Flatt Tin Roof

You know guys, some things never change; (just ask C.C. Smith!) but some things do! It's becoming increasingly common these days to click a mouse, flick a page and see pictures of beauty and mystery. How often has the phrase "beautiful stranger" crossed our lips? Even before Madonna had the hit they were everywhere. So it should come as no surprise when we click our mice over to the pictures section of the Roofsters space on the web and see the number one frontman smoothie C.C. But who are those mysterious strangers with him? I went to find out! We've heard a lot about the frontman of Flatt Tin Roof recently and his womanising and crazy stage debauchery, but what about the other 2? I'm talking about the ever benevolent bassist and dynamic drummer. A.k.a Adie and J. Sadly, we had problems tracking down Adie this week; yet again the ever private sideman seems to have taken off at the first word of a blog busting interview. So we took the opportunity to speak and learn more about the man behind the big pair – Jay-z, who was more than happy to tell us all we wanted to know. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us "The Teacher" is rarely seen without formal wear, even during a gig! Jay-z is a man of rare nature. A former part-time amateur swimsuit model, who graced some of the worlds finest beaches, before being whisked away on an ever lasting romance (and were not just talking about serious passion for F.T.R either!) Having been quite the fan favourite for many a year during his time in the supergroup "Siansu", Jay-z it seemed was destined to live the playboy lifestyle, parties, tequilas and barbeques, which C.C seems to be quickly taking up. However, he never quite achieved this, but the question we wanted answering; is why? "The past is past, it was a great job, the pay was not amazing, and sure in the short term I guess I could've kept it up for a while, but sooner or later it had to end. I mean, how many 40 year olds do you see modeling in swimming trunks?Waikiki But hey, I don't regret it for a second, had it not been for posing on beach 2 years ago, I would never have met the future missus and joined F.T.R" Missus?! Marriage!? Surely not! Can the gorgeous rear of F.T.R truly be tied down? Apologies in advance girls, this man is taken! We've all heard these days of mail order brides, heck, you can even rent mail order drummers for studio sessions! But when C.C's lifelong friend Louise mentioned she and her friends were escaping for a recuperative break in Hawaii, C.C quickly came up with a scheme to bring the Yorkshire born vegan back home! C.C was quick to remind us "When Louise told me she was going to Hawaii; I knew that was the time to act! I also knew if a beautiful blonde couldn't entice J to come back to F.T.R then nothing could! I didn't send her to marry him though!" Quite the controversial story indeed! But we are accustomed to C.C and controversy; one could almost suggest they're the perfect pairing, so this should not be too surprising. Although even C.C himself (allegedly) couldn't have imagined what would happen later. For unbeknown to J, C.C and even Louise; by agreeing to become an FTR messenger, Louise was also destined to become - Mrs. Jay-z! From what J reminds us, it was a beautiful moment. "I was sat back on the beach getting my tan lines, when I noticed a beautiful blonde and her friends appeared on the beach, but I had to dash back to work, the camera doesn't wait. Then later on, I found out she'd stopped by and left a message and that was our first contact." So had Louise noticed the swimsuit smoothie and decided to make the first move? "No! You can only imagine my disappointment when the message left was not from her, but from C.C Smith! I should've guessed C.C was up to something, he's always scheming. But having said that, this time he wasn't, and from there you can imagine cant ya? Sunset walks along the volcanoes and climaxing with me booking a place on her flight back home" So it seems an eruption of events helped hit 3 birds with one stone! First C.C's message was delivered. Second Louise and J fell in love, and finally FTR got their dynamic drummer back where he belongs. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us And Never without a smile! Since those days though. The "teacher" of FTR has gone onto bigger and brighter things. Although the sunshine of Hawaii may be behind him, it seems his schooldays have come back to haunt him. Recently the teacher has gone on to receive his qualifications and currently teaches kids a thing or two; but not about how to sip a tequila or two on the beach, rather; about maths! Well, before today even I couldn't have come up with that equation! So does he regret any of it? "Not a second! I'm happily in love, and hey I've got a wife too! But jokes aside for a minute; I'm in love, and I'm in a band that means a lot to me, sunshine is nice, but the real paradise comes when I get behind that kit and really give her what for!" A true drummer's statement to say the least! So when can we expect to see Jay-z (or perhaps we should call him "Teacher") behind the kit again? "Well, we've got a big gig in Sheffield. It's our first gig outside our comfort zone, and we're all excited for it. We wanted to do some in May, but Adie's disappearing for that month, so it's left us some time to get a few new tracks down and brush up on a few things. Were looking forward to going down though, aren't you?" Going down!? I thought I was just here for an interview! "He means Sheffield!" C.C quickly assured me with a wink and a nudge So the question remains, will this truly inspirational story somehow change C.C to begin living the quiet life? Not on your nelly! "You know me, I'll never change! And you can put that in your interview too!" So there you have it fans, a little more in detail about our beloved Drumming vegan and a reassuring statement from the wild frontman C.C. Who would've guessed? You couldn't make it up; these lads seem to get more interesting with every interview. Next up: Adie. At least, if we can catch him that is! Don't miss the Roofsters bringing Serious Passion to Sheffield in June With possibly more before! Stay tuned for details!

