My Fantasy Band: Derek E Miller, Sleigh Bells

Gillian Orr
Friday 11 February 2011 01:00 GMT
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Vocals - Iggy Pop

I want the Iggy from 1970, the "Fun House" era. Iggy Pop is an animal; it's kind of hard to talk about him without sounding redundant, as there's not a lot that hasn't already been said. Iggy is just sheer attitude and confrontation.

Guitar - Joe Messina

I'm kind of cheating because for the rest of the band I'm choosing The Funk Brothers, who were Motown's house band. They played just raw funk and really nasty grooves. They did so much stuff; they played on records for Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Temptations, everyone. For them to play with Iggy is my dream. They were really intense players; really tough characters as well. You hear all sorts of funny, ridiculous stories. They were the type of dudes who would probably make Iggy seem like a bit of a wallflower, which is funny because that's so far removed from his reputation.

Bass - James Jamerson

He might be the most famous of The Funk Brothers, and his bass playing has become the stuff of legend. You can recognise his work instantly.

Piano - Joe Hunter

When all the sessions were going down, they'd be doing their own thing at night, playing their own gigs, and they would almost always drink their entire fee. I've heard stories about promoters approaching them and being like "Well, Joe drank up your guarantee and you actually owe me money now", and they'd find themselves in all sorts of confrontations.

Drums - Benny Benjamin Benny

Benjamin had the most dangerous backbeat. I'd give something important to be in a room with him playing drums.

Percussion - Eddie Brown

He would play things like the bongos and congas for The Funk Brothers. The recording studio where they tracked everything was called the Snake Pit, and I can just imagine Iggy being in that setting and it making perfect sense. If you think about it they were in the same city, Detroit, and if Iggy had been there a few years earlier then this could have actually happened. I think that would have been incredible.

Sleigh Bells will be performing as part of the Shockwaves NME Awards Shows (www.nme.com/tickets) at Heaven on 15 February. Their album 'Treats' is out now.

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