bye bye blackbird

There's an ending to every story. It may sound depresssing, but unfortunatly it is. Luckily their is a start to every end as well, although it might be hard to see the light at the tunnel sometimes.I hope you're not expecting a very cheerful story right now, cause this is the time for me I start to realise that some rockbands may sound immortal, but doesn't seem to be.

It has already been a few weeks ago since the announcement of the break-up of Little Man Tate. Right, it 's devastating and so unexpected! The last time I've seen them had only been a few months ago. I've even had a interview with them and nothing, really nothing in the interview, performances or conversations referred to a upcoming break up. They were're really the most cheerful and funny band I've ever met. They were one of the few bands I was sure of that could last, cause of the on and off stage fun they had. Don't people say that fun is the most important aspect of a job? Anyway, apparentely they thought about that in a different way. Or are they just very good actors? It seemed like they had it all....Looks, fun, critical acclaim. Alright, they didn't agree with me on the last part, but as a serious rockband, you have to be a bit realistic too. They sold out arenas, tours, had a lovely and huge fanbase, but still they wanted more. Jon (singer) actually told me that he thought that Little Man Tate was one of the best modern britpop bands. I have to say that I agree, but I'm sure that a lot of people would laugh at him if he tries to compare his band with The Beatles. But it all doesn't matter anymore, cause they quit. They are done! Finished...Over and out.

If it could happen to the most cheerful and fun band I've ever known, what would that mean for the others? Does that mean (I can barely write this down...) the end of bands like Deep Insight? The Lostprophets? Uncommonmenfrommars? It can happen to anyone of them and that scares me a bit...

And the most scary part of it all is that you can't really prepare yourself for it. How do you know if a band is going to breakdown? Or what does a band need to last?
First of all a lot of fun. Most musicians just don't make that much of money, they have to make music cause they love making music and not for the money, groupies or lifestle. They also need some fans, cause they have to get confident with the music that they are making. They need support, otherwise they'll get insecure and lets be honest, they just won't be able to handle it financial. A third and very important point is that the bandmates have to be good friends or family.Someting underrated is the role of the mamagers and promoters. They also play a very important role in the band. I'm sure that there are tons of other important factors for a healthy and long bandlife, but how can I know. I've never been in a band for more than 2 months...

So it's not that I blame them. The important message that I'm trying to tell you is that you always have to be aware that nothing lasts forever.
Eventhough,always remember the that there is nothing more worth than a great memory. Remember that memories never break up. Remember that memories never collapse. Remember that memories never get wasted or addicted. Remember that memeories and music never die.

lyric by me

CLEAR

Seperate the thoughts of a paranoid mind
You´ll gave me the clear insight of a magical kind
Fantasy walks into reality but never turns back
Confusing my mind and blocking my track

My thoughts are rare
but the answers are there
Seperate love from lust
Affection from trust

Tired of waiting and seeking trough my mind
Concluding that fantasy is what I can´t find
The colours of the wind, the music in my head
Let it never be said

My thoughts are rare
but the answers are there
Seperate love from lust
Affection from trust

The story so far...

It feels just like yesterday that I went to pre-university education for the first time. Me as a little shy girl inc. braces and a huge backpack! Emberassing? no, cause I think everybody had been that way once and I'm pretty proud of what I'd become out of that little girl...You're probably wondered why I'm so sentimental right now..Well, it had just been graduation day and I am finally finished with my pre-university education!! Congrats to me;)

This day really made me think of all the changes I've been trough... I've gained more sense of style, I've grown a lot, but most important I've leared a lot about music! I've got the chance to meet a glorius phenomenan called rock music...

But let me think...Where did it all start? Right, I remember..you have to promise me though not to tell this to anyone! The first artist I'd been a huge fan of was Jamai. The first Dutch Idols winner. I even made a hat with his name on it. Loving artists had always been in my DNA I quess, but why Jamai? I really don't know...I quess love really makes blind...and deaf!

I went to his gig in a huge venue called Ahoy, he sang there along with several other artists, including The Rasmus. This band impressed me so much. I didn't know if I had to love or hate them. They scared me and pleased me at the same time. For the people who don't know who they are: Finnish gothic/pop band famous for their song 'In the shadows'. They were mysterius and that really attracted me, though I wouldn't admit that to anyone including myself. But at a certain time during second grade I became a Rasmus fan.

