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Homecoming Around | |
They're the men who have been playing T In The Park since the very first festival, but this year, local heroes Travis will be headlining. And Fran Healy, for one, can't wait to "entertain the troops"...
How are you doing, Fran?
You seemed quite emotional while you were onstage...
Was it one of the high points of your career to date?
You did a new song, "Safe"...
How's that going?
Back to T In The Park. Last year, you played in one of the tents, and there was nearly a riot...
This year, the promoters are even more worried because in the morning, we're playing Party In the Park (in London), then we're flying up, although we will have cars at the airport, so we can always drive up if something goes wrong. So don't worry. We won't start any riots this year.
Was last year's T In The Park the first time you thought you'd really made it?
T In The Park obviously holds happy memories for you.
Does headlining mean something special to you?
Will you be going to see any of the other bands on the bill?
You're headlining a strange bill this year. It's the first time that Lulu and Iggy Pop have shared a stage for a while...
Have you heard this week's cover stars Coldplay yet?
Does it spur you on that other bands are writing songs as good as that?
There was a feature in the papers today about how Laddism is dead and how men have come over all sensitive thanks to groups like you and Coldplay....
Before we go, have you got any advice for the kids who'll be going to T In The Park? What should they bring?
What about your own set? Are you going to do any new songs?
What about this "Flowers in the Window" song that people are talking about?
Is that track going to be your next single?
Is the album going to be called Afterglow?
What are you up to right now?
NME
Fine. We've just got back from America, where we did the Dave Letterman show; we're in the airport, actually. We flew out after Glastonbury.
Did you enjoy Glastonbury?
It was great, absolutely amazing. As we've said in the past, those things aren't really about the bands. I saw it on TV afterwards, and the bit I enjoyed the most was when the camera swung around on everyone in the crowd, singing and having a good time. It's really interesting to stand onstage and look out at all the torches on the horizon--it's like a birthday cake.
I wasn't particularly emotional. It was just really, really nice to be a part of that.
Definitely. We played OK, but I think what made it good was the sense of being part of this big, massive thing.
We've played it a couple of times in America, trying to rehearse it in. It's going to be on the next record.
It's written. We just need to go in and record it. We're going to do it in October with Nigel (Godrich) when he's free, and we're going to try to do as much of it as possible. I think there'll be a new record out sometime in April/May.
We played Glastonbury and it was good, and we played T In The Park, and it as outrageous. We weren't allowed onstage because the moniotrs weren't working properly, and that's why there was almost a riot. We were delayed for half an hour.
I don't think we have made it. It was definitely the start of something, and it was really nice to be packing out a huge tent with people who were desparately trying to see the band. We played the very first T In The Park, so it was a bit different from that. That year, we played the comedy tent; we had to go on between two comedians. But even now, I still think there's a massive way to go. That's just my nature. As soon as I get the ball, I kick it away again.
Personally, I think T In The Park is the best festival. Why? Well, just becuase it's in Scotland, I suppose. It's got a really great atmosphere, everyone's up for it, everyone just wants to have a brilliant time. I think the Scots are good at that, they like letting it rip, there's no egos or attitude. People just want to get down and dirty.
I never think of things like that. Just to be asked in the first place is great. We're all gagging to get up there to entertain the troops.
This is the weird thing. When you come back off the road, you go home and sit in the house and go to the shops, and you're not really aware of the fame thing. It's not until you go to a gig or a festival that it hits home. It's a bit like having something injected into your blood so that every time you walk under a light, you glow a different clour. At Glastonbury, I stepped out of the bus for just a second, and within five seconds, I was surrounded by ten people taking my photograph and asking for my autograph. I was suddenly aware that I couldn't wander around and go and see other bands, because I'd never have made it back again.
Ha ha ha. That'll be pretty good. If they're on the same stage as us, we'll try to see them. I also really want to see Clint Boon (with whom Fran has just guested on his new single), but I think we're going to miss it. You try to check out bands, but sometimes it's not possible.
I met them the other week when I was doing an interview with Steve Lamacq. I met the singer Chris and his mate, and they were really lovely people. And I saw them do "Yellow" at Glastonbury, and it was amazing. It's a tremendous song.
It's definitely a spur. Your little radar's on all the time, so if anything blips on it, you're like, "Oh my god. I've got to do better than that." That's great. It's healthy, the way it should be. That song is the first time I've felt that for a long time. Coldplay are great, and I think they're going to do absolutely brilliantly.
Wahoo!!! Oh man, what an achievement. Fantastic. I mean, I believe everything I read in the papers. Still, it's funny, isn't it?
You should try to get hold of a set of binoculars. Binoculars are the coolest things at festivals because you can spy on people. It's magic. There are so many people there, you can watch them walking about without anyone noticing, and you can watch the bands as well. You should also bring a few plastic bags, but I always say that. The other thing is bring water and loads of cigarettes. If you smoke, that is. Even if you don't, you should bring loads of cigarettes and sell them and make a tidy profit, I'm sure.
I really don't know.
I haven't really thought about it, even though it's only a week away.
Nah. There's loads of singles on the record, though.
Someone wrote that on our Web site the other day. There's a song called "Afterglow," and it might be a good name for an album, but I don't know.
It's off to Roskilde.
8 July 2000
Words: James Oldham
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