Below you can see the drafts that I have done for my DPS article. Its still in the process of being developed, so its hopefully going to turn out a lot better than it is right now. The idea with this was to combine the Q and A style of article with a narrative as well.
Draft One
Its 6am here in sunny Dartford, and as per usual it’s fucking raining. Unfortunately, Road Runner Records couldn’t have picked a worse day to plan a photoshoot with their newest Marauders of Metal; Hell Raiser. Fortunately, they have provided us with six umbrellas, two large waterproof coats and a small marquee to shelter the camera equipment. Unfortunately, the coats don’t fit the Terrible Twins since they’re both roughly 5ft 3 and the marquee has a hole in the left hand side. But on the bright side, they bought me a coffee!
Phil and Alex, the twin founders of the band, don’t seem to be phased at all by the weather, in fact they almost revel in how badly the event was organised by the famous record label. As the rain hammers down from the heavens, Hell Raiser responds with their first EP “The Nightmare You’ve Become”, and as the two come together the sight is not to be taken lightly. With Phil screaming the lyrics into the reinforced microphone, Alex blasting power chords from his signature electric Guitar and the Lightning dashing across the sky in time with the monstrous, metallic melody, the performance is fit for the stages of Wembley Stadium. An audience can do nothing but let their hair down and ask themselves a simple question; what will break first, the water-sodden amplifiers or the eardrums of the poor camera crew. My moneys on the camera crew.
As with all great things, it was over much too quickly. The band members were soon finished with their performance, and the appropriate photos were taken. And then it was my turn to stand in the firing line of two of the scariest-looking artists of the modern metal scene, with nothing but an A5 notepad from WHSmith and a strange concoction of coffee and rainwater.
Q: How are you doing today guys?
Alex: Can't complain thanks.
Phil: I'm wet...
Q: So tell me, where did it all start?
Alex: I guess the idea came from our R.E classes. We thought the whole idea of learning about something we didn't believe in was total bollucks, so we wrote songs in the back of the class to piss the teacher off! Once, he walked up to the back and took one of our sheets off us, ya know to read it out in front of the class. He read 2 lines, and didn't come near us for the rest of the term!
Q: I'm guessing you guy's weren't what you could call "Model Students"?
Alex: Haha, all our teachers hated us! We were kicked out after GCSE's, so we went to North West Kent to do a course in Music. I think we lasted about 2 months before they kicked us out as well, saying we were too disruptive. We don't think they understood what we're all about.
Q: What are you all about then guys?
Alex: Everyone around you is constantly saying how you need to get good grades to get a good job, then you can choose a career, a house, a car and raise a family of your own. But that's not what everyone wants. We didn't choose life, we chose Metal!
Q: I notice your reference to Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, are you guys... on drugs?
Phil: Do we look like a pair of fucking druggies to you?
Q: Fair point, where are you planning on going from here?
Alex: We're not gonna move to LA or Hollywood or any of that shit, if thats what you mean! But, we're dreaming of headlining Wembley. Thats the Big Dream. Play at Download too, those are two huge festivals that we have just dreamt of headlining. We'll have 'em all!
Q: Big dreams then guys, on a final note what do you say to the rumours of a third band member?
Phil: I'd like to see them fucking try!
Alex: Hell Raiser is just me and Phil, it's our dream and no-one is getting in on it!
Feedback
- The narrative at the beginning is irrelevant to the interview and should be either removed or re-written.
- Swearing should not be condoned by the journalist, and if appropriate it should be used as a quote from the artist or band members.
- The questions themselves don't flow as a proper interview should do, and need to be structured in such a way that the story of the band themselves is told.
Draft Two
Q: Afternoon guys, how are you both doing today?
Alex: Pretty good thanks, had a busy few weeks but hey.
Phil: Knackered really, we've been pretty busy.
Q: So guys,when did you first get into music?
Alex: It's kind of a stupid story really, since the first instrument I learned to play was the violin! My family still think it's 1953 and that all boys should learn the violin, cello or piano. But when I left home I got into stuff like Disturbed and Five Finger Death Punch so I taught myself the violin. Phil on the other hand never...
Phil: Hey woah, don't tell
my story! Ahem, anyway, learn an instrument? Ha, don't make me laugh! I'm the guy that got my brother into all these bands, I've been true to my taste since the beginning. And instead of learning the violin or some other piece of Victorian crap, I taught myself how to scream and roar! My parents weren't impressed, but hey it's my life!
Q: Wow, quite an old fashioned upbringing. You didn't get sent off to Private School too, did you?