When they came to Amsterdam I really had to go and it was going to be my first real rockgig! Dressed like the singer Lauri (feathers in my hair and DYNASTY written on my arm with permanent marker) I went to a Rasmusgig. I know what you're thinking...but be honest, haven't you been just like me, once? a long time ago?

The Rasmus had been great that night, but I discovered something new that night. Something way more exciting than The Rasmus. Something I loved and still love sooo much! Four of the roughest and toughest guys I'd ever seen! Deep Insight... They played before the Rasmus, and I couldn't take my eyes of of them. Especially not of the bass player Miska Holopainen. He looked so wild and handsome and I totally fell in love with him and his music. After the show I asked them for some pictures and autographs and that made me so happy! I couldn't wait till I got to see them again..

About six months after that, they came back to Holland. I was really excited, had become an even bigger fan and couldn't wait to see Miska again!There he stood along with the best band in the world! They blew me away with their gorgeous songs and super energetic performance. Even so much that I needed to see them a few days after that again.

That day the 18th of April 2006 is going into history as the best day of my life until now. Deep Insight performed in a tiny cosy venue in Amsterdam and I was about 45 minutes late, but fortunately they'd just started. They played incredible, amazing! Jukka even sang me a birthday song! And they played my requested song as an encore 'Red Tape'.At the end of this show, I got the chance to talk with them and that was really special. I had always seen rockbands as this unatainable people, but Deep Insight is different and that really makes them special. Although this had been over three years ago, I still know what they said that night. First Jukka gave me a hug when he came off stage and wished me a happy birthday. Then I got a little chat with him about the gig and that he thought wasn't emotional enough. Then I went to Miska for a picture and he apologized for being so sweaty, which I didn't have problems with though;) After that I went to dear Johannes and he kept saying that he liked me name so much. When I turned to Ville he even followed me and told my name to Ville and then Ville told me: Pretty name for a pretty girl... Alright I'm getting too much into detail, I'm sorry...It's just that I get so excited telling this story that I tend to forget what is really interesting...

I quess my rock obsession started with Deep Insight, but not only my music interest! Thanks to them I think about musicians in a different way than I used to do. I'm not afraid to approach them anymore. I'm less shy, I do my interviews, I'm even going to study communication science to become a music reporter or international journalist, because of Deep Insight... They've also given me an interesting approach of life. I'm determinded to marry a rockstar, I'm a huge fan of Finland and I do not drink alcohol, nor smoke or use drugs. And this all had started with Deep Insight in some way...

My interest for other rockbands had also been awoken by DI. Like my second love 'The Lostprohets' Their shows impress me so much! And not only because of Ian Watkins, although he has a lot to do with it. I really can't help it, and it is cliche but I do really think that Ian is really attractive. And that is why I've always said that Ian is going to be my lover and Johannes (Deep Insight) my husband. Believe it or not, I don't care, I will:) Ian is really the driving force behing the Lostprophets, he is a really really good performer! And that is simply why all the girls and boys go wild during a Lostprophets gig. But of course they make terrific music as well (I'm not that superficial!). How much of a fan I really am? I've once waited 11 hours in front of the venue for a gig of them. Convinced? Probably...Was it worth it? Definately! Cause I got a picture with Ian Watkins!

Anyway, you can read more about that gig in another blog called "Lostprophets are heaven". The Lostprophets are the first British band I really liked. But you can't really call it britpop. The first real meeting with britpop had been on the London Calling festival in Amsterdam. Going to festivals is a really good way to develop your taste in music. I've seen a lot of nice britpop bands on the London Calling festivals, like The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats, The Rifles, Little Man Tate and Look See Proof.

In first instance the Pigeon Detectives impressed me the most. The energy on stage had been an inportant factor for that. I fell in love, again...with the singer called Matthew Bowman. With a head full of curls and his British look, I thought he was irresistable...I've seen the Pigeon Detectives 7 times now, but I still can't wait to see them again! One time I even won a meet and greet with them! Although the best time with this cheeky lads was on the Lowlands festival.

