Interview with Young Guns

Who would expect that Friday the thirteenth could turn out to be such an amazing day? It had been a day of amazing music and lovely superheroes. It’s actually quite hard to describe my thoughts about this fantastic band called Young Guns, cause my thoughts are wild and all over my brain. Truth is…can’t stop thinking about them. I know that they’ll be a band I would always remember. Just when I thought that I’d know what rock stars were all about, Gustav (vocals) proved me wrong. With his modest, honest and sweet attitude he’s a true superhero to me! And that’s exactly what this interview is about.

Interview with: Gustav (vocals)
Interviewed by: Pearl

So despite of Friday the thirteenth, did you have a good day?

I have had an amazing day! The guitarist said to me today is Friday the 13th and it’s an important show to us. I’m quite superstitious so I was really nervous. The last two shows were amazing, but tonight it was busy and the crowd was really up for a good time. So we’ve had a lot of fun. At least so far Friday the 13th had been a better day than I could have possibly imagined.

Are you a superhero?

Am I a superhero? No definitely not, I’m far too lazy to be as courageous as superhero.

Have you done any good deeds today?

Today? No, I haven’t done anything bad, but I haven’t done anything great today. In my life I would like to think that I’ve done some good things.

Like?

A while ago we had a house party and a girl turned up. I don’t know who she was. Turns out she is quite young and she drank too much and became ill. And it turns out she nearly died. I didn’t know this, but her dad came round next day and thanked me cause she had like slipped into a coma and if I hadn’t given her CPR, apparently she could have been seriously ill or died. I was quite proud of that, but today we’ve done nothing courageous. I’ve just gotten up and been really tired and then played a cool show!

Would you like to be a superhero?

I would love to be a superhero!

Which one?

Spiderman, without doubt! I already knew the answer on that. He has always been my favourite. When I was a kid I had like eight costumes of him. He has this great mix of powers you know. He can kind of fly, he can swing around he’s really strong, but he can also be just a person. So definitely Spiderman!

If we would be in the year 2012 when the world goes under…

Hopefully not

As a superhero which people would you safe?

Who would I safe? Well I’d be selfish and I would firstly safe my mother and my brother cause I come from quite a small family, but we’re very close. I’m lucky that I’m very close to them and they’re very supportive. Without them I wouldn’t be anything. So they would be the first two I would save. And then I suppose logically it will be my friends.

What about your fans?

Well I find it hard to believe that we have any fans, so that’s a difficult question for me to answer. We still are a very small band, but if we have any fans I would gladly save them.

Would you save us?

I would definitely save you two; you’ll be on top of my list.

Do you feel like a superhero on stage?

Well, it’s funny cause in a good show and if things are going well, there are times when I feel different because of the adrenalin, the moment and the attention that people give to you. You do feel a little bit like a superhero, sometimes. And I think that is probably why some people find it addictive, cause it is like a rush really, an amazing feeling. So I don’t know if I feel like a superhero, but I definitely feel something different than I feel when I’m walking around as a person during the day. There is a definite difference between me on stage and me off stage. That’s for sure.

What’s the difference?

I’m offstage a lot quieter and a lot less of a show-off.

What to you is a legendary band?

Well my favourite band of all time is a band called the Police. So they are my favourite band, they are a legendary band to me. I also like The Beatles; they are obviously one of the biggest bands and best bands of all times. When I was a kid my mother was really into the Police. So the Police and the Beatles for me.

Do they influence your music?

Not so much the Beatles, but the Police definitely do. In a way they look at song writing. We may not sound that necessary much like the Police but it’s kind of in the way that they approach their song writing. Is definitely something we try to keep in consideration. They wrote like pop songs in essence like verse chorus, verse chorus, but tried to step outside the band music. I like to say that we’re a pop band, in a kind of popular sense. We just don’t necessarily have like the Britney Spears kind of vocals. Pop music is a lot more than the kind of horrible shit that you see. It’s just popular music that is written with a structured and catchy formula.

I read your lyrics and they’re really beautiful!