Phil: Yeah, parents sent us off to Spring Grove Independence School in Ashford, and I tell you now I hated every second of it!
Alex: Same, it was way too stuck up and academic for us. We knew our future was somewhere else.
Phil: So after GCSE's we made a move to North West Kent and did a course in music, thinking we could make our own sound that way. But, we were so wrong! We were kicked out of there as well after just a few months, several cases of disruptive and destructive behavior, they said. They never appreciated what we are all about if you ask me.
Q: So what are you guys all about?
Phil: Raising pure Hell wherever we go!
Alex: [laughs] That, and we're all for living your own life. I mean, our parents expected us to try hard in school, get decent grades and get a well paid job and leave home to be an accountant or a lawyer or something like that. But that's what our parents wanted, not what we wanted. We just wanna show the world that you gotta live your life the way you want to, or not at all!
Q: What did your parents think about you getting kicked out of North West Kent College only a few months into the course?
Phil: I don't think they know! Any money they'll see this magazine in the shop and either break down in tears or sheer anger. We're gonna be waiting for the phone call! [laughs]
Alex: [laughs]
Q: Where did you get the name "Hell Raiser" from then?
Alex: Our old R.E classes! We hated R.E, thought the idea of learning about something we didn't believe in to be total bollocks! We used to sit in the back of the class and write new lyrics to songs we had listened to, quietly so the teacher thought we were working, obviously.
Phil: He did come over to us at one point and saw our lyrics, and tried reading them out loud to the class. Ya know, to embarrass us. He read two lines, put the paper down and never walked by our table again!
Q: Where are you guys staying at the moment then?
Phil: As far away from Ashford as possible! [laughs]
Alex: [laughs] We have a flat in Dartford. It's alright, it's got what we need, a TV, PS3 and a wall dedicated to all our CD's!
Q: I'm guessing you have a lot of CD's then, what's your favourite?
Alex: Ah, now we could argue about this for months at a time! My favourite album is "American Capitalist" by Five Finger Death Punch. Whereas this idiot...
Phil: Hey hey woah, slow down there man! It's all about the second "Motograter" album when they got Ivan Moody in as the lead vocalist
Alex: Ok, I'm not having an arguement in our first interview! [laughs]
Phil: [laughs]
Q: Who's your true inspiration?
Alex and Phil: Ivan Moody!
Alex: At least we can agree on something!
Q: And who would you say is definitely not?
Alex and Phil: Justin Bieber!
Phil: Guess we agree on that too!
Q: Do you guys have any big dreams, any goals to look to in the future?
Alex: Well, we definitely want to headline at Download, Reading and Leeds. We would love to play at Wembley, and I've always wanted to headline Glastonbury.
Phil: [laughs] To hell with it, we'll have 'em all!
Q: So what's been keeping you both busy for the past few weeks then?
Phil: We can't tell you that! It's a lil' surprise for our fans!
Alex: All we will say is that it's going to be totally awesome, we have such a surprise lined up for you all and your gonna love every second of it!
Q: On a final note, we've heard some rumours of a third band member?
Alex: Not a chance!
Phil: I'd like to see 'em fucking try!
Feedback
- The set of questions need an introduction paragraph to add more of a background to the band.
- A Pull Quote needs to be selected from the questions.
- When it comes to answering the questions themselves, they do not necessarily need to be answered by both band members, have some flexibility with the answers.
- The word count only comes to 849, this needs to be increased.
Draft Three
Project Mayhem speaks exclusively to Hell Raiser, the new name in the face of Modern Metal, in an exclusive first interview. Following the release of their debut album "Into the Shadows", Hell Raiser have put their name on the map and given themselves the identity they have been dreaming of since school R.E classes. We talk to Phil and Alex, the twins themselves, about the future they look to, the past they would sooner forget and the icons they look to for inspiration. So, let's get started!
Q: Afternoon guys, how are you both doing today?
Alex: Pretty good thanks, had a busy few weeks but we're enjoyin' every second of it!
Q: So guys, when did you first get into music?
Alex: It's kind of a stupid story really, since the first instrument I learned to play was the violin! My family still think it's 1953 and that all boys should learn the violin, cello or piano. But when I left home I got really into stuff like Disturbed and Five Finger Death Punch so I taught myself the guitar. Phil on the other hand never...