It was the moment the world didn't see coming, but the whole of Leeds was talking about. The night:- Flatt Tin Roof finally got their first headline gig! Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Having worked hard, these boys were raring to go and as usual we weren't to be disappointed. It was a warm Wednesday evening, and the Cardigan Arms was opening its doors to some fantastic acts. The preceding 3 bands to FTR were sensational, in particular Vasquez stood out as a band ready to take on the nation already. But the warm end to a cold spring was about to get even hotter when the local lads took the stage complete with "fresh from the press" T-shirts proudly shown off by C.C himself. We were rocked by the cult classic "she ain't no good" to kick off precedings. This song has long been a favourite of mine, and it almost feels like that first cup of coffee in the morning – Warm, comforting and as ever – refreshing! The boys then did something a little out of the ordinary. The last 2 weeks have seen a flood of entries for the Flatt Tin Roof logo competition, with the prize being an exclusive first ever Flatt Tin T-shirt. Having decided to take a minute to call out the winner, the proud "Sean from Seattle" arose to the occasion and claimed his reward. Only one problem also arose with him, as there seemed to be an apparent mix-up! The T-shirt given to young Sean appeared a tad large, leading to widespread rumours the ever so tight fitting FTR t-shirt due to be awarded was actually mistakenly being worn by C.C himself! There's long been controversy and unconfirmed rumours surrounding C.C wearing extremely tight fitting clothing outside of the spotlight. But could this so called "accident" really have been just the emergence of C.C's growing confidence as he begins to finally allow us in to his closely guarded private life? However, to C.C's credit he stood firm against chants of "Take it off!" and continued with more Serious Passion, forever served up in a Musical Fashion. (See flatttinroof.org.uk for the competition winning entry) However, even though the t-shirt was a little big, it dwarfed in comparison to these boys, who have seemingly grown themselves. Like a daily newspaper, these lads realize the need to continually refresh and provide a unique performance each time. Next up was a new song, entitled "write it down". We had heard the muffled version of this downstairs at the bar whilst awaiting the boys to complete their soundcheck, and although we had an idea of the tune, we were certainly blown away by the tight sound and rocking vocals of C.C complete with the mesmerizing bass accompanied by the benevolent bassist Adie. Not to be outdone however was Jay-z, who fresh from bungee jumping in Guernsey, appeared even more extravagant in the following song entitled "Dreamscapes". This was another new song the boys have recently put together which apparently will be on their forthcoming "Roofsters Revenge" cd. Jay was clearly not in the mood to be outdone by the firm pair in front of him, and as a great rear has often been known to do – he caught our eye on this one! "The Teacher" sure taught us a lesson on this one, with some creative fills and excellent timing which is testament to the growing confidence these boys are gaining with every performance. The next few tunes were the favourites we've grown to know and love, including "contradiction", "Royal Skies" and the unforgettable toe-tapper "One for me". To complete the set C.C demanded the crowd "look at me" and we obliged, as the band took us to a climax of such extremity, even Ron Jeremy would be proud! Image Hosted by ImageShack.us Im told the weekend following the performance the boys were hailed by the local music fanzine "Max-zine as" "…a refreshing diverse range of music…unlike many who sound the same throughout Flatt Tin Roof have continued to prove it is possible to please everyone…". However I'm still awaiting a copy to be handed to me by Adie. Although if rumours are to be believed that could be a while as he is "present"ly away in Christmas Island! So when will we see these boys again? Surely it won't be long now. But one things for sure! With these boys, it seems the ever growing fan base isn't the only thing that's growing, the confidence C.C showed on stage, complete with the continuing evolving bass lines and extravagant drum fills proved that: - Like a fine wine, something's just get better with age.