It’s funny cause I’m so far of being satisfied with my lyrics you know. I think that they can be an awful lot better. It’s very kind of you to say so though. And I do like the lyrics, but I like to think that I can push myself and get better all the time Do you know a band called Say Anything? They’re an American band. On the surface it’s kind of emo/indie, but his lyrics are like out of this world. Phenomenal! It’s just incredible. When I listen to something like that I just think that I should better give up. So thank you, but I would like to think that we can get a lot better.

How are you going to make your band a legend?

That’s a difficult question, I think…What I would like to be legendary for, if you would like to be legendary for anything, I would like to play small shows, in small venues and everybody has to go as crazy as they possibly can. We would like to be a big band that plays in small venues. So if I could be legendary for anything, it would be for that.

Tell me the truth, are rock stars just desperate womanizers or are they true superheroes?

Well it’s not like that. You know like everywhere else in the world rock stars are mainly guys and because of that they’re interested in girls. But I wouldn’t say that they are superheroes either. If there are superheroes, they would be people like doctors, people that really contribute. I think it’s probably unfair to say that much rock stars are just after the girls, cause there’s a lot more than that. But they’re not superheroes, they’re just somewhere in between.

http://www.myspace.com/youngguns

Interview with the Cubical

These great guys from Britain managed to be named `One of the coolest bands ever´ by Mojo magazine. I have to admit that they really are... Due to their unique sound, which is bluesy, raw and like nothing else you’ve ever heard. I don’t think there’s need to say anything more. Just find out yourself at http://www.myspace.com/thecubicalthecubical
Listen to their rocking tunes and keep an eye on this amazing band!

Interview with: Dan (vocals)
Interviewed by: Pearl

How was your day? Did you do anything special?

My day has been pretty good, bit of a hangover but just relaxed all day watching True Blood. But nothing special.

You´ve just released your debut album, how would you describe it?

I'm never too good at describing our sound so I'll just say a collection of finely crafted songs, some fast, some slow, mutated blues.

What have been your inspiration sources and influences on this album?

We draw on a wide variety of influences and each member of the band brings something different but we all love the blues, Son House, Howlin Wolf, Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits, Dr John, Nick Cave. We are also into the likes of Hank Williams, Bing, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, all the classic song writers.

Why did you choose for Dead Young Records?

Dead Young Records are a pretty cool label, good guys and into similar stuff so we kinda picked each other really.

How are you going to conquer the British music scene?

Well were just gonna do our thing, play our songs around the country and hopefully people will jump aboard the good ship Cubical. We've already gotta a cultish following in bizarre pockets of the UK.

Do you think that being in a band is a way to escape the everyday life?

Well maybe at first but we've been doing it awhile so its just part of our everyday lives now but yeh it does break up the mundanity of the daily grind.

Have you changed as a person since you were in this band?

I suppose I have yeah I've probably grown in confidence and ability amongst other things. Bad habits too. People change by nature.

Would you change your sound and become more mainstream for the money and the fame?

No I don't think we could ever do that really its not in us. Personally I could only do something if I was interested in it and excited by it artistically and I'd say the same for the rest of the guys.

You´ve already achieved a lot, but do you have any unfulfilled dreams left?

Of course plenty of unfilled dreams. We just want to take this forward to the next level, record a new album and come and play in Holland, hopefully though that will be early next year.

Interview Dinosaur Pile-up

Interview with: Matt and Steve
Interviewed by: Pearl

It was a complete coincidence that I ran into them on the streets, but something in me tells me that this was meant to be! I’ve had an interesting conversation with them and that’s exactly what made this interview so special...The fact that it wasn’t really an interview! After a mind-blowing gig in a sold out Heineken Music Hall they were still full of adrenalin and full of amazing stories and fantasies which they, kind as they are, would like to share with you! Be prepared to read about some interesting stuff about a band that isn’t a typical rock band in an interview that isn’t a typical interview...

Did you enjoy playing the Heineken Music Hall?

M: Yeah, it was really cool! Amazing!

