You've got to have rows!
R: Yeah...those differences make for an interesting combination especially musically
RP: So what are those differences musically?
R: Erm...well I'm more of your old school, you know, just a guitar and amp, just bashing out some sounds whereas Simon's more into his effects
RP: Have you got similar influences?
R: No, not really!
RP: No!?
R: They overlap in places but really we all have fairly different influences which means when you bring all those different sounds into the band it's got to be interesting
RP: So would you say that that is part of the uniqueness of The Secrets...the fact that you've got all those different influences coming in and therefore getting your own unique sound?
R: Yeah...I mean some of our influences are miles apart; from Queen to the Byrds to Take That!
RP: Take That!!?
R: (laughs) I won't disclose which member of the band is a Take That fan!!
RP: (big laughs) Oh why not? go on!
R: (stubbornly resisting) But when you've got influences like that all mixing together...well, there's something pretty weird going on there!
RP: Since you first formed the band do you think your sound has changed a lot?
R: I think it's changed an immense amount...I mean we always like where we are but we always seem to be improving and progressing and going in different directions and it's turned into something that i really really do like. We've always been able to write catchy little pop tunes but recently we've been getting towards a darker side and a bit more rock
RP: So how much input do you actually have in the writing of the songs? I mean from the beginning when you started and even now?
R: Well obviously one of us comes up with like a theme or an idea and no matter who it is we just get into the studio and start jamming it around so it's completely four people putting their input into the song. so any one of us can come up with the beginnings of something but it's a total four-way effort
RP: Does only one of you come up with that initial idea?
R: Yeah but then we jam it around and come up with a song
RP: Have you written any stuff outside of The Secrets?
R: Um...I write stuff just for my own entertainment, you know...I just knock about on a guitar and yeah, I've got stuff which I write: some of it goes into the band and some of it doesn't. The rest of it just stays in my head and comes out when I've got a guitar in my hand sitting at home in my living room
RP: What would you say are your influences for writing your own music, maybe not so much for The Secrets but for your own music...any bands?
R: I listen to quite a lot of sixties music - The Byrds, The Beach Boys, stuff like that - but Radiohead are probably my biggest influence; I think they're the best band on the planet. I could say that I'm influenced by them but by the time the other three get their hands on it ( a song) it's something completely different and it's like that with whoever writes a song; they might have something in mind of what it's going to sound like and what's influenced that song but it's always going to be turned and twisted by the other three members of the group so it turns into something really interesting
 Picture: Richard in action at The Bandstand, Watford, June 1997. Photography: Pete Curtis
RP: Explain to me the procedure or structure of writing a song from the initial idea when, say, you get the idea and then obviously you get together and create the sound, where does it go from there...how long does it take?
R: It usually takes probably about five or six weeks to go from an initial idea to being a song that we can play live. obviously there are exceptions; there have been some that we've been knocking about with for about six months before being happy with them and some which can go from being a vague idea to a playable song within a week!...it really depends on the song and how we are inspired by the idea itself
RP: Talking of inspirations, you obviously get inspired by certain things when you write. What would you say would be your best mood when you write? I mean is it when you're depressed or on a high or what?
R: I find writing when i'm on a high really quite difficult actually. I mean when you're on a high you want to sort of get out there and live life...you don't want to be sitting in your room scribbling on a bit of paper. It's a lot easier to write songs when you're a bit more mellow, maybe a little sad or something; a bit reflective...that's always a good mood
RP: (concerned) Does this happen a lot?
R: (in a chirpier voice) No, not an awful lot!!
RP: When The Secrets make it big - cos they're going to make it big -
R: Of course! Of course!
RP: - do you think it will change you?
R: (fidgeting) No......yeah! (laughs)
RP: Explain!!
R: I'm going to become a drug riddled maniac! (laughs) No, I honestly don't know what it'll be like. you can try and think what it would be like but i don't think you actually have a clue until you're actually there. I think i'd find it quite difficult to cope with actually...i do like to keep myself to myself
RP: Really? What starsign are you?
R: Leo
RP: (surprised) That's unusual for a leo
R: (laughs) Well...it depends what situation I'm in
RP: Yeah, I'm a leo and I'm certainly not shy! So you don't think it will effect you that badly then?
R: No, but i think it would be hard to come to terms with not having a private life and that sort of thing; that would really scare me...I don't think iId like that side of it too much
RP: So in that case would you really like to be a 'superband'?
R: Yeah, but I think i'd just have to be a hermit!...(laughs)...a recluse
RP: (also laughing) All right...there are four members in the band. If there had to be a hierarchy in the band where would you put yourself?...and who would you put first, second and so on?
R: Right...I'll be honest here...I think Simon's the top dog
RP: Why is that?
R: I just don't think he'd have it any other way (laughs)
RP: We haven't interviewed Simon yet! (so he can't answer back!!)
R: Um, yeah...then Gav...and I have to be third because Neil's the new boy so at least I get to boss someone around!
RP: Yeah!...you can show him how to play the bass properly!!
R: (giggles) Is that a personal opinion?!
RP: (oosing sarcasm) Noooo, not at all...I don't know Neil, do I? (He does! - Ed) ok, this is a good question - if you had to describe the four members of the band, including yourself, as cartoon characters, who would they be? start with Gavin...who would he be do you think?
