Cam-Shaft is well known in New Zealand underground rock & roll circles for being the bass player in Auckland's incredibly fabulous SHAFT. Well now he has a dream job! You see Cam now lifts heavy things for a living!! No shit. He gets to travel to the coolest places in the world and say "Hi may name is Cam, I work around here lifting heavy things." The heavy things in question are in fact usually amplifiers, instruments and other such stuff that belong to The White Stripes!!!!!! You see Cam has been working as a roadie for the worlds greatest, all humbling WHITE STRIPES!! Although the job involves lifting heaps of heavy stuff I don't think they give him the job because of his muscular physique. Indeed, strapping young man that he is , Cameron is also a notoriously nice guy who's probably lots of fun to travel with. Cam has headed back to the rock & roll big-smoke land but before he left, we cornered him & quizzed him on what it's like to tour the world with the white stripes. So read on to find out more about how the WHITE STRIPES cracked it and you will also be amazed to find out that Meg & Jack White don't really know what an amazing band their roadie is in. Now that's incredible. Thanks Cam.

GONE : Cam, you've just returned from an amazing world tour 'roadie-ing'(?) for the fabulous White Stripes, how many countries did you get to?

CAM : Europe, Scandinavia and we've just finished touring the East Coast of the States so yeah it's been real exciting.

GONE : How did it actually happen for the White Stripes? I mean I know John Baker brought them out here before they'd been anywhere else and everybody played with them and stuff. Then that first album went huge on 'Kill Rockstars' but what I mean is sure they've got the talent but how did they get so big off an indie label?

CAM : They'd been touring so hard you know. Even before they put out the first record. You know they would just drive themselves around in their own van and play shows everywhere.

GONE : Was that back in like '97 or '98?

CAM : I guess so, they were touring all over, this is their 3rd album that's out now. They've been touring non stop and it's been a lot of hard work and I guess something happened and suddenly people started taking notice. I don't know what the big change was. It all started I guess, with them coming out here that first time when they went to Japan then to here and to Australia. That was the first time they had ever left the US. Then they went back and their tours just kept getting bigger and bigger. All of a sudden people just started taking notice. I don't know why. I mean obviously the songs are great, they're pop songs.

GONE : When I listen to their songs, the sheer genius of them screams out to me that this is no accident. Here is a man who pulls these songs out of thin air at will. I mean you must see new material popping up all the time.

CAM : He tends to come up with riffs at sound check and stuff like that.

GONE : Does he tape stuff?

CAM : I don't think he tapes stuff. He doesn't on tour anyway but he's got a full studio at home up in his attic. The last record was recorded in his living room! It's not like it is all glassed off and sound proof. It's his living room and …

GONE : It sounds so good!

CAM : Yeah it does and I guess he's pretty good looking and it's a hit with college radio stations but it's gone way beyond there. It was recorded in his living room and now it's getting played on the same radio stations as Creed and Nickelback!

GONE : Do you think we are likely to see the White Stripes in New Zealand for a decent tour anytime soon?

CAM : Next time they come it would be great if they could play Wellington and the South Island as well. It's summer time at the moment in the Northern Hemisphere now though so not for awhile.

GONE : What other stuff do they get into? Heaps of tourist stuff maybe cause it seems like they're pretty much touring all the time.

CAM : A lot of other bands are amazed at how much they tour. Maybe one day a week you get to see a town that you know they've got one or two hours to wander around in and have a look at the shops. Apart from that it's hard enough to remember where you were two nights ago. Not because they've been partying or anything it's just the constant travel.

GONE : They aren't really party gladiators are they?

CAM : Nah there not but they've been touring like this for like six years and I don't think they could sustain it if they were. I don't think anybody could. We've played with bands that just want to party all the time and umm I just don't think you can sustain it. I mean touring nine to ten months of the year?

GONE : Nah it's do-able Cam but you would have to be on the program full time. Both: Laughs.

GONE : And you have to train. No days off sight seeing. The problem is most of these guys come into this Rockstar bizzo way too young. They haven't got a base. It's just like fitness, you need a big base to draw upon. Both: Laughs.

GONE : Take Bon Scott for example. His age and enormous base of party gladiation really gave him an edge. If it wasn't for that unfortunate industrial accident I am sure Bon Scott would still be with us today going hard. Might I propose a toast to Bon Scott!! (both take a swig for the legendary AC/DC frontman). Now what about those Datsuns?? Asides from the music they have tried so hard and have toured so much too. The thing to me that is so refreshing is their attitude that it is cool to try and get your music a bigger audience.

CAM : I'm impressed with the way they've approached it you know? I mean they've shown initiative and hard work on and off the stage and it looks like it has paid off. What's also cool is that it looks like they are going to totally bypass the New Zealand industry and it's ladder to success. A lot of it is timing and I think they should totally cash in on it.

GONE : They've done pretty well out of three 7 inches!!

CAM : In England you can see the return of rock and roll with like the covers of NME. It's like one month The Strokes are the new saviours, then it's the White Stripes then it's the Hives, then it's the Black Rebel Motorcycle gang, then it's the Hives and in two weeks time it will probably be the Datsuns.

GONE : That John Peel show sure helped them along but the majors were already chasing them in Australia.

CAM : Yeah they did get a good response in Australia so I guess they must have been confident that there would be some interest. Even so I think it's a surprise to everybody that there's this much interest.

GONE : The media here (as of 17/5) haven't really quite cottoned on to what's happening at all.

CAM : Nahh well nevermind it's just good to see bands that I like doing well.

GONE : Amen to that. Now what about SHAFT? Do they (the stripes) know about SHAFT. Cause you know here I am interviewing you about the White Stripes yet I am just as bigger fan of your band. In fact I couldn't say I like the White Stripes more than SHAFT or vice versa as they are both incredible.

CAM : No, not at all.

GONE : I'd love to have seen SHAFT do that same tour that you've just done.

CAM : Yeah well that'd be great. I will play it to them, I take Cd's with me and I will put one on one day but it's hard cause SHAFT are in a kind of a unique position of their own you know? Everybody except me has got two kids so touring is always going to be difficult so it would have to be worth it.

GONE : That 'Pooty' album (EP?) is so good. If it had the distribution it would build momentum and sell on word of mouth alone. I don't want to sound like Tony the tiger but it's great!! It's such classic rock and roll, you can tell it was recorded some time after 1967 but other than that it could be anytime in the last 35 years. A post sergeant peppers masterpiece. I love it but I guess what people want to know is what's happening with the new SHAFT album?

CAM : Yeah well Bob's just spent the past while finishing off the vocals and that's all there is really. Richie has got to put some hand claps and some percussion or something on there and it's all done. Everything is there. We've got 14(?) songs coming out so I hope it's out soon.

GONE : So do we!!! Thanks Cam, you have yourself a good time over there.