P: Where do you know the Pixies from? (They played the gig with the Pixies)

M: Where do I know the Pixies from? I kinda have always known the Pixies. They’re just one of those bands of the 90s that inspired bands that we’re into. Mayor bands like Nirvana. I’m not into all their stuff, but I’m into a lot of it! So I don’t know, I’ve known them since I was little. For you it´s probably the same right?

S: Yeah, cause they are an influence for a lot of our favourite bands, so that’s a big deal!

M: They’re just one of those bands that you should know about.

P: How is touring with them?

M: Cool! It’s really cool! The places we play in are really big which is a shock for us, cause we’ve only played in a few big places like the Leeds and Reading festival. And it’s because you’re below the Pixies, that there is a whole crowd…

P: You’re not below the Pixies!

M: Well...

P: I really believe that you’re better than the Pixies.

M: Yeah right!

P: Really.

M: Shit!! That’s kind of a compliment! Well look at you, you’re just saying that...

P: I have to admit that I didn’t really know that Pixies until today, but I really liked your show!

M: Okay cool, thank you very much!

P: Do you hang out together?

M: We haven’t really talked to them much, but Steve has talked to them right?

S: They take a lot of smokes and I smoke too, so the conversations are more like: Can I have a cigarette?

M: We’re not really hanging out together, they go straight from the venue to the hotel, so it’s not like we meet them in a passing.

P: What do you think of touring?

M: It’s wicked!

S: To me it’s the best thing of being in a band! Totally wicked!

M: I really like to sit and write songs and I like to record them. So the hardest thing about touring for me is that I’m always on the road and don’t have the chance to just shut the door and stuff. I did it today for like half an hour or an hour before we left the hotel, but it’s never the same, cause when you write at home you know the room and it is comfortable. So I love touring, but when you’re on tour you have to give something up.

P: Where do you prefer to write your songs?

M: I usually just write in my bedroom, but recently I started writing in another room, it’s really quiet and I go there every day.

P: Does that room give you some special kind of inspiration?

M: It just feels comfortable. Inspiration is just like stuff that happened and stuff you think about. That room just feels easy.

P: So what’s the funniest thing that happened to you on this tour?

M: The funniest thing that happened to me personally was probably last night at 3 am when Tom and Steve banged on the door. Me and Wayne were asleep and I got out in my pants and Steve and Tom walked in head to toe wrapped around everything in maps of Amsterdam, just like a massive map, they had maps everywhere! It was crazy! They found a lot of maps at the reception and they did that..

S: We just wanted to show Matt what we’d made actually.

P: How did you react?

M: It was more of a noise than a reaction actually.

P: Where did you go last night?

M: After we met you we went to a pub that we got recommended. We went to a supermarket and then got a metro to the hotel.

P: I’ve seen that you have a lot of gigs on your tour, how do you manage to survive?

M: I don’t know, this bit right now is the easiest bit. We have Wayne and people that are helping us with getting the equipment and it will get a lot harder when we’re just with the three of us. Then we’ll sleep on peoples floors, so we’ll see how that goes. That will be hard, but this part is easy. This Friday is the last show with the Pixies and then we’ll fly back and from that start it’ll be really hard. We use humour to survive, we’re just stupid idiots at the end of the day and we make each other laugh, that’s what keeps the spirits up between us!

S: We talk about a lot and that’s the key to a band surviving and also a bit of humour. But too being able to talk to each other and being okay with each other.

P: Do you talk about everything?

M: Yeah everything.

P: So you’re best friends?

M: Steve to me is really really close, cause we spent a lot of time with each other in difficult situations, we’re being helpful and I really need this guy!

M: You have to get that right, cause you face a lot of hard times on tour.

P: What do you think of the different music scenes in Britain?

M: Don’t know, because it’s not about how many genres there are it’s all about the genres you like. The trouble we have is that the music we’re into is not really represented in the UK. There is a massive Indie scene that is really shit music!

P: It’s not shit music!

S: Pretty much everybody in England is in a band. Like in Europe this is not the same, but a lot of these bands miss the concentration.

