As a member of the chart topping 90's band Black Grape, Kermit Leveridge was no stranger to excess. His partnership with ex-Happy Monday Shaun Ryder may have been productive via their songwriting, but, given the fact that both were heroin addicts, was always bound to end in a spiral of self-destruction. In Kermit's case this almost ended in his untimely death, a dirty needle resulting in septicaemia, a lengthy spell in hospital, and over a decade of health problems due to damage to his heart valves that were only resolved a few years ago in the operating theatre. As Kermit remembers, "The dreaded op finally happened, but rather than dying in surgery, as I'd feared, it was a total success, and I now had a new lease of life. I could set about redemption." His hard-hitting poem, 'Lies And Other Fools', narrated by his friend Howard Marks (aka Mr Nice), provides the first step in this process, whilst his new recording projects, Blind Arcade and The Footprint, have releases planned later this year. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “I originally met Howard through going out partying, a long time ago. We'd always chat briefly. Then I went to this wedding and had my suit on with a pair of Converse. Everyone was really dressed up but I didn't want to wear shoes. I turned around and saw Howard, and he had a pair of Converse on too! I thought that's alright, I'll be in good company tonight! “Howard was supposed to be DJing, but we started talking, went upstairs, and we stayed up there all night. He didn't end up playing. We got really stoned, of course. We hit it off on a real proper level. Now I don't know what my life would be like without Howard in it. He's really taken me under his wing. He's taught me a lot. He's very intelligent man. He's one of the smartest guys I've ever met. And he's one crafty motherfucker, I tell you. Man! He's a dude. He's Howard Marks for starters! But he goes beyond that. 'A thoroughly nice bloke.' “I asked him to read the poem 'Lies', and straight away he said he'd do it. He came down, and did it in one take at Greg Wilson's house, his son Ché recording it. What got me was Greg's reaction! Greg walked up the stairs and looked over at Howard. Looked at me. 'What's this?' He looked puzzled, with this incredulous look. 'You wrote that?!' He couldn't believe it. Blew him away. I was humbled by his reaction. I play it to people and it's like they've been punched in the stomach. They don't say anything for about 15 seconds. Like they've been holding their breath, and only exhale when it's finished." - Kermit, February 2014.