Jamie Pham
10/20/08, 11:06 PM
Who came up with the Neverender idea?
Neverender has been an idea that we’ve always had since the creation of the band. We figured that sometime we would perform all of the records in order from beginning to end. At first, we thought it might be sort of premature because the concept hasn’t been completed. Without the prequel album, the story wasn’t complete. We wanted to hold off but then it started to make sense because it would help us create a prequel album if we revisited all the material and see how it would influence the next record. It was something the band and management thought about doing.
Rumors have been going around about you guys filming for a DVD, is it true? And for what show?
Right now, we are planning to record the New York shows.
Are there any songs you guys didn’t want to play because you guys grew out of it? Maybe something for Second Stage or In Keeping Secrets?
You know, not really but I can see that is something that could have occurred doing something like this. It’s been a long time since we played some of the songs and for myself, I was kind of anxious. I thought it would be fun and refreshing playing the old songs again.
Will there be any opening bands? Who?
I know Travis might open the last night as The Davenport Cabinet but other than, I am not sure yet.
Any plans to play anymore Neverender shows in the future? Or is this it?
Right now, this is it. It’s something we might explore in the future with the prequel album. Obviously, I am a fan of doing something conceptual. We’ve never done anything like this before and this has been a lot of fun. It’s really nice to hear these songs in context again, the way these songs are supposed to be heard. I know in the future we will do something, maybe not Neverender, but something.
Plans after the Neverender shows?
We’ve been writing and we have December and January to continue writing. Were going to dive in those months because Neverender has been such a big thing and has taken up a lot of our time. But any little window of free time so far, we have been writing songs. I think were all very anxious to put Neverender under our belt and press on to the next record.
Do you see the music you are writing is more influenced by your older stuff? How have your influences changed or stayed the same throughout the four albums?
I don’t see it as the older stuff has influenced the newer material. You know what it is? I was sitting and was recapping where I was when I wrote the material and I realize that when I was writing “Second Stage” and “In Keeping Secrets,” there wasn’t any obligations in life. There wasn’t a whole lot of stress. And when time came to write “Good Apollo I,” I had this horrible break up and that influenced a lot of the songs on that record. Like all of a sudden, there was this heartbreak and anguish and now I’m writing an album about it that’s reflective of that. Where this wasn’t the case in “Second Stage” and “In Keeping Secrets.” When it came time to write “No World for Tomorrow,” the band was practically breaking up and that was reflected in the music. These are the things that help manipulate the music. The more I think about what we are writing now and where my head has been, there is no drama now. Its not so much the music that we wrote in the past but its just the here and now and what we are going through like the last two album was perfect because they are part of one story. There was drama and things to kind of pick at. Where as now, there is nothing to worry about. Right now, the band is very strong and comfortable so lets see how that influences the next album.
Have you begun working on the story for the prequel album, and if so, what can you tell us about it?
I will share a bit. I do have a title. It’s not definite right now but I really like it and I hope it will become the title. I know fans will be disappointed because they want it to be called “The Bag On Line Adventures of Coheed and Cambria.” Thinking about this concept, I realized tat it’s not so much about Coheed and Cambria. It’s true that it’s the creation about the two characters but it’s really more about the emotional rollercoaster that their creator goes through and why he had to create them. It’s really more about the story of Leonard Hohenberger. You’ll see, I don’t want to give a lot away. I know when I describe these concepts, they are very long winded and it sounds like I am talking in circles. To me, it makes sense but to a reader, no so much (laughs). But, I just think it’s going to be certainly a touching part of the concept and the story behind Coheed and Cambria and I think our audience will get a kick out of it.
Have you guys decided on a producer?
We have our ideas. We have been throwing some names around to the label and seeing if any of them stick. Were just waiting on a reply or schedules, things like that.
When are you planning on releasing the album?
Were going to do some tour beginning of next year so I’m thinking we may go into the studio by the summer. Nothing definite yet.
Any other plans? Gonna release another Prize Fighter Inferno record?
