Fender: Can you remember the first time you came into contact with a stringed instrument? James: When I was very young – maybe about three or four – my dad bought me a little acoustic guitar. Simon: I started playing violin when I was five, so that was my first foray into string-ed instruments.
Fender: When you guys were playing, what kind of artists inspired you to take it to the next level? James: Initially, we started playing stuff like Nirvana. Just the thought of three guys making a racket was really appealing to us. It didn’t always have to be aesthetically pleasing music to be exciting. I think that was something that really inspired us. I guess Soundgarden was a band we really listened to. They’re a big rock band and when you delve a bit deeper, they’ve got wild ideas. They manage to make it sound so simple. Simon: Soundgarden was perhaps a bit advanced for us! We could never work out all of the parts. With Nirvana, we didn’t have to be great on our instruments to be able to play it. That inspired us to write songs. The first songs we ever wrote were kinda basic, but you didn’t need to know a thousand chords or be the fastest player to play a good tune.
Fender: Can you remember the first ever gig you went to? James: Oh, God – I can. Unfortunately, the first gig I went to was Ry Cooder.
Fender: That’s pretty cool. James: Not so cool when I was a kid getting dragged along by my dad! Simon: Well, if I’m trying to look cool, I normally tell people it was Metallica, but it was actually my second gig. My first gig was Status Quo. I’d just heard them on the radio, so to see them live was exciting, amazing. But the first band I chose to see was Metallica.
Fender: Status Quo stuff is pretty easy to play, though. Simon: Yeah it is. In fact, “Pictures Of Matchstick Men” was one of the first things I ever learnt to play.
Fender: What was the first record you ever bought? James: Mine was Belinda Carlisle’s "Circle In The Sand". My dad bought it. I remember wanting to get it and when I came home from school, it was sitting on the sideboard. Simon: The first record I bought was (British boy band) 911. Also Bon Jovi’s “Living On A Prayer”.
Fender: What music are you currently listening to? Simon: I’ve just got the new Dungen album (Tio Bitar – on the Subliminal Sounds label). They’re a Swedish psychedelic band. Their last record was amazing and this is their new record. James: The new Silverchair album’s amazing (Young Modern on the Eleven Records label). They’re from Australia. This new album’s really shocked us because I think they had been forgotten about and then we heard the new album and it’s got some really interesting stuff on it. Simon: As soon as you hear it, you can tell it’s a classic.
Fender: Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin? James: I would definitely go Led Zeppelin. Simon: We always slag off Ben, who is a Pink Floyd fan by chanting “Student music! Student music!” They obviously had their moments and did some amazing things for music, but to me, Zeppelin are a BAND. Pink Floyd seems more of a project.
Fender: Although, on your latest album (Puzzle on the 14th Floor label) you have used artwork by Storm Thorgerson, who famously created the famous Pink Floyd covers. What was it like working with Storm? James: Unbelievable. There was talk of us maybe getting a chance to do it and we were totally blown away. He heard the demos and he loved them and said he wanted to do it. Storm’s a real thorough guy; he doesn’t just paint pretty pictures, he really wants to know what the music’s about. I think he really captured the soul of the album really well. It’s nice to have the input of someone who understands what you’re trying to achieve. It was really special
Fender: This is your first album on the Warner label. Do you find that the change of label has meant more artistic freedom? Simon: I’ve noticed that they’ve invested more money in us. If we were on an independent, we wouldn’t have Storm Thorgerson doing our artwork, we wouldn’t have made the record with Garth Richardson and Andy Wallace and been able to spend two months with them. We’re very grateful to have the opportunity. We also know that we’ve made a really great album. To sign a bigger label on our fourth record is kinda the exception rather than the rule for bands. Normally, you’re either huge right away or after two albums, you drop down to a smaller label.
We were so prepared: we had two years to write songs while the legal things were going on and we just knew that we had an amazing album. We had forty odd songs. We were so confident going in. With a major label, the more it puts in, the more it wants to see a return. They want album sales, but we’re not that bothered. For us, the album’s a success because we love it. We’re very proud of it and it was exactly the album we wanted to make.
Fender: It has had an amazing press: mostly five-star reviews. Simon: That’s something we’re not really used to. We’re as proud of this record as we were the last record. We’re always a bit cynical: we don’t expect people to dig it forever. We know that next week, people could just go right off it. We’re really proud of it. We know we’ve made a very important rock record that not a lot of bands could have made.
Fender: When you were recording the album, what Fender gear and amps did you use? Simon: Pretty much everything we had was Fender. Live, I’m a Strat® man. I can’t see past that in terms of live sound. With recording, I use the Telecaster® a lot. When I’m playing it live, it just doesn’t have the right shape, but when we record, it’s got just that bit more weight and it’s a bit more crystal-y James: I use a Jazz Bass® live. I use a few different Jazz Basses and Garth the producer had a really nice sixties Jazz, which was so nice to play. A couple of Precision® basses as well, which have more depth. Simon: It’s funny, I’d never heard of a Hot Rod Deville™ until a few years ago. I don’t even know how long they’ve been around; maybe it’s a recent thing, but I remember that as soon as I got one, I thought “This is unbelievable.” And then it was like, “Everyone’s got one!” (Laughs). It’s become the necessary amp. It’s probably the best amp out there.” A lot of people use old Vox amps and things, but this does that but with power and a bit more personality. It’s funny, every band we’ve played with has played a Deville. Also, we’ve got a VG Strat guitar.
Fender: How are you getting along with it? Simon: It’s wonderful. I’d like to write a song for it. Just playing one chord and flicking through the different tunings lets you do things that you cannot do on your guitar. It’s a mind-blower, that guitar. James: It sounds really accurate as well. It doesn’t sound processed.
Fender: Imagine if you will that someone out there is an alternative universe where Jim and Si never discovered music. What would they be doing now? Simon: I’d probably be playing football. James: I’d be lost. As a kid, I was given a little joiner’s set, which was a bag of tools, so I’d probably be out carving bits of wood.
Fender: The footballer and the joiner… Simon & James: (Laugh).
Fender: Simon, this last question’s for you as an Ayr United supporter. You were born at the start of the 79-80 football season. Almost immediately prior to your birth, Ayr United enjoyed a glorious decade of continuous football in the top flight. Since your introduction into the World, they’ve been languishing in the lower leagues. Do you feel that you are, in some small way, a jinx? Simon: (Laughs). The biggest mistake they made was not signing me up when I was twelve….
Puzzle is released on 14th Floor Records on June 4th 2007.