Another nice britpop band that have played a huge role in my life is Little Man Tate. I've interviewed this band as well and they were definately the funniest band I've ever met! Alright I'm sorry but I have to tell this story in more detail... We went to Parafdiso to ask the woman there if we could go backstage for an interview. I have to admit it was only three pm, but the band was already there. This stupid woman told us to come back at 8.30. That wouldn't be a disaster, but it was raining really hard outside... So we had a drink, something to eat, a little shopping expedition and than we went back. While we were walking we walked passed the band! I was so nervous and shocked that I didn't have the guts to walk up to them and asked them for the interview. So we followed them....alright stalked them. They went into an Irish pub and we still stood outside in the rain. Suddenly the bassist Ben went outside for a sigarette. I thought this was my chance, so I went to him and asked him for the interview. He said O you're Pearl! And kissed me on the cheeks:) He said: We will be back in the venue soon, but you can have the interview here as well, if you want... Of course I did, so we went inside and I had an interview with Jon (one of the most charismatic men I've ever seen!) We had the interview and it was so nice to talk with them cause they had a huge amount of british humor! After the interview we talked for over an hour until the last minute till they really had to leave for their gig. We talked about things like pooing in a Dutch toilet."When I have like this huge poo, it just touches my but!" and he was convinced that I kissed Matthew, which I didn't. He told me what Dutch man he thought were attractive, he called some footballers, but I didn't know them... About him standing on the Wallen (red light district), how he would be as a woman and if Jon had to choose between 10 virgins and one gorgeous experienced woman, he would go for the last one...I quess you know what kind of conversations this were, you get the picture... We went to the gig and it was awesome!! Really cosy audience and a incredible band, what more do you need? After the show Ben came to me and he started taking to me. He kept saying "We are friends now":) He was really nice, really a sweet guy. After a while we went downstairs to a party, but me and my friends dind't stay long. I went to Jon to say goodbye and then to Ben to say goodbye. He kissed me on the cheeks and then he asked me to come the next day to the gig in Utrecht as well. I told him that I wasn't sure if I could make it, but he said I really needed to come and then I had to asked for Ben and then he would come and get me. And then he kissed me again:) This had been one of the nicest gigs ever, along with Deep Insight and the Lostprophets. The next day I went to Utrecht and there I met Ben again. The first thing he asked my friend was how old is Pearl? I had told him nineteen the day before..But I actually was 17. Well, he could see that I lied... But he was very sweet and when I left he told me to really keep in touch with him over e-mail! Well that lasted for about two e-mails...

But that wasn't such a disaster, cause while I was e-mailing with Ben, I got this lovely e-mail from my favourite guitarist of my favourite band Deep Insight. Just out of nothing and I was very very very shocked and surprised and definately not worried about the not replied e-mail to Ben anymore. It was the sweetest mail I've ever gotten and I will never forget it in my whole life. Luckily the e-mail contact with him lasts longer than that with Ben, cause I still receive an e-mail now and then. Although I really love it, it makes my life a bit more difficult as well...I really don't know what to expect from him and I'm not sure if I will see him even this year. I'm not sure of anything about him, but one thing is for sure, Deep Insight still plays a huge role in my life. Deep Insight is more than just a band for me, they lead me trough life, personally and musically....

Attack! Attack! and You Me At Six in Amsterdam

It has been already the third time that I was about to see them. Attack! Attack! from the UK, the good one I´ve been told, cause there seem to be two bands with this slightly powerful name. A.A. definately deserves a name like that. Their music is incredibily powerful and especially live. So that seems like it is going to be a great night!

Walking to the venue, expecting a cosy audience, I kind of fell into an unfortunate shock. There it was, a huge row in front of The Melkweg. I didn't know that You Me At Six (headlining) is such a populair band! But without even knowing this band I was able to predict the sort of music that they were about to play, just from taking a look at the audience. You probably know what I'm talking about, 14 year old girls with their sceptic parents...

Well, at least I was going to see Attack! Attack! too. Cause I wasn't really trilled by the idea of another Forever The Sickest Kids/Metro Station/Mc Fly/Panic at the Disco act.

