| Ben Gillies-Silverchair written by Lynn Malpass |
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| After arranging for my photo pass for the Silverchair show on Saturday, July 28th at the TLA in Philadelphia, I was invited to interview a member of the band if I had the desire to. Now, I'm no interviewer, not really. I've never interviewed anyone before, and just thinking about doing interviews makes me worry that I will have redundant or boring questions to ask, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity, considering Silverchair is one of my favorite bands. So I studied up a little and read some interviews elsewhere, then did my best to come up with a few questions that were at least a little more creative than "So why don't you guys play Tomorrow in concert anymore?" When I called in at my assigned time to interview drummer Ben Gillies, the phone was answered promptly, and he was awaiting my call. So we went through a series of hellos and small talk while I thanked him numerous times for agreeing to talk with me (I would later find out that I had yet to receive an email to reschedule the interview, since the band's tour manager had mentioned to their publicity agent that they'd been stuck in customs trying to get into Canada, so it really wasn't a good day for an interview), and that while I was a photographer and a reviewer, I did not usually do interviews, so I was a little bit nervous. Ben was kind and patient with me as we talked briefly about how the tour had been going, he mentioning that except for a few of them having been a little sick with a cold, things were doing great. At that point we continued on to the actual interview, which I have transcribed below. As it turned out, there were parts of my recording that were, for some reason, staticy, maybe due to the storm system we've had in the Philadelphia area these past couple of days, but there were some spots where I simply could not interpret Ben's words. I'm really disappointed in that, because I really enjoyed the conversation that we had, and listening to him talk about the band and his experiences, but oh well, I suppose. Better luck next time. Thankfully most of it is here. Noizefront: Right then... why don't we start now? Like Diorama, Young Modern is a real departure from the Silverchair that we all grew to know and love prior to Diorama. Have you noticed a shift in your fanbase, or would you say the same fans are progressing along with the band? Ben: I think it's a little bit divided, actually, since there are the really, really hardcore fans and they're kind of willing to come on the ride with us, and then there are other fans that are real, like, "Frogstomp purists" and "Freak Show purists", and they don't want to acknowledge the fact that we're kind of moving forward and we've evolved and we're changing. So I think we've lost some fans with the new kind of direction we're headed in, but at the same time we've kept a lot of the really hardcore fans, and we've gained a lot of new fans along the way. I could never imagine playing the same kind of music over and over again. I think it's one of the attractions to the band, and I think it's one of the reasons for our longevity. I mean some bands can do it, you know, and I'm not knocking them that they do kind of a lot of their sound and their style and their songs they're singing and they just stick to it. They're not changing the rules and I just think I'd get bored very, very quickly. Noizefront: Yeah, you guys seem a lot more creative than that, so I can definitely understand the changes in the music as time has gone on. Ben: Yeah, definitely. Cool. Noizefront: Another thing that I've noticed is that there's a lot of variation in both Diorama and Young Modern in regard to music styles - you guys go from things that seem only slightly progressed from previous CDs, to sounding very "Beatlesque..." to sounding a little like 70's acid rock or even funk. Really an eclectic combination. Are you all fans of the music of that generation, or how did those sounds in your music come about? Ben: I think it's [?], yeah, that the stuff that we're mostly influenced by, a lot of early '70s or, like, '60s, you know, I think [......] fans of grunge music and Long before we got into the grunge thing we were listening to all those records, you know, like Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles, and The Doors and Black Sabbath. That was our introduction to music, with all that type music. We've got a pretty diverse kind of musical taste now; we listen to different stuff, a lot of the new bands as well, and you know, it's kind of [....], and I think at the bottom of it all, you kind of have to say, well, 'who do you really, really love, you know, if you could only listen to one generation for the rest of your life,' it would probably be the early '70s, late '60s. Noizefront: Speaking of different kinds of music, who are you guys listening to today, and who's your favorite band, then? Ben: I think it's really hard to... I'm sure there are a lot of people that [....] it's easy for them to pick their number one favorite, or number two, or three, but I think... I like so many different bands... I don't know, I think I have to say my all-time favorite