Credit: Found On Internet

This unquantifiable quartet is based in North London but hails from Germany and Greece as well as the UK. They are back with a British and French tour throughout October, November and December and a third LP for release in the new year. Music Towers shares a spot of tea with three Chaps in London’s Roundhouse.

The last time The Chap was touring, they were their usual selves, that is; Johannes von Weizsäcker (guitar, vocals, computer, cello), Panos (bass, violin, guitar, computer, vocals) Claire Hope (keyboards, vocals), and Keith (drums). If you’re lucky enough to see them this time around, Claire’s place on stage will be replaced by Johannes’ ex-bandmate from his Karamasov days, Berliner Berit Immig. “Claire’s pregnant,” explains her partner Panos. “Whenever she can, she’ll come back. It’s just not easy for her right now. Berit’s a close friend of Claire’s, so it’s staying in the family.”

The band’s choice of name gives an indication of their sense of humour. “I was in Brighton with Claire and in Borders’ magazine section and I saw the first issue of The Chap. I thought it was amazing,” recalls Panos. “It was so funny. I thought, this is my thing.”

“It had this article,” interjects Johannes, “’The Semiotics Of Hair’!”

“No, no. It was ‘The Semiotics Of The Enema’,” Panos reminds him.

“Oh, my favourite was the Semiotics of Hair.” After he stops laughing, he adds, “Our name doesn’t really say much about the music. It doesn’t really inform you.”

What may inform us is the list of band names they rejected. “Friendly bacteria,” remembers Keith.  “We came up with lots of other bands’ names,” says Johannes. “We thought it’d be funny to call ourselves Led Zeppelin.”

“Led Zeppelin IV,” says Panos. “No, that was the idea for the first album,” Johannes argues. “It was meant to be called Led Zeppelin IV. I still like that idea.”