So, obviously I wasn't garanteed for a spot first row. But luckily these kids weren't full grown yet, so I could easily see over the sea of blond teenage gils (with their parents...). I was wondered whether they knew to sing the words of A.A.

Obviously not. Pretty strange, cause this incredible band had been in the Netherlands for a quite a few times. But still they haven't managed to built up a large fanbase. I have to say I'm very puzzeled about that, cause they play with a certain unusual energy and power that they really stand out. They are the hidden treasure under all these crappy bands nowadays. They would make a perfect festival band, though I haven't seen them on a lot of setlists yet. And I don't want to get to tecnical with you, but the quality of their music is exceptional! Just very good musicians!

I'd decided not to bother about the teenage girls anymore, cause I might be one too (just a little bit older and wiser). Just not wise enough not to sing along... It's just impossible not to, cause these songs are quite catchy too. "This is a test a wake-up call, it's a mission too tall" sing... After a few songs the attackers managed to conquer their catch. Finally the 14 year olds had been convinced, they had transformed A.A. into real rockstars. I was really happy to see that A.A. noticed that as well, cause they got more confident on the stage and they blew everyone away!

Including You Me At Six, although the teenagers didn't agree with me. Though, it was obvious that A.A. had so much more quality to offer than Y.M.A.S. Apparently good looks were enough to convince the audience. Although I could discuss about that as well. The singer might look okay, but that was about it... I think that that the real populairity of You Me At Six lies into a strong performance with catchy songs that are not to heavy, so accesable for a large audience. The singer "Josh" is what you call a real entertainer, he plays the young girls in a very smart way. Which makes me think of Ian Watkins. Not that he can tip that, he's not even close...But certain moves definalely have some resembles.

I might be not to positive about Y.M.A.S. but I definalely appreciate one certain thing about them. I really respect the singer for his lovely attitude towards the fans. When he left the stage to get involved with his fans, he got overwhelmed by a sea of girls that wanted to make a picture with him. He definalely stood there for over an hour just to make sure that everyone that wanted a piece of him got what she wanted. You could see in his eyes that he was tired and didn't really enjoy it. But I couldn't blame him for that. He knew that it was his duty to do so and although he had been treated like a rockstar he didn't act like one. He was polite and patient and that's one thing I could really appreciate. And although it would have been nice to have a picture with him, just for the collection, I couldn't do that to him and to myself, just because I'm not that kind of girl...

(anymore...)

Deep Insight, Sucker for love review

Heey you! Have you already ordered the new Deep Insight cd Sucker for love? If you haven't, please take a look at their myspace and find out how to order this little piece of heaven;) It is without doubt the best cd I've ever heard, and I'm not saying this just as a fan, I'm telling you this as a fan and a journalist. When you listen to it for the first time, you might think that they've changed a lot. Though that makes sense since we've moved along three years since One Minute Too Late. They sound a bit more accessible for a larger audience, but that doesn't mean that they aren't as rough and emo as they used to be. And don't get me started on the lyrics...The lyrics on this cd are so beautiful! They manage to express feelings I've always had but never understood. These a few of my favourite parts of some of the songs:

"I've got these feelings, they're growing too strong in me they breed from tears and govern with tyranny"

"You cut like a knive. You're the venomous type. Come closer I live for this trill, but you've come for the kill. I know it's over."

"I'm riding on a wave of misfortune, it feels like I'm living my life on distortion"

"I'm not easily troubled cause I've locked my pain in a bubble"

"My heart is a sucker for love, it keeps promising more, it keeps leaving me with nothing"

"My heart is a blackbox"

"I'm crazy enough not to worry about tomorrow"

"My message goes ot through the unknown, to a place I can't reach on my own"

"I've filled my soul with fractions

"I've been living the life of a king, but I'm as hollow as this ring and the promises we've made, I quess the vows have changed"

"The faint-hearted dwell in sorrow"

"Cause every minute every second my heartbeat counts the hours"

