The Joneses - Smiths Tribute Band
How and why did ‘The joneses’ Start? The band came together because the four members of the now formed Joneses band really wanted to play and sing the Smiths music. There has been a long steady road of development, the music and Morrissey's singing style presenting a formidable challenge to all members of the group. In terms of when the band formed, Aidan Sheridan (Morrissey) had been thinking about the idea for years, having listened to the music from when the band first started. In 2016 Aidan decided it was time to take up a new challenge in life, and a hobby which has now consumed all spare hours of the day. Three of the four members of the band met through the website 'Join My Band' an excellent platform for finding like-minded musicians. The process was fairly straight forward Matthieu Clervoy the lead guitarist was the first to respond followed shortly by the bass player Matthew Metherell. It took a bit more time to find the drummer Fergus Gleeson, who works in the same organisation and Aidan, and found out about the band through a mutual friend.
To what extent do you become Morrissey when you play? I have lived with the Smiths music a long time, however once I begin to learn a song the connection with the song intensifies and grows very strong, as I try to understand the lyrics. I use a lot of live videos, watching how Morrissey expresses himself to get greater insights to the emotions that he presents with the lyrics of the songs and then form my approach to the song. Whilst on stage between songs I am myself, but once I start the songs I take up the challenge of living out the lyrics as best as I can as Morrissey.
Some people must know you as Morrissey, do you ever feel a loss of yourself? I have suspicions my likeness to Morrissey has influenced many areas of my life, and yet perhaps none. Many people think they have met me before when they first meet me. I am told a lot that I look like one of the following: Morrissey, but also Feargal Sharkey, Matthew Perry and David Lynch, basically any Irish looking bloke who is famous.... perhaps not. Of course by far it's Morrissey. I have sometimes tried to shake off the likeness by having extreme hair cuts, but the very same day it is said, 'nice hair cut, you look like Morrissey' I have grown used to it. I have got used to tourists asking for the occasional picture, thinking I am Morrissey. I am never lost, I now deny I look like him and say,' No I'm just a Charming Man' as it entertains and gets me out of the moment fairly well.