Since then the Digital Commandos have appeared at various hardcore/hard dance nights in venues such as Stirling Albert Halls, Ego, and the Ice factory, and have very recently appeared in the Main Arena at the second Scottish Fantazia event alongside Scott Brown, Dream Frequency, Neophyte.

The current members are myself with Grant fronting the band. We also have the lovely Claire and Gillian dancing for us.

It all started for us back at the end of 2004 when we were at college in the second year of our HND Music and Audio Tech. We had a project class and we had to decide on our own project. So basically myself, big Pete from Ultra-sonic (as he was in our class) and the guy I was originally in the band with (and at college with) decided to start a new band with the hope of breaking through and getting gigs.

Before too long we were booked to play at the Carling Academy that hogmanay, which is pretty mental considering we didn't really have a band or any tracks at that point lol.

Basically the music side of things were left up to me and the other guy and the stage show was the responsibility of other people. Eventually the gig came and it was a pretty shocking affair tbh, the crowd liked the music which was good as that was our part of the deal if you like, but unfortunately the stage show wasn't up to much kop and we carried the can. For those of you who seen it you'll probably remember the "fat dancer" lol who we honestly had never seen perform until on that stage and had been assured he was in fact good, never mind the fact we had only one dancer on the night. Basically everything that could have gone wrong for us did that night. Problems with sound, stage lighting etc. But looking back now it probably was just too big a gig for our first one and we should definately have done a good few smaller gigs to get into the way of it.

Anyway the damage was done by then and we got a big thumbs down from Ricky the promoter of BTTF and rightly so as if it was my gig and I'd put us on I'd have been really pissed too.

We then made changes to the lineup and Grant (MC Boff) was brought in to front the band and since then we've just plugged away building our reputation back up from about -10,000 after that first gig lol!!

Needless to say the dancer never worked for us again after that night

How hard was it for digital commandos to actually being conceived to actually getting big gigs like fanatazia?
As I said in my first reply dude, getting the big gig in the first instance wasn't that big a deal as we were very lucky and got handed it on a plate basically. The problem was that once that massive gig had gone tits up it takes a long time to recover from that. So that's basically what we've done since then, just kept our heads down, taking gigs when we can get them and gradually letting people see that first gig was a one off.

Any advice they would give to people aspiring to do a PA?
Its very hard going, but if its something you really want to do, don't give up. And be prepared to be taking whatever gigs are offered even if it means being out of pocket doing them. We were very lucky in that at the start it was a case of who we knew which was a help to us but now we're getting gigs because people have seen us perform and know what we can put on a show. You should also be prepared for a lot of highs and lows along the way as you can do the best gig you think you've done and then someone on a forum somewhere will say something negative, but that's all part of it, cant please all of the people all of the time and all that!

How/when did the band members first meet and what were u doing at the time, writing, performing or just work?
As I said originally it was myself and a guy i went to college with. But for various reasons its just myself and Grant now. Neither of us had known Grant previously but when we were looking for someone to front the band after the Carling, someone had recommended him and from there it was all sorted out that he was going to front us.

Where did the name boff come from?
Its a long story but I'll try and keep it short as possible.
My second name used to be Booth. One of my m8s from school couldn't pronounce his words properly. So when he said Booth it sounded like Boff. At the time funnily enough there was a Barclaycard advert doing the rounds on TV. With Mr Bean in it and his sidekick Boff. So the name stuck with me from there on lol

Also, what software/hardware do you use to make your tunes?
Most of the tracks were done on reason and Cubase Sx, using various bits of hardware thrown in.

At the moment though I'm trying to wean myself off reason now that I've discovered Kontakt sampler (everyone else has no doubt been using this for yonks lol).

I'm using at the moment:
Cubase sx (with various vst instruments)
reason 3.0
Novation K station
Korg Microkorg
Roland SH201
Mam MB33 mk2 (which we've actually started taking out live and it rocks over the big pa!!)
Novation Drum station

Who are your influences?
Good question, I have loads of influences. When we started out, neither of us were really into out and out hardcore, which I think reflected in the music. We made the tracks as hard as we could, but at the same time maintaining some sort of balance so that we liked them and would listen to them. Which is why they're hard and fast but also melodic and euphoric.

Influences include: Lab 4(gutted these guys are chucking it), The Prodigy, Ferry Corsten, Organ Donors, Nu Energy Collective, Alex  Szahala, K-Complex, Signum, PVD, BT, Faithless, System FBK, Public Domain, The Chemical Brothers, Infected Mushroom, Scot Project .

I've been really getting into Nu nrg these days, which is probably what this fabled ep we're hoping to get out is going to consist of!!

Who helped you get to where you are today (playing massive gigs like Fantazia)?
At the outset Big Pete was a good help with getting us the Carling gig etc and also a couple of gigs after it but from there on in I think its down to ourselves really (and also the people who voted for us on this forum in the poll lol, cheers guys!!) and as the shows have got better people have wanted to book us more and more.

We're still not gigging as much as we'd like to but some of that is down to the fact that some folk just aren't willing to pay you even after 2 years. Its alright at the start but you cant indefinitely be out of pocket every gig.

There's also been other guys though who have helped us out which we have appreciated very much:

Boony and the frequency guys, who gave us a shot even after that disastrous first gig, Charlie for letting us play at Fantazia and also to Ricky and everyone at BTTF and Colours for giving us a second bite at the cherry after the first gig we done for him. Also anyone else who has booked us and supported us.