Drenge talk Irishness and their political association

But a recent rise in their status didn’t come from they typical headlines of a drug habbit or a rock star girlfriend.

When British Labour Party MP Tom Watson announced his resignation on his blog, he cited Drenge as the reason he realised politics was too disconnected from culture and life.

In this issue of Hot Press, we catch up with the pair to find out exactly how and why a British politician was their golden ticket to fame and why, although they found it “really weird”, it came at just the right time for them.

“We were pretty much nobodies before, no one knew who we were. We had a record coming out in August and that exposure was something that we needed, in a way” admits Eoin.

“But of all the ways to get exposure, a politician recommending you in a drastic resignation letter…I don’t know, I couldn’t ask for anything more awkward and probably more true to the band then that.”

Weird or not, the politician’s description of Drenge as a “cool new band” whom he recommended fellow party leaders to check out, has raised the band’s status massively.

Although they are based in Derbyshire Rory and Eoin are of Irish blood (the names being a sure giveaway), with their grandmother hailing from Enniscorthy.

“We’re very proud of our Irish heritage. We’ve been three times, once as a family and twice as a band. Every time we go, there’s just something about the place that kind of sinks into your blood”.

To read the full interview, check out the latest Hot Press, out now.