3 Blind Mice consist of Alex Grayson, Garry Wonfor, and Lyndon J Connah, and are from London, England. The band members have also individually worked with other artists at various times. Their current CD is 'Collect 'Em All'. I call it a 'near-masterpiece' and can't remember the last time I gave a release such praise.

Oysters - raw, cooked, or not at all?
ALEX: Absolutely not at all ! Please read the Walrus and the Carpenter
GARRY: I think the Outer Shell is great, but I'd rather eat my pants!
LYNDON: I can't remember ever eating an oyster. If I tried one, I'd chew it rather than swallowing whole because I'm a human.

How popular are oysters in London?
ALEX: We just don't know. There needs to be more research. I'm speaking to the fisheries board later.
GARRY: They tend to hang around on street corners in menacing groups on Sunday lunchtimes. That's the only time I ever see the damn things.
LYNDON: I imagine they're less popular than sushi (my favorite !) and more popular than sea urchin.

How would you, overall, describe the current music scene in England?
ALEX: Nothing to do with me, mate !
GARRY: It's a curious mix of stuff you'd die for and stuff to make you die.
LYNDON: The scene in England now is confusing, which is probably a good thing, or maybe it's confusing to me - which is probably a bad thing.

What seems to be the overall opinion of the music scene in the USA?
ALEX: Broad, but the mainstream perhaps lacks innovation. But then, you've got things like Whole Wheat Radio and we haven't got anything as brilliant as that here - except, of course, we that we have ! The internet has made all scenes the same scene.
GARRY: I think that America is in general more open-minded and perhaps less prone to link music with fashion. I mean, a good song isn't ignored just because I bought my corduroy trousers in the Co-Op sale.
LYNDON: I haven't been to the States since 1989 but whenever I did visit the US, touring with various bands, music seemed more important and diverse. Musicians were more respected and live venues were more plentiful than back home. But, maybe the grass is always greener.........

What other artists have each of you played with?
ALEX: Albert Lee and John Virgo (the snooker player !)...
GARRY: I think we should leave this question to Lyndon.
LYNDON: Apart from my own bands - 64 Spoons (I drummed and co-wrote) and Froon (I sang & co-wrote), I've played and toured with George Michael, Thomas Dolby, Squeeze, David Sylvain, Sinead O'Connor, Joe Cocker, Level 42, Go West, Nik Kershaw... it goes on. I always enjoy playing in my own bands more than in other people's, but if you ask what it was like playing with the more famous artists, then I'd say that Thomas Dolby was the most enjoyable of the bunch. That's because I was already a huge fan when he asked me to join the band. He was fascinating to work with and a real perfectionist, in a way that I admire. The most stressful was Take That, because of the security surrounding the band, which we were caught up in, the almost impossible task of monitoring what we were playing above the screams of 15,000 teenyboppers and the inevitable tinitus that followed every show. It wasn't all bad, though, because we had a nice accommodation and great people in the band.

A lot of music on 'Collect' kind of comes across as up-beat Simon & Garfunkel, with harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Is that a fair assessment ? I can also detect Leo Sayer influence....?
ALEX: I'll have to ask them. Can you arrange a meeting please?
GARRY: All those guys wrote great songs, and to be compared to them is an honour.
LYNDON: When you eventually hear the traditionally 'long-awaited studio album', those comparisons may change. However, C,S,&N I can happily relate to.

How popular are 3 Blind Mice in England, and why not known in the USA?
ALEX: It's growing. It's in its very early stages. Again, thanks to the internet, and (mgr) The Farmer's Wife (the only person that can get her computer to stay stable for more than 5 minutes - isn't that right Lyndon ?!) our fanbase is worldwide even though we have so far only performed in the UK.
GARRY: Thanks to our manager, The Farmer's Wife, our popularity in the UK is growing nicely. We're a new band in the process of recording our first proper studio album so we've got it all to do - so exposure such as this means a lot too us. Thank you!
LYNDON: We have a fast-growing cult fanbase in the UK and beyond. We're building our profile with a mixture of the old-fashioned way (word of mouth and performing) and the modern way (the internet). Every few months we throw Mouse Parties which take place in intimate venues in London. All the fans are fed and watered, entertained by 3 Blind Mice and our Moustery Guests and sent away with a limited CD containing 3 brand new songs. We present a certificate to the guest who's travelled furthest to see us. In April of this year, the certificate went to a couple who had travelled from India. We haven't yet had fans from the USA make it to a Mouse Party but we hope it won't be too long.

Why the name 3 Blind Mice?
ALEX: Why not ? "3BM" looks good. A simple tune to sing to children ensuring they'll never understand, leaving them the only option of growing up nervy!
GARRY: It was a choice between 3 Blind Mice and 3 Far xxxxx. 3 Blind Mice scraped home.
LYNDON: I have a huge list of names but Alex laughed. It's fine the way it is - at least I remember what we're called !!

One of your songs, 'Steel', blends a techno sound along with (seemingly) breaks of folk.
ALEX: My dad always said 'Don't make such a song and dance'. It's about that - a song and dance.
GARRY: Yeah, bonkers, isn't it ? Who said you can't wear a spandex shirt with your corduroy trousers?
LYNDON: I love creating soundscapes and rich textures when producing our tracks. This song provided a good opportunity when Alex suggested it. I'm pleased with the menacing slow build of the string crescendo. I think I may have been influenced by a couple early 70s, both using a bolero rhythm - one by King Crimson, the other by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Both were arranged with a similar build up of musical intensity and density. The techno section of 'Steel' was a challenge, as it was a one-off flirtation with the genre.

Is there a goal of the band?
ALEX: To get Lyndon to stay in the same country as me and Garry.
GARRY: To keep The Farmer's Daughter away from our precious tails, and believe me; that's a tough one.
LYNDON: Every venture needs a goal, even if it's just its own continuation or completion. In our case, the first major goal is to reach a level where we can turn away any unwelcome jobs down so we can all concentrate on making the music we love.

Who are your influences?
ALEX: Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, Bjork - great words. Neil Finn - great tunes. Little Richard - great voice. Prince, The Beatles - great. Thomas Hardy, Philip Larkin, John Betjeman, Roger McGough - great misery.
GARRY: Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, & Nash..... Leo Sayer, because I like you very much!
LYNDON: It's impossible to stop what you hear from influencing you. If you'd never heard any music and you sat down at a piano, try and imagine what music would spring forth. For me, music from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Gentle Giant, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Weather Report, Bjork, and The Blue Nile have all touched me deeply in some way.

What lies ahead for the band?
ALEX: Whatever happens.. really.
GARRY: I'm going to finish painting my bathroom ceiling, then I'll have a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake. Very English.
LYNDON: I'd like to complete the traditionally long-awaited studio album (!) and a Christmas song that we're currently recording (another challenge).

Why should people be listening to your music?
ALEX: It's honest fun.
GARRY: It's meant to stir up some kind of emotion. It's honest and we believe in it.
LYNDON: If you listen to us, you'll hear what we believe are good songs, with unusual subject matter tied up in happy and sad melodies. The reviews have compared us to a wide variety and genres and artists, which is pleasing, because being labelled always makes us feel....... well, labelled !

Additional Comments?
ALEX: At the meeting with CSN, S&G, and Leo Sayer, could you also arrange for Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, Bjork, Neil Finn, Little Richard, Prince, all 4 Beatles, Thomas Hardy, Philip Larkin, John Betjemen, and Roger McGough to be there ? I've got this idea........ Also... why is our CD a 'near-masterpiece' ? Where did we go wrong?
GARRY: How are the Lakers doing?
LYNDON: Yes. Wake up !!