At some point, I will release another PFI record but its not my main focus right now. Neverender has taken up a lot of time and following that is the next Coheed so Prize Fighter will happen eventually, its just hard to say when.
Did you try anyone else before asking Chris Pennie to be in the band? And why was he a good candidate?
We played with Dillinger years ago and they came out and supported us a while back. That was when we kinda got to know Chris. I think both parties were going through the same thing. We were going through some trouble and he was going through some trouble and we all saw an opportunity. At first, its was just “hey, let’s get together and play music and have fun.” And then it kinda spiraled from there.
How has he changed the dynamics of the band?
He has a powerful and very strong work ethic, which was missing from the original lineup. His presence makes things fresh and exciting.
When will the In Keeping Secrets and No World for Tomorrow comics coming out?
Were working on “In Keeping Secrets” right now. Our tentative plan is to make it a 12 part maxi series. Were in the middle of gathering all of our notes and listening to the record and mapping it out. It’s pretty much ready to go, all the themes are there. We want to take it up a notch from the “Second Stage” book. So I’m hoping next year sometime where “In Keeping” will see the light of day.
Considering that "burning" Star 7 is what killed Cambria, does Claudio die in the same manner after burning Star 4?
Cambria dies as a pawn in “Second State.” She was put in this position where there’s no option for her and she destroys Star 7. Claudio kinda does the same thing but its his free will that brings him to do what he does. Sure, along the way he gets the torque from his friend and the writer intervenes in the first story of “Good Apollo.” But at the end of the day, he’s not a pawn as his parents were even though the writer says “you’re a character and you have to do what I say.” And at the same time, he can say “You know what? I’m not just a piece of fiction.” In a way, he looks at it as a window for revenge and to do what he really wants to do. That’s kind of the idea.
What do the "Hails!" symbolize at the end of On The Brink?
What happen is when the crowing character destroys Star 4 and wins, everyone sees him in this light of “You are the coming of God” and they hail him as the messiah. But unfortunately, all of the heavens have been destroyed and all of the planets are drifting and crashing into each other. So they hail him 57 times before the planets crash into each other and kill them.
Neverender has been an idea that we’ve always had since the creation of the band. We figured that sometime we would perform all of the records in order from beginning to end. At first, we thought it might be sort of premature because the concept hasn’t been completed. Without the prequel album, the story wasn’t complete. We wanted to hold off but then it started to make sense because it would help us create a prequel album if we revisited all the material and see how it would influence the next record. It was something the band and management thought about doing.
Rumors have been going around about you guys filming for a DVD, is it true? And for what show?
Right now, we are planning to record the New York shows.
Are there any songs you guys didn’t want to play because you guys grew out of it? Maybe something for Second Stage or In Keeping Secrets?
You know, not really but I can see that is something that could have occurred doing something like this. It’s been a long time since we played some of the songs and for myself, I was kind of anxious. I thought it would be fun and refreshing playing the old songs again.
Will there be any opening bands? Who?
I know Travis might open the last night as The Davenport Cabinet but other than, I am not sure yet.
Any plans to play anymore Neverender shows in the future? Or is this it?
Right now, this is it. It’s something we might explore in the future with the prequel album. Obviously, I am a fan of doing something conceptual. We’ve never done anything like this before and this has been a lot of fun. It’s really nice to hear these songs in context again, the way these songs are supposed to be heard. I know in the future we will do something, maybe not Neverender, but something.
Plans after the Neverender shows?
We’ve been writing and we have December and January to continue writing. Were going to dive in those months because Neverender has been such a big thing and has taken up a lot of our time. But any little window of free time so far, we have been writing songs. I think were all very anxious to put Neverender under our belt and press on to the next record.
Do you see the music you are writing is more influenced by your older stuff? How have your influences changed or stayed the same throughout the four albums?
