Hit Parader: It often seems that there are dual meanings- or even hidden 
meanings- behind Bush's album title. Is that true with Golden State?

Gavin Rossdale: Well. I imagine it can be interpreted any number or ways if 
you'd like. The fact is that we did write this entire album in a beautiful, 
hill-top location in Los Angeles. It was the kind of place where you could 
look out at night and almost feel like you were sitting atop the world. It 
was really quite magical almost ethereal. Since ?California is the Golden 
State, then the title does make reference to where much of the creative 
process for the album took place. But there's also a state of mind that is 
golden, where you see things clearly and are at peace with yourself and your 
surroundings. That is truly a golden state.

HP: Would you say that Bush is in a golden state of mind these days?

GR: It has been an interesting time for us. We feel as if we have been 
handed a very exciting opportunity in our career with this album. We have 
gone from what was basically an independent label to one of the most 
powerful record companies around. In many ways what we accomplished earlier 
in our career was quite amazing due to the fact that we always had somewhat 
limited resources behind us. Now there seem to be limitless resources. Our 
previous album, The Science of Things, seemed to move rather quietly through 
the music work, and we're anxious to make a bit more noise with Golden 
State.

HP: Tell us more about the creative process that went into this album.

GR: As I mentioned. I wrote most of these songs over about a six week period 
in Los Angeles. At that point I got together with the rest of the band and 
we started working on finishing up those songs. I tend to write a lot of 
them to a reggae beat- it's just the way I set up the drum machine when I'm 
writing. That's the way I beat many of those songs in my head. But I know 
once we get them into a band environment,  things are going to change quite 
racially. Nigel will bring a heavier guitar sound into the songs, and Dave 
and Robin will bring out elements that I hadn't even imagined. It's very 
much a collaborative effort.

HP: Does it ever bother you to have your creations turned inside-out that 
way?

GR: That's what being in a band is all about. If I wanted to control 
everything and have total control of every note on the album, then I would 
just make a different kind of record. Maybe all the songs would keep their 
reggae feel to them, or go in an en tirely different direction. I don't 
know. But that wouldn't be Bush. I believe that everyone else in the band 
else in the band feels the same way. They have to make compromises too. 
They're most of the material is already written. They have the freedom to do 
a lot with that material, by it's still perhaps a somewhat limited creative 
process. But that's what makes this band work- it is very much a team.

HP: The rock world has changed a great deal since Bush first came along. How 
do you feel you fit into the 2001 hard rock scene?

GR: I really don't know- but I imagine we'll bund out as we get more and 
more response to this album. I am quote excited about music these days, and 
about the role we can play in the current rock environment. There ar e some 
excellent bands out there, ranging from some very obscure things- like 
Icelandic folk music- that I particularly enjoy, to major bands like Tool 
and the Deftones that I find very entertaining. The new Tool album is just 
incredible-what an amazing band.

HP: What are Bush's tour plans for the year ahead?

GR: We're very mush looking forward to getting out there and playing 
everywhere. There is nothing quite like the sensation of being on stage and 
hearing thousands of voices joining together to sing along to one of your 
songs. We now have four albums worth of material from which we van construct 
a stage set, and while I so occasionally enjoy presenting some of our 
obscure tunes, I know what the fans want to hear... and I know it's our job 
to give those songs to them.

HP: Unlike many of today's performers, it always seems like you enjoy being 
in the public eye and being a "rock star"- is it still as much fun as it's 
always been?

GR:It depends on how you mean that. I've never been one to cause mush of a 
ruckus and I've also never been much of a carouser. Much of the attention 
that's been focused upon me has been through the media. That has been their 
choice, and I certainly have little problem with it. In fact, it seems to me 
that Bush has maintained a very low profile in the media over the last year 
or so. Up until names being mentioned anywhere. That's good in that it 
provides something of a fresh start. Perhaps people are wondering where 
we've been and what we've been up to. Now they have the answer.

By Andy Secher