M: When there’s a gig in Europe it’s more special. In England you can go to a gig in every venue in every city at every night and most of these bands are just horrifying. If you would go to London you could go to a gig every night and if you would go to Leeds you can see 4/5 bands every night! But it makes it quite hard for us, cause there’s so much competition, so many bands! So the people that can do things for you are divided so many times. The problem is that the good bands don’t get noticed because there’re sooo many bands...

P: But don’t you think that the competition is good for the quality?

M: Yes that’s good if you’ve made it.

P: But you’ve made it.

M: We’ve not made it, we have a long way to go...

P: It’s a good start.

P: In Holland we don’t have such a music culture as you do in England and the bands that we have are usually really bad, have you heard any Dutch bands?

M: There’s one really nice band, they’re from Utrecht and they’re not a big band yet, but they’re really cool. We’ve played with them last time we were in Holland and after that they’ve played with us in England. It was great!

P: I just bought your ep, the most powerful ep in the universe, why is it the most powerful ep in the universe?

M: Well, because we’re big egos..Just joking. To be honest with you the name is more of a joke than a statement. A lot of people say us: So it’s the most powerful ep in the universe, and we’re like it’s a joke you know. It’s just an ep.

P: I’ve heard that you would like to make people feel like you did at a Foo Fighters gig, can you describe that specific feeling?

M: Well, that was T in the Park and I was just blown away! I love their first two albums, amazing albums! I felt really inspired, it’s just what they do and who they are.

P: You both kind of looked like Dave Grohl on stage with all that hair before your faces.

M: Really? O no..

P: So tell me, how does it feel to go from a member of the audience to a member of the band?

M: We still are members of the audience. We still go see bands that we like. So I don’t know, it’s pretty awesome really! When I was younger I remembered going to the Reading festival and I always felt deep down that I wanted to perform on that second stage. It has such a good atmosphere and the sound is so good! So it was just really cool when we got the chance to play there! Sometimes when we perform I sing really close to the mic, so that I can see the people in the crowd and then suddenly it hits me and I realize what I’m doing. It’s really great, isn’t it?!

P: Are you still capable to sing when that happens?

M: It was a bit like Awahahahwa... It’s hard but well. It’s something you usually just think about afterwards. When you get back on your feet after the show you think hang on, did I just play that?

P: If you could organize the Reading festival, what bands would be on it?

M: Cool,okay.. Torche! They’re amazing! Slayer..

P: That is really hard!

M: But that’s not why. I’m a punk rocker, but they’re obviously one of the best bands technical.

S: I’d have Nirvana, I would bring them back.

M: I’d have the Foo Fighters, short after they’ve released the first album.

P: Wouldn’t it be hard for Dave to play twice?

M: He would play twice. Maybe we could have like two dimensions, that would be awesome! Who would you have to play Steve?

S: I’d have really heavy metal bands!

M: I’d have some very predictable stuff, early Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Melvins..

P: No girl bands?

M: There are a few good girl bands,

S: Janis Joplin, P.J. Harvey, Kylie Minoque

P: If you’d be in the audience at your own festival, where would you be?

M: I’d probably be in the front.

S: Definitely!

M: If all those bands played at one festival and I wouldn’t be able to play that festival I would cry. I would literally be crying, horrible, it would be tearing!

P: Have you ever cried during a gig?

M: No, but I’ve felt very near to happen.

P: I’ve cried one time during a gig, it made me feel like a loser.

M: What gig was that?

P: The Lostprophets..

M: Wauw!! Awesome!! I wasn’t expecting that..

P: What do you think of the Lostprophets?

M: They really started off really good, but they ended up not so good. They started off really heavy and technical.

P: They’re making an album that is a lot darker.

M: they started off really really heavy and technical, but recently they’ve just released really bad stuff. You’re a big fan, I can tell!

S: She is like die hard!

M: Yeah, she’s like no no they’re going to do an album that’s darker!

P: But they really are!

M: Hahaha, I can listen to them. There are a couple of songs that I like, but I can’t remember how it goes..

S: Tudududutututududu..

P: Shinobi versus dragon ninja!

M: That was when they were good, I like that song.

P: They usually perform that at the end of the show and then they go crowd surfing.

M: Really? haha

P: Do you ever crowd surf?

M: I’ve crowd surfed as a member of the audience.

S: I haven’t done it in this band yet. You did it at...

M: No, I didn’t it was Tom.

S: But there is a picture of you.

M: Yeah, I ran into the crowd once, but I ended up on the floor.

S: The first time I’ve crowd surfed I was really rocking and kicking ass! Me and Matt did it together.

M: That was a good one!

P: I’ve always wanted to crowd surf sometime.

M: You really should! It’s cool! It’s fun!

P: I’m a bit afraid for the touching..

M: As a girl I should warn you. Boys in crowds aren’t to be trusted and they’ll take advantage you know.

P: So what things keep you busy besides music?

S: I have a dog.

P: Do you take him with you on tour?

S: No

M: Things beside music..There’s nothing else I think.

S: Even if we’re in the van driving to venues we still play the guitar.

M: And we’re all air drumming on Slayer!

P: So what is the name of your dog Steve?

S: Pig, he’s a half-blood terrier and he looks like a pig, so we call him pig. He’s the best dog ever!

M: He’s good, he’s the most handsome dog ever!

S: He’s very cool, he’s the kind of kid that enters the van of a very famous band and would just walk up and say hey. He’s like that in a dog form.

M: If Steve talks to him he just ignores him. The dog is just like; I’m not talking to you.

P: Are dogs your favourite animals?

S: Yeah, dogs and than rats. A rat is an amazing pet. I used to have a rat, his name was Smeagel.

M: Rats are amazing, but I like dogs more. They are so intelligent, really affectionate and laid back.

P: What about dinosaurs?

M: No

P: What would you do if you would live in the Dinosaur era?

M: We would start a rock band called Dinosaur pile-up and play gigs. I don’t really think about time.

S: I think that the world would be a lot more civilised. If a city gets attacked by a massive dinosaur, it would make people a lot closer, cause they would have a band and stuff.

P: Woow you’ve really thought about it!

M: I think a lot about Jurassic Park en Deep Impact things. I also think that I have to make a plan, like an escape route just in case the Dinosaurs come and Grrrrrraaaaahhhhwwwww!!! Oooeeeeaaaaaahhhh!!! If they would come here, what would you do?

P: I would play my guitar so loud that I would just blow them away.

S: Every now and then I feel a bit sad that they’re not still around.

M: Me too!

S: I want to see them so badly! Like knowing that I never will is really sad. I really want to see them!

P: We probably wouldn’t exist if they were still here.

M: That’s very true. Tyradactills were one of those, DANGEROUS!

S: Raawwwwwwwr!!

M: They were really bad.

S: They would eat a lot of people.

M: Yeah they would, they would bite you to death. Imagining being eaten by a Tyrex!

S: It just wouldn’t be like being bitten by a Tyradactill, I would rather be bitten by a Tyradactill.

M: No you wouldn’t, no you wouldn’t! If a Tyrex would bit you, you would be like.. A Tyradactill would beat you up and bite you with his massive deathly uuuhhh (shiffers)...

P: So what is Dinosaur pile-up coming up with in the future?

S: We’ve just released our new ep and in the New Year we would like to do an album.

P: Okay guys, sounds good! Thank you very much for this interview!

Agony Way

I’m not sure why they picked this name, cause Agony way is everything but an Agony way.
They may even sound a bit cheerful, but that might be just my opinion. One thing is for sure, Agony Way is ready to enrich the alternative rock scene!
This punky rock band from Italy is only a few years old, but they’ve already managed to capture their very own sound in their new record called ‘For rent’. The next Vanilla Sky? No, cause they’re not as poppy and emotional as the Vanillo’s. But they do have potential, cause they sound like no other; Original, energetic, catchy, honest with a punky attitude.
“For Rent” is full of powerful songs that makes you want to dance, jump and scream at the same time. Especially “At terror street” and “The quick brown fox” are very addictive songs, even when you listen to this songs for the first time. I usually need to get accustomed to songs, but this time it was different, special... The songs sticked to my head even after the first time of hearing them. So, that could mean that the songs are catchy, predictable, easy listening or just pretty amazingly special?! Some of the songs on “For Rent” are catchy and some of the choruses are maybe a bit predictable, but that’s okay, cause they’re part of a total called ‘great rock music’. Let me be clear about this: Music doesn’t need to be complex, it needs to be friendly for your ears. And that’s what makes this music so pretty amazingly special! Agony Way is nice and punky, just the way I like it!

Interview Attack! Attack!

Honesty didn't get me anywhere, but I'm sure it got them far...
I've honestly never met such an honest,nice and relaxed band before. The way that they treat their fans is phenomenal, so gentle, so polite and very sweet! But once they climb the stage they turn into wild animals! The energy and power that they capture in their songs on-stage is mind blowing, something I haven't seen before. It's obvious that great music brings out the best in Neil(vocals), Ryan(guitar), Mike(drums) and Will(bass). Attack! Attack! is ready to Attack! the global rock-scene by stealing millions of innocent hearts by honest, nice and polite raw booming ROCK MUSIC!

Interview with: Neil and Ryan
Interview by: Pearl

Are you excited to play in Rotterdam tonight?

Neil: Very, even more than normal I think, because of what happened last time. We couldn't make it then.

How are you going to make up for that?

Ryan: We'll play naked tonight!
Neil: Yeah...

Really?

Neil: Yes! No that's not making up for that. You don't want to see us naked. There's nothing we can do, we promised to come back and we did, so that's everything we can do. So that's probably the best that we can do, but we always try to do that anyway.

I'm always surprised by the energy that you have on stage. How do you capture the energy and power in your songs?

Neil: that's a good question...I don't think that there's an answer on that, it's just natural I think. Music and the energy that we feel is in the music just brings out the best in us while we are on-stage and playing it. That's probably just what it is. It's just that we enjoy the music so much that we really get into it.

You grew up admiring the Lostprophets and you've got the opportunity to work and tour with them. What did you learn from them?

Neil: I think that they taught us that you can be a couple of average guys of South Wales and still make it in the music industry with hard work and determination.They worked so hard, they believed in what they did and they've achieved their dreams. That gives bands like us the believe that we can achieve our dreams as well.

I've seen the video of "you and me" and it kind of reminds me of the film Charley and the Chocolate factory.

Neil: Really? Cool, I love that film!

Which one is your favorite character?

Neil: My favorite is Grab a Joke!
Ryan: God! I think it's got to be Willy Wonka, Gene Simmons. It's got to be Gene Simmons...
No he's not Gene Simmons! Gene Simmons is definitely not Willy Wonka right?! haha..
Neil: I didn't see the remake, what was the remake like?
Ryan: Nothing on the original...

I haven't seen the original.

Ryan and Neil: O NO! You've got to see that! Get it on the screen now!
Neil: Is Grab a Joke even in the remake? Our answers are based on the original.

The video also reminded me of a time I was afraid of people coming out of the television.

Neil: Like the film the Ring! have you seen that film?

No

Neil: That happens in that film, it's a horror movie, it's scary!

What used to be your fears as a child?

Neil: Still is, fish. I've always been scared of fish and chickens. At least when they're alive, cause I love them when they're dead and tasty!
Ryan: I'm not scared of anything! No.

Never been afraid of the dark or something like that?

Ryan: Maybe afraid of the dark when I was a kid, maybe...
Neil: maybe this time?
Ryan: hehe I'm not afraid of chickens... I used to be scared of dogs, don't know why, I love dogs.

What things inspire you to write songs?

Neil: All different kind of things: Everyday life experiences, touring in a band, being on the road, news things, movies.

Really personal stuff?

Neil: That's coming to it definitely.

Do you write about things that are very close to your heart, or do you prefer to write about things that everyone can identify with?

