If you look up “solo side-project” in the Encyclopedia Clarktanica, it says: “Records made by disaffected drummers/bass players/guitarists who know that their jazz improv stylings will sell by the truckload if only the other band members, the bastards, weren’t so precious about their songwriting credits.”

In other words, Lennon and McCartney may be the ones who get the plaudits but there’s no telling Ringo Starr that he wasn’t the creative genius in The Beatles.
It’s a theory which elicits a throaty chuckle from Charlotte Hatherley who, in addition to haring round the summer festival circuit with Ash, is currently plugging her Tim, Rick and Mark-less Grey Will Fade album.
“Somebody said, ‘I hear it’s all about how much you hate Tim Wheeler’, which is totally inaccurate but made me realise that if I had written something like that I’d be fucking crucified,” she reflects. “I’m sure there are a lot of people in bands who feel undervalued and would rather be doing their own thing, but I came into Ash knowing that Tim will always be the main songwriter. I also really hate jazz improv!”
So no relishing that she was able to dispense with band democracy and be the dictator?
“Oh no, I loved the fact that I wrote all the songs and played practically everything apart from the drums. Fade To Grey was meant to be a low-key affair, but now it’s out I’m going, ‘Fuck it, let’s do a single and a video and a few gigs as well!’”
Who does she look for first in the airplay charts, Ash or her singular self?
“(Long pause) Honestly? Me because whereas you know Ash will get a certain level of support, I had no idea that MTV2 would play my single. The standard response I’ve got is, ‘We didn’t expect it to be so poppy’ which is great because I didn’t want it to be angry or obtuse or the other words you normally associate with side-projects.
“Going back to what we were discussing earlier,” she continues, “me making my own record is a good thing for Ash because it means I’m not pestering them with songs that don’t fit in with what we’re doing as a band. It removes a source of tension rather than creating one.”
While there’s no need for Girls Aloud to look to their laurels quite yet, Grey Will Fade is indeed a poptabulous affair with Phil Spector, The Go-Gos, The Breeders and David Bowie all figuring prominently in the influence department.
“You know the bop-bop-ba-oos on ‘Kim Wilde’?”
I do indeed.
“I nicked them from ‘Absolute Beginners’ which is one of my favourite Bowie songs. Actually, can I say ‘Get well soon, Dave’ after your heart scare and lollipop-related accident. I was so disappointed he didn’t play Oxegen but he had a good excuse.”
Talking of which, The Darkness must’ve been pissed off that Ash out-Lizzyed them at Punchestown by bringing on Brian Robertson.
“We out Spinal Tap-ed them too with Tim’s flaming Flying V,” she boasts. “I get quite nervous because I’ve my back towards him and all I can feel is this iintense heat. As dubious as I am about him being let loose with a can of lighter fuel, it does look great!”
As readers of the Hotpress news pages are already aware, Charlotte has turned deep throat and revealed that Tim Wheeler, Justin Hawkins and Har Mar Superstar are working on a collaborative single.
“Not being a huge heavy metal fan, I zone out when they start getting anoraky about Thin Lizzy but I’m sure it’ll rock like the proverbial bastard.”
Of course, before Oxegen there was the Ash expedition to George Lucas’ Skywalker ranch.
“Me knowing fuck all about Star Wars they left me at home in case I embarrassed them,” she deadpans. “No, I had some things I needed to do and let them indulge their fantasies on their own. George Lucas was away which was a bit of a bummer for them, but they got to hang out with his crew and are dead chuffed because Ash are going to be in a Star Wars video game.”
Will Charlotte still be a member of the band when they do?
“Absolutely!”

Charlotte Hatherley’s Grey Will Fade is out now on Double Dragon.