We are no strangers to Hungarian band The Trousers here at The Midlands Rocks, having reviewed their latest (and best) album Necessary Evil (read all about it here). When we heard that the band were available for interviews we jumped at the chance to speak with this unique band, and here’s what they had to say:

Can you tell us about the band’s origins. Where did you meet etc.

The band was formed 20 years ago in Budapest, but the current members were not the part of that line up. Guitarist Pete Locke joined in 2011, bass guitarist András Lázár in 2016 and drummer Samu Antal Gulyás in 2017. Now we are existing as a family 😊

What are the musical influences of each band member and how do you forge them into a cohesive whole?

Guitarist Pete loves The Beatles, Oasis and Motörhead, bassist Bandi is a fan of Metallica, Alice in Chains and Pantera, drummer Samu is following AC/DC, ZZ Top and Aerosmith. My favorite bands are The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and The Hellacopters. All of these influences can be found in the music of The Trousers, as we define ourselves as a classic garage rock/hard rock band with modern sound.

Can you tell us about your local music scene. Is it supportive? Are there many places to play?

In Budapest there are 3-4 places to play, it’s sadly decreasing. The rock scene is very special: there is a huge audience of tribute bands, alternative rock with Hungarian lyrics and metal. We do not belong to any of these, that’s why the 75% of our concerts are in foreign countries. Sometimes we have a chance to support international bands in Budapest, like Black Stone Cherry, Dirty Honey or Tygers of Pan Tang.

What’s the best and worst thing about your local scene?

The worst things I have already mentioned. The best thing? That we do not make a living from music, that’s why we don’t have to assimilate ourselves to stupid expectations. We have been staying free and ourselves for 20 years, and that’s a huge achievement.

Can you tell us about the band’s discography (demos, singles, albums).

We have released seven albums until now: Planetary Process (2008), Soul Machine (2010), Freakbeat (2013 – with the participation of Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters on one song), Mother of Illusion (2015), Invisible Darkness (2018), Animal Gun (2022) and Necessary Evil (2025). We also have a cover EP, Garage Nights Revisited (2024) and several singles. The actual single, ‘On the River Again’ has a J. J. Cale cover on the B-side.

How do you feel you’ve evolved musically throughout your career?

The songwriting is always getting better – I think that now we can create an album with ten songs that each of them could be released as a single – no fillers. As a live band we also evolve – as far as I can see we can convince and kind of audience that we are a good band. The focus is not on individual skills, for example being a virtuoso, but to perform as a mature musical company with energy and enthusiasm.

Can you tell us about tours you’ve completed. Any war stories you’d like to share?

Lots of stories. My favourite is the following: sometimes we cite the Blues Brothers that we are on a mission from God with our music to save rock n roll. When we were travelling I don’t know which year we watched the movie Blues Brothers 2000 in the van, and suddenly we got an alert from Instagram that the site “Blues Brothers” wanted to become our friends. That was awesome!!!

Will we see you on the road anytime soon?

We have three concerts in the following weeks. In April we will play in Budapest with our fellow band Asphalt Horsemen. Also in April we are going to Bratislava to support Slovakian punk legends Konflikt, and in May we will visit our friends, the famous Czehian punk-rock band Degradace in Ostrava, Czehia.

What’s next for the band? How do you plan to reach the next level?

Our actual album, Necessary Evil has got outstanding reviews in the international press, all rates were 8-9/10. I hope it will open some doors to us to have tours or support in other countries. And that the next album will be 10/10 everywhere!

Finally, what’s the one question (and answer) interviewers never ask but you wish they would?

“Do you want me to contact you with the promoter of The Hellacopters? He is a good friend of mine…” 😊😊😊 – “Yes, of course.”

Connect with The Trousers: Official Website