Birmingham Academy 16/03/02
Jen:What should people who have never been to a Halo gig before expect at one of your live gigs?
Steve: They should expect some classic rock moments throughout the set
Graeme: They should expect some serious rock and roll, thats what they should expect *laughs*
Jim: They should also expect to come along and teach their livers a lesson, thats quite a big part of the Halo sound at the moment. *laughs*
Graeme: Yeah it's a real liverless sound *laughs*
Jen:What for you is the best thing about performing live?
Steve: Crowd reaction, people enjoying what you do, and we get a buzz out of playing even though we play every night, its different every night. Oh and the blatant alcoholism *Laughs*
Graeme: *laughs* Free beer!
Jim:I think it's one of the biggest buzzes you can get, performing onstage, throwing yourself about looking like a twat and people love it!
Jen:What for you is the best and most memorable gig you have ever played?
Graeme: They just get better and better really at the moment, like people are starting to come to see us
Jen: like me! *laughs*
Graeme: *laughs* yeah like you! Yeah, so the more people who come to see us, the more fun it is obviously for us
Steve: We feed off the crowd quite a lot, and they feed off us
Jim: In terms of memorable gigs though, I can't really single one out! There was the christmas party in Bristol with The Cooper "tamborine hating" Clause,*laughs* which was really wicked, then the Scala with Jimmy Eat World, then Liverpool on the first date of this tour.
Steve:All of the ones on this tour's been wicked though, as Graeme said they just keep getting better and better
Jen: What about the worst gig? Anything you remember as being really awful?
Steve: At the Monarch a while ago, I got electrocuted while onstage, which was harsh....
Jim:Yeah, at the Monarch we were singing, and Steves lip touched the mic, and it shorted half the P.A so all the monitors went, and Steve fell over and we thought he was just spazzing about on the floor, then we waited until the end of the song and he didnt get up, and we stopped laughing and realised he was in a bit of bother...
Jen: Most bands tend to have nicknames for each other, like the spice girls had nick names, what are yours?
Steve: We have rock names *laughs*
Graeme: *laughs* SteveEnema
Steve: Iainvincible, Graeme turismo and Jimpossible *laughs*
Jen: Who came up with them?
Jim: everyone did and they change at random depending on the previous nights events *laughs*
Graeme: We were going to get them changed by deed poll when we were quite drunk but fortunately we didn't.
Steve: Iains nickname for this tour is "Sicknote"
All:*laugh*
Jen: Why, or don't I want to know....
Steve: We played a gig in Leeds and we had to play for the first time and only time as a three piece which was really strange
Graeme: It was really weird
Jim: We didn't even get to rehearse!
Graeme: We didn't get a soundcheck, my amp blew up the night before, it was literally gung ho!
Jen:What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Steve: The thing about embarrassing moments is that I never really remember them if you know what I mean, I think I kind of deliberately block them out *laughs*
Graeme: I had one from the last tour, I was very drunk obviously, and I don't know how I got there but i was being shown back to my room, in my boxers by the hotel porter in the middle of the night *laughs*
Jim: The most embarrassing things usually get blocked out, or they're that embarrassing you can't tell them or you'll get killed
Jen:Who writes the lyrics in the band?
Graeme:Me
Jen:Would you ever consider writing material for another band or would you say what you write is too personal for you?
Graeme: I don't know if I could write for another a band, I mean if I had a song I didn't want to use for this band and someone else wanted to use it then I'd probably be alright with that, but i don't think I could write a song with someone else in mind.
Jen:What is your favourite song of yours?
Steve: I think we've all got different favourites, mine are from the album, " Here I Am" and "Perfectly Still".
Graeme: Those would be my two as well.
Steve: Which noone's heard much really.
Jen: I was just thinking that actually...
Graeme: *Laughs* They're good.
Steve: Along with Sanctimonious, which is the next single which is released on May 13th.
Jim: Well that rules me out from saying my favourite song then... , right....I'll have "Cracked"
Jen:I noticed the other day that there seems to be a theme through your songs? Either burning things as in "Incinerator" lyrics like "burned myself alive for you" or oral sex like "Vampire In The Front Row"? Also with word symbolism, flames and fire also mean sex. So, what do you have to say about it? or are you guilty? *laughs*
Graeme: *laughs* Guilty as charged, your honour!
