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FIGHTERPILOT :::::: |
THE BASICS Name : Daniel (Boxy) Band : Fighterpilot Job In Band : Lead vocals Website Address : www.fighterpilot.net.au HOME Hometown : Radelaide Hometown is best known for : Hilltop Hoods, Audreys, Barneseeeeeeeeeeey Best thing about the music scene in your hometown : Support of Music SA Most influential band to yourself that’s come out of your home town : The Twighlights Best up and coming band from your home town would be : The Shiny Brights THE BAND What’s the story behind the band name? We ran under the moniker of ‘Half Baked’ for a short time, and one of the songs we wrote was called ‘Figherpilot’s Thumbs’, a reference to the old saying about ladies smuggling tictacs (ie “She has nipples like Fighterpilot’s thumbs”..). When we decided on a name change it was just a natural fit. When did the band begin and how did it come about? In 1999 a couple of school friends started a band. They then recruited via online ads a new singer and bass player who kicked all but one of the original members out. Bastards. How would you describe your sound to the average Joe on the street? Energetic, hi-octane hard rock. Id tell them to think of the love child of Van Halen, Velvet Revolver and the Foo Fighters What’s your current release? Tell us a little about it… Silver Bullet…Plastc gun was recorded over 18 months with master producer Matt Williams (The Superjesus, Francesca). It became a real labour of love with new songs like ‘Same as You’ written through the recording process and older songs like ‘World Cant Touch Me’ given a new lease on life. There is definitely a ‘relationships’ theme through the album. The single, ‘Animal’, looks at a destructive relationship from an insular point of view – I guess its about a guy who is with a girl who truly is, as the title says, an Animal in every sense – but despite people looking down on them, and even he realizing that the relationship is destructive, she is too exciting to let go of. In a lot of ways I think the song is a metaphor for being in a band – its destructive, and frightening at times, and you fight and argue, but there is still that closeness that you cant let go of. And you just don’t give a fuck what people think – its your music and your band. There is a bit of a destructive theme in a number of the songs – ‘Four Rounds’ in particular, but also Wait a While and Darkest Hour.There are also the more positive images – ‘Save Yourself’ is all about taking life by the throat and making the most of your opportunities, whilst songs like World Cant Touch Me and See You Next Tuesday are really a celebration of the joys of playing music. What image do you think / hope your music conveys? I think the title sums it up – with the ‘plastic gun’ being the cd case and the ‘silver bullet’ being the CD itself. I think it’s a sleeper that is going to take people by surprise. In five years time the band will be… Looking back on some nice tours and a couple of albums that we are truly proud of. And Tim (Drummer) will have no hair. OFF THE STAGE What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? I started singing in a soul/funk band at about aged 18, doing James Brown and Spencer Davis Group numbers. I guess I just got off on playing live, and it has gone on from there. What was your first band name and what style did you play? The first band for me was Boxman, who later became Pornland when myself and a couple of the other members left. If you know Pornland I need say no more. If you don’t, I cant explain it to you. Tell us three albums you couldn’t live without in your collection Audioslave – Audioslave. The best of my two favourite bands, in one. Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey. His best (in my opinion!) Dave Matthews band – Live In Central Park (I get to cheat and have three CD’s in one. Awesome!) A great live concert Best piece of musical advice you’ve been given You will be ripped off on all your first deals – your first management deal, your first agency deal, your first label deal. All of them. That’s the business. Two groups/artists you’d love to take out on the road Most of the fun guys have got boring. Can I say Motley Crue circa 1988? Kings of Leon look like they would be fun, too. Favourite song of your group? Animal. It’s so much fun to jump around the stage to. The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is It’s a bit of butteflys really. New crowds – that’s the best bit, people you have never met but have heard your music. The thing you least look forward to before a tour is Ever since I got Pneumonia on our 2005 tour, I get apprehensive. When your not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? I run a not-for profit organization in SA calle d “Ausmusic SA” which provides training, education and development for those who want to get into music. Best job in the world. ON THE STAGE / ROAD What gear do you use? I am also a guitarist, but I don’t play on stage (just sing). So for songwriting I use a PRS Custom Singlecut, Fender Strat and Washburn P2 Nuno Bettencourt Signature Edition as my main axes. I just sold my amp (a Rivera) so im looking for a new one! Matt (Lead Guitar) has tonnes of guitars, but weapons of choice are a Peavey Wolfgang, Ibanez Satriani Chromeboy, Gretch Hollowbody and a Washburn N4 Nuno. He pushes out a wall of noise through his Mesa Boogie single rectifier stack. Simon (Rhythm) mostly plays a Wolfgang also, plus a sweet Washburn P2 Nuno like mine (we should get endorsements!) through a Marshall stack. Josh (Bass) plays a Yamaha bass through Mark Bass amp. He also has nice shoes.Tim (Drums) has a very nice Pearl Reference kit. Favourite place (city/town/country) you’ve toured… and why? I like playing in Mildura (regional Vic). The people are nice. The best show you’ve ever played was… and why? Ooh, bit hard to say. I think our first ever CD launch was great (at Raglans in Adelaide many moons ago) and the first time at the Espy, St Kilda in 2005. Who hogs the stereo in the van the most? Josh gets cranky if you try and play anything other than hard rock or metal (don’t even TRY and put in anything ‘soft’ or worse, still, ‘electro’). Matt subjects us to prog and instrumental. We humour him. After a week in the van/bus on tour which band member will have the messiest section, and what would we most likely find stashed there? Matt is pretty and so is Simon. I think the rest of us are happy to wallow in our own filth. Who in your group has the worst “bad habit” on tour, and what is it? I wouldhave to say that would be me. Getting sick is a habit isn’t it? Most embarrassing moment on tour? Collapsing during a set at a gig in Sydney at the end of the tour (the infamous Pnumonia tour). Poor Josh had to finish the set for me whilst I slept in the Tarago out the front of the venue. They were merciless to me! Give us a good quick ‘on the road’ story, funny, embarrassing, memorable, whatever… Something I cant get out of my mind is after an Espy show, this chick who was, quite rightly, in awe of the band tried to climb into our trailer to come on the rest of the tour with us (this was at about two in the morning). I guess the weird part is that she was at the gig with her Uncle, and he was quite happy to let her come along with us…… We nearly had to drag her out of the trailer. Your manager calls and says the venue you are about to play really wants to keep you happy, what’s the first thing you chuck on the rider? A pound of whale oil, a nine iron and some ball bearings. RIGHT NOW What’s getting the most spins in your stereo right now? The first two Bloc Party Albums (the latest one is a bit Naff) and the new EP by SA band Brillig (sort of Dark wave folk) Tell us a band or artist everyone should check out and why… The Shiny Brights from SA is one to watch – they just got back from the US where they raised a storm. One of the most entertaining live acts in the country. If you could change one thing about the music industry today, what would it be? Make Internet Service Providers pay royalties for music content they are allowing people to download. Downloaded music is not free – you have to buy a computer, an MP3 player, accessories, and most importantly pay your $50 odd a month for an internet connections. Doesn’t sound free to me – you are paying for it, its just that the money isn’t getting through to the artists. Watch this space – ISP’s will have to pay. As soon as I’ve finished answering these questions I’m about to… Go to Middleton and sit on the beach for a few days. Noice. |