is Led Zeppelin. Was that all the question was or... Noizefront: I was just wondering who are you guys listening to now, what newer bands? Ben: There's actually this band called Whitey (funny of the moment - me trying to understand Ben's accent on the phone, and with a bad connection - I know now that when he said "Wotty" and I said "Whytee," we actually were talking about the same guy! And it only took me fifteen minutes on MySpace to figure that out. Gah, I love MySpace!), I think he's probably even a one man band and I'm pretty sure he's out of the UK, and it's... it's kind of like dance music, but it's like.... really groovy, in that he actually uses real instruments that he plays and, yeah... it's really cool... Noizefront: Oh, neat. I'll have to check it out. Ben: Yeah, it's really cool. Oh, what's another one... we play a lot of Mylah's stuff in the band room, you know, all that kind of stuff that's really groovy, you know, some kinds of hip-hop stuff, yeah, we just listen to so much different stuff instead of one particular thing. Particularly before we go on stage, too, you know, to get inspired or... get a high going before we play. Noizefront: I've had the chance to review the Sick Puppies, having had the opportunity to see them a few times this spring. From what I understand, Silverchair provided the motivation for them to form a band in the first place. They have a lot of the old Silverchair sound to them. What do you think of them, speaking as one of their influences? Ben: ... and Young Modern is about acceptance, you know, progressing and moving on. Noizefront: I can totally see that in all of those albums, in the emotion that's in the writing. Thanks. I've been really wanting to ask that question, so thank you for setting that straight for me. On to something else... Do you have any thoughts about the RIAA, and music downloading, and what's happening with internet radio these days in the US? Ben: We don't really have a lot of... internet radio in Australia. I don't know how much that actually... I think, personally, downloading is like stealing. But yeah, I think [...] downloading, people don't realize what's actually involved, how much money and work really goes into producing an album. If they were in our place, if they realized what was actually involved in making the music, I think people might see it differently... but yeah, I think it's sort of like stealing in a way. I think... It's really... it's kind of... Noizefront: It's a difficult position to be in, isn't it? In regard to having a stance on the downloading, and the internet fees and what-have-you, at least as far as what goes on here in the US? Ben: Yeah, it really is, but I think, yeah, it's really like stealing. Noizefront: I know some artists think that it's ok to overlook some illegal downloading, having the thought that it's at least exposing more people to their music, and that they'll recoup the loss through ticket sales and merchandise sold. Even if that were true, that would be kind of hard for a band like Silverchair, considering how infrequently you've toured lately, wouldn't it? Ben: Well, yeah, but... I don't know. I can see that yeah, it would expose more people to the music... but I think if they can afford a ticket, if they can buy a shirt... then they can afford $10 for the CD, you know? And now with iTunes, you can get a song for what, .99 cents? Noizefront: Yeah, something like that. I hate iTunes. I'm one of those people that has to actually own the CD and have it in hand. My iPod drives me crazy! I don't get along with it at all! Ben: Yeah, I'm that way too, with collecting the CDs, but it's easy, you know... and really good for if you're on the road somewhere and want the latest CD and all you have to do is download it. Noizefront: Oh sure, definitely. Is there a favorite show that you've played, or a favorite place you love to play the most? Ben: I think my favorite show was definitely when we played at Rock N Rio [2001]. It was incredible, playing in front of so many people, like 250,000 people. We got to play with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it was just insane, with all those people there. Noizefront: Wow, yeah, I can just imagine what that must feel like, how it must seem to play in front of that many people. Ben: I always thought, too, well, this might not be completely appropriate, but what would happen if you were, say, in the middle of those 250,000 people and suddenly you had to go to the bathroom... you know, either way... what would you do? I would really hate to be that person that had to go... [Ben is laughing at this point, as am I] Noizefront: Oh my god, yeah. That would be awful. I'd hate to be the person that had to clean up the mess after the show, too, with that many people having been there! Ben: Yeah, really! Noizefront: Well, I'm not going to keep you much longer, but before I go, I wanted to ask you a couple of fun questions, just because, you know, to be a little random. First question... What is the one thing you can't live without when you're on the road? Ben: One thing I can't live without? Oh... I don't know. Clean underwear? [We both laugh again] Noizefront: OK. Clean underwear! Sounds good to me! Second question - if you were