John has been writing songs and playing music ever since 1998, when he went to see Neil Finn's first solo tour.  Since then, he has been playing both solo and in bands, most notably The John MacLeod Band, which released an album, 'Unexpected Sunshine', in 2014 (more on that at a later date).  John likes to write about terrible things in an optimistic way, but that could all be about to change...

​

AOTV Question Time

Which song has stayed with you, and why?

It's only when I came to answer this that I thought "Fuck, just one?!" 'Hanging Around' by Gemma Hayes has been a constant companion, I think.  Her brand of what could be called indie rock, coupled with her comforting voice and melancholy lyrics just embodies everything I love about music.  Her music is what it's sometimes like to sit in my head and think about life.

​

Describe Attack Of The Vapours in 5 words.

This project needs these people.

​

What's the strangest thing anyone's ever said to you, online or in person?

It's a dead heat between a woman saying to me after a gig: "Loved your set, but get your thyroid gland checked." and that time I hid in a bus shelter during a rainstorm and a man called Patrick asked me: "Do you like girls?"

​

Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?

Because just like me, they long to be

Stealing your chips.

LAAAA LA LA LA LAAAA

STEALING YOUR CHIIIIPS, etc.

​

What do you love most about playing music?

The chance to express myself, to have fun, to get thoughts out of my head that would otherwise just rattle around in there, and to hopefully have songs out there that people can relate to.  I love to make a big noise.  I think, though, the thing I love the most is working with other musicians.  Collaborating and connecting with great people and all working together to make something that just wouldn't be the same if I'd done it on my own.  Collaboration makes things amazing, and keeps it worth doing.