INDIERAGE : So how was the European tour ?
STARBOY : It was awesome. We were just around England, so it was not actually a European tour. People there really like to go see allot of bands, The crowds are really enthusiastic & enjoy it. It's almost like Canada. It's hit & miss.

INDIERAGE : Did you fly all your gear over to Europe, or did you rent what you needed when you got there ?
STARBOY : No. We just brought our guitars.

INDIERAGE : What was the coolest about going over there?
STARBOY : (a long pause)…. The gigs are really close. The longest drive was 2 and a half hours.

INDIERAGE : Was the band given tour support (money) or did you finance it on your own?
STARBOY : Well, we got a factor grant (from Canada) when we went there. Art grant. We had to bring a bit of our own money, but everything else (like hotels) was paid for.

INDIERAGE : How were the European audiences compared to Canada?
STARBOY : We did allot of shows with the band Pretty Boy Floyd, there like an old hair metal band from the eighties. Just one of the members is original. But, I was surprised by how many old school rockers there still are.
INDIERAGE :It sounds like Detroit
STARBOY : Ya, it was so 1987 those nights.

INDIERAGE : When you went over, did the audience know who Robin Black & The I.R.S. were, or did you have to start from scratch for this country?
STARBOY : A little bit. Some people knew who we were. The album had just come out there. The internet was the reason for people knowing about us in Europe.

INDIERAGE :How many people did you take over with you on the crew altogether?
STARBOY :None, Just our manager. They had a crew there already at the record company.

INDIERAGE : Were there any unsuspecting problems on the tour?
STARBOY :No, none at all. It went smoother than any tour we have ever done. The crew were really pro & had it together. All really great guys.

INDIERAGE : I saw you again in Toronto at Lee's Palace a month ago (Jan 2003), a great show. Lots of pyro & shit, so of course this leads me to my next question considering the recent tragedy with the' Great White' pyro fire that just happened a week ago. A freak accident? what is your say on this?
STARBOY :Well it is & it isn't, you know. I don't think it was that much of a freak accident. As far as I know, I heard they were using home made stuff. If you don't do it pro, then it isn't going to happen, right? Plus the club they were in was all wood & stuff. I mean, we have set clubs on fire before. It was contained but pyro is dangerous. You just got to be prepared for it.
INDIERAGE : So your comfortable with your use of pyro, right?
STARBOY : Yah, but I think pyro is going to be out for the next little while after that all happened. I'm sick of using pyro.
INDIERAGE : But it's cool
STARBOY : It's cool but I don't think it is that exciting anymore. I think we're a good enough band that we put on a good show, that looks good anyways. There is other things you can do besides pyro. I would rather spent the money on renting better lights & stuff. It was neat for a while cause nobody was doing it but everyone uses pyro now.

INDIERAGE : But it is still cool to see as a fan, as opposed to yourself who see's it every night.
STARBOY :Yah, it is kinda exciting to see but, especially in small clubs, I really hate it, just because once the pyro goes off, all the smoke makes it hard to breathe & it's really gross. I've almost puked on stage because of it.

INDIERAGE : What advice can you offer to up & coming bands to help them not get eaten by the system?
STARBOY :        I don't really know. I just think that if you want to make a living in music, you got to be prepared to sell your soul a little bit. Everybody's got musical integrity but… I mean, the worst thing for a young band to do is to think they know everything & not willing to compromise at all.
Regardless of what people think, the corporate music business are not just out to use you. It is a money thing but you gain corporate support because they can make money off of you. It is more like a 'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' kind of thing.
       Allot of the people we work with (publishing company etc.) give us advice. They offer suggestions but they don't try to force a change on you. These industry people have worked with tonnes of bands & they just want to give suggestions that will help you make it better than it already is.

INDIERAGE : Ya, it seems everyone wants to bash the industry but it is cool to hear a working version.
STARBOY : If someone is telling you, you have to do this or that, well that's bad, but we have never run into that

INDIERAGE : : most bands don't really think about how important publishing is as a source of there career income. What do you think is a fair publishing deal & have you been taken on this issue?
STARBOY : I don't know allot about it but our deal is pretty good. I think the publisher gets 25%. We as a band split the other 75% five ways. You can choose to not give your publishing rights away, but they pay for the record, you know, they have given us money to keep the ball rolling, you know what I mean?
INDIERAGE : They are responsible for collecting the money for you too, right?
STARBOY : Exactly… They take their 25%, but they help sooo much, people argue this but…. Would you rather have 100% of nothing or 75% of something? We're lucky enough too that our publishing company really believes in us cause we're not a huge money making band right now

INDIERAGE : But come 20 years from now, your song could still be getting airplay right?
STARBOY : Exactly, they see the big picture. The head of EMI publishing, before he even signed us to a deal for 6 months, he would come down to the rehearsal space listening to us play & give us pointers. We'd have a beer & talk about the industry & stuff like that. It shows that they believe in nurturing their artists which I think is important.

INDIERAGE : What are your plans for this coming year?
STARBOY : I think we're going to be doing another record. If I have timeI might do some solo stuff.

INDIERAGE : Is doing solo stuff something your really interest in or?
STARBOY :Oh I just do that for fun. Robin Black & the I.R.S. is my main objective right now.

INDIERAGE : If you could make up an ALLSTAR band (dead or alive) who would you include?Sorry to put you on the spot.
STARBOY : (long pause)… ooh God…..(LongPause)
INDIERAGE : who would sing?
STARBOY : I would want to sing but I don't know who would back me up… John Lennon on guitar…….. Roger Taylor from Queen on drums….. This is really hard…..

INDIERAGE : well, we'll just leave it at that… Any last words or advice to the family here at INDIERAGE ?
STARBOY : No matter what happens, If you play music, never stop, even if your at your lowest point. You always have music, even if it is just playing acoustic guitar in your bedroom. If I was stranded on a desert Island & could only choose one thing, it would be an acoustic guitar.

INDIERAGE : OK thanks allot for doing the interview.
STARBOY :OK Thanks man.

To check out Star Boy online, visit our links page to find Robin Black & The Intergalactic Rock Stars.