Sinds een week of twee hebben we op kantoor een nieuwe stagiair. Rachel heet ze. Rachel Fae Coleman om precies te zijn. Ze komt uit de States en gaat de hele zomer proberen te overleven als mariniersdochter in de zachte armen van de Belgische Viceredactie. Dat laatste was figuurlijk, btw. We stuurden haar vorige week als eerste test naar de AB om Gallows te interviewen. Het was al even geleden dat we de Britse hardcoretrots nog hadden gesproken, dus leek hun optreden ons een goede reden om eens te horen hoe het met hen ging. Blijkbaar hadden ze net die dag een klotedag. Tja. Het leven als beginnend journalist is hard.
Klik door voor het interview en exclusieve foto's van de show die avond in de AB.
Gelukkig was Rachel koppig genoeg om een gesprek en een foto vast te
krijgen, al kan het ook geholpen hebben dat haar collega bloedgeil liep
van zanger Frank Carter en dus liever een halve dag buiten aan de
AB zat te wachten dan een kans op een intiem moment te missen. Vrouwen... Anyway, hier gaan we:
When I arrived at the AB I noticed on the venue doors a sign that read: GHOST OF A THOUSAND HAS CANCELLED. Later on I heard something had happened to one of the guys, an accident or something, but they wouldn't tell me. They were feeling really bummed about it and wanted to keep it low. Fortunately, the guitar player Steph Carter from Gallows met me in the lobby and showed me to the dressing rooms for a one on one interview. Shortly after I ran into the rest of the guys in the elevator and asked to weasel in more interview time. My persuasion was unsuccessful with their manager. Frustrated, I left briefly, then went back determined to at least get a group photo of the band right before my camera battery ran out- and I did! I spoke with Steph’s brother and front man Frank Carter who apologized for all the confusion.
I hope that their friend is ok. Here are my words with Steph.
Vice: I’m from America. This is my first time in Brussels and Europe.
Steph Carter: Oh good, it’s nice to talk to an American. The other reporters don’t understand our accent.
I guess the other guys sent you 'cause it must be annoying having one interview right after another. You probably get the same questions over and over again.
Yeah, I think we get annoyed when people come to interview the band and they know nothing about us. They think they know everything and you’re just like; you really don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about. And when that happens it’s funny. You just talk bullshit like a doctor or something and they believe it. You can get away with murder. This one photographer told my brother and I we couldn’t stand next to each other in a photo because we looked too similar. But she knew nothing about the band and she didn’t even know we were brothers.
How would you describe performing in the US as opposed to Europe or the UK? Is it all the same mess?
That’s a good question. America is weird because they stand together in little groups that dance together. In England everyone dances together. It’s like America wants to be impressed. For the first couple of songs they’ll stand there with their arms crossed watching, waiting for something to happen.
Where’s your favorite place to play?
The Old Blue Last, the Vice pub in London. Great crowd.
Ha. I'll make sure to tell the guys. You know, I was living in Providence, Rhode Island, in the US before I came to Belgium. Have you been to Providence?
Yeah, we’ve been there. I bought a Gibson Les Paul 1978 in Providence.
Well, there’s this one hardcore band from Providence, Verse, that was getting well known all over. They started touring in Japan, Europe, and Australia and then got a record deal with, shit, what’s the name of that label, something Nine?
Bridge Nine.
Yes! Alongside bands like New Found Glory...
...and No Warning
Yep. Well, some guys in the band from Providence broke edge and shortly after the band broke up. They didn’t necessarily preach straight edge living so much but were known as a predominantly straight edge band. Other musicians and friends of the band started breaking their edge too. It was weird. It’s a bit changing there right now.
Geez. Being in a band like Gallows you can have anything you want. Just snap your fingers and it’s there.
Your brother Frank is straight edge, right?
Me and Frank both. It makes touring easy being straight edge. You stay clearheaded. After a show I listen to my ipod, talk to my girlfriend, and go to bed.
Have you always been straight edge or was it something that developed, as you got older? I have an older brother who is straight edge so I’m always interested in these sorts of things.
Okay, cool. I’d say I’ve been straight edge since about the time all my friends starting going to the package store to get drinks. I just decided I didn’t want to. I’d say since I was about 15 years old. Frank's been straight edge longer than I have. I’m the youngest, the baby of the band.
How old are you guys?
I’m 23, Frank is 25.
That reminds me, I brought my friend Rica with me but she couldn’t come because they had to go park her car. She has a huge crush on your brother.
Really? Oh dear.
She told me not to say anything. She should be around. She might come later.
I’ll get her to admit it. I’ll see her later. “You've got a crush on my brother!” Ha.
PHOTO AND TEXT: RACHEL FAE COLEMAN
Grey Britain van Gallows is nu uit op Warner.
FOTO'S ULRIKE BIETS
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