Julia Conny
02/04/09, 06:22 PM
They're one of those bands that've been the topic of a few conversations, and nowadays, it's a few more than that. So we've checked in with metalcore's own young lookers, Bring Me The Horizon (http://absolutepunk.net/bringmethehorizon), to see how the transition from the UK to the States has been, what they're expecting for the grand Taste of Chaos Tour, and their reflections on being successful so young into their careers. A big thanks goes out to Mike Cubillos for playing middle man and Matt Kean for taking time to answer these questions.
Are you guys pumped for the Taste of Chaos tour? What are you most excited for?
Matt Kean: We're really excited! We can't wait for it to start. I think we're just excited to play to our fans and also hopefully some new people!
Now BMTH is handling American crowds. What's different about playing across the pond?
Matt: To be honest there's not much difference! I think the crowds in the US can be a lot more vocal in between songs the European audiences can be a little bit more reserved but they still go crazy when we play!
What do you enjoy the most about playing overseas? What do you dislike the most?
Matt: When you sit down and think about it you just get overwhelmed that people so far away from where you live can embrace and enjoy what you do! It's really crazy! I would say the worst part is being away from friends and family! You start to miss the little things too when you've been away awhile! It may sound weird but sometimes I miss the gray skies!
Which US cities have stood out the most?
Matt: For the shows it seems like most places we played the people are awesome!! I like most places on the West Coast, Seattle reminds me of England a little, Orlando is good and I also have a fondness for lots of cities in Texas but i think that's swayed by the shows cause they're always amazing there.
But you guys certainly aren't new to adoring fans. Bring Me The Horizon has been together for about four years now. What have you learned about the road, girls or just living the rockstar life?
Matt: I think we learned that we are really lucky to be in the position we are and we shouldn't take it for granted, we've learned to stick by friends and be wary of people trying to exploit us and trust to follow your gut feeling on the hard decisions then you can never regret anything.
What are the best lessons you've taken away from being in Bring Me The Horizon?
Matt: Sometimes the clichés about the music industry are true! Always have faith in your friends. Don't take anything for granted.
The line-up for this year's Taste of Chaos is sick. Which band are you most excited to play alongside?
Matt: It's going to be fun playing along side Four Year Strong. We played together on Warped, hung out and we had a blast!
How about on some of your other tours - Lostprophets, Killswitch Engage, I Killed The Prom Queen, etc. - who's taught you the most?
Matt: Killswitch Engage taught us that we have to go a long way to beat them at drinking! On the Prom Queen tour, we had the best time ever and I think looking back it was one of our best tours ever!
Can you give us a run down on how Bring Me The Horizon get started?
Matt: Matt N. (drums) and Oli (vocals) were friends from shows and had been in bands together but nothing serious. Lee (guitars) and Curtis (guitars) both played in a Metallica cover band. Matt N., Lee and Curtis all went to the same college they started talking and eventually decided they wanted to start a band. Matt told the others that Oli was good at screaming so they all got together and started practicing. They originally had other bass player who Matt N. knew from college but after a few rehearsals they decided he wasn't right and kicked him out. I met Matt and Oli randomly on a bus going from London to Sheffield and we got talking and they asked me to pop along to a practice.
Was there immediate chemistry?
Matt: When I came in the band had already been together about a month (I think) and as I was setting up my gear they decided to show me what they had. I can remember just smiling along to myself because I was amazed by what I was hearing. It was the kind of band I'd been hoping to start/join and it seemed like we had the same mentally of what we wanted to be!
At what moment did you realize that Bring Me The Horizon was something that you were all going to pursue full-time? Was there ever a question of dedication?
Matt: It kinda of just progressed and organically happened. It was like "we seem to be touring more than we're home!!" With us all being young, I think it was easier. I had already finished school and Curtis, Oli and Matt N. had all left college. Lee never really quit - he just kept going to college less and less until he realised he wasn't going to finish the course.
Have you all always been into harder music? What's something you listen to that would surprise us at AbsolutePunk.net?
Matt: At a young age I would listen to stuff my parents put on (I was more into Football at the time) so stuff like Queen, Micheal Jackson, Bowie, The Clash, BB King. Then during my early teens I got into music more and heavier stuff like Deftones, Metallica, etc. I got more into punk - I'd listen to Bad Religion, Millencolin, AFI, No Use For A Name, and through punk I discovered hardcore which got me going to local DIY gigs and the more metal side of that, watching UK hardcore bands like November Coming Fire, The Break In and Sworn In. A lot of the time on tour nowadays, I listen to chilled out stuff to keep my ears happy! Bands like Thrice, Gregor Samsa, Sigur Ros, This Will Destroy You, etc.
But you guys are still young, and there's still a long life to Bring Me The Horizon left, as I hope that's what you're aiming for. So what would be the highest level success for BMTH?
Matt: I would say the limits are endless! When we first started we never spoke of goals or achievements.It was just something we enjoyed, and I'm glad to say it's still that way. We've been through some hard times and arguments and at this point in time it feels stronger than its ever been. The future is looking bright for us!
If it all ended today, would you be satisfied?
Matt: I would because I've never expected anything from this band, so the day we got our first CD made and put in the shops and did our first tour it surpassed my expectations.
Do you have any regrets?
Matt: None whatsoever!
This question's for Oli: How is Drop Dead Clothing going? You said in an interview that it makes you a lot of money - is it still? Is it something you'd like to commit more time to in the future, or is it just for the extra cash?
Matt: He commits a lot of time into Drop Dead. He likes to keep himself busy!
Who does the designs?
Matt: He gets various people to do the designs and he still does some of them too.
Will you bring some DD merch with you to sell on Taste of Chaos?
Matt: He never takes it to shows so I doubt it!
