
The Dust Coda - An interview with Adam Mackie.
Hello all! Roctavia here and I’m back again with some more wonderful Rock ‘N’ Roll for you my Lovelies. Today I had the privilege of snagging an interview with a band whose music is making some strong vibrations in the UK Rock scene. In this write-up I get to bring you along with me as I was allowed access to take a peek into the world of The Dust Coda.
Per the band’s main page, The Dust Coda was founded in the melodic prowess of Adam Mackie (lead guitar) and John Drake (vocals, rhythm guitar) and completed by the richly rugged groove of Scott Miller (drums) and Tony Ho (bass guitar). These London rockers have thundered into the New era of the Classic Rock style scene with enticingly unforgettable riffs, gravel-soaked vocal soul and sheer swagger.
Once you’ve given The Dust Coda a listen, you’ll be able to pick out the deep & buttery bluesy elements of Led Zeppelin, to the nasty muscle of Guns N’ Roses. This is most definitely the recipe that has brought them kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
I myself was very impressed upon doing my listening research on the band prior to preparing my write-up questions. This band has dealt a respectful nod with a taste of classic rock, but they bring something new & special to the table that I just can’t quite put my finger on. So naturally, being my usual rock-mindedly inquisitive self, I just had to find out a bit more about the band. In this interview we were able to chat with guitarist Adam Mackie.
Roctavia: Hi Adam! Thank you for taking the time to interview with me today! Let’s get right to it shall we?
Roctavia: Your band name, The Dust Coda seems pretty unique. So I gotta know, what’s the story behind it?
Adam: So …..
The Dust part represents ‘biker dust’ so it resonates with the imagery of route 66, freedom, bikers, the open road and rock n roll.
Coda is the name of the symbol at the end of a repeat passage in musical transcript. Translated it means ‘completion’.
So for us The Dust Coda is just helping repeat all the great parts of rock n roll and keeping it alive and kicking in modern times.
Roctavia: That’s a pretty inspiring answer! It really fits in with all the Rock ‘N’ Roll power that you guys are bringing to the table!
Roctavia: How did your band end up forming?
Adam: Myself and John met many years ago in another project. I then wanted to start a rock band and asked John to write some songs with me. The early signs were promising and they both liked what they were coming up with. After months and months in my room in Brixton fuelled by copious amounts of Red Stripe, they made garageband demo’s to start attracting a rhythm section to complete the band and form The Dust Coda. A few years later they were well rehearsed, gigging, and self funded the production of their debut album in 2016, which was released in 2017. Things have been getting louder ever since ….
Roctavia: Musically, what was it like growing up for you?
Adam: For me I was lucky to grow up around good music with my parents having good taste, there was always the latest album playing on cassette in the car. Back in the 80’s this would include OMD, Tears For Fears, Simply Red, The Stranglers, Fleetwood Mac and Eric Clapton. That’s how I fell in love with the guitar. I then discovered Guns N Roses and my world changed!
Roctavia: Yes! GNR! I can relate haha!
Roctavia: What’s the story behind getting the first instrument that you were really proud of?
Adam: It wasn’t the instrument, but ….
When I was 13 I got my first electric guitar – a stunning black Epiphone Les Paul. The deal was, if my Dad buys the guitar I had to buy the amp. My only income was from a weekly paper round at the time. I saved up for months and was able to buy the amp. I still own both now and love them!
Roctavia: That’s awesome. I always love hearing stories about how fellow musicians came across their first vessels of musicality. Whatever they may be.
Roctavia: So who are your greatest musical influences? Which of them do you feel shines through most as inspiration for your music?
Adam: As a band we all share the same love for the rock n roll greats – Led Zep, Guns N Roses, Rolling Stones, and AC/DC. These guys are all a string part of our sound.
Myself and John write the songs and we definitely draw upon wider influences between them that come out in The Dust Coda albums. These include (to name a few!) Sound Garden, Bruce Springteen, Ryan Adams, Free, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine.
Roctavia: Haha, I just have to say I’m very impressed with the taste in music here.
Roctavia: If you could map a dream tour, what would it look like?
Adam: At the moment – anywhere!!!
Roctavia: Yeah…I completely understand what you mean. I’d give anything just to be a girl at a rock show again.
We can’t wait to get out and see our UK fans again once Covid eases down, after that we want to get out as many places as possible – nowhere is off limits!
Roctavia: What’s the story behind your most favorite gig experience?
Adam: We played Brewdog’s annual general meeting a few years ago at Aberdeen Arena. It was a 10,000 string indoor crowd which was amazing, but without doubt what made it special was a whole day with free beer 🙂
Roctavia: Haha! A full day of free beer? That does sound like a pretty great day!
Roctavia: When the world opens back up, what’s next for The Dust Coda?
Adam: Like all bands we can’t wait to get back out there playing live again. Our new album Mojo Skyline comes out on 26th March, so we can’t wait to start playing a load of songs that fans have never heard before live
Roctavia: Thank you again for taking the time out to interview with me today. I really appreciate it. So I love to do this thing where I end interviews on a fun and off-the-cuff note so if you could meet with anyone in history, who would it be & why?
Adam: Oooooo – I think I’d go with George Martin. Just to hear his view on what it was like to work with The Beatles in that period of history which changed music forever, through his eyes.

For more on The Dust Coda & to keep up with their soon to be released album Mojo Skyline, you can check them out below.
http://thedustcoda.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheDustCoda
https://twitter.com/TheDustCoda
![]() | Love & Rockets ~ Roctavia |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |