(Cord Magazine's questions are in blue. Artist responses are in grey.)


Sam: What do you do when you’re on downtime between recording and touring?

Joel: Between downtime and recording? Well I just try to catch up with family really. I mean I have a wife and kids back at home. So most of my time I'm going 'So how you doing?' *Laughs*

Steve: I think when we are on tour, and even when were not really, between sound check and the gig, we just go record shopping. We go record shopping. And it's quite good really, cause after a couple tours you know all the good shops. So you immediately get off the bus, and yah, just kinda blow all your money on records! And you just don't have enough time to listen to them.

Joel: Actually that is one thing I am really looking forward to getting home for! I moved, well me and my wife moved back in March... And um. I haven't even set up my turntable yet! So like, when I get home I am going to buy another one and just listen to my records. Cause I haven't even had the time.

Sam: Any records that grab you attention lately at all?

Joel: Well actually there was this one album by Why, that I really really liked.

Sam: Why? Is that a UK band? (Still don't know who this is)

Joel: No, no, I don't know. I think they're from the States. I literally just bought it yesterday and gave it one listen and really liked it.

Steve: And the new Death Cab for Cutie too...

Joel: That's a good one, and the new Elbow album.

Steve: Oh yah!

Sam: Oh, I don't think that one is released here yet. Lucky!

Steve: Oh it is a really good album. But I mean it really sneaks up on you, then you can't get enough.

Sam: Alright, what is your vice of choice?

Joel: Sambuca.

Steve: We were at this bar the other night, cause we kinda mentioned to someone we had been out with before, that we had gone to karaoke with Sigur Ros. And there was a karaoke bar literally 20 metres from the venue we played. And we walked into the dressing room and he said "Come on! We're going to karaoke" and we just got dragged along. And they DIDN'T have sambuca.

Sam: Awful…

Steve: I know, I know.

Joel: So we thought Tequila would do. Or Jagermeister. But there was this guy there called the Leprechaun.

Steve: Man, how weird was that.

Joel: He was dressed up like an old time English crier. You know, like those, 'Yah, yah, yah' types. So he was dressed up like that singing old...

Steve: Singing really foolishly. And he called himself the Leprechaun.

Much discussion on whether they were talking about the same Leprechaun. One has to wonder how many there could be. They decide that maybe it was a Thursday night thing at the pub, and much laughter ensues.

Sam: Well you boys have been on the road awhile, what's your favourite venue or city to play thus far?

Steve: I think Glasgow...Yah Scotland.

Joel: Yah Glasgow has been really good.

Steve: I mean London is always good to us, cause it is our hometown. People are like, 'It's our band!' And I mean Scotland is like that too. It's like home. But you know, it just always really really nice going there.

Joel: The Scottish really big music fans. Great bands come out of there. As well as that, they know how to have a good time. So the two combined, we always have a really good time there.

Sam: What issues and aspects of the world most concern you these days?

Joel: Um... I just picked up this book, which I've got to... will start reading soon. It's called 'People Disappear'. It's all about the modern day slavery. Just talking about, just the issues, if you're going to consume the products that we do. You have to be aware of the... what you are buying into. Who is being paid and paid what for what you're wearing... or whatever you know. So I think that is thing I am just trying to get my head around. And just personally, my response to that and just how I should live my life.

Steve: I think that is something... well I don't know what it is like here, but the whole Make Poverty History thing is a huge huge thing in the UK. They have kinda like... Taken it to heart and really thought about. And I suppose the thing, the challenge with that is not all about developing world issues, that are so far away, but the Make Trade Fair aspect. And there is all sorts of websites now, that you can type the product in, and they'll tell you... and go back to where the original... where it is made what was used. I think that is one of the most challenging things right now. Not to be a hypocrite.

Sam: And I guess the rock and roll lifestyle can be pretty decadent at times...

Joel: Yah...

Steve: It's just, you just have to try and make sure you actually care about people. And treat people right. And whether they're people you know, who you work really closely with, or people you might never meet. I think that's the way of the world. It's got nothing to do with being in a band, but just being a person.

Sam: What's the one interview question you could care less to hear again?

Joel and Steve: Why are you called Athlete.

Joel: The thing is, if there was a good answer, it wouldn’t be so bad, but there is just no great reason. *Laughs*

Sam: Ok, now growing up, what were, or are, your favourite Saturday morning cartoons?

Joel: Ummmmm... I used to like He-man.

Steve: He-man. They were the days really.

Joel: The golden era! *Laughter* The best thing about He-man was, I mean, that whole kinda, 'Must... get to.. that... cliff' *Laughter*

Steve: It's not the same really these days...

Sam: Now assuming you didn’t always see 'successful rock band' in your future, what did you want to be when you were growing up?

Steve: I wanted to be a fireman when I was about five.

Joel: *Proudly* I wanted to be a farmer.

Sam: A farmer?

Joel: Well I lived down the road when I was a young thing

Steve: And the farmer was cool.

Joel: He was waaaay cool. He was man. He had a red tractor and it was rusty. And ah, he was called Mr. Drury, and he used to smoke a pipe all the time with a cap. He was the man. And me and my dad would go round, and like help him, like get the cattle in and stuff like that.

Sam: Well that's a new one. I thought I was weird wanting to be a garbage truck driver.

Steve: *Laughing* A garbage truck driver?

Sam: But at least they get to hang off the back of a moving vehicle, and such...

Steve: Yah well I guess I can see that part!

Sam: I guess I was pretty young.

*Laughter*

Joel: *Mutters* I still want to be a farmer.

Sam: If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be, and what would you hope to accomplish?

*Long pause*

Sam: Alive or dead doesn't matter...

Joel: *Long thoughtful sigh* Tough one. I think I would do Mohammed Ali. Back in his prime. I just really don't like punching people. But it would be interesting to see what it's like. And just what he stood for, and what he fought for as well. Outside of the ring, and such. And he is good with rhymes.

Steve: Yah he can rhyme. *Continues making noises in the background*

Joel: And I could deck Mike Tyson.

Steve: I think I would be John the Baptist. Cause he is just a bit mad isn't he. Just a bit bonkers.

Sam: You have a bit of the wild man image going on right now. I noticed the black eye...

Joel: You don’t wanna know...

Steve: *Laughs* It had nothing to do with Mike Tyson. It's just, [John the Baptist] is a bit of a nutter, and didn’t really care, I think. And um, and knew what he was doing, even though he looked mad, he knew what was going on.

Sam: And now for a bit of role-playing. There is going to be a fight between a shark and a bear. There's just enough water for the shark to live in and swim about in circles, and there's a small rock in the middle of the water for the bear to stand on. Neither has been trained, and both are really hungry. Big bad Grizzly vs. Mean hungry shark. Who wins?

Steve: I think the bear is going to win.

Joel: I mean it's been proven that if you have height, if you're above your enemy, you are in prime position. I mean if the bear is clever, and a good fighter, he can just wait. Cause the shark has to jump up a bit, and the bear can just swipe his nose every time.

Steve: Also, the shark, if he wants to have a sleep, the bear can get to the shark when he's asleep. But shark can't get to the bear when he's asleep.

Joel: Depends on the size of the rock though. I’d go with the bear.

Steve: Depends if the bear can sleep standing up. But I would go with the bear.

Sam: And last question, if you could ask me one question, what would it be?

Joel: Did you want to support us tonight?!

Sam: Oh man! Yah! It’s going to be a good night!

Elsewhere

By Sam Bastedo
Photos : Athlete.mu
Published : January, 2006.