We love recommendations at AbsolutePunk. Can you name some bands we may not have heard of that we should know about?
Matt: I mentioned them earlier but there you go, so.... Gregor Samsa!
Any last words?
Matt: Come see us on TOC!! Thanks to everyone who bought Suicide Season!!!
Are you guys pumped for the Taste of Chaos tour? What are you most excited for?
Matt Kean: We're really excited! We can't wait for it to start. I think we're just excited to play to our fans and also hopefully some new people!
Now BMTH is handling American crowds. What's different about playing across the pond?
Matt: To be honest there's not much difference! I think the crowds in the US can be a lot more vocal in between songs the European audiences can be a little bit more reserved but they still go crazy when we play!
What do you enjoy the most about playing overseas? What do you dislike the most?
Matt: When you sit down and think about it you just get overwhelmed that people so far away from where you live can embrace and enjoy what you do! It's really crazy! I would say the worst part is being away from friends and family! You start to miss the little things too when you've been away awhile! It may sound weird but sometimes I miss the gray skies!
Which US cities have stood out the most?
Matt: For the shows it seems like most places we played the people are awesome!! I like most places on the West Coast, Seattle reminds me of England a little, Orlando is good and I also have a fondness for lots of cities in Texas but i think that's swayed by the shows cause they're always amazing there.
But you guys certainly aren't new to adoring fans. Bring Me The Horizon has been together for about four years now. What have you learned about the road, girls or just living the rockstar life?
Matt: I think we learned that we are really lucky to be in the position we are and we shouldn't take it for granted, we've learned to stick by friends and be wary of people trying to exploit us and trust to follow your gut feeling on the hard decisions then you can never regret anything.
What are the best lessons you've taken away from being in Bring Me The Horizon?
Matt: Sometimes the clichés about the music industry are true! Always have faith in your friends. Don't take anything for granted.
The line-up for this year's Taste of Chaos is sick. Which band are you most excited to play alongside?
Matt: It's going to be fun playing along side Four Year Strong. We played together on Warped, hung out and we had a blast!
How about on some of your other tours - Lostprophets, Killswitch Engage, I Killed The Prom Queen, etc. - who's taught you the most?
Matt: Killswitch Engage taught us that we have to go a long way to beat them at drinking! On the Prom Queen tour, we had the best time ever and I think looking back it was one of our best tours ever!
Can you give us a run down on how Bring Me The Horizon get started?
Matt: Matt N. (drums) and Oli (vocals) were friends from shows and had been in bands together but nothing serious. Lee (guitars) and Curtis (guitars) both played in a Metallica cover band. Matt N., Lee and Curtis all went to the same college they started talking and eventually decided they wanted to start a band. Matt told the others that Oli was good at screaming so they all got together and started practicing. They originally had other bass player who Matt N. knew from college but after a few rehearsals they decided he wasn't right and kicked him out. I met Matt and Oli randomly on a bus going from London to Sheffield and we got talking and they asked me to pop along to a practice.
Was there immediate chemistry?
Matt: When I came in the band had already been together about a month (I think) and as I was setting up my gear they decided to show me what they had. I can remember just smiling along to myself because I was amazed by what I was hearing. It was the kind of band I'd been hoping to start/join and it seemed like we had the same mentally of what we wanted to be!
At what moment did you realize that Bring Me The Horizon was something that you were all going to pursue full-time? Was there ever a question of dedication?
Matt: It kinda of just progressed and organically happened. It was like "we seem to be touring more than we're home!!" With us all being young, I think it was easier. I had already finished school and Curtis, Oli and Matt N. had all left college. Lee never really quit - he just kept going to college less and less until he realised he wasn't going to finish the course.
Have you all always been into harder music? What's something you listen to that would surprise us at AbsolutePunk.net?
Matt: At a young age I would listen to stuff my parents put on (I was more into Football at the time) so stuff like Queen, Micheal Jackson, Bowie, The Clash, BB King. Then during my early teens I got into music more and heavier stuff like Deftones, Metallica, etc. I got more into punk - I'd listen to Bad Religion, Millencolin, AFI, No Use For A Name, and through punk I discovered hardcore which got me going to local DIY gigs and the more metal side of that, watching UK hardcore bands like November Coming Fire, The Break In and Sworn In. A lot of the time on tour nowadays, I listen to chilled out stuff to keep my ears happy! Bands like Thrice, Gregor Samsa, Sigur Ros, This Will Destroy You, etc.
But you guys are still young, and there's still a long life to Bring Me The Horizon left, as I hope that's what you're aiming for. So what would be the highest level success for BMTH?
Matt: I would say the limits are endless! When we first started we never spoke of goals or achievements.It was just something we enjoyed, and I'm glad to say it's still that way. We've been through some hard times and arguments and at this point in time it feels stronger than its ever been. The future is looking bright for us!
If it all ended today, would you be satisfied?
Matt: I would because I've never expected anything from this band, so the day we got our first CD made and put in the shops and did our first tour it surpassed my expectations.
Do you have any regrets?
Matt: None whatsoever!
This question's for Oli: How is Drop Dead Clothing going? You said in an interview that it makes you a lot of money - is it still? Is it something you'd like to commit more time to in the future, or is it just for the extra cash?
Matt: He commits a lot of time into Drop Dead. He likes to keep himself busy!
Who does the designs?
Matt: He gets various people to do the designs and he still does some of them too.
Will you bring some DD merch with you to sell on Taste of Chaos?
Matt: He never takes it to shows so I doubt it!
We love recommendations at AbsolutePunk. Can you name some bands we may not have heard of that we should know about?
Matt: I mentioned them earlier but there you go, so.... Gregor Samsa!
Any last words?
Matt: Come see us on TOC!! Thanks to everyone who bought Suicide Season!!!