Much Music Interview--February 12th, 1999
(Cheering and Applause)
Rachel: SILVERCHAIR, DANIEL, BEN, CHRIS. HOW IS IT GOING, GUYS?
GOOD, THANKS.
Rachel: YOU HAPPY TO BE HERE?
YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
Rachel: YOU JUST GOT IN FROM PARIS. YOU GOT A BRAND-NEW ALBUM COMING OUT.
WHEN IS IT COMING OUT, IN MARCH?
I THINK THE 16th OF MARCH.
Rachel: THIS IS WHAT LOOKS LIKE, "BEYOND BALLROOM." IT'S YOUR THIRD ALBUM. I GOT
AN ADVANCED COPY; I HAD A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO IT. LYRICALLY, YOUR OTHER
ALBUMS WERE DEALING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ANGER AND SOME ISSUES, BUT THIS ONE,
IT REALLY GOES TO A LOT MORE EMOTIONAL PLACES THAN YOU'RE USED TO GOING
BEFORE. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
UHMM, IT'S JUST... (Cheering) ...BASICALLY FOCUSES ON THINGS THAT I WAS DEALING
WITH AT THE TIME OF WRITING THE ALBUM. THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS WERE MORE BASED
ON FEELINGS PROJECTED TOWARDS OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND SUBCULTURES,
BUT THIS IS MORE TO DO WITH MYSELF.
Rachel: A LOT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE GOES INTO THIS ONE, A LOT MORE PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES?
YEAH. THAT WAS ALL WRITTEN IN A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
Rachel: WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAD A CHANCE -- LIKE, YOU WERE ACTUALLY
SPECIFICALLY WRITING DURING THIS PERIOD, WERE YOU NOT?
YEAH.
Rachel: DID YOU FIND THAT EASIER, AN EASIER WAY TO APPROACH THE ALBUM, OR WAS
IT JUST DIFFERENT?
I THINK IT WAS JUST DIFFERENT. IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH IT, YEAH.
Rachel: SOME OF THE SONGS TALK ABOUT SOME REALLY SERIOUS ISSUES, YOU KNOW.
WHERE WERE YOU COMING FROM? WHAT ISSUES DO YOU FIND THAT ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT MAKE AN INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE?
I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO -- WITH SONGS AND POETRY OR ANY ART FORM, IT'S
JUST IMPORTANT TO EXPRESS YOURSELF HONESTLY AND TO NOT CENSOR YOURSELF.
Rachel: LIKE "ANA'S SONG."
EXACTLY. IT'S ABOUT -- JUST PRETTY MUCH ALL THE SONGS DEAL WITH
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES AND MENTAL DIFFICULTIES.
Rachel: DO YOU HAVE MENTAL DIFFICULTIES? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
OKAY. (Laughter)
Rachel: I'M JUST KIDDING -- UH-OH. DID YOU DROP YOUR MIKE? NOW, DO YOU FIND THAT
YOUR WRITING IS NOT SO GUARDED NOW THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ISSUES
THAT MAYBE YOU KIND OF COULDN'T EXPRESS TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE ON YOUR OTHER
TWO ALBUMS?
I THINK WITH THE OTHER TWO ALBUMS, I HAD TO REALLY -- I DIDN'T REALLY FEEL THE
SAME WAY. I JUST FELT ANGRY AT PEOPLE. IN THIS ALBUM, I FOCUSED MORE ON
MYSELF.
Rachel: MORE AN INTROSPECTIVE KIND OF...
YEAH.
Rachel: ...KIND OF WRITING. MUSICALLY, THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING ALBUM. WHAT
MADE YOU GUYS GO FROM, LIKE, STRINGS TO HARD-CORE PUNK TO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S REALLY GOOD, BUT WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO, LIKE,
USE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS?
I DON'T KNOW. I SUPPOSE IT'S JUST A WHOLE MATTER OF A LOT OF THINGS CHANGING,
AND I SUPPOSE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN JUST THE STANDARD
OLD ROCK THING, LIKE "FROGSTOMP" AND "FREAK SHOW."