Phil: Hey woah, don't tell
my story! Ahem, anyway, learn an instrument? Ha, don't make me laugh! I'm the guy that got my brother into all these bands, I've been true to my taste since the beginning. And instead of learning the violin or some other piece of Victorian crap, I taught myself how to scream and roar! My parents weren't impressed, but hey it's my life!
Q: Wow, quite an old fashioned upbringing. You didn't get sent off to Private School too, did you?
Phil: Yeah, parents sent us off to Spring Grove Independence School in Ashford, and I tell you now I hated every second of it. We always knew our future was somewhere else. So after GCSE's we made a move to North West Kent and did a course in music, thinking we could make our own sound that way. But, we were so wrong! We were kicked out of there as well after just a few months, several cases of disruptive and destructive behavior, they said. They never appreciated what we are all about if you ask me.
Q: So what are you guys all about?
Phil: Causing Carnage, wherever we go!
Alex: [laughs] That, and we're all for living your own life. I mean, our parents expected us to try hard in school, get decent grades and get a well paid job and leave home to be an accountant or a lawyer or something like that. But that's what our parents wanted, not what we wanted. We just wanna show the world that you gotta live your life the way you want to, or not at all.
Q: What did your parents think about you getting kicked out of North West Kent College only a few months into the course?
Phil: I don't think they know! Any money they'll see this magazine in the shop and either break down in tears or sheer anger. We're gonna be waiting for the phone call! [laughs]
Q: Where did you get the name "Hell Raiser" from then?
Alex: Our old R.E classes! We hated R.E, thought the idea of learning about something we didn't believe in to be total bollocks! We used to sit in the back of the class and write new lyrics to songs we had listened to, quietly so the teacher thought we were working, obviously. We got into enough trouble, we didn't want grief for disturbing lessons on top of all that.
Phil: He did come over to us at one point and saw our lyrics, and tried reading them out loud to the class. Ya know, to embarrass us. He read two lines, put the paper down and never walked by our table again!
Q: Where are you guys staying at the moment then?
Phil: As far away from Ashford as possible! [laughs]
Alex: [laughs] We have a flat in Dartford. It's alright, it's got what we need, a TV, PS3 and a shelf thats been built solely for all our CD's.
Q: I'm guessing you have a lot of CD's then, what's your favourite?
Alex: Ah, now we could argue about this for months at a time! My favourite album is "American Capitalist" by Five Finger Death Punch. Whereas this idiot...
Phil: Hey hey woah, slow down there man! It's all about the second "Motograter" album when they got Ivan Moody in as the lead vocalist!
Alex: Ok, I'm not having an argument in our first interview! [laughs]
Phil: [laughs]
Q: Who's your true inspiration?
Alex and Phil: Ivan Moody!
Alex: At least we can agree on something!
Q: And who would you say is definitely not?
Alex and Phil: Justin Bieber!
Phil: Guess we agree on that too!
Q: Do you guys have any big dreams, any goals to look to in the future?
Alex: Well, we definitely want to headline at Download, Reading and Leeds. We would love to play at Wembley, and I've always wanted to headline Glastonbury.
Phil: [laughs] To hell with it, we'll have 'em all!
Q: So what's been keeping you both busy for the past few weeks then?
Phil: We can't tell you that! It's a lil' surprise for our fans!
Alex: All we will say is that it's going to be totally awesome, we have such a surprise lined up for you all and your gonna love every second of it!
Q: On a final note, we've heard some rumours of a third band member?
Alex: Not a chance!
Phil: I'd like to see 'em fucking try!
Possible Pull Quotes:
- "To hell with it, we'll have 'em all!"
- "He read two lines, put the paper down and never walked by our table again!"
- "We always knew our future was somewhere else..."
The first thing I did was to select a background image to use for my Double Page Spread. This image related closely to my Flat Plan that I have drawn up previously to outline the ideas I wanted to display in this piece and ultimately to test these ideas on paper. The conventions of the chosen image (right) matched those of my previous pieces, and the desired effect was also easily implemented into the image. Unlike my Contents and Front Page, I didn't add any extra effects to the image itself at this stage of development, since most of the effects will be focused on the collision of the two fists of my models, and any others will be created in Adobe InDesign.
2) 
4)
Finally the title of the article was added, an element taken from my Front Page and Contents Page, although here you can see it as being aligned to a single line of text, whereas on my Front Page the band name 'Hell Raiser' is seen on two lines with one word resting on top of the other. The Page Numbers have also been added to the bottom corners of the article, with the title of the magazine, 'Project Mayhem' framing the numbers, an element taken from my previous research into the Double Page Spreads of real music magazines, which can be found here.