On Wednesday morning I woke up in one of those moods. The kind you don't know what it is, but something just isn't right. I went for breakfast, still didn't feel right, I even went for an Indian head massage, and still nothing changed. I even went to see the missus for some good loving, yet still it wasn't enough. Then I finally realized why! It wasn't good loving or a head rub I needed; it was serious passion (in a musical fashion) and a nice cold pint. And I knew just where to find them both too. The Adelphi is a nice place, the building looks a little dated from outside, and the unofficial rumours were confirmed, tonight FTR were playing a behind closed doors charity gig. I'd waited long enough to get my dose of serious passion, and the boys had been gone for what felt like forever. However, one thing stood between me and the unofficial return of the Roofsters – A 400lb bouncer. Luckily, McSmythe "the 4th member of FTR" was my ticket in. Having offered to buy the drinks for the evening, it seemed understandable he'd gladly help me in my bid, and in return get a mention in this review you're reading now. However, things didn't quite work out as planned. Far from recognizing the 4th member of FTR the bouncer recognized only a man who had been banned from the Adelphi 6 times. However, I took the opportunity whilst the bouncer and McSmythe tangled, to sneak upstairs and gatecrash what was quite possibly going to be the most controversial undercover gig of 2007 so far. Upstairs in the Adelphi is quite a modern room, large too, with wonderful leather chairs, the kind you'd more likely find in a gentleman's club. The stage is modest too, and as I entered I could see amps lining it, the bar open, and leather armchairs free – Id finally found my home. However, my excitement when I heard C.C. Smith soon turned to horror, when I realized the charity gig the boys were lined up for was not only a charity gig, but a controversial auction too! And C.C himself was bidding on the lot of a female slave for the day! In fact, it would be fair to say he's proving to be a real "winner" with the ladies yet again! Its no coincidence that controversy just happened to be present at the Roofsters Return, once again stalking them like a hungry paparazzo! C.C though, is not just a gentleman of leisure, a self confessed "smoothie", but also a terrific frontman too. So hot on the heels of his latest success with the ladies, he quickly rose to the stage and hyped up the crowd in anticipation of the set, whilst J and Adie promptly followed suit. As the crowd roared, the boys let rip as they launched into the unforgettable classic "she ain't no good". C.C began crowing, the beer was flowing and the controversy was growing too! Which all meant one thing – Flatt Tin Roof are back. The Roofsters Revenge mission is well and truly underway, I have to admit, not only were they in hot form that night, but the on-stage antics were even more outrageous than usual! Judging by this charity gig (in aid of the charity - Shelter) which the Roofsters helped to raise over £1500 for; the boys are returning with more flair, more charisma and making up for lost time! Oh and did I forget they're bringing serious passion and controversy with them to 2007 too? But would we expect anything less from these boys? However, sadly I cannot discuss the new songs the Roofsters played that night due to a silencing agreement with FTR bassist Adie, but I can assure you guys, these boys aren't just continuing on from an explosive 2006, although the classics we know and love were played as the crowd sang along, the new future classics went down just as well too! In fact, the only thing hotter than the wasabi peas at the bar that night, were the Roofsters themselves! I took the opportunity to quickly catch the bands drummer J before leaving, who told me "I don't know how you got in, but there better be a good review in this!" The ever benevolent bassist Adie elaborated "He's just stressed because he was in the toilet when the bidding for the girl came on. Saturdays coming, and we can't wait! We just hope these new songs we put together will show just how far we've come since last year, and be received well by the fans. They've really warmed to all our stuff so far, and we don't want to disappoint. For sure we'll make up for that one month disappearance" Rumours were quick to arise when it seemed C.C had accidentally "mislaid" Adie's microphone. Much to the fans bemusement, C.C controversially presided over the only remaining microphone refusing access to all around him. So sadly that night there were no backing vocals, and certainly no good jokes! But could this be the beginning of a growing rift in the band? Could Adie's microphone really have been mislaid? Could C.C's alter ego be taking over? One thing's for sure; we'll do our best to keep you informed of all the controversy and rumours as they come in! A wise man once said "You can have too much of a good thing", but rumours say Bill Gates took him to court and made him retract that phrase. Fortunately he did, for it seems it wasn't true, as - you can't have too much of a good thing! And fortunately for us, the Roofsters revenge continues on Saturday at the Cardigan Arms! Can you afford to miss out? See you there!

Well! When news of Flatt Tin Roofs popularity going through the roof hit us, we didn't think frontman CC.Smith (Aka Col) would take it literally! Yup, it's that time of year again. Time for the Flatt Tin Roof bonanza extravaganza! We got exclusive invitations and loved every minute! This time it was O'l McSmythe himself playing the host, and as usual, Mcsmythe was up to his dirty tricks again! He's never quite got over the fact he couldn't join the band. However, it wasn't by choice, it was simply because he had been banned from almost every pub and bar in Yorkshire that played music so it was out of the bands hands. However it's good to see McSmythe knows how to keep a grudge, and although many tricks were anticipated... it seems FTR frontman smoothie C.C.Smith forgot one golden rule - you NEVER give a gun to McSmythe! Even if it is just loaded with plastic darts!! As CC was to find out later. Well…Rumours were rife that FTR were gonna play a surprise gig this year on new years eve, however plans failed to materialise, and it seems they are actually truthful in taking January off, HOWEVER they did go round to play at McSmythes for a good O'l fashioned knees up. It seems the boys couldn't resist mcsmythes request for a song or two from Andy Williams album played by the roofsters themselves! So the task was taken up by perhaps Yorkshires finest crooner and smoothie - CC Smith himself.It seems CC was up for it from the start. In fact, by the end he was up to it by his hands and feet too... but we'll get to that in good time. Invitations circulated, and McSmythe told the boys to go setup in the loft as the missus was busy downstairs cooking away in preparation for the extravaganza. Up went the lads, next thing you know, SLAM the trapdoor shut behind Adie (recently returned from an unknown destination making Captain Birdseye himself look clean shaven and regal). The boys were unable to open it again. MYSTERIOUSLY the dastardly McSmythe didn't show up even though he was due to follow the lads up the ladder haha! However, McSmythe - a man of his word - was right, the electric was available in the loft and the lads setup anyway, armed with guitars, a few drums and beers it was a cold night outside, but things were about to heat up! So the music began, CC Smith was hitting the notes, J was hitting the drums, and Adie was hitting the trapdoor trying to get out! All was going great when suddenly; CC could resist no longer and launched into his frontman smoothie show! (Usually reserved exclusively for gig nights) The floor was shaking, the loft was heating up and the Roofsters were back in the swing rocking the roof! However, no one anticipated the moment coming... CC during one of his electrically charged guitar solos launched as he so frequently does, onto his knees in a musical trance..Unfortunately though for him, it seems McSmythe failed to mention the damp problem within the house and CC went through the roof! Literally!! But don't panic! The guitar was not harmed in any way! Not even a scratch! As for CC well... he made the mistake of falling through McSmythe's roof straight on top of McSmythe, and that's something you just don't do! So, to kill two birds with one stone and perhaps the FTR frontman as well, McSmythe decided to teach CC a lesson and put his new Christmas present to good use, the band were marched outside in firing squad fashion. However, much to the amazement and gratitude of Adie, (largely in part thanks to J's negotiating skills) McSmythe offered them the chance to participate in the fun. - Which set the tone for the evening's entertainment! CC Smith enjoyed the show from a slightly higher aspect, however don't panic fans! It wasn't drugs. It was simply CC chained halfway up a tree. It is rumoured in total McSmythe and The other Roofsters managed to shoot CC in the nose 5 times, forehead 434 and mouth 45. However, rumours of the shots being ball bearings were officially denied by the bands drummer J who claimed "Colin loves to be the centre of attention; he loved it I'm sure. He's always moaning about "why don't we look at me" But somehow who'd have thought plastic darts could actually leave Bruises? Amazing! A great time was had by all!" Apparently the remaining bandmates and McSmythe got a little tired approaching the 500th dart and retired for drinks, leaving CC to enjoy the night sky and fireworks with a breathtaking view before being rescued by Mrs. McSmythe who returned home from a night out with the girls. Rumours of this being the reason why January was ruled out for gigs by the band were again officially denied by the bands bassist Adie who claimed "It's totally false, We'll be back in February you can catch the thatch then." when pressed over his recent disappearance Adie replied "Lapland was a little harder than I imagined to Hitchhike to, I don't recommend it". As for CC... Well, as always he's fine. And after demanding we "look at me" he seems to have got his wish. However, when asked whether this will affect his future energetic stage performances, CC was quick to retort with what is fast becoming his popular catchphrase "Ill never change!" So it seems the theory that – You can't keep a good frontman down – is true, or is it? One things for sure, if Mcsmythe's "roofless" acts continue, you can be sure well soon find out J wasn't quite as optimistic as CC who felt his "accident" may affect his ability to do the splits on stage for a while... Clearly a "contradiction" you could say... But that's enough; it's a new year... Let's hope the Roofsters are back soon With some new tunes, new stories and continue the new hope coming from Leeds that these boys are the biggest act coming out of Leeds since the Kaiser Chiefs and Chumbawumba! Whatever happens guys, were assured unanimously by all the lads at FTR including McSmythe himself that by February 2007 they'll be back with even more "serious passion in a musical fashion!" But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we? Stay tuned!