There's nothing worse than your drummer calling it a day just weeks before you're about to go on tour. So when Razorlight's tub-thumper jumped ship, the band gritted their teeth and set about finding a replacement, starting with an ad in the NME and ending after two long booze fuelled days of auditions.
OneMusic spoke to new sticksman Andy Burrows and Razorlight frontman Johnny Burrell about the auditioning process.
What was going through your mind at the audition?
Andy: "I got there two hours early and sat in a café because I couldn't remember what time my audition was! I played along to 'Golden Touch' - and afterwards the band came out and said 'let's play it together' - which I took as a good sign! Then we had a go at bashing out some of the other songs on the record."
When did you know that you'd got the gig?
Andy: " I'd been back for a second audition on the Sunday and thought I must've been in with a chance because they'd asked me back. I was going insane at home, wondering whether I had got it or not! Just when I had given up, their manager rang me and said 'the guys would like to work with you.' I just went to the pub and stayed there til the next morning."
Johnny on finding the right drummer...
Was it hard to find a drummer?
Johnny: "I thought it was going to be impossible. I was relieved that Christian left because he just didn't want to play drums - he never turned up on time and couldn't be bothered but I honestly thought I was going to have to persuade him to do the tour. Amazingly, Andy's managed to memorize all the songs in a week"!
What was the auditioning process like?
Johnny: "We just sat there all weekend, smoking fags drinking beer watching people come in and walk out again. Half of those we auditioned were good but you do get the odd chancer who comes down, after you've given them a copy of the single to learn two weeks before and ask them what song they've learned and they go 'I only had 10 minutes to listen to it' and you go next. It's about initiative - and that means learning the songs, at the very least!"
When did you realise Andy was your man?
"Auditioning is a difficult process - you have to make snap judgements on people because you haven't got time to figure them out. You only really know when you've auditioned everyone. Andy walked in and he was wonderful; I'd see him playing with another band a year ago. He walked in, made a joke and then played 'Golden Touch' brilliantly. He's the least arrogant person you're ever likely to meet and the drummer I've always wanted to play with."