What differences Deep Insight from all these other rockbands? I think it's their abbility to express feelings and emotions in their songs in such a magical way. Like in the song "Down to the fire", you can really feel the frustation, anger and grief. The song sounds so powerful, that is makes me want to cry, laugh, scream and dance at the same time. The song Sucker for love really expressed my own feelings and that's what is so magical about that song. I never knew that someone could feel just the way I do. This cd shows their ability to make a perfect balance between different music genres like emo and punk. But in a way you've never heard these genres before, it's in a Deep Insight way. Just perfection and a bit of magic. When people tell me that one day I might be able to write lyrics just as beautiful, I just get angry. You shouldn't think that any band or person can reach the level of Deep Insight. And I know that not everybody understands that, but you as a fan should understand what I mean. So I'm sorry, I know that I can't express my feeling about this cd in a way this cd deserves to be valued. But I can tell you one thing....This cd is perfect

The world is ours and ours alone

Interview with the Rifles

The Rifles are about to perform here in Amsterdam. This should be their biggest show outside of the UK. They already know he Dutch audience from previous performances including the London Calling festival, so they are qite sure that the gig will be a good lot of fun this rainy evening in the Melkweg. Before the gig I got the chance to have a nice chat with Grant (drummer) and he told me everything that's new and interesting around this great band from London: The Rifles.

We started right at the beginning. He told me about his school period and what it has been like. At his school there weren't a lot of musicians, but still he managed to start his first band there. They played Nirvana covers and things like that. It didn't make them very populair in school, but I started to get the idea that it is really not important for him to be seen as a real rockstar or something like that. He really doesn't have an attitude, he even seems a bit shy!

It's getting really obvious that they are in this just for the music. They are not really interested in everything that is usually associated with the rock 'n roll lifestyle. Especially the fahion, they really don't try to have a specific kind of style. Grant told us that they are nobody but themselves on stage, they don't put up an act and they don't put on stylish clothes just to look cool.

It seems like a very grown up point of view. That's what also comes to my mind when I see them perform. They are different from most of the Britpop bands, because they're more serious and grown up. You can even see it in the audience where the average age is definitely above 25. Which is rare in the Britpop scene.

Despite of the lack of critical acclaim they got with the previous album No Love Lost, they still managed to built up a solid fanbase. Even though this fanbase is growing bigger and bigger, they still realise where they came from and where they once started. That might be one of the ingredients of their succesfull career. It's just like Grant told us: 'You shouldn't act like a rockstar if you would like to be in a succesfull band, you should just keep on going and don't try to be just like the other rockbands.'

But even though the Rifles are different from a lot of other rockbands, they do like to hang out and have fun. Music is definitely the most important aspect of their career, but Grant does admit to enjoy things such as groupies and alcohol. Well, boys will be boys and rockstars will be rockstars.

Another aspect that resembles a lot with many other Britpop bands are the lyrics. Most of their lyrics are about experiences they've had trough everyday life. They don't get inspired by poets and the darker side of life. What you hear is definitely what they're all about.

Although there might be some interesting facts that you couldn't know from just listening to the lyrics. Like the fact that Grant admitted to be terrified for dogs.' They jump on you and they scratch you!'And do you know that Joel is getting married? Fortunatly that wouldn't change the Rifles as a band. They will continue to keep on going and make great music.

Like every band they do have to urge to become bigger and bigger. They want more people to know them, but that might be the only change that this band will go trough during the next years.

The Rifles is the sort of rare grown up Britpop band that sticks to your mind. They are able to stand out in the big Britscene mass and that makes them right about:

The world is ours and ours alone!

Interview with Little Man Tate

It has just been 4 days ago, but I already mis this amazing band! My voice is still a mess and I can’t stop smiling when I think about them and that’s pretty much all the time... It may be obvious that they’ve made a huge impression on me and I’m sure that you’ll love them too cause... This is britpop like it should be! Sheffield's finest. Little Man Tate rocked Amsterdam and Utrecht and I had the privilege to meet them. Don’t you get jealous girls, you can still listen to their music on their myspace or buy their cd’s. This band makes the most pleasant britpop you’ve ever heard, but there is more about this band, something indescribable. Is it Jon’s on stage charisma? Ben, the sweetest musician I’ve ever met? Or simply the fact that they are the funniest band on the planet? Get a peek into the crazy world of Little Man Tate and find out that they have more to offer than just charm, charisma and good looks...

How are you Jon?

I’m very well thank you very much, how are you?

I’m great thanks. So a new cd, brand new tour, how do you prepare for such a tour like this?

We’ve had a bit of a shopping expedition. We’ve had some rehearsals and picked out the songs that we wanted to play. We just practiced every now and then so we can get into a routine of exactly knowing what is happening. But every gig is different. We get better as the tour goes along basically. We’ve already had our first gig on the way but what is going on tonight should be really good.

How was the gig yesterday?

Great, yeah Belgium, it was really busy as well. We didn’t have any expectations when we went on this tour. When it is busy great, if not that than that’s no problem either.

So what can people expect from a Little Man Tate gig?

Well, hopefully we will be one of those bands that you see and you would like to see again. I mean too many times people go to see concerts and stand at the bar like they don’t really care about the band. We just want to get a bit more. I would like to see a cheer in the eye.

Most rock stars like Amsterdam for the sex drugs and rock ‘n roll, what do you think is the nicest thing about Amsterdam?

Well those three things! I’m not sure if my mom might read this.... Are you going to write this interview in Dutch?

No in English...

So I’m not saying sex or drugs now, cause my mom reads it. What more is nice about Amsterdam? I can say what is not nice about Amsterdam. The pedal boats! We went on a pedal boat and it didn’t work, we fell out. Well, is was a bit of a nightmare. But I think it is a great city, it is great!

Have you been to the red light district?

Never! Ever! Ever! Yeah we’ve been there, we’ve been to the Wallen. We window shopped there. You know just like girls do when they go shopping and love some pair of shoes, which they can’t afford.

You’ve performed here before on the London Calling festival, how did you experience that?

Yeah that was really good, the crowd gave us a really good vibe and a warm welcome. It seemed that when we played people were really interested. London Calling is great, it’s really good, I love the festival and I love the bands.

There are a lot of Britpop bands on the London Calling festival, but still you managed to stand out, what is your secret?

How we managed to stand out? Did we? Thank you! Probably it is just charm, charisma, good looks....I think that the thing with our band is that we have been on the other side of the stage so many times. We have watched bands and that made us know what we wanted to see on stage. When I see a band I would like to see that they want to be there and are happy to be there, I think that is a good thing.There is a voice for everyone if they would like to be there, but we try to be excited. If you stop turning yourself on then you should better stop doing it. Musically....
If you don’t enjoy playing yourself, you shouldn’t play in a band.

What is the relationship like between all those Britpop bands, is there like a lot of competition going on?

Well, not for us. A lot of bands though feel like it is a competition, but we just concentrate on our music and we play it for ourselves and for the people that want to hear our music and not for the other bands. It is too easy to get yourself upset with other bands. There is a lot of jealousy out there, but it is not too bad.

Are you very cultured people?

Are we very cultured? We are a bit more cultured than I think a lot of people think we are! It all depends on what you mean by cultured. I think that a lot of people think that all we do is bing the bells and making love to beautiful woman. But there is a lot more to it than that. We are definitely you know... SHIT! We’re not cultured at all! But in Belgium we went to that little boy (manneke pis). He pissed out a fire. I don’t get why he is so muscled, he is like six years old, it is impossible! On the other hand we knew about other venues and we like to go to places. But most people are not going to be too bothered by a museum or a capital. So no we’re not cultured at all...Shocking!

You’ve released the album: “Nothing worth having comes easy”. What are the main differences between “About what you know”and “Nothing worth having comes easy”?

With the first album we just wrote the songs and played them live. On that moment we never know that we would make an album out of it. With the second album we went to the studio, wrote the album and then played it live. Does that make sense? Completely the opposite way around. So many times you’ve got this songs on the album and you’re like shit how are we going to play that live? I think it is quite interesting doing it the other way around. I think that is a bit more mature. And maybe there are a bit more messages and deeper meaningful lyrics on the second album. With “About what you know” we just took the surface on life, but also we’ve had loads of stories on the first one about growing up and things like that. On the second one we couldn’t do it exactly the same. So we tried to change it, we tried to be little bit more mature and thoughtful. See, I’m f*cking cultured!

What things inspire you to write the lyrics?