Neil: I think they both cross over anyway, cause a lot of stuff that happens to you, happen to a lot of other people as well. And you can interpret lyrics in your own way, so we might have written something that means this, but somebody might think it means something else. That's cool, as long as they could relate with it.

What's the nicest song to perform live?

Neil: I really like playing "From now on".

Are you going to play that tonight as well?

Neil: Yeah we will. When we recorded this song we didn't know what the song sounded like. It's hard to explain. The song wasn't finished when we started recording it. It might sound strange, but the first time we played the song from start to finish was actually live. I really like it because of the fresh feeling of playing it. A lot of songs you play hundreds and hundreds of times and then you record them, but this song is differently. We had the ideas, but we didn't actually have the full song.

Is it also your favorite song to perform live?

Ryan: No I like to play "You and Me" I think...I don't know I like them all I think.

Will you be playing all of your songs tonight?

Neil: We're not playing "Lost for Words"

That's too bad.

Neil: Sorry, we've played it only a few times, but it's a little bit hard to sing and that can cause problems. It wouldn't be so bad to sing it at the end of a tour, at the last day, cause if you damage your voice you can have time to recover. But that's not possible when you're on tour. i struggle with that sometimes. We stay away from that and pretend it doesn't exists.

You´ve performed on the London Forum, which is really big, but tonight you´ll be playing in Watt, which is a bit smaller but cosy at the same time. What do you prefer?

Neil: That depends as long as it is full. I definitely prefer Europe in general to the UK. You do get treated better by the promoters and the venues are very helpfull. In the UK, a lot of the time you get at a venue and you're out there on your own. In Europe there're always people to help you and that's cool.

Is there a difference between the British and the Dutch audience?

Neil: Must be..Neither of them understand us, cause we're Welsh, we speak too fast.
It's funny, because in the UK there are different parts with totally different attitudes towards bands in general. So you have places you look forward to more to go and play in the UK. We've played in two different places in Holland, Amsterdam and Nijmegen. The Amsterdam crowd is always really cool. And Nijmegen...You were at the Nijmegen show, it's always good. We've never had a bad reaction anywhere we've been, whether it's Holland, the UK or anywhere. But the Dutch fans always seem to be up for a good time, so that's cool. Enthousiastic! Which is always good.

What would your life look like if there wasn't any music?

Neil: Dark, boring..
Ryan: What our life would look like? No good!
Neil: I would have to kill fifteen hours a day. I don't know, I love listening to music, love playing music. If there was no music...
Ryan: That would have been bad wouldn't it?
Neil: That's why I would say thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing, thanks for all the joy they're bringing. I'll ask in all honesty, what would life be like? Do you know that song? No

Would you be another person if you weren't in a band?

Ryan: I'd probably be in prison right now.
Neil: In Wales you have two choices music or crime.

What kind of crime would you commit?

Neil: Anything! Car theft, drugs, an occaisional murder... Like when Mike and Ryan were younger they were in a crime gang. Ryan, show her your tattoos! They were dark times, but luckily they discovered music and it can pull you out of these things and give you a totally different direction.
If you could kill one person in the world who would that be?

Neil: Sean Smith..
Ryan: Can we kill a band?

SEAN SMITH??

Neil: No joking...I knew I would get a reaction on that!
Ryan: I would kill Scouting for girls.

Really? Why?

Ryan: Because it's a terrible band!
Neil: Are we going to be found out for killing this person?

No

Neil: Okay, this is good..Gordon Brown I think. Gordon Brown is the prime minister of the UK. I got to kill Gordon Brown and give the UK a fresh start in politics.

Wouldn't you kill the other Attack! Attack! band?

Ryan: O yeah, we'd kill them as well!
Neil: No we'd hug and kiss!
Ryan: I'd kill them, definitely!

How would a sixteen-year-old Neil or Ryan look at the person that you've become today?

Neil: I don't think I'd believe it.
Ryan: No I wouldn't believe it, I'd laugh!
Neil: I've totally changed, cause I was very shy as a child. I think I'd be very happy with what I've done with my life from that point of view.

You don't have any regrets?

Neil: There're always regrets, meeting Ryan that was a regret.

