The Hotseat: Michael Prain of Die! Die! Die!
on August 5th, 2012With their new album ‘Harmony‘ in stores now and the launch tour just a couple of weeks away, we catch up with Michael from New Zealand’s Die! Die! Die! this week in The Hotseat. While in the country this month they’ll play Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. Expand this post to take a read and remind yourself of their upcoming dates.
THE BASICS
Name : Michael Prain
Band : Die! Die! Die!
Job In Band : Drums
Website Address : www.facebook.com/diediedieband
HOME
Hometown : Dunedin
Hometown is best known for : Octagons, statues of Robbie Burns, mass murders, giant sea birds known as the albatross.
Best venue in your hometown : Chicks Hotel (Port Chalmers)
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : HDU when I was 15 and absolutely seduced by loud punk rock music from that moment on.
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Just last week we played two shows in Dunedin, one at the Crown Hotel which is the second best venue in town and one at Chicks Hotel. They were both incredible.
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Andrew who plays guitar and I have been playing music together since we were 14 formed Die! Die! Die! after few different musical projects.
How long has the band been going? 8 years
Any particular story behind the name? We wanted to play as many small towns around NZ when we first formed the band and it seemed an appropriately snotty band name.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… ‘Harmony’ is our fourth album that we have just released, we recorded it in France, Auckland and Tasmania. Its been a while in the making but so happy its finally seen the light of day.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? The fact that music is still as vital and exciting to play as when I first started playing the drums.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Listening to my sisters Nirvana records when I had no idea music like that existed, it was like this whole world opened up for me.
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? Bailterspace, thermos.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? The first band I played in was called the drummer smells nice, we were like retarded pop punk with leanings towards the Sex Pistols rather than Blink 182 though.
Most prized music related item you own? My 70s Ludwig snare drum, its been treated so bad but always sounds great.
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Drinking coffee and pondering my next move, this has been going on for years.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… seeing old friends who are all spread out around the place.
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… organizing all the small things that make the tour go smoothly, I have been known to overlook important details like passports being in date and drivers licenses being in wallets ha ha.
ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Anything fruity either edible or drinkable.
Favourite place you’ve toured… and why? Probably Japan, played with some really amazing bands and everyone who came to the shows went totally nuts.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? Playing on a boat that was sailing around a harbour with 60 of our friends.
Got a favourite song to play live? All of them.
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? So many, being so trashed that you can’t actually hit the drums at all is neither charming nor enduring.
Any pre-show rituals? Absolutely none.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Making sure people actually know your playing in whatever city or town your heading to.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? Catpower-Ruin
Last album you acquired? ASAP Rocky-livelovea$ap
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Deerhunter- weird era continued
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Opposite sex, they are a band who currently reside in Dunedin, really amazing.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? We are coming to tour in Australia for the release of our new record ‘Harmony’ at the end of August, start of September. Then heading to Europe towards the middle of October.
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Neil Young, after the goldrush.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? Cocteau Twins, playing our album promises, promises. I think they could really turn the sound on its head in a good way.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Broadcast
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? Royal Albert Hall
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? We have recently released our new album ‘Harmony’ in the last couple of weeks and will be having album release shows in Australia at the end of August & early September, please come along and join the party, it will be fun, promise no lies and buy our record too, if you’re so inclined!
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DIE! DIE! DIE! – Harmony
In Stores now, Buy online [Here].
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