I don’t see it as the older stuff has influenced the newer material. You know what it is? I was sitting and was recapping where I was when I wrote the material and I realize that when I was writing “Second Stage” and “In Keeping Secrets,” there wasn’t any obligations in life. There wasn’t a whole lot of stress. And when time came to write “Good Apollo I,” I had this horrible break up and that influenced a lot of the songs on that record. Like all of a sudden, there was this heartbreak and anguish and now I’m writing an album about it that’s reflective of that. Where this wasn’t the case in “Second Stage” and “In Keeping Secrets.” When it came time to write “No World for Tomorrow,” the band was practically breaking up and that was reflected in the music. These are the things that help manipulate the music. The more I think about what we are writing now and where my head has been, there is no drama now. Its not so much the music that we wrote in the past but its just the here and now and what we are going through like the last two album was perfect because they are part of one story. There was drama and things to kind of pick at. Where as now, there is nothing to worry about. Right now, the band is very strong and comfortable so lets see how that influences the next album.
Have you begun working on the story for the prequel album, and if so, what can you tell us about it?
I will share a bit. I do have a title. It’s not definite right now but I really like it and I hope it will become the title. I know fans will be disappointed because they want it to be called “The Bag On Line Adventures of Coheed and Cambria.” Thinking about this concept, I realized tat it’s not so much about Coheed and Cambria. It’s true that it’s the creation about the two characters but it’s really more about the emotional rollercoaster that their creator goes through and why he had to create them. It’s really more about the story of Leonard Hohenberger. You’ll see, I don’t want to give a lot away. I know when I describe these concepts, they are very long winded and it sounds like I am talking in circles. To me, it makes sense but to a reader, no so much (laughs). But, I just think it’s going to be certainly a touching part of the concept and the story behind Coheed and Cambria and I think our audience will get a kick out of it.
Have you guys decided on a producer?
We have our ideas. We have been throwing some names around to the label and seeing if any of them stick. Were just waiting on a reply or schedules, things like that.
When are you planning on releasing the album?
Were going to do some tour beginning of next year so I’m thinking we may go into the studio by the summer. Nothing definite yet.
Any other plans? Gonna release another Prize Fighter Inferno record?
At some point, I will release another PFI record but its not my main focus right now. Neverender has taken up a lot of time and following that is the next Coheed so Prize Fighter will happen eventually, its just hard to say when.
Did you try anyone else before asking Chris Pennie to be in the band? And why was he a good candidate?
We played with Dillinger years ago and they came out and supported us a while back. That was when we kinda got to know Chris. I think both parties were going through the same thing. We were going through some trouble and he was going through some trouble and we all saw an opportunity. At first, its was just “hey, let’s get together and play music and have fun.” And then it kinda spiraled from there.
How has he changed the dynamics of the band?
He has a powerful and very strong work ethic, which was missing from the original lineup. His presence makes things fresh and exciting.
When will the In Keeping Secrets and No World for Tomorrow comics coming out?
Were working on “In Keeping Secrets” right now. Our tentative plan is to make it a 12 part maxi series. Were in the middle of gathering all of our notes and listening to the record and mapping it out. It’s pretty much ready to go, all the themes are there. We want to take it up a notch from the “Second Stage” book. So I’m hoping next year sometime where “In Keeping” will see the light of day.
Considering that "burning" Star 7 is what killed Cambria, does Claudio die in the same manner after burning Star 4?
Cambria dies as a pawn in “Second State.” She was put in this position where there’s no option for her and she destroys Star 7. Claudio kinda does the same thing but its his free will that brings him to do what he does. Sure, along the way he gets the torque from his friend and the writer intervenes in the first story of “Good Apollo.” But at the end of the day, he’s not a pawn as his parents were even though the writer says “you’re a character and you have to do what I say.” And at the same time, he can say “You know what? I’m not just a piece of fiction.” In a way, he looks at it as a window for revenge and to do what he really wants to do. That’s kind of the idea.
What do the "Hails!" symbolize at the end of On The Brink?
What happen is when the crowing character destroys Star 4 and wins, everyone sees him in this light of “You are the coming of God” and they hail him as the messiah. But unfortunately, all of the heavens have been destroyed and all of the planets are drifting and crashing into each other. So they hail him 57 times before the planets crash into each other and kill them.