R: Gavin...erm...Fred Flintstone (laughs)
RP: (almost crying laughing) Superb!! I like that answer! (more laughs) Why!!?
R: You only have to look at him really!...and he's a drummer and they're quite prehistoric and neanderthal!! (laughs and laughs)
RP: All right! Simon..?
R: Simon...um...(long pause)...let me think...(longer pause)...
RP: A hard one!
R: Ah! who's that one out of Penelope Pitstop?...yes! The Hooded Claw!!...or the one out of "catch the pigeon"...with the dog Muttley...?
RP: Oh yeah, I can't think - I know who you mean, I think everyone will (Dick Dastardly!! - Ed)...superb! Ah, right...come on then, Neil?
R: Droopy!!! (laughs)
RP: (now in fits) Okay...why!!!?
R: Cos he's a littlun...I dunno, droopy just comes to mind!
RP: What about yourself?
R: Me?...The Pink Panther i think
RP: Ah! Crafty!
R: Quiet
RP: Good! Right The Secrets have made it big -
R: They have???!!! No-one told me!!
RP: A hypothetical question...you've made it big and you've got a huge gig at Wembley Stadium...who or what band would support you?
R: Umm...iId quite like someone like The Bluetones to support us...or Supergrass...
RP: Supergrass?
R: Yeah, Supergrass i'd love it if they would support us!
RP: Why, are you a big fan?
R: Yeah...yeah
RP: So you think the rest of the band would agree?
R: I don't know if they'd be their first choice but i don't think they'd be too unhappy...
RP: So for you, you'd have you and Supergrass?
R: Um, yeah
RP: You don' t think they'd override The Secrets...(suddenly coming round) but that's a silly question!!
R: (shocked, frankly) Well of course not!!! (laughs)
RP: Yeah, silly question. All right, at this Wembley gig if you could play a cover song, what would you play?
R: (pauses)...Ummm...what would it be if The Secrets chose it or what would it be if I chose it?
RP: What would it be if you chose it?
R: Erm..I think it would be A Whole Lot Better by The Byrds...it's a nice little pop tune and I'd love to do a cover of that one day
RP: So what's your favorite song of all time?
R: Oooh...i have quite a few favorites - i don't know if I could pick out just one...There She Goes by the la's is one that i'll always be really mad keen on..or Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead...yeah, I could go on...and on...
RP: What's your favorite secretsong?
R: Erm...it's got to be one of our newer ones...either Turn or The Next Big Thing. but we are jamming one at the moment that's about halfway complete, we've done a little demo of it...I think it will be the one to top of all secretsongs!
RP: I'll look forward to that one then. If you had a voucher for a music shop so you could buy anything, what would you buy and why?
R: (pausing to think)...It would be a Rickenbacker 12 string...a fender twin amp...and maybe a nice wah - wah pedal
RP: No, if you had to choose just one thing?
R: Oh, sorry, right - it would have to be the rickenbacker then; i love those guitars
RP: Has anything embarrassing happened to you onstage during a gig?
R: Let me think...no, not really. I've probably embarrassed myself (laughing) but I don't think anything's ever embarrassed me...no, I honestly can't remember anything that i wish had never happened at a gig
RP: Apart from playing at the gig!?
R: Yeah (laughs), well, apart from the usual stuff like you're singing along and then realising that your mic's switched off and stuff like that!!...it happens to all of us (laughs)
RP: Yes, which is why I keep checking these microphones!...It would be the worst thing if this didn't record!! (said interviewer has been concerned about the state of his equipment throughout the conversation - Ed)...a few more questions left. if you were forced to spend seven days in this room with one member of the band and you weren't allowed to leave - you could eat, drink and whatever but you weren't allowed to leave the room - who would it be and why?
R: (shocked, and clearly unsettled) Oh you can't!!!!
RP: Yeah I can!!
R: No...er...no
RP: What, nobody?!
R: Well obviously not nobody, but I can't pick one out!
RP: (seemingly resigned) Oh well, decent answer (then, ferociously) but if you had to pick one out!!??
R: I'd draw straws
RP: Right then, are you happy with the way The Secrets have progressed in the last few years?
R: Absolutely, yeah, I'm more than happy. I think it's fantastic the way we are progressing; I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way. I think all of us are just really pleased with the way it's going. a couple of years ago we never would have imagined how our music was going to be a couple of years down the line but as it is I think we are all just dead chuffed with it
RP: So where do you think The Secrets are going at the present time?
R: Um, I think we are going to spend a little more time digging up a few demons, exploring our darker sides
RP: What, in the music?
R: Yeah...it's fun seeing what we can come up with (pauses) but we are always going to have that little poppy edge behind us...yeah, that's going to crop up once in a while
RP: Yes, it's nice to have that. I've got the last question for you now: realistically, five years from now where do you see The Secrets being?
R: Realistically...you can't say! Because you can't really be realistic in this business I suppose...it's all down to luck and being in the right place at the right time; realistically we could be number one in the charts and international best selling artists or we could still be doing the pubs and clubs and that sort of thing because it's just luck isn't it really?
RP: All right then, mate, thanks a lot
R: Thankyou very much
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