Page 4 - Black Velvet Issue 91

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016 was a great year for Black Foxxes. The three-piece from Devon, Mark Holley, Tristan
2Jane and Ant Thornton, released their debut album, ‘I’m Not Well’, through Spinefarm
Records’s Search & Destroy imprint, performed at Download and Reading and Leeds Festival
and headed over to the USA for a tour, which included the renowned Chicago punk rock Riot
Fest. And then they sealed the year off with a three-track ‘Headsick Sessions [Live]’ EP. But
behind all those achievements are some mental health issues belonging to frontman Mark
Holley. We got in touch with the band to find out more about Mark’s Crohn’s Disease, anxiety
and how ‘shit’s about to get busy’.

lack Foxxes’ debut full-length album is cause I would be a shell the next day. It's all that really burns you out.”
Bnot just your average album though. 'I'm about trying to stay healthy and getting into a The band are very focused and Mark’s not
Not Well' is an album that shines a light on men- good routine with touring.” going to let his health issues get in the way. “We
tal health issues. In the title track, ‘I’m Not Well’, Anxiety-wise, he says, “I feel most anxious do a hell of a lot as a band and that won't stop
Mark Holley reveals, ‘I keep drinking alcohol so the days and weeks before a tour, the "Shit, can any time soon. We have our sights set on mas-
I lose my fucking ways’ and ‘I can’t ever sleep I do this? Fuck, I don't want to do this!" Then sive things and if my Crohn’s got in the way
at night, oh the pain it’s in my head’. The chorus you're there and it's rad. Not sleeping on tour is those things wouldn't be achievable. So that
sees him sing, ‘I’m not well, teach me to a tough one for me, I'm getting on top of that but ain't gonna happen.”
breathe’. Yes, Mark suffers from Crohn’s Dis-
ease (a condition that causes inflammation of ronte’ is another song on ‘I’m Not Well’
the digestive system or gut) as well as anxiety. ‘Bwith lyrics that read like a personal
Luckily this doesn’t affect him too much on tour. diary entry. Mark sings ‘I awake in pain’ and ‘I
“I think we've only ever cancelled three shows was physically drained’. He says touring drains
in three years as a band, and only one of those him, “but we've got to a really good stage as a
was down to Crohn's disease,” he tells Black group that the others give me my space when I
Velvet. need it, they help out so much with my disease,
There’s no cure for Crohn’s Disease but it's amazing. It's all about managing what you
treatment can improve the symptoms. We ask can do. So far we've been great and we're learn-
if he has to take medication on tour. Mark tells
Black Velvet, “My drugs come via the form of in-
fusion once every six weeks, so drug-wise I
don't have a routine. But yeah, I can't exactly go
out on a bender the night before a show be-

BLACK FOXXES