If you could have a time-machine, would you go forward in time or would you go to the past?

Ryan: I'd definitely go back.
Neil: I'd go back too.
Ryan: I'd go back to the seventies.
Neil: No I'd go to the sixtees when that whole Beatles explosion happenend, that would have been cool to see.

I've heard that Mike is the father of the band, in what ways does he different from you?

Neil: He's taller and he's kind of sensible I think. When it's time to leave he's always like "comon can we leave now?" He's always thinking ahead of the next show.

Are you a typical rockband? You know where the singer and the guitarist are more with the groupies and stuff, while the drummer and the bassist are more down to earth?

Neil: Well, you can't keep Will away from the girls. He can't stop it. I don't really think it's like that.
Ryan: We're nothing like that at all.
Neil: We like to meet people, but we're not interested in "Do you want to come back to our bus" kind of stuff you know? Forget that. We have our computer games on the bus, what do we need girls for?

Is there any prejudgement about rockbands you would like to get rid of?

Neil: No, it does happen with some bands. Some guys in bands are into that kind of stuff and maybe that's why they go in a band in the first place, cause that's what they wanted to do. But it's different for us, we're just four guys looking to have a laugh. We'll see what happens and we'll be going with the flow. But it does happen, just not to our band.

If you could solve one problem in the world, what would that be?

Ryan: Poverty
Neil: Poverty is a good one. I was going to say disease, but then can you imagine if you get rid of disease that the population will grow absurd! So I would go for poverty as well.

If you could be president of the USA what would you do?

Ryan: O that's too much! I can't go into that one.
Neil: I think Obama is awesome, really really awesome! You just try to do the best you can, it's a job that I wouldn't want. I would not want to deal with such a big country. It's the most important country of the world!

You would be very famous!

Neil: Yeah, but it would still be bad! You wouldn't be able to do anything, everything you do is watched and critisised. Very little praise is coming out of doing that job!

Do you like to be famous?

Neil: No, not to be famous. I like to be in a succesfull band and I quess that will become part and part together. So I suppose yes is the answer, but not to be famous. To be succesfull with the band that's what we want to be. Honestly, we want as many people to come to our show as possible and for every night to be in big venues and to meet loads of new people and have fun everywhere around the world. Which I think you can't really have if nobody knows who you are.

I'm giving you three wishes..What would you wish for?

Neil: Health

For yourself or for the world?

Neil: I was going to say for my family and friends, which sounds a bit selfish. What would you choose Ryan?
Ryan: Succes and inpoverty
Neil: Yeah something like that.
Ryan: What would I wish for? Loads and loads of money!

Always usefull

Ryan: You can do a lot with money!
Neil: You can cause and also solve a lot of problems. I think I would buy a football club if I had loads and loads of money. I think I wouldn't buy a big one, but a small one and try to build them up. I would help a small team to get bigger, maybe our home town Cardiff, that'll be good...

Thank you very much for this interview Neil and Ryan!

Taking Back Sunday in Amsterdam

Let it be clear, Taking Back Sunday is new again! With their new singer and cd they manage to sound like they've just reborn. And along with this powerful cd called New Again came a glorious and spectaculair gig in the Amsterdam Melkweg.

Starting with one of my favorite songs, this gig was garanteed for a lot of fun. Imagine the intro of "What's it feel like to be a ghost?"and you'd probably know what I mean. Adam, the singer really looks like a performer and apperantly he is. he has the moves, the looks, the attitude, the only thing I was missing was a real honest connection with the audience. Come on rockstars, you know what them girls on the front row like. Take off your shirt! or at least give them some high fives, that shouldn't be too hard right?

But I have to be honest, this had been an exeptional good show. The music was powerful and so full of energy. They've played for one and a half hour in which they performed 17 songs. Almost all of their good songs. Songs that really make you go crazy like spin and liar, but also songs from the new album called New again and lonely lonely. Trust me, you would really like to have this new cd, it's Taking Back Sunday like you've never heard them before, fresher, more energetic and completely New Again.

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.