SYZ

SYZ (Screaming Yellow Zonkers), recorded a single back in 1986, and they had Tony Speakman of Paralex and Hell and Mark "Gibbo" Gibson of Paralex, in their ranks. Mick Atkin is going to tell us the origins of the band and what they are doing now.

Q. - Hello Mick, tell us a bit about the origins of the band, how did it all start? Who were the first members of the band?

Mick - Syz was formed from a band i had in 1980 called Soveriegn, Tony Speakman and Tim Bowler came to a gig and approached me, so they joined then Tony left for Paralex, Syz carried on and in 85 Tony came back and Wez was my drummer, and Phil Allwood on guitar, Phil left and Gibbo joined and i wrote rock n roll chidren which we recorded.

Q. - How did the band name came up, SYZ (Screaming Yellow Zonkers)?

Mick - SYZ was 2 bands one was Screaming Yellow Zonkers was a covers band earning money to support SYZ.

Q. - Who were your principal influences at that time?

Mick - Influence, UFO.

Q. - How did bassist Tony Speakman got into SYZ? Were you friends before?

Mick - Tony Speakman has remained a close friend for 30 years and him and Tim are re-joining me next year in SYZ for a couple of gigs.

Q. - Mark Gibson was there since the beginning or he only joined after Paralex had split?

Mick - Mark joined us for about a year he came back to me a year ago but has left again.

Q. - What about gigs, did you play around Nottingham at that time, or in the rest of the UK or was it hard for a hard rock band to be booked in the area at that time?

Mick - We played mainly Nottingham, supporting Groundhoggs, Budgie, Quireboys, Tredegar, The Sweet.

Q. - The single "Rock n' Roll Children" came out in 1986, did the single have air play on radio stations, at that time?

Mick - I wrote  rock n roll children after drinking half a bottle of whiskey lol was played on local rock shows, it is well sort after by NWOBHM followers and very rare.

Q. - Did you try to approach a record deal after recording the single? What do you think went wrong with SYZ to achieve real success?

Mick - It was a very hard time in 85 to get gigs so mainly down to luck and band politics lol.

Q. - What other musical projects did you have after SYZ?

Mick - After the end of SYZ, I packed up playing for 27 years.

Q. - And what made you feel like reunite SYZ again?

Mick - I actually reformed Soveriegn after a dear friend who roadied wife died just as a one of but then got messages from all over the world asking if I was Mick Atkin of SYZ  so changed name back to SYZ.

Q. - Will you record a full length album, now that you're back? Will you re-record some of the old stuff?

Mick - No album yet but nearly finished an ep then going to do an SYZ all stars album featuring people who have played in my band.

Q. - And what about the new stuff? Will you keep the same kind of sound you had?

Mick - When ep comes out the sound is so heavy ime really pleased with sound.

Q. - Did you follow "Paralex" and "Hell" career back in the day? What did you think about both bands?

Mick - Ime still friends with Tim Bowler, Tony Speakman and Gibbo thats why Tim and Ttony are coming back to SYZ.

Q. - What do you think of this recent revival of the N.W.O.B.H.M., and all these bands reforming?

Mick - My thoughts on revival of NWOBHM its a very gud thing but very clicky and still hard to get gigs.

Q. - Anything more you want to say, to end up this interview?

Mick - Thank you my friend for asking me about my band keep on rocking, Mick Atkin.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!