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Interview:
On tour, you seem to have a very serious reputation; convince us that your shows will be fun.
JOEY: “Its not for me to say, you've gotta come and find out for yourself. Having that kind of reputation can get really annoying sometimes. Over the years Mike has been singing about real issues, with 100% truth in his lyrics. I just think people don't really listen to what's being said. Perhaps the reason why we seem to have a pretty serious reputation.”
Your band membership has changed frequently over the years, what's your view on the current line-up?
MIKE: “Yeah the line-up has changed a lot, but saying that its being the same for the last two years now. Its being great not to teach anyone the songs, and everyone has really got used to each other now. Behind the scenes there had been a few riffs I admit, but those days are well over. We are just concentrating on our new album at the moment.”
Next month you are performing at the Sheffield Arena, what do you expect the atmosphere will be like?
MIKE: “I think the atmosphere will be f***ing awesome. Going back to the place we grew up will be a special couple of nights for sure, I'm just hoping we can put on a show for our fans out there. With all the thousands packed into the arena, I'm praying that the atmosphere will be electric, there's nothing worse for a band going on stage and finding the fans are all waiting for the interval ice cream and tea break (laughs).”
Will you guys be performing at any festivals?
MIKE: “We have a very busy schedule this year, playing at all sorts of events up and down the country. We are performing at Glastonbury on the 28th June this year, followed by the V festival on 20th August. Before Glastonbury however there is of course our gig at the Sheffield Arena on May 13th. So a lot of big events in such a short space of time, plus we have to fit in the recording of our new album as well. A pretty stressful time for us yes.”
There has been a lot of criticism about your addiction to heroin, how have you coped with the limelight and how have you overcome your addiction?
MIKE: “Looking back, I regret that I even got involved in drugs, it started to ruin my life you know. I can't blame people and the media for scrutinising my addiction, I suppose I deserved it for letting my fans down. I was in the bottom of a rut and turned to help with the NHS. They helped me gradually come clean over the last few months. And I owe everything to them because I couldn't put up with the criticism I was getting. But looking forward, with the stable band line-up and my worries behind me I am confident of a bright future for Full Metal Jacket.”
What was the first ever gig you went to as a teen?
JOEY: “Well being the bassist of Full Metal Jacket, I hadn't been interested much in going to see live performances and tours, gigs etc. Em but a few years ago back in 2005 I went to go and see David Gilmour perform his magic along with Pink Floyd at the Live 8. I must say it was bloody brilliant, I loved the fact he donated all his profits to charity, he's such a role model for the music industry.”
After the current tour is over, when will you be back in the recording studio?
MIKE: “As soon as the tour is over at Sheffield we are heading back to the studio to continue on our next album-Sterilize. The album will feature bonus tracks of us live at the Sheffield Arena. The album also features a new style of bass line, so it should be interesting to find out what people think of it”
Being a lead singer, in an ideal world, who would you like to be your bass guitarist and drummer?
MIKE: “Well we've just heard Joey's Idol is David Gilmour. I'd have to say in an ideal world I would absolutely love to perform with Brian May of Queen, his natural talent and feel for the guitar really shone through at Wembley in '86. I adore John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, as he was so creative in what he did. I mean I can recall when he played with four drum sticks. Like oh my god who else ever thought of that, he was a thorough entertainer.”
There has been a constant dispute over the greatest band of all time, which is your favourite band of all time?
JOEY: “As far as rock his concerned, my top five rock bands of all time are Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, U2 and The Who. But this is just my personal opinion. I think out of the five The Who are the greatest band of all time, they typified England as a country and grasped it with both hands. They had a great band and produced great music for the nation.”
When you were growing up in your late teens, what was the sort of music you listened to?
MIKE: “I loved to listen to a wide variety of music, but particularly rock and heavy metal. I suppose growing up in the early late 80’s to early 90’s, I listened to AC/DC, Def Leppard who rock!, Metallica and Phil Collins with Genesis. These were just some of my favourite rock bands and idols. I was brought up on the proper stuff, and real music which seems to be dying out these days which is very unfortunate for the current generation.”
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