Jen:If you were to release a cover version, what would it be ?
Graeme:The Littlest Hobo theme tune
Jim: The B-side would be button moon *laughs* and the c-side would be "Let's Kill Music" (Cooper Temple Clause song)
Jen:What is your opinion on programmes like Pop idol and popstars?
Steve: I think it makes great television but extremely bad music.
Jim: I actually find them really insulting. They have mass appeal which is all well and good but it just takes the piss.
Jen: I take it you're not going to be buying Will Young's single then....
Graeme: *laughs*no
Jim: I do actually want Gareth and Will together so I can wear them as gloves, like meat gloves.
Graeme: I reckon it's a really good idea, becuase you get to watch the really bad ones. It's wicked for the first couple of weeks with the really bad ones.
Jen:What is the new album called and when is it released?
Graeme: It's called "Perfectly Still" and it's being released in roughly a couple of months, we don't have a set date yet
Jen:Random question: What do you prefer, chinese or indian food?
All: Indian
Jen:If you weren't in the band, what do you think you would be doing,apart from trying to get into a band?
Steve: I'd be on the dole, doing as little as possible
Graeme: I'd being trying to do a college course, so I wouldn't have to get a proper job.
Jen:How long were you together before you got a record contract?
Graeme:We were together for roughly 8-9 months before we got publishing, then a further four months before we got signed.
Jen: Is that something you'd like to repeat or not?
Steve: Well i'd definitely prefer not to do it again as if we have to it means we've been dropped *laughs*
Jen: *laughs*, I mean, as in, was it fun or was it hell?
Steve: Well really its the same as it is now, playing and getting people to like us, same thing
Graeme: Its more difficult in front of all the record industry types though, all watching you and they just don't clap either.
Jim: Thye literally never give you any feedback, you finish a song and theres all these whispers at the back
Graeme: and scribbling *laughs*
Steve: and creaking of doors *laughs*
Jim: It's just like "was it good? was it bad?"
Jen:Who came up with the name for the band? Any particular reason as to why you chose it?
Graeme: It was Jim who came up with it
Jim: I came up with it ages ago, I had a dream where i created a new games console, and the first game to be released was this futuristic planet-eden type game, called Halo. I just thought it was a really cool name for a band
Graeme: Thats actually pretty much done now really isnt it!*laughs*
Jen: There are actually other bands called Halo aren't there?
Jim: *laughs* yeah theres loads!
Jen: There are always people on the message board saying " is this their album" becuase theres albums by other bands called Halo.
Jim: There was a "Halo" album reviewed in Metal Hammer a while ago... theres a welsh girlband i think called Halo as well! Then there's loads of american goth bands called Halo *laughs*
Graeme: Its crap though isn't it, you choose yourself a name....*laughs* then you find out like 5 other bands have it!
Jen: So do you reckon you'll have to change it then?
All: no *laughs*
Steve: We'll make them change it.
Jim: *laughs* We'll probably have to get a few people whacked.
Jen:Random question, Jim i think you answered this before on the message boards:what would you do if you were of the opposite sex for the day?
Jim *laughs* I really would just stay in and play with myself, I have no qualms about that whatsoever. I'm pretty curious about what that feels like *laughs*
Graeme: *laughs* I'd go and have as much lesbian sex as i possibly could *laughs*
Jen: I think most blokes would!
Graeme: *laughs* yep!
Jen: I don't know what I would do if i was a bloke for the day...probably the same *laughs*
Jim: *laughs* (girly voice) "wow whats this? what does it do?oh my god?!? yes!" *laughs*
Jen: also see how much I could drink without falling over *laughs*
Jim: *laughs* so if we ply you with vodka all night, and then manage to convince you you are actually a bloke, then we could film it! new video! *laughs*
Jen:Graeme would you say there is any sibling rivalry between you and Iain?