Rachel: "FREAK SHOW" AND "FROGSTOMP," THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE SIMILAR THAN
THIS ONE IS. THIS ONE REALLY BRANCHES OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS
LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW THAT MAYBE YOUR FANS WOULD BE CURIOUS OR CONFUSED
OR... ABOUT. (Laughing)
WE ALL HAVE KIND OF DIFFERENT MUSICAL TASTES. THEY'RE ALL -- LIKE CHRIS KIND OF
LIKES HIS BLUES AND HIS JAZZ. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO SOME LIKE ELECTRONICA
STUFF.
Rachel: REALLY?
NOT HEADACHE ELECTRONICA, LIKE THE BEAT, YOU KNOW, THE COOL STUFF.
Rachel: LIKE DRUM AND BASS.
YEAH. DANNY'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF HARD CORE PUNK. IT'S ALL PRETTY DIFFERENT.
Rachel: I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE ELECTRONICA WORK ITS WAY INTO THE ALBUM YET,
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE PUNK. I REALLY LIKE THAT ONE -- WHAT'S THAT REALLY
HARD-CORE PUNK SONG?
"SATIN SHEETS."
Rachel: THAT'S IT. WHERE DO YOU GUYS THINK OF WHERE POP MUSIC IS GOING RIGHT
NOW, WITH THE BACKSTREET BOYS AND 'N SYNC? (Laughter) IT'S DOMINATING.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT. (Laughter)
I DON'T KNOW. I SUPPOSE IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF PIE COMPARED TO US.
Rachel: SO YOU'RE NOT EVEN IN THE SAME --
NO. I SUPPOSE IF YOU'RE GONNA CATEGORIZE THINGS, I THINK WE DON'T COME UNDER
THAT KIND OF CATEGORY.
I DO.
YOU DO?
YEAH. I THINK WE SHOULD APPEAL TO EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC, SO WE'RE KIND OF
BRANCHING OUT. WE'RE GONNA START SOME MORE POP-BASED STUFF SOON.
Rachel: REALLY?
YEAH.
Rachel: ARE YOU GOING TO GET SOME CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE MOVES?
YEAH, THREE-PART HARMONIES. (Laughter)
CHRIS AND I ARE GOING TO START SINGING, SOME REALLY HARD STUFF. REALLY NICE.
Rachel: WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT. CAN WE GET AN EXCLUSIVE ON THAT?
NO. (Laughter)
Rachel: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
HEY. I WAS WONDERING HOW DID YOU GUYS HOOK UP WITH DAVID HELFGOTT, THE
PIANIST ON "EMOTION SICKNESS." (Laughter)
BASICALLY WHEN I WAS DESCRIBING THE PART TO LARRY, WHO WROTE THE PART, I
WAS DESCRIBING A VERY UNSETTLING MANIC KIND OF DISCORDANT PIANO PART; AND
DAVID HELFGOTT SEEMED LIKE JUST THE PERFECT GUY BECAUSE HE WAS AUSTRALIAN
AND BECAUSE HE'D STARTED VERY YOUNG AND KIND OF FITTED MUSICALLY AND
LYRICALLY WITH THE SONG. SO, YEAH, HE JUST FITTED THE ROLE.
RIGHT.
Rachel: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, DAVID HELFGOTT IS THE INSPIRATION
FOR THE MOVIE "SHINE," WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT?
I HAVEN'T. I'VE SEEN THE SHORTS.
Rachel: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?
NO.
Rachel: OSCAR AWARD-WINNING FILM.
I'VE SEEN THE MOVIE.
Rachel: DID YOU LIKE IT?
YEAH, IT WAS EXCELLENT.
Rachel: YOU GUYS ARE... (Laughter) WHAT WAS THAT? I DON'T KNOW. YOU GUYS ARE
LIKE AN OUT-AND-OUT ROCK BAND. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO ELECTRONICA,
BUT YOU GUYS ARE PROUD OF BEING A, YOU KNOW, ROCK BAND. THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE -- I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION ANY NAMES; THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT THEY
WON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING IF IT'S GOT GUITARS IN IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
LIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ROCK 'N' ROLL? DO YOU THINK IT'S IN A DOWN PERIOD
RIGHT NOW?
