A song that made you want to make music?
I can’t pin it down to one song. What’s The Story Morning Glory cassette, Beatles, Queen live at Wembley VHS. Nirvana Unplugged In New York and Red Hot Chilli Peppers were the first albums I remember actually buying by myself but I think I already thought I wanted to make music then.
Best rider you’ve had?
Pretty much all the catering on The Editors tour across Europe last year was amazing. Think we’d get fat if we had that every gig.
Craziest moment you’ve experienced in the band?
We’ve had a lot of fairly mad experiences over the years. Getting blind drunk in a small town in Poland and finding ourselves at a local barn dance disco was one of them.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Hmm tricky question to answer, don’t want to sound too pretentious on my own lyrics. But maybe “It appears my liver handles more than my heart can” is a standout?
Easiest song you wrote?
Ah I don’t know. Once a song is signed off I kind of forget about it and move onto the next. I think our song ‘The Past’ came very easily though, it’s just four chunks of vocal repeated.
Favourite song in your set?
It varies, new ones often become the favourite because they’re fresh! At the moment it’s a song called ‘Oh The Silence‘.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I’d love to experiment with more musicians, more instrumentation and more vocals. I think female vocals would be cool, someone like Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star maybe!
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Most of the time I would say it’s getting a group of people who are equally committed and for throwing themselves 100% into being in a band. Then for them to still get on after doing that for years. Luckily we’re all on the same page and get on as well as ever. We’re blessed in that respect. The hardest thing we’ve found is juggling working and life and band commitments (especially when making no money from music – not why we’re in it but would certainly relieve some pressure to not have to work too!)
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Dan and Chris are BOTH black belt in taekwondo. So don’t mess with us yeah?
Jokes you have in the band?
We have little games we play on tour. Give me 10 is one, picked that up when touring with Mona. Everyone gets one nomination a day to make someone drop & do 10 press ups. I think the highlight was biz having to do 10 press ups on a rainy ferry deck surrounded by marines while we laughed from the window. Sorry biz.
Key to writing a song?
Perseverance mostly! And tapping into things you actually want to say, or don’t know how to say.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
The first Editors date was in Budapest, we hopped in the van and drove ourselves there. Two days drive later played a great first gig of the tour.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Really tricky question. Nick Cave live was very inspiring. I was recently lucky enough to watch the Foo Fighters side stage which was a masterclass in performance. Idles have been inspiring – to watch a band from our neck of the woods rise from playing the Thekla in Bristol with us a few years back to where they are now has been a joy to see, and with such a strong positive message.
New band you’d recommend?
Seen some good new bands recently over festival season etc Murder Capital, Indoor Pets, Feet, Jekyll, The Van T’s, The Blinders, Red Rum Club and Avalanche Party to name a few.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
There’s a lot of bands it’d be ideal to support! Maybe The National would be the top of my list.
Place you’d most like to tour?
America wouldn’t be my number one holiday destination but I’d love to take our music over there.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Hmm it’s a lyric not a quote that springs to mind. On Anthem Leonard Cohen sings:
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in”
And I think that’s worth holding onto.
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in”
And I think that’s worth holding onto.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Forever Whatever.. it’s a line in the song. It’s kind of got a few meanings depending on how you look at it. We just liked it and thought it was a good summary of the song.
See us live at?
30 Sep – Plymouth, Junction
1 Oct – Bath, Moles
2 Oct – London, Camden, Black Heart
4 Oct – Manchester, Night and Day
5 Oct – Glasgow, King Tuts
6 Oct – Blackpool, Bootleggers
8 Oct – Huddersfield, Parish
9 Oct – Sheffield, Picture House Social
10 Oct – Cambridge, Portland Arms
11 Oct – Coventry, Kasbah
12 Oct – Peterborough, Met Lounge
14 Oct – Stoke, Sugarmill
15 Oct – Leicester, Cookie
16 Oct – Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms
17 Oct – Guildford, Star
18 Oct – Winchester, Railway Inn
1 Oct – Bath, Moles
2 Oct – London, Camden, Black Heart
4 Oct – Manchester, Night and Day
5 Oct – Glasgow, King Tuts
6 Oct – Blackpool, Bootleggers
8 Oct – Huddersfield, Parish
9 Oct – Sheffield, Picture House Social
10 Oct – Cambridge, Portland Arms
11 Oct – Coventry, Kasbah
12 Oct – Peterborough, Met Lounge
14 Oct – Stoke, Sugarmill
15 Oct – Leicester, Cookie
16 Oct – Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms
17 Oct – Guildford, Star
18 Oct – Winchester, Railway Inn
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
I don’t think you can say whether it’s better or worse. Its just different. There’s less money in general, but more music. It’s better as a consumer.
Unusual merchandise?
We’re looking into all sorts at the moment. We’d love to do environmentally conscious merchandise – reusable cups / water bottle / ethically sourced / sustainable t-shirts etc.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
We like play around with alt versions of our songs. Stripping the song back is usually a good test of the songs strength. We’ve done that with most songs we’ve put out there.
What do your fans mean to you?
We’re still surprised people actually pay money to come and see us. To have people travelling from all over the place and/or coming to multiple gigs on the same tour is really something. Means a lot to us.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Biz broke his ankle mid tour a few years ago, he managed to still play the shows. Dan and Chris’ backs are both quite screwed, I think it’s a combination of things but I’m sure loading our gear in and out all the time and then lobbing ourselves around a stage wouldn’t be medically recommend.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
That depends on the situation. We’re pretty militant with timings & usually end up being hours early and waiting for anyone else to turn up.
Zoo animal that best fits the personality of your band?
Some kind of small wild cat maybe? Like sweet looking and then all of a sudden mauls a small bird.
Elizabeth Birt
September 30, 2019
Band management assistant. Goth princess and lover of all things music and sport.
@lbirt1993
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