Having once played the drums in an Ash tribute band named 'Wheeler' - after Tim in case you were unsure - I am understandably close to shitting myself as I stand in the dressing room waiting for an opportunity to speak to someone. Mark Hamilton (bass player, dark, mysterious, heartthrob) and new recruit Charlotte Hatherly (guitarist, red-haired, pretty, sweats a lot) are draped over a sofa having already endured several rounds of interviews, all with probably the same questions. Meanwhile, Rick McMurray (drummer, glasses, questionable sideburns) and even newer recruit for the live set up DJ Dick Kirtaine (DJ, glasses, born in Coventry) seem far more lively and willing to talk. Tim Wheeler (singer, vocalist, extremely nice bloke) is elsewhere doing phone interviews. After being told that I must choose one pair to interview, I choose Rick and DJ Dick.
On the one hand, 'Nu-Clear Sounds' has the slow ballad-esque moments that Ash are known for, whilst on the other hand it features a selection of flying-V driven metal numbers which have seemingly come from nowhere. And what about the Cradle Of Filth fans that are now visible at every Ash gig? "I think its pretty cool," says Rick with a smile. "We like a bit of rock. I think that the Marilyn Manson album is really good from what I've heard of it. But today we're having 'metal T-shirt day'. All the bands have to go and buy metal T-shirts". Which explains why DJ Dick is wearing a black Metallica sweater and why Rick himself worryingly has the words 'Motley' and 'Crue' emblazoned on his apparel. Britpop seems like a very distant memory now but do they feel like they owe anything to it? "It was just the way the charts were at the time. People were listening to more guitar music, maybe that helped. But it all stemmed from Nirvana really: that's when guitar music really took off in the 90's".
Charlotte Hatherly's addition has undoubtedly helped Ash in the acoustic department. But it also seems that some fans have become alienated by her appearance. "There's been a few things," agrees Rick. "There was the 'We Hate Charlotte' website set up where people were attacking her. I think it was a shock, because we didn't even announce it, then suddenly there she was at V97 playing to forty thousand people. I think that a lot of girl fans were shocked and they thought 'what is she doing close to them?'. It was a real jealousy thing just because she was close to us, but some other younger girls see her as a role model." There have also been many boys slightly annoyed with the new line up. "That is very strange. I think people had this view of us as a real lads' band - we do like a drink but who doesn't? It's not like we were going out and taking loads of drugs and shagging loads of groupies. We're just pretty regular people which is why we could bring a girl into the band. She fits in naturally."
So Ash have moved on and grown up, but do they wish they were still teenagers? Rick for one, apparently doesn't: "I'm pretty happy with where I am, but this year I did actually forget how old I was. 22? 23? I couldn't quite remember. I am still holding on to teenage things... such as my girlfriend". DJ Dick happily admits to being 26: "I've got grey hairs and they're appearing more rapidly now". Standing face to face with Tim afterwards, I notice that he still has the distinctive facial features often associated with teenagers, known as 'spots'. But how much has the Ash sound progressed? "I think were still quite close to being garage kids really. We're still finding our feet but you can hear a new kind of confidence coming off (adopts Irish hippie tone) the grooves of that vinyl maann". And the future? "I think Tim might want to go back to do a more pop thing on the next album. He had a few poppier tunes that didn't fit into this one. We might turn into the Manic Street Preachers for one album, then do a thrash album or a rap album."
To close proceedings, both present members are asked for five words that sum up the beast that is Ash. DJ Dick looks me as if I had just asked him to explain the theory of particle diffusion and after a lengthy pause replies "rock and roll gone right". Rick however laments a little and then calmly says "melodic, sweet, noisy, quiet, brilliance". Nicely put.
Ash were talking to Hardeep Phull, in December 1998.