King of Despair will have a session on the Adam Walton Show on BBC Radio Wales from 10pm on 7th May 2006. Have a listen

The band was formed in 2003 after the demise of Bigelow. There were some changes in personnel – David Godwin, guitar/vocals, Huw Rees, drums and Paul Battenbough guitar/vocals remained and were joined by Darren Beale on bass. Paul Battenbough commented: “We decided to change the name too as we felt that Bigelow had run its course. The name comes from a small clay figure I found in a junk shop – it was a crude but sad looking King that was probably part of a chess set. It made me laugh so I bought it for 5p! I carried it round with me for a couple of years and he quietly wormed his way into my consciousness and when a name was needed a small voice piped up. So the King became ‘The King of Despair' and became our logo too. It's perfect really. Sums up our miserablist approach and adds a touch of humour too. We're really a songs band and we're into harmonies. The sound can be country but we've also a harder edge. We use acoustic and electric guitars, it depends on what is required, everything is subservient to the song. David is the arranger and I write the songs. I'm really into words and saying something if possible, though in the end it is more about the atmosphere rather than a specific message. I'm not into political rants or forcing opinions on the listener – but we are without doubt, a political band if you pick up on the subtext. I would say the words are sometimes more abstract and only hint at meaning. That's the way I've always written.” The band play gigs mainly in Swansea, though they recently played Nozstock Festival in Hereford in July and Cardiff on the back of that. Paul further commented: “We're gradually leaving the nest, moving further afield and playing bona fide music venues which are more conducive to our sound. We recorded 15 tracks down at Bruce Fellowes's Guava studio in Baglan. We started them thinking we'd do an album, but we've decided that they're okay as demo's. After the last Bigelow album we wanted to go for something a bit more sophisticated so we've got the Super Furries producer on board and as soon as we raise the cash we're going into the studio. We have plenty of songs and want to make a killer album. The band sounds great at the moment and with David, Darren and Huw there's a level of musicianship that I've not experienced before. David and Darren are in ‘the Caves' so sometimes ‘the King of Despair' has to take a back seat, when they're on tour or in the studio themselves. It's always exciting when we get back together though, everything just slots back into place.'