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS IN A BIT OF SLUMP MAYBE A YEAR AGO OR SO, BUT I THINK IT'S ON
ITS WAY BACK.
Rachel: IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS, RIGHT?
KISS.
Rachel: IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT. DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO CRAWL ITS WAY BACK OUT
OF THE TRENCHES?
YEAH, IT'S COMING.
Rachel: IT'S ON ITS WAY.
SEMI GLAM'S GOING TO COME BACK; NOT LIKE THE '80s AND STUFF. SEMI, LIKE A FEW
SPARKLES HERE AND THERE.
Rachel: IS THAT A GOOD THING?
I GUESS FOR THE LIVE SHOWS, YEAH, A FEW MORE PYROS.
Rachel: ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO GET SOME PYROS?
NO, NOT PYROS, I DON'T THINK.
Rachel: COME ON! OKAY, WELL, YOU'VE GOT A BRAND-NEW VIDEO. WE JUST GOT IT IN.
IT'S LIKE SLIPPED INTO THE TAPE MACHINE RIGHT NOW. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE
TO LOOK AT IT. IT'S CALLED "ANTHEM FOR THE YEAR 2000." WHAT INSPIRED THIS SONG?
LYRICALLY, IT'S BASED ON YOUTH REBELLION AGAINST A POLITICAL PARTY IN
AUSTRALIA WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND TRYING
TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING ON THE STREETS PAST CERTAIN TIMES AT
NIGHT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND IT'S JUST BASICALLY STICKING UP FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. AND, MUSICALLY, WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE A STADIUM ROCK SONG,
JUST A BIG, GRAND ROCK PRODUCTION.
Rachel: THAT'S GOOD. ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE A ROCK OPERA NEXT?
YEP.
Rachel: LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. DANCE MOVES, ROCK OPERA. WHY DON'T WE GO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE BRAND-NEW VIDEO? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN
ABOUT THE VIDEO BEFORE WE LOOK AT IT, WHAT THE SORT OF THEMES ARE?
WELL, THE ROOM THAT WE'RE KIND OF PLAYING IN IS LIKE AN OLD WAREHOUSE THAT
WAS JUST OLD MACHINES FROM ABOUT THE 1930s FOR MAKING TRAINS AND STUFF; AND
THE RIOT SCENE WAS KIND OF MADE WITH PEOPLE THAT WE INVITED FROM ANYWHERE
IN AUSTRALIA OR -- TO COME AND TAKE PART IN OUR VIDEO.
NO, IT WASN'T. IT WAS A REAL RIOT.
SORRY.
Rachel: IT WASN'T A STAGED RIOT; IT WAS A REAL RIOT, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE GOT
OUTSIDE. THERE'S ALMOST A RIOT THERE. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT? WE'RE
GOING TO BE BACK AFTER WE SEE "ANTHEM FOR THE YEAR 2000," BRAND-NEW
SILVERCHAIR ON Much, GO WITH THE FLOW. (Cheering and Applause) (Video Played)
(COMMERCIAL) (Cheering and Applause)
Rachel: WELCOME BACK. IT'S VERY LOUD IN HERE. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE LOVING
SILVERCHAIR RIGHT NOW. JUST SAW YOUR BRAND-NEW VIDEO. THAT WAS A PRETTY
INTERESTING RIOT SCENE THERE. YEAH, I CAN SEE THE KIDS ARE RIOTING. WHAT WE
WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT YOUR NOTORIETY HERE, LIKE YOU SAY
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE YOU GO. IT HAPPENS SORT OF WHEN YOU HIT
NORTH AMERICA AND STUFF. THE FAME, THE SPOTLIGHT, WHAT ARE THE UPS AND
DOWNS OF THAT NOW, 'CAUSE YOU'VE REALLY HAD A TASTE OF IT. YOU'VE REALLY HAD
A TASTE OF IT.
CHRIS? (Laughter) YOU GO, PLEASE.
Rachel: GIVE US THE UPSIDE.
