by Russell Atkins
Current World Superbike Championship leader
James Toseland is approaching the upcoming British round at
Donington Park with a good deal of optimism, following a stellar start to the campaign that has seen him notch up a brace of wins and two second places.
The 2004 title-winner has left former
MotoGP aces Max Biaggi and
Troy Bayliss quite literally trailing in his wheel tracks throughout the opening two meetings, and is clearly keen to continue that form as the series returns to his home country this weekend. Perhaps a lesser-known fact about the 26-year-old is that he is also a singer and keyboard player in his own rock band, Crash. He took time out from a private gig in London earlier this month to tell us about his extra-curricular hobby, and how he is enjoying the racing season so far…
Q:
James, first of all can you explain where the idea of forming a band came from?
James Toseland:
I’ve played the piano all my life – my gran plays it and she taught me to play. I met the band I play with in Newquay in 1998. I was on holiday with some friends staying in a caravan park, and the band were doing the summer season down there. They were called Shazoom, and the lead singer recognised me and came up to me in the bar. It turned out he was a bit of a racing fanatic. We kept in touch, the keyboard player later quit which obviously left a big hole to fill, and when they found out I played the piano I just fitted in nicely. We’ve all been together about four years now, but the band isn’t called Shazoom anymore. It’s called Crash, and I just play for a bit of fun in-between races.
Q:
The style of music you play seems to be cover versions of artists like Aerosmith and Bon Jovi. Has that come from all four members of the band?
JT:
All the boys like rock and roll, and that’s perfect for motorcycling events. My sponsors and other people book the band because I play in it and am connected to the racing. I like rock and roll anyhow. I’m a bit of an old rocker myself!
Q:
Who would you say are your own musical influences?
JT:
Obviously Jools Holland is a big hero of mine when it comes to piano-playing, and Elton John’s song-writing for the piano is awesome. Jamie Cullum is a star as well – people like him have made piano-playing a little bit cooler nowadays. I’m not saying Richard Clayderman isn’t cool, but he didn’t really bring the rock and roll into piano-playing did he?
Q:
Where did the name Crash come from? Whose idea was that?
JT:
I was just a bit conscious about being introduced to all these bikers – they are the loveliest people you could ever meet but as you can imagine they are also a mean old bunch – with them staring at us in their leather jackets and tattoos and us announcing ourselves as a band called Shazoom! It sounds like the Village People doesn’t it? I thought it sounded a bit camp, so rather than risk getting things thrown at us the lead singer said let’s call it something to do with the racing. We went from Pitlane to Chequered Flag and all sorts then I just said ‘why not Crash?’ I did say if I go to the next race and fall off four times we’re changing it, but ever since we’ve called the band Crash, touchwood the crashes haven’t been too bad.
Q:
What would you say you enjoy most about performing at live gigs?
