An interview with Debbie Gough: Birmingham's own guitar hero

Hailing from Birmingham, DEAD HANDS have worked relentlessly to ensure that their unique concoctions of mathcore, thrash and hardcore will not be over looked in their scene. Providing exhaustingly energetic live shows from start to finish, they have been recently been labelled by Dead Press as the 'Band to Watch in 2018' and we couldn't agree more!

Recently their guitarist, Debbie Gough, has become popular on Twitter for her shredding abilities and has had her video viewed more than 270,000 times! Knocked Loose even stated that she is more talented than anyone in their band, so we decided to interview her and discuss all things guitar related.

When did you first start playing guitar? 

I first had an electric guitar when I was 10, it was one of the ones that felt like a nail to play and was from Argos. At the time, I didn't pay much attention to it over SSX Tricky on my Playstation 2 but when I was 14, I picked guitar back up properly and fell in love with music.

What was the first song you learnt?

'Through the Fire and the Flames' by Dragon Force. If you don't believe me, it's because it was actually the James Bond themetune.

What is your current guitar set up? 

Live I use my PRS Paul Allender SE Sig through a Laney Ironheart and use an EHX Pog and EHX Big Muff NY.

Who has been a inspirational guitarist for you? 

The most inspirational guitarist to me has most definitely been Mark Morton of Lamb of God. He's such a technically proficient player and his songs have really shaped the way I think of music. I really admire the way he can use blues theory and translate it into super heavy tracks. He's also very supportive of DEAD HANDS, which is mental.

When did you become a part of Dead Hands? 

DEAD HANDS started around May 2016 so it's been over two years now that we've been together! In that time, I've been thrown up on, hit in the face with a bass during a show,  have pulled a toilet brush from our drummer's hair, almost been banned from a Chinese Karaoke bar and have probably also given myself liver failure! It's honestly been the best two years of my life and I've made so many amazing memories from this band. 

Favourite show you have played with Dead Hands?

Back when I was in Year 9, I went to see Cancer Bats and for some unknown reason (probably me thinking I was being really spontaneous and cool, two things which I never was and never will be), I decided to get my Converse signed my Cancer Bats. I'd wear them to P.E. lessons just so people would ask me about who Cancer Bats were and by the time I left school, everyone knew that they were my favourite band. My feet also stunk because those shoes were disgusting but I'd never throw them out. Last year, we were given the opportunity to support them and it was truly the best night of my life! It felt like I was in some sort of Disney film because it was something I'd literally always dreamed of.

With the heavy music scene tending to be a male dominated scene, have you faced any problems/issues? 

I've been asked this quite often and I guess the simple answer would be yes. I'm lucky that the vast majority of people I'm around tend to be supportive and treat me the same as every other musician but of course there are sometimes exceptions when playing shows. In general I have a nice reception from people and personally don't see myself as any different to any guys I play with.

What advice could you give to women wanting to be apart of the heavy music scene?

Always wear a bra if you're going to crowdsurf.

How did you feel that your online video went viral and was even shared by Knocked Loose? 

The amount of views and shares was unreal; I think it's currently on 270k views, which is madness when it's just a video of me in my bedroom. 7 strings have always taken my interest and I'd literally only just got my Omen before making a quick film of it. The response has made me even more determined to carry on playing and push myself as far as I can. Like every musician, sometimes you can get doubtful of what you're doing but the Twitter community has definitely made me feel as though my personal goals aren't as unattainable as I think they are!

You can check out Debbie's band, DEAD HANDS, here.

By Sam Hennerley