It is about real life I think. About things that we’ve experienced and saw. But all the way trough the album we can say that it was worth it. It is quite cool.

If you could be a woman for one day, what would you do?

Stay in all day! Get as many pair of nice shoes and lingerie as I can. I would start the video camera and make my own solo masturbation. Would I find man attractive as I do woman? Would I be attracted to woman? Would I be a lesbian though? So yeah, I want to make love to another woman.

Wouldn’t you make love to a man?

No, I think I would still make love to a woman. But I don’t know what to do if it is a woman. I don’t know, if I like man like I like woman now as a man, then I’d go out and get lots of drinks in bars. But I wouldn’t give myself up, I would play hard to get. That’s like the weirdest question I’ve ever been asked!

If you were president of the United States, what would you do?

If I were president of the United States I would make a phone call to skin records and tell them that I would like to have Little Man Tate over here to do a massive tour. Then I would make a call to mayor radio stations and say: I love this band called Little Man Tate, I want you to play them! I would get free food, free drinks. Do you think they really need me when they’ve got him? I mean he’s good looking! Anyway, it is impossible, I would be kicked to the ground. If I were president of the United States it probably wouldn’t last much more than a day...

So I’ve heard that you would like to become the biggest band of the world, apart from the money, why would you like to achieve that?

We want the critical acclaim, we want what we should have had all along. I still do believe that we are one of the best bands in Britain in the last five/ten years. You know, we’ve sold out gigs, we’ve sold out tours, we’ve released records, but we’ve never really had the critical acclaim. We want to be respected and we want people to talk about us. Forgetting about the money, forgetting about everything else we just want to be recognized as a music force! But with the money I would also be very happy.

How far would you go to achieve that? Matthew, the lead singer of the Pigeon Detectives kissed two guys on stage. Would you do such crazy things just to get attention?

Who would kiss Matthew?! I wouldn’t kiss him, he’s not really my type...I probably wouldn’t kiss just to get attention, but maybe that gets you on radio, maybe that is not about the music anymore. It probably gets you magazines and radio airplays.

Are there any huge festivals planned this year?

Not yet, we’ve got this tour and we’ll have a gig in Sheffield in March, but that is as far as we’ve planned the gigs. Normally the festivals come in around March. We also have the third album to record as well, so we like to do a festival, but we don’t know how may time there is going to be needed to be recording and writing.
I bet she kissed Matthew!

NO! I really didn’t!

Yeah, because when I said those things about him she was like NAAAH... I feel awful now! No, he is a very good looking guy... If I would have that hair I would have it long, definitely! When I was about ten I wanted my hair permanent so much! But my mom is a hair cutter and she wouldn’t do it...

Do you have any tattoos?

Yeah I have six, this one means that something is going to change my world, it is from a Beatles lyric. But the minute I had it done I thought: Well that is bullshit! Cause lots of things changed my world! When I got my very first guitar, I took a picture of it and took it to the tattoo shop and I asked if she could do that.

What is your favorite guitar?

I like playing my Fender, but I like Telecasters as well. But my favorite guitar is my acoustic guitar with which I write the songs. Sometimes I do that when I’m in my room and then I get out at night, have a few drinks and write a song. My favorite guitar is my Taylor, nobody else can touch it, cause it is very expensive. I’ve got plugins too and amplifiers... How did we get from the tattoos to the guitars?

What is the weirdest thing a fan ever gave to you?

Toe socks, when we were in Japan.They were kind of weird! They were like foot gloves.

If this wasn’t your career what would you be?

Probably a politician. Or actually I would say a footballer. But if I wasn’t a footballer, what would I be? Than I would probably work for the government. Then I would get a big cheque!

Are there any more juicy details you would like to share with the Taters?

What happened so far? They’ve lost the key to the room in Belgium. We’ve played there with the Soulwasters, they are great, you should check them out! They could possibly be the nicest people in the world as well.

Jon: Do you have any questions guys?

Dan: What is your favorite food?

Everything! I love food. I would be quite happy if my life could be filled with food, beer and woman. Do you need anything more than that? Is there anything more than that? Why would you need woman if you’ve got all that? No actually you don’t need anything more than food and beer.