Hefner's Antony Harding talks about his legendary former band, John Peel, Barbapappa and his current solo project.

It's no wonder that a few years ago Hefner got the honorable title "Britain’s Largest Small Band". Even today, 6 years after their break up, Hefner is still a big name in the music industry as its ex-members have tons of fans and every second artist mentions them as a major influence.

A while ago, Alon wrote here about Darren Hayman's last album and it inspired me to check what's going on these days with the other Hefners. While I was wandering onto different sites, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a wonderful singer/songwriter under the name of ANT, who turned out to be none other than Antony Harding, Hefner's drummer. I was even luckier when Antony accepted my interview request and found the time to answer a few questions.

Why did you choose an alias and didn't stay with your real name? I mean, I get the connection between ANT and Antony, but still, it's not entirely your full name. I suspect you lose some potential listeners.

"It's always hard to get your stuff heard. It's nice when someone stumbles across it. I plan to start making records as Antony Harding one day, maybe when I hit 40. ANT was just what my friends called me and what I went under when I started doing gigs. It's a bit twee for a middle aged father innit! Mind you I'll have to sell all the ANT merchandise first though! Or I'll get into trouble."

Oh, I would hardly call you middle aged. So you're a father as well. How many kids? Have they seen you in old Hefner videos?

"Well I'm 38 next month so I'm knocking on the middle aged door surely! We have a 2 year old son. He comes over sometimes when I'm looking at stuff on youtube and asks to watch Barbapappa instead. I'm sure he'll enjoy winding me up over certain Hefner videos in the future!"

Let's talk about the past for a while. Allow me to go back in time to 1997, the day when you got a record deal. Do you remember your thoughts back then?

"I just looked through my diary from 1997. It's just full of setlists, gig and rehearsal dates. I remember Too Pure showing up at a show we did at Upstairs At The Garage and them being very pleasantly surprised with how Hefner had suddenly become much tighter- the last time Too Pure saw Hefner it featured another bass player and drummer and it seemed like it was about to self destruct at any moment. Darren took me and John to our local pub in Walthamstow that weekend and asked us both if we fancied being part of the record deal. I remember feelings of excitement. We were actually going to make records and albums and go touring!!! But we all stressed the fact that it had to be a fun experience and that we had to do things the way the 3 of us wanted. I imagined we'd be one of those little scratchy bands that John Peel liked and we'd break up after the first album or something! These days it's easy to forget how many fans we had and how much we achieved. But I'm always meeting people who say... Hefner? I love Hefner!"

Do questions like this upset you? Do you find it irritating when you are asked about your past?

"No not at all. It's all about the past innit? Nostalgia. Music especially, how it's played its part in the soundtrack of your life. Hefner was the soundtrack to many lives."

Still is. Which artists take part in your life soundtrack?

"My schooldays: Adam and the Ants, The Jam, Madness. Sixth form: The Smiths, The Cure, The Woodentops, The Damned, The Pogues, Prefab Sprout. Art College: Galaxie 500, Kitchens Of Distinction, The Wedding Present, Fieldmice. Isle Of Wight: David Bowie, Bob Marley, Kate Bush, The Clash. London: Iris DeMent, Tom Waits, Nick Drake, Guided By Voices, Lambchop, Vic Chesnutt, Belle And Sebastian, Tim Buckley, John Martyn, Stina Nordenstam. Sweden: Townes Van Zandt, Sandy Denny, Richard Hawley, Clifford T Ward. That's about the size of it!"

Oh, right… You moved to Sweden. May I ask why? And what do think of the Swedish music scene?

"For love and to escape London for a while. I've now been here happily for 6 years. The alternative Swedish music scene is very healthy at the moment. A big export. Very impressive for such a small population."

What did you feel you had to escape from?

"Well the band had just finished, so had the money, and I was back working a day job, in the kitchen of a very nice cake shop- free cakes every Friday evening! And my Swedish girlfriend was working in a chocolate shop- free broken chocolate bunnies and broken chocolate eggs at Easter! We had a very small and damp flat, all the money went on rent and bills, it seemed like a good time to move. So we went to Sweden. Life became much easier and calmer. London can really wear you out after a few years."

But you are still in touch with Darren, John and Jake, right?

"Yes. Darren played piano with me at my last London show. And while I was staying with him he recorded, mixed and performed on a track called 'Time I Was Gone' which is on my next CD. We usually hook up a couple of times a year. Jack was also playing at that show and Darren and Jack are planning some shows together where they'll play Hefner songs to promote the 'Fidelity Wars' reissue. John's a little harder to meet up with but I plan to do another song together with John soon."

Back in the day. Hefner.

Is there any chance you guys will reunite?

"I don't think any of us are interested in reforming. We reunited once for the John Peel tribute a while back. There's talk of reuniting again the day that Thatcher dies but that's a bit tricky to plan towards! I think we're much more into the idea of playing on each other's records. Jack also performed and mixed a track on my next CD. I like the idea that all 4 of us might appear on the same record again but not a Hefner record!"

I know, all of you readers are on the verge of breaking into tears, but you should cheer up and find comfort in 'footprints through the snow', ANT's last album. The album is beautifully made out of Antony's voice and guitar with simple tunes that prove sometimes complexity isn't necessary in music. It's pretty amazing when a singer/songwriter really knows how to get the job done. I can count the ones I like on one hand, since most of the time I equate intimate music as boring. There's a secret ingredient that lies within the artist, which makes the difference between a good singer/songwriter and a bad one, an ingredient that can't be captured in words. Ant has certainly got it.

Do you feel there's a big difference between Hefner and your solo project? Do you feel more exposed being in the spot light?

"My work in Hefner was mainly drumming & singing backing vocals (I did do the odd bit of guitar and harmonica in the early days until Jack joined and took over that side of things properly!) so my solo work was always going to be a bit different from Hefner, But I think you can hear my personality in all the stuff I've done. Even the drumming. My solo work definitely exposes me the most, unless you count the 'I Took Her Love For Granted' video."

Finally, what would you do if you had 8 hands?

"Play in goal for Arsenal. Or be the best one man band ever heard!"

Download: ANT - When Yolur Heart Breaks (live)

Download: ANT - Cry Your Little Eyes Out (live)

Download: ANT - Spoil (live)