20th March 2002
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Why are you going out on tour with The Wildhearts
again when at the end of 2001 you said: "The biggest mistake of the year was
to re-form The Wildhearts' original line-up and think it would be any less disastrous
than the time before. What a colossal fuck-up"? I'll more than likely go to
one of the gigs, but I'm very surprised that you want to go out on tour with
Danny again.
Ben Lynch
We all say - and even mean, at the time - things that we often get over. Everyone has a right to change their mind. C'mon, man, everyone fucks up, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be given a second chance. My opinions about the whole Danny situation have calmed down and changed. Being a dad has helped a lot. Everyone deserves a second chance, and some people even deserve a third chance, and a fourth chance... and a fifth chance... and a...
Last October you said that The Wildhearts disappointed
you in nearly every way possible, and that the band wasn't fun to be involved
with any more. What do you think about The Wildhearts now?
Giorgio Morso
I'm keeping an open mind about the future. The Wildhearts disappoint me because they always failed to realise their true potential - that, and an inherent 'lazy' streak that I plan on ironing out with this gruelling 12-date tour... with no days off! You just cannot play 12 dates back to back without it being incredibly hard work. If we pull this off, my mind will be altered regarding the health, and future, of the band.
Do you have anything in mind in terms of style
for the next Wildhearts album? I really liked the way that p.h.u.q. was kind
of 'alternativey', but at the same time totally rock. Will the next record be
a progression from this, or are you gonna go for a fan-pleasing Earth Vs-style
work out? Personally I'd like to hear something a bit different, a kind of Wildhearts
for the 21st century sort of deal. Jimmy Eat World just raised the stakes with
their most recent album so the pressure's on! Keep up the good work!
Sam Brown
For the album (not the forthcoming mini-album), I think we'll go full on pop / rock 'n' roll with splashes of heaviness for good measure. I want to make a kind of 'obvious' album, one that will please the diehard fans. Give 'em what they want. Don't expect another Endless, Nameless!
What type of material will be on the forthcoming Wildhearts DVD?
Wendy Lambert
Oh, it's going to be packed with stuff - old, new, unseen, live, backstage, candid... basically everything I would personally like to see in a DVD.
Please make the DVD 'all regions' so that us fans outside of the UK can see it!
Scott
Of course!
Are there any plans to release a sort of edited VHS version?
Jay
Never even thought about it, to be honest. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a video version for those out there that haven't figured out that the Dark Ages are over.
Any thoughts on the setlist for the Wildhearts tour?
Julian Grandison
Yes. I'd like it to feature at least six new songs.
Is there any chance of adding a London date to the tour, or do I have to travel to see you this time?
Sarah
We'll be playing a London date soon (probably), but not as part of this tour. Hope you can make it to one of the other places we're playing. Cambridge isn't too far.
I recently spied a copy of Ric Browde's book, While
I'm Dead... Feed The Dog in a cheapy bookshop. It was a couple of quid, so I
bought it. In the book, the guy has a band called Suckerpunch. As the book came
out in 1994, Ric was probably writing it in 1993, possibly round about the same
time that Earth Vs was released. I was wondering, who inspired who? Is Ric's
Suckerpunch an homage to The Wildhearts, or is it the other way round?
Nerrad Drofkots
The other way round? I am aghast with asthma at that comment. No, Ric kindly used the title of our song for his band. There are a few references to us in the book. Ric worked with us in about 1990/91 I think - time enough to pilfer some ideas from this little band from London that were never gonna make it.
Where did the name Fishing For Luckies come from?
A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) reckons it's something to do with
those fairground 'pick-up' machines where you can get a teddy or something,
and that the 'Luckies' bit is to do with Lucky Strike fags? Is he right, or
shall I kick him for being a fool?
Toby Marsh
The title came from an ex-girlfriend of mine (the subject matter for the song The Miles Away Girl, in fact). She told me about how her gran would take them to the pictures when they were kids, and they'd spend the whole time 'fishing' in the back of the chairs for anything that people might have left behind. Sometimes she'd find money, rings, watches... all kinds of stuff. She described it as fishing for luckies.
I saw The Wildhearts play Cardiff University in
1995, and you put the mic into the audience for requests. The guy next to me
asked for Turning American, and you said you hated the song and that it was
the first and last time you'd play it on the tour. I would have asked for my
personal favourite, If Life Is Like A Lovebank. Would you have played it?
Russell Todd
Er, probably... but the rest of the band wouldn't have joined in with me.
What do you think of this new pop metal like Linkin Park and stuff?
Greg
I'm too old for Linkin Park! I guess it's good for children.
Do you like classical music?
Seiko Kanou
I love classical music, especially while I'm driving. It makes me much more calm as a driver. I love the heaviness of Beethoven, but also the sweet piano melodies of Chopin. I kind of like it all when I'm in the mood.
I've read about your respect for Maria McKee, and
I bought her first album. I'd like to know what your fave albums and songs of
hers are.
Greg
I'd recommend anything if she's singing on it! Really. You should own everything. My least favourites are her last two albums (You Gotta Sin To Get Saved and Life Is Sweet), but they're still fantastic albums with nuggets of perfection embedded within them. Check out the albums she recorded with her band Lone Justice, too.
What do you think of (Iron Maiden's) Steve Harris?
Alasttair Reilly
Steve Harris is a true star - an amazing player / performer and truly dedicated to his art. And he seemed to be a sound bloke when I met him.
Are you a Blaze or Wolfsbane fan?
Alasttair Reilly
Blaze is one of the best frontmen in the country, if not the business.
I've been wondering for a while why a person-loving
fella such as yourself takes such glee in depictions of other human beings experiencing
pain and torture - albeit in a fictional context - by way of the splatter movies
you rave on about. Just curious.
Deano
Dunno really. You see worse on the news, y'know? I like seeing rubber models full of ketchup being dismembered in intensely graphic ways. I don't like watching the real life 'Faces Of Death' kind of stuff too much. There isn't really anything to put your finger on why people like to be scared / grossed out. I guess it's something to do with the 'rollercoaster' thing where it throws you around violently but you're still safe in the knowledge that the danger isn't real and no one's gonna die.
I'm getting married in September, and as it's a civil service we get to choose our own music.
Well, I've chosen La La Love You by The Pixies, and she's chosen A Design For Life by the Manics.
I wanted Bring Your Daughter The To Slaughter by Maiden, but I dont think her father would have that.
Anyway, what song would you get married to and why?
Gordon Lancaster
Enter Sandman by Metallica, but I'd change the words to "exit life... enter wife!" Nah, I can't see myself getting married, in this lifetime anyway!
