Einstellung: Day jobs and football
After the initial hiccups of keeping up with a muso’s timetable, Marija Zeko tracks down the Brummy Andrew Parker of Einstellung fame and discovers that the fame game is not high on his agenda.
Believe it or not, Einstellung are not big on becoming the next Oasis. Einstellung are Steve Hough on bass, Simon Rider drums, Andrew Parker and Andy Smart on guitar.
They are comfortable in their own skins working 9 to 5 to finance their music. Surprising as it may seem, touring the world and being number one on the charts does not rank high on their priorities. Their priorities have shifted now that two of the band members are married, Andrew is set to wed next year, fame was not realised at an earlier age and the lads are pushing 30+.
Diverting from the music I ask what football team he roots for. Loud and proud he responds “Birmingham City”. Matter of factly I mention that I love English football “Good girl” Andrew says, impressed that a girl could be into the sport. 2007 will be a big year as Andrew will be marrying his Spanish Señorita, although “because you love football I may have to reconsider”. There is still hope for me as I probe to uncover the skeletons in Einstellung’s closet a la Jana Wendt style yet endeavour to keep Andrew suited in me as a potential suitor “Is your future Mrs interested in the football?” In a drawn out, one of life’s great tragedies “Not in the slightest! Let’s just say the World Cup did not go down well in my house”. From the penalty box Marija Zeko outwits the goalkeeper and score – GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. The score 1:0 in Marija’s favour.
Jokes aside, Andrew describes his day job as a “suit really” and enjoys his time rehearsing with the band “it’s nice to rehearse in the night time …the main thing for us really is to rehearse and make ourselves happy, the only reason to do this is for fun, no other reason!”. Yet under their new manager that fun has led to talks with a big record label and lots of positive press. The manager is a fan and friend foremost but his enthusiasm has left the band in good stead in the music world.
Einstellung’s debut album “Wings Of Desire” had its first world wide release in Australia, as funnily enough there is great interest in the band here. Andrew finds the publicity stint “quite bizarre”, notably due to Einstellung rehearsing in their warehouse one day and speaking to a reporter in Australia the next. Nevertheless he quite likes the interviewing bit “No I like it, as you can tell I talk quite a lot”.
Despite being 3 years together as Einstellung, again the record is set straight in terms of where the band wants to go, “We’re not planning on being the next big thing. I don’t love if anyone like me or not, I really don’t …I’m not going to say on a magazine cover that we are the next big thing cause we’re not!” Have some faith Andrew, you never know!