Graeme:*laughs* well no not really as I've always known I'm the far superior guitarist *laughs* I taught him everything he knows, as seeing as hes not here to defend himself that's just going to have to stand! *laughs* Apart from that, not at all, we're good friends.
Jen:Who in the band is loudest , personalitywise?
Graeme:*laughs* depends how much they've had to drink!
Jen: I'm noticing a theme.... *laughs* ok, when sober who's the loudest?
Graeme: *laughs* definitely not me! or Iain, so its between Steve and Jim.
Steve: *laughs* When sober I don't actually allow Graeme to speak *laughs* It's only becuase he's asked me very nicely I'm allowing him to speak to you now! *laughs* I wouldn't even let Iain turn up to this interview *laughs*
Jen: Where actually is he?
Graeme: He's on his way here I think.
Jen: Who in the band is the shyest?
Steve: Graeme is
Graeme: me!
Jen: Who's the laziest?
Steve: me!
Graeme:Steve or Iain.
Steve: *laughs* actually I think its Iain
Jen: *laughs* you're only saying that becuase he's not here to protect himself!
Jim: yeah lazy Iain!
Jen:Who's the ladies man? Who gets all the girls?
All: *silence*...... *laughs*
Jen: *laughs* noticing the silence, you're all sitting there thinking "me!" *laughs*
Jen:Would you say that being in the band has made personal relationships more difficult?
Graeme: Yeah is has as we don't get to see people that often, but apart from that...
Jim: It can be quite good though when you get to see them if you've had a wicked gig or something you can have an amazing night
Jen:Can you play any instruments other than those you play in the band?
Steve: yep. some.
Jim: I play guitar as well as drums
Graeme: Tamborine *laughs*
Jen:Do you take negative comments from critics to heart?
Graeme:*laughs* yeah, we get really upset then drink ourselves into a frenzy
Steve: then rant about it all night *laughs* about how they don't understand. We're misunderstood.
Jim: We're misconstrued.
Jen: I read one review that said you sound like a "latino boy band"! I was like "what??? latino? where'd they get that from!?!"
Jim: Yeah, yeah I read that! it was in time out.*laughs*They said something like it's gay but could get gayer!
Jen: They said something like "latino-esque vocals" *laughs*it's like where'd you get that from?
Graeme: Its weird! It's like they just make stuff up!
Steve: They just write dirge!
Jen: There was another one, on yahoo, that said that Graeme sounds like Ricky Martin.
Graeme: Ricky Martin?!?!?!
Jen: yep, they said your vocals sound like Ricky Martins!
Jim: Jesus Christ....
Graeme: I dont sound anything like Ricky Martin!!!!!!
Jim: That's just mean!!!!!! *laughs*
Jen: Talk about insulting....
Jen:What is the weirdest present you have ever received from a fan?
Steve: football boots! used! why they had them was strange...someone else gave me a bible....
Jim: sweets! we get sweets.
Jen: I've got sweets for you in my bag actually *Laughs*
Jim: I had a phone number stuck on my bass drum, after the northampton gig with a girls name and email address on, i dont know how it got there!
Jen: Oh i was at the Northampton gig.
All:*silence*
Jen: *laughs* It wasn't me!!!!!!
All:*laughs*
Jen:You always make an effort to meet fans, have you ever been made to feel uncomfortable by fans?
Jim: Manchester...
Steve: Yeah manchester was quite weird, Iain was holding my pint and I went to the toilet and vex red had just finished, so loads of people were coming out, and it was really mad! Loads of people came up and started grabbing me, like grabbing my hair and stuff! It was a bit freaky, everyone was really nice, but it was just odd!
Jim: *laughs* I lost three pints in that exchange!
Jen:Whats your favourite Alcoholic drink then, speaking of alcohol?
Jim: Vodka.
Graeme: yeah, we usually drink vodka
Jim: Although actually Baileys has been featuring quite a lot recently as well.
Jen:How would you feel if you got invited to appear on top of the pops? and would you do it? provided they didn't call you Ricky Martin... *laughs*
Jim: Yeah definitley!
Steve: yeah, even though TOTP has a reputation for being uncool, *laughs* the fact is we're really cool so we'd make it cool *laughs*
Graeme: Rock the house...