The Charlatans (UK) graced the planet in 1989 from a little scene called ‘Madchester’ immortalized by the likes of The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and Primal Scream…think baggy, think beats and some psych-y vibes and voila! Described as the staple and a distinguishing trademark in their long running career, the organ - and a lot of northern soul are always ever present through-out their 13 (yes, 13!) album releases. Demographically speaking, over the time of 16 years they’d have a few fans, wouldn’t they? Therefore you would think that Cord would have a long winded detailed, seat of the pants bio in store with the gripping highs and lows of how The Charlatans conquered, divided and probably did (tisk, tisk) a lot of debaucherous stuff. Routine! It’s bad for the heart and soul and keeps no one interested… and it’s been written out in many different ways with variation from band to band. And when a band has respectfully toured, produced and released music for more than fifteen years and still remained the bee’s knees?!

Passing through Vancouver on tour promoting the band’s release of ‘Simpatico’, keyboardist, Tony Rogers and Drummer, Jon Brookes, kindly sat down with Cord to discuss heart-break, bears, squares and nunneries in some time of Cordmag personal crisis, which in turn has got to be one of the most hilarious interviews I’ve ever done (Check out our Ten Questions for more on that). I also understand the ‘advice’ put a lot of cheer into a certain staffer’s heart, so maybe if needs be – it will for you too. And if you really need that complimentary bio, then go Google it. Really, we can’t hold your hand all the time. Cord speaks in blue.

Cord: So how are you doing?

Tony Rogers: Very well, thank you.

Jon Brookes: Yes, very well.

C: How has your tour been so far?

T: It’s been very busy and very good.

You’ve been doing this quite a while now…

J: Yes, we’ve been doing the classic combination of North America, fallowed by Canada, fallowed by North America fallowed by Canada. This is our second trip across the border into Canada. And yeah, it’s good to be back.

C: Are the questions that people like us (media) are asking you becoming a bit redundant now?

T: No, not at all! We try and keep the answers as interesting as possible. Make up a load of lies. I’m only joking!

C: So you rehearse beforehand?

J: It’s a well rehearsed routine that we’ve got, but, I mean it’s nice just to talk to other people rather than just each other. So you know whatever questions we get asked…

C: So I can pretty much ask you anything?

T: You can ask whatever you want!

C: I guess one thing you’ve always been asked is you’ve been through so much as a band over the years how has that affected you collectively? Has it seemed like a set back or more of a motivation?

T: I suppose it’s a motivation. What doesn’t kill ya, makes you stronger.

J: I think that some of things that have occurred in the band, you know, they king-of stop you in your tracks, but as Tony says, you know, you kind of try to turn it around the best you can. But it’s still the same things that happen to normal people in normal everyday life. So you just kind-of deal with it. Take it on board. It alters the course of your destiny a little bit, but it makes life more interesting a little bit if you know what I mean.

C: Have the audiences that come to see your shows changed much?

T: (Laughing) I can’t remember! Have they changed much?

J: Tell you what’s been happening, we keep getting a younger audience every time they come. I see kids or young adults who would have never been there a few years ago because obviously they would have been too young.

C: Weren’t you working with the Libertines?

T: Ahh, no actually, that’s only Tim and it’s sort-of a pretend band with one of the ex members of the Libertines. More of a little game they’ve got going.

C: So you’ve never played together?

T: No. Never.

C: Never?

T: Never.

C: OK, that’s settles it then!

J: We know the guys. We know all they guys from the band, but we’ve never played together.

C: Seeing as I can ask you anything…my editor is going through an emotional break-up and she was going to do this, but asked me and I was thinking of something to do to cheer her up. So, can you think of ten ways to mend a broken heart?

T: Ten ways?! (laughing)

J: OK, Ten ways.

T: Ten ways, to mend a broken heart, right. First one – go and find someone else.

J: Second one – go find another person.

T: Third one – go find another one, so that leaves seven more people.

J: So basically, three gratifying physical relationships – meaning-less physical relationships – and that will probably take…average person maybe two weeks. And after two weeks, more a less you’ve, you know, been to work for 10 days, so basically it’s about time… and the forth way is to give it time…

C: I’m sorry (amused by mishearing answer), did you say ‘you’ve put it to work for about 10 days’?

J: No! I meant you’ve been in a ‘relationship’ for 10 days, like a meaningless physical fling sort-of thing, you know, probably, you can come across three girls in two weeks (laughter). I mean if you’re out every night ‘on the prowl’, but, ahh ‘prowl’ that’s a not a nice word, is it?! (laughing) Seven more ways…

T: Ahh, bring them to a Charlatans gig (more laughter).

C: Oh she is, she’ll be photographing you!

T: Oh OK then.

J: There – go see some art.

T: Number six – join a monastery or a nunnery.

C: I think that’s too drastic.

T: That’s too drastic?

C: She’s still young.

T: Oh, she can leave! You’re not locked in there – you can leave on your own accord!

C: Well I don’t know! I’ve never lived in one!

T: If you join a monastery you can actually go for sermons and then off you go!

J: So there you go, completely forget human love – go for a divine love. Join a monastery. Four to go, right? Possibly, write a letter to yourself saying that the guy or the girl was a creep anyway and you’re better off with-out them, and you’re wasting your time and you should have seen all the warning signs…post it to yourself and receive the day after, and you know what I mean?

C: That’s a good one!

J: You know, she’ll post it then kind-of forget about it and then think “oh, I’ve got a letter”!

T: Seven – go to Northern Alaska to the natural reservation parts (is that it?) and go and live with the grizzlies for 13 summers, look for Steven Treadwell…

J: Timothy Treadwell!

T: Timothy Treadwell!

J: A man who actually believed that he was a bear…

T: He spent 13 summers up there looking at them and after them…and thought he was doing them good.

J: And you think that you’ve got problems! Then you’ll look at what mental problems he had and think that you just pale into signifigance!

C: That had a good twist.

T: Two Left.

J: Ahh, well one of the most classic ones is to go to the video store and rent a bunch of…romantic comedies, get yourself a big thing of popcorn and a bottle of whatever your favorite wine is and just spend a bit of time on your own indulging in a bit of light-hearted romantic comedy. Very gentle, but good. AND the last one, that’s got to work every time is go out and get absolutely shit faced! (Laughter).

T: How’s that?

C: That’s good, that's perfect. I think that will work. She’ll like that. I guess I should ask you some music questions! ‘Simpatico’ meaning “being on the same wavelength. Agreeable, Likable, etc.” Is that how you view this latest album?

T: Um, we think so, yes. And it’s very important that we did. We were very much on the same wavelength. I think the last albums that we’ve done…it’s been a bit disjointed, we’ve all gone in and done our own things at different times and this album was recorded all together and became one again. We did it in such a short space of time - we did it in four weeks and it was mixed in two, so it was very, very quick. We went away and did it in a studio in the country. Where as the other we had our own studios and it split us up even though we were all doing the same songs, so this album we were all together.

And I read you’re opening for The Rolling Stones.

T: Yeah we are, in the end of August, in London and Scotland.

J: We’ve heard that they’re very, very excited that they’ve actually got The Charlatans warming up their gig.

C: Who’s got better dance moves then?

J: Uh, me. You mean between me and Mick? Oh yeah, have you seen him? He’s got no rhythm! Rubbish!

T: Rubbish?! (laughing) Rubbish!

C: Very modest!

J: Well if I don’t big myself up no else will!

Elsewhere

By Amy Hanson
Photos : Charlatans website
Published : June, 2006.