Taking Back Sunday

One of my first interviews when working for Justwannarock was a phone interview with Taking Back Sunday's John Nolan. (Which can be read here.) 14 months later and I got the chance to interview the new line up (after John left) at their gig in Birmingham. After spending a LOT of time organising the interview, (and with the help of a lot of people! Thanks to Gav and Dan) I pulled a muscle in my back a couple of days before the show and due to my not being able to move, couldn't go. So, I asked my friend to conduct the interview and here it is. Thanks to guest interviewer Kate, you can now read about the band pulling pranks with Blink 182, the trouble with recording their latest album, and their plans for world domination! 

Have you been to the UK before? 

Fred: No, we've never been here before. 

How are you finding it? What are your first impressions? 

Fred: It's awesome, it's absolutely incredible here.
Adam: Absolutely great! 

What are the main differences between the US and the UK? 

Adam: Probably driving on the other side of the road.
Mark: Oh, and the money's different too! 

How was the Download Festival? 

Fred: It was great! Kinda dark and strange but good! 

What was the recent Blink 182/The Used/Cypress Hill tour like? 

Fred: Oh, it was cool, yeah. They're all great guys. 

Were there any particular highlights? 

Adam: Well, us and the Blink guys played pranks on each other. They emptied a whole trash can of popcorn on stage while we were playing. That wasn't so good.
Fred: Oh, and they took away Mark's drum kit piece by piece. You didn't think that was too awesome, did you?
(Mark shakes his head.) 

This is going way back, but is Fight Club your favourite film? 

Adam: Yeah, it is! It's awesome! 

Any particular reason? 

Because it's awesome. That's all. It's just awesome. 

What was the 'Cute Without the E' video like to shoot? 

Adam: Oh, it was great. Um...it took us 2 days to film and it was fun. Two of the best days ever. 

If you could star in the remake of any film, what would it be and who would you play? 

Adam: Um...we're just a rock band, we're not actors, we'd probably just be the band that play somewhere in the movie. 

Do you have any heroes or idols? 

Adam: Fred's my hero! 

Fred's my hero too! 

(All laugh) 

You've got a gig with Beastie Boys, The Strokes and the Darkness later this month, how did that come about? 

Fred: Oh, that was done via a radio station, so they pretty much set up the whole thing. 

Is it a bit daunting sharing the stage with legends like the Beastie Boys? 

Adam: Oh, we didn't really share the stage with them.
Fred: We had the small stage next to them! 

What do you think of The Darkness? 

Mark: Oh, they're awesome.
(I put my head in my hands and mutter, "Oh no!")
Mark: What, you don't think they're awesome? 

No, not really. 

Mark: Oh, ok then! 

Last year you were going to tour the UK with Brand New but couldn't at the last minute. Do you have any more plans to come over and do a co-headlining tour with them? 

Adam: Yeah, I mean if they ask us then I guess we might do. But only if they ask! 

You've toured with them in the States, what are they like to tour with? 

Adam: Oh, they're awesome. They're really great people. Nice guys. 

How do you think 'Where You Want To Be' compares with 'Tell All Your Friends'? 

Adam: Well, we worked with a different producer, so that changed, but also I think that the overall sound of 'Where You Want To Be' is quite different because 'Tell All Your Friends' was quite loud...
Fred: Yeah, 'Where You Want To Be' is probably a lot more melodic and not so 'in your face', so to speak.
Mark: That was a good question! 

Are you anxious at all about releasing your second album, after your first one was such a big success? 

Adam: Kinda, because it was strange for us as we totally didn't expect so many kids, if at all any kids, to actually enjoy the first album. I mean, we're not so much anxious, but it was most definitely strange to see so many kids buy our album, it was the greatest thing. 

How long did it take you to record the new album? 

Adam: It took us 2 years! 

Really?! 

Adam: No, not really! 

Oh...I was going to say! 

Adam: We recorded it around the space of about 2 months or so. And it was fun to do. 

Were there any problems along the way? 

Fred: No, there weren't any problems.
Adam: Nope. None at all.
Mark: Yeah, there was a problem...there was too much rock!
(Mark starts laughing hysterically and everyone else joins in.)
Mark: You didn't think that was funny?
Adam: I thought that was funny! 

Me too! What have you got planned after this tour? 

Adam: World domination.
Fred: First, Warped Tour, then...
Adam: Our own headline show again, then world domination. We could be the first band to play on the moon. 

I would love to go and see that gig, but the distance would be a little too far. 

Adam: It'll be shown on NBC. You don't have NBC do you? 

No, we have BBC. 

Adam: Then it'll be shown on BBC. (To Mark) What's wrong with you, dude?
Mark: No one laughed enough at my "too much rock" joke. 

I thought that was quite clever. 

Yeah, that was cool! I would not have thought about that! 

That's all, thank you! 

Fred: Thank you guys! And thank you again for the present, it's awesome!
Adam: Yeah, thank you guys, you've been great.
Mark: (With a mouth full of Doritos) Thank you! 

Thanks a lot to the band for taking the time to answer the questions. You can find out more about them by visiting their site, www.takingbacksunday.com.