I SUPPOSE IT JUST ALLOWS YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND PLAY TO MORE PEOPLE
BECAUSE I SUPPOSE THE POSITION THAT IT PUTS YOU IN, THERE'S A LOT MORE LEEWAY
FOR THINGS.
Rachel: COME ON! UPSIDE TO THE FAME, UPSIDE TO THE SPOTLIGHT.
JUST PLAYING MUSIC TO PEOPLE THAT LIKE IT. IT'S GOOD.
Rachel: YOU MUST HAVE HAD SOME GOOD -- IT MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU SOME GOOD
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO DO, TRAVEL.
THE TRAVEL ISN'T REALLY, LIKE, THE KIND OF TRAVEL THAT YOU WANT TO DO THOUGH.
SO IT'S KIND OF -- LIKE, IF YOU GO LIKE TO A COUNTRY, YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE
SIGHTS. YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO SIT IN A HOTEL ROOM IN A BLACK BOX.
Rachel: YEAH. WHAT ABOUT -- SO IS THAT ONE OF THE DOWN SIDES THEN?
YEAH.
Rachel: OTHER DOWN SIDES?
"HURRY UP AND WAIT" IS A GOOD ONE. THAT'S PRETTY POPULAR.
Rachel: YEAH. I KNOW THAT ONE. DANIEL, DOWN SIDE?
NO DOWN SIDE.
Rachel: GOOD.
JUST ROCK. (Laughter) (Cheering)
Rachel: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHONE QUESTION RIGHT NOW. THERE'S GOT TO BE
SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO SILVERCHAIR.
Caller: HELLO.
Rachel: HI, HOW'S IT GOING?
Caller: GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
Rachel: GOOD. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK SILVERCHAIR?
Caller: I GUESS THIS ONE IS DIRECTED TO ALL THREE OF YOU GUYS. I WAS JUST
WONDERING, IF YOU WEREN'T IN A BAND, WHAT OTHER INTERESTS WOULD YOU BE
PURSUING?
SORRY?
Caller: NOTHING. (Laughter)
UHMM, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT CARS AND STUFF.
Rachel: WHAT KIND OF CARS?
FAST ONES.
Caller: ANYONE ELSE?
I LIKE SURFING A LOT. IT'S GOOD. (Laughter) I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE.
Rachel: HAVE YOU TRIED SNOWBOARDING? YOU'RE IN CANADA. YOU GOT THE WEATHER
FOR IT.
I HURT MY TAILBONE.
Rachel: SO DID I. I KNOW. WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN'T IN A ROCK
BAND?
UHMM, YEAH. (Laughter)
JUST SLEEP. I'M VERY TIRED. (Laughter)
Rachel: WE'LL GET YOU SOME MELATONIN AND SORT OUT YOUR TIME CLOCK BECAUSE
YOU JUST CAME FROM PARIS, RIGHT?
NO. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I DON'T NEED IT. I'M FINE. I'VE ADAPTED.
Rachel: WE'LL GET YOU SOME COFFEE.
I DON'T NEED THAT. (Laughter) I'M ALL RIGHT. I DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
Rachel: OKAY. THANKS, SARA. THANKS FOR CALLING IN. NOW WE'VE GOT AN AUDIENCE
QUESTION. WHO ARE WE GOING TO?
HI. I WAS JUST WONDERING, HAS THE ROCK 'N' ROLL LIFESTYLE LIVED UP TO
EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?
UHH... (Laughter) NO, IT'S KIND OF DIFFERENT. EVERYONE THINKS IT'S ALL -- IT'S ALL FUN
AND ALL FUN AND GAMES, BUT, LIKE, IT'S PRETTY -- I DON'T KNOW. IT'S HARD WORK. BUT
IT ALL PAYS OFF WHEN YOU GET TO PLAY LIVE SHOWS.
Rachel: IT'S A JOB.
YEAH.
Rachel: WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT. BUT YOU LOVE IT.
OH, WE DO, WITH A PASSION.
WE LOVE PLAYING.
WE LOVE COMING TO DO INTERVIEWS AT MuchMusic.
