STRUMMAGAZINE Febuary 2010

Issue #23£2.20

FRANK TURNER . KASABIAN . FOALS . THE CURE . BLUR

This month’s gig guide !

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THE NEWEST BANDS ON THE INDIE SCENE!THE BEST AND THE WORST

FRANK TURNER INTERVIEW!We talk to Frank Turner about the new album and his

recent tour

Before you became your own band you used to be in the london punk rock band Million Dead, what caused the sud-den change to play your own acoustic music?

After many years of touring and playing in hard-core bands, I’d had enough of that style, as far as making music goes. I was also pretty done in by the politics of being in a band and wanted to try doing things on my own. It all sort of came together in the months after the band split, and I started feeling like I’d found my niche in life, so I stuck with it.

Do you prefer the atmosphere at your current gigs? Is there anything you miss from being in Million Dead? Sometimes I miss the physicality, the heaviness from MD. But at the end of the day, that was what made sense for me when I was 21 years old. I’m not any more, and right now, as ever, I’m trying simply to make what seems to me to be the best music that I can. The atmosphere at a good show for me now is the best I’ve ever been in-volved in conjuring.

FRANK TURNER interview

Do you prefer the atmosphere at your current gigs? Is there anything you miss from being in Million Dead? Sometimes I miss the physicality, the heaviness from MD. But at the end of the day, that was what made sense for me when I was 21 years old. I’m not any more, and right now, as ever, I’m trying simply to make what seems to me to be the best music that I can. The atmosphere at a good show for me now is the best I’ve ever been in-volved in conjuring.

One of my favourtie songs of yours is long live the queen, is this based on true events?

Yes. My friend Lex passed about 2 years ago now. Whats been your favourite day to date?

Uhm, playing Reading Festival last year was pretty cool. Selling out the Scala in London was also not at all bad. Last year was a good year. I think this year may top it yet.

If you could play a gig anywhere, out-side or inside, where would you play?

In the back garden of the house I grew up in, which we moved out of years ago, alas. I’d invite all my oldest friends, it’d be great. Do you write all the lyrics yourself? Where?

Yup, all music and lyrics is me. Given that I tour almost all the time, I write on the road - in hotels, squats, vans, on trains and planes, and so on. Snatch moments when I can. Sometimes I settle down in my room in Winchester to bring a lot of disparate fragments together, but I don’t get time to do that much these days.

Someone just told you something amazing had happened...what would it be?

The government has been reduced in size by 90%, all tax and spending abolished, and ancient English freedom restored. How are you feeling about your upcom-ing tour with the offspring?

It’s a little bit intimidating, to be honest - they’re very big shows, and I’m playing solo. But it’ll be OK, it’s a great opportunity, and fucking hell, touring the The Offspring is cool. “Smash” was one of the first punk records I ever bought.

FRANK TURNER interview C O M P E T I T I O N

Win a pair of tickets to Frank Turners gig in london, plus £500 spending money and one night in a 5 star Hotel!

To Enter:

Answer the following question:

What is the title of frank turners new album?

Send to Address on back cover.

“I’d found my niche in life, so I stuck with it”