Interview with Dean (THE WARR)

Dean Croney has been in the music business for so long that he could probably write his biography and it would be a best seller. Luckily for us, the music lovers, he prefers to lurk on the underground music scenes around the capital and write tunes that are not just extraordinaire but vital. He is currently a member of London`s newest super group The WARR and we just had to ask him a few questions. This may be a flash interview but we tried our best to make it look like a job interview. After all Dean was part of the punk rock legends The Professionals and that seemed like a fun angle to approach. And you know what? It worked perfectly well. Just read for yourselves!

Dean picture by pictured by Taylor Conboy

This is a third interview in our series to speak to all the members of The WARR. You can check our chats, with Gemma Clarke and Jerome Alexandre on our blog.

You are known on the London circuit but music fans in other parts of the country may not be acquainted with you. Please say a few words about yourself.

Dean Croney: Yeah I’m a guitarist from East London that’s been in and out of bands now for the past 25 years, in and around London.

Outside of The WARR, you have been a member of iconic punk band The Professionals. You joined the band in 2023 replacing Chris McCormack (3 Colours Red) in the line up. How do you recall your time in the band?

Dean Croney: It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. Looking back at it now, it all seems like a lifetime ago. I just remember getting the call for the gig and saying yeah I’m up for it and that was it. I was in the band and we were off on tour and as quickly as that happened, Paul Cook got the phone call saying the Sex Pistols wanted to try something with Frank Carter, the new singer. And like they say the rest is history.

Tuggawar and The Warr, picture by Rhian Croney

Another act that you were part of is Seven Days and Doesn’t Die. The press found some creative ways to describe this band: “music to burn your bridges to” and “a secret track on the soundtrack to the bloodiest film by Tarantino”. We really want to know more as this sounds just marvellous!

Dean Croney: Seven Days and Doesn’t Die was mine and Nic`s (the drummer) band. We started it just before Covid happened in 2020. We got a mutual friend of ours – Kit Swing, who is a fantastic singer, proper rock star. We got together and recorded a no thrills, dirty rock ‘n’ roll, self titled album. We all put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into making this record and I think you can hear it when you listen to the songs.

Your guitar playing style is incredibly precise and very fast. We wonder if you are classically trained? Did you attend a music school or were a part of an orchestra/ensemble?

Dean Croney: No! Nothing of that sort. I did go to college for music education a long time ago though. I’ve always listened to fast heavy music like Pantera, Lamb of God, Slipknot. You know – stuff like that. So, that’s where my playing comes from. Even when I’m not playing metal, my natural playing style is fast and heavy.

The WARR can be regarded as a supergroup bringing experiences from different fields of expertise and genres. In your opinion, what’s the group’s strongest point? And for balance – what’s your weakness?

Dean Croney: I think our strongest point is the fact that we all come from such different styles of music and we got together to create something that we’re all happy with. At the same time, I think our biggest weakness is the fact that we all come from such different backgrounds of music (laughs).

We love the guitars on “Why You Wanna Hate Me”, it feels like the song was inspired by blues and jazz. What’s your favourite track on “Thirteen”?

Dean Croney: One thing you need to know is the album has happened so quickly as writing process and the recording process were concerned, that I’ve not really had a chance to find my favourite song. Or should I say for the song to find me. At one point or another I’m sure they will all be my favourite song.

Where do you see The WARR in five years? Second album, national tour or world domination? Take your pick!

Dean Croney: I’d be happy with one two or three all the same. To be honest, being in a band is a lot harder than people think. I think any goal we accomplish together is an achievement and another tick off the list.