Interesting interview follows Lostprophets concert
After the Hoobastank and Lostprophets show was over I walked outside. There was a definite chill in the air. We called the publicist for Lostprophets who responded immediately and led us to the band’s tour bus. As I walked into the bus, I saw Lee Gaze, one of the guitarists, sitting and writing something. We said hello to him, and then we walked into the back of the bus. There were bunks on either side — clean and well — maintained. We were led to the last room at the back which had leather couches on three sides, a TV and a stereo system. Ian Watkins, the band’s lead singer, stood up and introduced himself. He talked to us on behalf of his band. Here are a few excerpts from the interview.
TimeOut: Tell us how you guys got together.
Ian: We all grew up together in a small town called Pontypridd, in South Wales. We used to hang out with each other. You know … we knew each other since we were five. We used to skate, play games and watch movies and the usual stuff … and we love music and we jammed with lots of bands and kept messin’ around with music and it has evolved over the years.
TO: How long have you been together as Lostprophets?
Ian: Like I said, we’ve been in loads of bands together, since like … we were thirteen. It’s just weird because there’s no specific time when we were formed. Like in 1997 was our first show as Lostprophets and we didn’t do anything properly ’til around 2000.
TO: Tell us about your first record.
Ian: We signed to a really small independent label … and did an album in about a week for ÂŁ4,000 and then we toured around U.K. Then we got picked up by a much larger label and then we toured some more and then we toured America and then we did our second album.
TO: Who are your influences?
Ian: I like to listen to stuff like Duran Duran, The Police, Depeche Mode. I also listen to stuff like Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax and Annihilator. Its like a very weird mix of ’80s new wave and thrash metal.
TO: Did you have to struggle a lot to get here? What was the toughest part of your career ’til now?
Ian: Well … it’s not a lot of hard work, it’s an enjoyment. We don’t do it to get famous or anything like that. You do it because you enjoy doing it. It’s a hobby and its fun … that’s how we did it. We didn’t form a band to become rich and famous you know … we actually love playing music. Everything we’ve done is been fun. You know … it hasn’t been hard because we’ve been playing music through all of this. Even at the worst show, and no one was there, we were still playing the same music and we were still having fun. It’s been cool. It’s been a laugh … its better than sitting on your ass and doing nothing but watch TV you know … Being part of the whole conditioned society of today… like mass media, mass marketing, 95 percent consumerism … you know … commute back and forth, 2.4 kids, car on credit you know. It’s a different way of life, it’s nice.
TO: Why have you named your new album “Start Something?”
Ian: Twofold I think … Firstly we see this as our first real album. And secondly, during the three years, we’ve met a lot of people who had goals, who wanted to achieve stuff … but never did … you know, its like, get off your ass and do it. You see, society has conditioned people to believe that they can’t follow their dreams and they need to fit into some sort of role you know … but you don’t. There are no rules in life, really apart from your own moral rules and common sense. You can do pretty much whatever you want. We don’t have to do the usual. We can dream, we can strive for those things … it’s just about starting something … you know; just doing something — whatever it may be.
TO: What about “The Fake Sound of Progress,” your first album?
Ian: We were just sick of bands saying how much they’ve progressed. You listen to the album and it’s exactly the same as everything else did. And at that point we were an unsigned band. So, it was very frustrating to hear all these signed bands who’ve been revered in the media … and they say … We are this … we are new … and you think … mmhh … that sounds interesting and you go out and listen to them and they sound like they did for the past five years … and this kind of bugged us.
TO: What stage of career do you think your band is right now?
Ian: I still think it’s in the early stages. We aim our sights high. You know … we’re very driven. Me, as an individual, I am very aggressive and driven. I have lofty idealism and goals. I think if you limit, you’ve already lost. Aim for the moon and if you miss, you’ll land in the stars!
TO: You seem a lot different than the other bands. I read an interview about Hoobastank in which they mention that you are a bunch of nice guys. What do you attribute this to?
Ian: We are all working class kids brought up from humble beginnings. So, we appreciate everything we are given … you know. We meet a lot of bands who … have egos before they have even started. So they haven’t achieved anything … but that’s their downfall ultimately. We are just us…we appreciate everything. We just do our thing and enjoy it.
TO: I heard you guys have girlfriends. How do you manage to spend time together?
Ian: Some of us do and some of us don’t. Like, Michael’s girlfriend is in China, teaching kids. My girlfriend is a model and she does her own thing. So, we all do our things… They take out time and they come out and see us. We are all individuals. I guess its cool … if you live in someone’s pocket all the time, you get sick of them.
TO: What do you guys do to relax?
Ian: We just do stuff that everybody enjoys. Playstation, watch movies, read books, and hang out with people.
TO: How’s the tour going on? Do you enjoy playing on campuses?
Ian: It’s really good. It’s a different vibe. When you play on campuses, kids would’ve never heard of you except that one song. You’ve got to win them over and stuff, but it’s really cool.
TO: What do you think is the most satisfying part of your job?
Ian: Playing every night I think. It’s playing songs and seeing people get into it — seeing the crowd enjoy the music.
TO: What’s the worst part?
Ian: There’s nothing really bad. It’s not like a job — more like a privilege you know … it’s like we travel the world, play music. We play our music to people and talk about ourselves!
TO: Do you get involved in the making of your videos?
Ian: Yeah we all have ideas and we all add to them. But my ideas for a video are just way too over-budget. Yeah, we’ve got a part and everything. I design the album artwork; design the website and all that.
TO: I read that the British media liked you at first but started lashing at you after a few months.
Ian: Yeah … that’s just the British press … they build you up and pull you down.
TO: So, do you find any differences in the U.S. and U.K. media? Do you have any expectations from the U.S. media?
Ian: U.S. just doesn’t really rely on press. The press here is more reporting than scandals and tabloid. Back in the U.K. … the radio is mainly pop… so, the biggest thing for rock and alternative music is the media like press whereas in the U.S. the press is kind of on the third rung … it’s like the main thing here is the radio and MTV. If you listen to a song on the radio … it doesn’t matter what the paper says. That’s the biggest difference. In the U.K., it really matters what the magazines say but in the U.S. it really doesn’t.
TO: What are your plans for the next few months?
Ian: We are touring pretty much. We are going touring with Metallica in the Europe. We’ll be opening for Metallica — that should be interesting (laughs).
In Europe, for a month in June. We are doing our own headline tour in May in the US. We have a lot of festivals. And then, in summer, we are touring the US again — doing a big headline tour
TO: Thank you so much for your time. And Good luck for all your future tours and albums.
Ian: No trouble man! Thanks a lot!
I walked out the van, not only a Lostprophets fan but an even bigger Ian Watkins fan!