to get a care package on the road from a fan, what would that package contain? What kinds of things would you guys appreciate receiving the most? Ben: Oh, you know, we actually just got a big package like that recently. We were in, wait, where were we? Ah, fuck, I can't remember where we were, but it was great! There was this Vegemite and these Lamington's - have you, do you know what Lamington's are? Noizefront: No, actually, I don't. Ben: Oh, they're these little cakes that you get in the cafes and coffee shoppes... Noizefront: Like a biscotti? Ben: No, they're more like... yellow sponge cake that's dipped in chocolate. And then they're rolled in coconut. They're delicious. And there were these pies and... Noizefront: [laughing] Wow, they sound great. Sounds like you guys have a bit of a sweet tooth when you're on the road! Ben: Yeah, I guess we do. But yeah, these pies... it was all delicious. Noizefront: So food it is, for you guys! [Those of you that are suddenly getting ideas, please remember that our friends in Silverchair are vegans.] My last question is really pretty random, just for the hell of it. Which of the seven deadly sins would you consider yourself to be? Ben: Oh, umm... which of the seven deadly sins, wait... there's lust and greed and... Noizefront: Gluttony... Ben: Wait, what are the seven and I'll start from that... Noizefront: OK, there's Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Envy, Wrath and Pride. Ben: Right... okay. Yeah, umm... Noizefront: It's a hard question when you really think about it, isn't it? Ben: Yeah, it really is. I think... I think I would be... wow, well, it's kind of hard for me to just say one thing... Noizefront: Yeah, I agree. I know I'd be more of a combination of things, myself. Ben: I think I'd have to say I'd be wrath. 'Cus... I'm usually a really calm, level guy about most things, but sometimes I can get really, really angry, so yeah, I guess I'd be wrath. Noizefront: Really? Wow, okay. Well, I know you must have a lot of other things you need to get done today, so I think I'll take this time to once again thank you for allowing me to call in, and for talking to me, and to our readers at the webzine. It's been great being able to speak with you today, Ben. Have a great show tonight. Ben: Ah, well, it's been nice talking to you, too. You're quite welcome. Please be sure to check out our show review and photos from Silverchair's show in Philadelphia, in the concert reviews section. Also, Lynn would like to give special thanks to Amanda Cagan at ABC Publicity for making this interview, and all of our Silverchair coverage, possible. |
Ben: You know, I actually... wait, I know I've heard some of their
songs, but yeah, I know it sounds terrible, but I really need to check
them out. That's cool, yeah. That they're influenced by us.
Noizefront: Yeah, big fans, from what I understand.
Ben: Yeah, I'll definitely have to check them out better. We haven't
known much about them right now, but I know they've been all over
the US and Canada and all...
Noizefront: Yeah, they've been touring for a while now, but you
should definitely check them out. You can really hear the influence in
their stuff. My next question, I'm not sure if you can answer it, but I'm
pretty sure you can. Sometime around the release of Diorama, I
remember listening when Daniel was a guest on Rockline, and during
that show he mentioned that the most recent albums had 'themes' to
them. If I'm remembering correctly he said that Neon Ballroom was
about death, and that Diorama was about... rebirth, or life... or
something like that. Is there a central theme that's come across in the
making of Young Modern as well?
Ben: Yeah, actually, there is. Daniel had said that... all the albums had
a sort of theme to them. Frogstomp is naivety, Freak Show is about
anger, like... acting out, Neon Ballroom is about depression, Diorama is
about escapism...
Noizefront: Ah, ok. I thought it was like, rebirth and
healing...
songs, but yeah, I know it sounds terrible, but I really need to check
them out. That's cool, yeah. That they're influenced by us.
Noizefront: Yeah, big fans, from what I understand.
Ben: Yeah, I'll definitely have to check them out better. We haven't
known much about them right now, but I know they've been all over
the US and Canada and all...
Noizefront: Yeah, they've been touring for a while now, but you
should definitely check them out. You can really hear the influence in
their stuff. My next question, I'm not sure if you can answer it, but I'm
pretty sure you can. Sometime around the release of Diorama, I
remember listening when Daniel was a guest on Rockline, and during
that show he mentioned that the most recent albums had 'themes' to
them. If I'm remembering correctly he said that Neon Ballroom was
about death, and that Diorama was about... rebirth, or life... or
something like that. Is there a central theme that's come across in the
making of Young Modern as well?
Ben: Yeah, actually, there is. Daniel had said that... all the albums had
a sort of theme to them. Frogstomp is naivety, Freak Show is about
anger, like... acting out, Neon Ballroom is about depression, Diorama is
about escapism...
Noizefront: Ah, ok. I thought it was like, rebirth and
healing...