WE LOVE MuchMusic. (Laughter)
Rachel: WE HAVE A -- WE'RE ACTUALLY ON A SHOW RIGHT NOW CALLED "GO WITH THE
FLOW." IT'S AN INTERNET SHOW, AND WE'VE GOT AN ONLINE QUESTION RIGHT NOW,
SOMEONE ON LINE. WHAT IS THE QUESTION FROM THE COMPUTER? WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE A MONITOR. OKAY. "HEY, SILVERCHAIR! NOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TOURING
FOR SO LONG, DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE MISSED OUT ON ANY TEENAGE EXPERIENCES?"
THAT'S FROM BASEMENT 96.
IN A WAY, YES, BUT WE TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OF '98, OR BASICALLY ALL OF '98 JUST TO
GO AND DO THOSE KIND OF THINGS TO REFRESH OURSELVES FOR THIS ALBUM.
WE DIDN'T REALLY MISS MUCH, JUST MAYBE A COUPLE OF PARTIES AND A BIT OF
SCHOOL, BUT THAT WAS IT. NOTHING MAJOR.
Rachel: WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU WENT AND CHECKED OUT SOME CARS; YOU WENT
SURFING; YOU SLEPT. (Laughter) YOU MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE.
I DIDN'T JUST SLEEP.
Rachel: WHAT ELSE DID YOU DO? COME ON, DANIEL. COME ON!
WHEN I WOKE UP?
WATCHED TELEVISION.
Rachel: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WAKE UP?
PLAYED MUSIC.
Rachel: THAT'S IT?
YEAH. WELL, I HAD TO WRITE AN ALBUM. I HAD TO WRITE SOME BALLROOM DANCING.
Rachel: SOME NEON BALLROOM.
WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME TO BALLROOM DANCING. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT IT WAS AT THE AIRPORT.
Rachel: OH, REALLY?
YEAH. WAS IT --
SOMEONE THOUGHT IT WAS CALLED NEON BALLOON. (Laughter)
Rachel: THAT'S A REALLY LAME NAME. THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD. WHO GOT TO KEEP THE
SIGN? THAT'S THE THING RIGHT THERE.
YEAH.
Rachel: THEY ACTUALLY MADE A SIGN. WHO GOT TO KEEP IT?
IT'S ON TOUR, GETTING BROKEN.
IT GOT BROKEN.
Rachel: OH. ONE QUICK QUESTION. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME,
KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOW YOU'VE LIVED WITH EACH OTHER;
YOU'VE BEEN TOURING; YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THIS WORK. DO YOU FIND THAT
YOU'RE KIND OF GOING YOUR SEPARATE WAYS A LITTLE BIT? YOU'RE EXPLORING
DIFFERENT THINGS ON YOUR OWN?
YEAH, DEFINITELY YOU CAN START TO SEE EVERYBODY'S SOLO INTERESTS. (Crowd
chanting "Come Outside!") (Laughter)
Rachel: THEY WANT YOU TO GO OUTSIDE. WE GOTTA GET TO YOUR NEXT VIDEO. WE'RE
GOING TO SHOW "ABUSE ME." IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT,
THE FRIENDS SORT OF ISSUE? NO STRIFE?
NOT REALLY. WE ALL GET ALONG PRETTY WELL. SOMETIMES YOU NEED YOUR PERSONAL
SPACE. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YOU JUST GO AND CHILL OUT IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM, SO IT'S
COOL.
Rachel: GOOD. YOU'RE ON A PROMO TOUR RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
PLAYING SOME DATES COME MARCH. THE ALBUM COMES OUT MARCH 16th, YOU SAID.
MARCH 20th IN TORONTO AT THE WAREHOUSE. MARCH 21st... (Cheering) FOR THOSE OF
YOU NOT IN TORONTO, MARCH 21st THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN MONTREAL AT THE
SPECTRUM. ON THE 26th, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HEADING TO VANCOUVER. SO WE'RE
GOING TO GO CHECK OUT "ABUSE ME" RIGHT NOW FROM "FREAK SHOW." THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SUCH A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU GUYS. (Cheering and Applause)
