Placebo: Dreams, Emotions & Love by Alexandra Ugalde - Mexico

Placebo 20 Anniversary - Interview with Old School fan Alexandra Ugalde from Mexico

by SusanneCk – Placebo Anyway

Placebo: Dreams, Emotions & Love

Placebo Anyway: When did you first listen to Placebo?

Alexandra Ugalde:  The first time I listened to them was in 1999 on MTV, the video was “Pure Morning”

Placebo Anyway: What was so special about the band for you to become a fan?

Alexandra Ugalde: When I heard "I know" for the first time, I felt the pain in Brian's voice, the melody is sad and beautiful, this song made me Placebo fan.

Placebo Anyway: How have you lived the last 20 years with the band and their music?

Alexandra Ugalde: They have been with me in every step of my life, have been faithful friends and mates, they gave me many joys, and in my sorrows, they gave me strong affection.

Placebo Anyway: You have been with the band from the beginning have you gone to all the concerts in your country? Some abroad? Do you have all their albums?

Alexandra Ugalde: No, I have not been to all the concerts in my country, but most of them, yes.

And once, I went to Texas to see them, but someone very important in my life needed me in my city, so I wasn't there.

Yes, I’ve got all their albums, but not all their singles, when I was younger I tried to have all their singles, but not anymore, why? Well… some of my friends (placebo fans) wanted their singles so I gave to them mine as a gift, I love my friends.

Placebo Anyway: Do you have any special collection? Vinyls, singles, dvd’s....?

Alexandra Ugalde: No, I don't have any special collection.

Placebo Anyway: Which song makes you feel closer to the band?

Alexandra Ugalde: It depends on my mood, when I was teenager maybe was "I know", maybe because it was THE song. In my 20's, probably was "My sweet prince" I was looking for 'my love', and now, (in this moment) I am more like "Then the Clouds will open up for Me"

Placebo Anyway: Do you see any difference between the fans from the beginning and the fans from nowadays?

Alexandra Ugalde: Oh yes!, I see more teenagers, some of them remind me of when I was like them, are full of energy and are more open to new music, the ‘old school fans” (we) miss the old songs and old bands, we have grown along with the group, but we are not the same kids, and Placebo neither want or need the same things.

Placebo Anyway: Is there a stereotypical Placebo fan?

Alexandra Ugalde: Hahaha, probably yes, but I don't know how to describe them because I'm one of them.

Placebo Anyway: What do you think about "Soulmates Never Die". Is this true?

Alexandra Ugalde: I think so, some people always get together, sooner or later.

Placebo Anyway: In your opinion, what unifies Placebo fans. What is the glue that puts them together?

Alexandra Ugalde: First, the music, then, we discover that we have common interest:  art, dreams, desires, sense of humor and more.

Placebo Anyway: How do you see the evolution of the band on a musical way?

Alexandra Ugalde: In my opinion, this evolution goes hand in hand with personal evolution, now  they have different priorities,  music and lyrics reflects their feelings.

Placebo Anyway: Do you think the inclusion of Steve Forrest gave the band somehting positve?

Alexandra Ugalde: 100% positive, he is full of joy.

Placebo Anyway: Which difference do you see in Brian when you look back and compare it with how he is nowadays?

Alexandra Ugalde: I see Brian mature, full of joy and fulfillment in his life.

Placebo Anyway: In 3 seconds 3 words about Brian, Stefan and Steve!

Alexandra Ugalde: Dreams,emotions and love

Placebo Anyway: 20 Years to go...what is your wish for the next 20 Placebo years?

Alexandra Ugalde: I wish Placebo will be together for long time and my "forever" with my soulmates.

Thank you for taking part in this interview! Alexandra Ugalde about Placebo by SusanneCk

Placebo Anyway

Brian Molko: Vinyl gives you a real connection to music

Brian Molko has told XFM he thinks vinyl records are by far the best way to experience music.

"It's the physicallity of it - which includes the size of it - and the interactiveness of it. I think because its a real object you feel a real connection to it," he explained to XFM's Jo Good.

"It's interactive in a way downloading music isn't because you actually have to put it on a turntable, listen to half of it and then get back up again and flip it over. Playing a vinyl record, there's a certain amount of commitment involved that you don't get from an MP3 playlist.

"Also I found with listening to downloads, often it can become a little bit like wallpaper - background music. The fact that you've actually put a record on makes you want to sit down and engage with it and only listen. Which is how I grew up consuming music and discovering music.

The Placebo frontman believes the size of it is important as it turns it into a piece of artwork - to which you can become more attached.

"It all boils down to being physically and emotionally engaged with the object itself which doesn't exist with downloads."

Listen to the interview here.


19th April 2013
Sources: http://www.xfm.co.uk

Placebo became part of my life - Interview with Stefanie Leßmeister from Germany

Placebo 20 Anniversary - Interview for the Middle School fan Stefanie Leßmeister from Germany

by SusanneCk – Placebo Anyway

Stefan Malzkorn 2001

Placebo Anyway: When did you first listen to Placebo?  Did you start with the BMM album?

Stefanie Leßmeister:The first time I listened to Placebo was in january 2001,funny but true on David Bowie´s birthday. If that was not a sign ;)  I really became fan cause of the BMM. It was something completely different to the other music I listen to.

Placebo Anyway: What was so special about the band for you to become a fan?

Stefanie Leßmeister: It was the special charisma of the whole band as much as the music that is so unique and changing from record to record. It just didn´t let me go again.

For me it is always very important that not just the music is good I also need a connection/sympathy for the people behind  the music.

Stefan Malzkorn 2001

Placebo Anyway: Which difference you see in the band between 2000 and 2014?

Stefanie Leßmeister: I think today they are more settled, have a better private life and seem to be happier people in general (at least most of the time). Which is a great thing...it still breaks my heart to see certain older videos with drug addicted band...unhappy and lost.

Placebo Anyway: How have you lived the years from 2000 on with the band and their music?

Stefanie Leßmeister: I was always a music addicted. Put on a CD is the first thing after waking up and the last before going to sleep. So they accompanied me over all that time. It was the only band that I always could listen too and that became part of my life.

Placebo Anyway: Have you been to the gigs of the LLL tour 2013? Where have you been and what is your impresion about the show or shows you have been?

Stefanie Leßmeister: I was in Frankfurt in November.It was cool to be in the first row. Unfortunately in front of huge boxes, so everytime Steve played drums it felt like he is kicking in my chest. But it was a good pain XD. Cause of my position I just saw Stef and Brian. But to see Brian sit there and smoke and smile while Stef was doing the pantomime thing was priceless!

And a nice security guy gave my fan presents to the band (so i hope). The show itself was great as always. Just that curtain was so annoying. I know what it was meant for...but I had the impression someone forgot to put it back up between the songs...

Frankfurt 2013

Placebo Anyway: Have you gone to all the concerts in your country? Some abroad? Which one are your favourite ones: festivals or venues?

Stefanie Leßmeister: Cause of a travel sickness I can´t reach all concerts but I saw at least one of each tour to an album. I prefer venues,t hey are more intimate and the sound is better.

Placebo Anyway: What about your Placebo CD’s? Do you have all their albums? Any special collection? Vinyls, singles, dvd’s....?

Stefanie Leßmeister: Uhm....I would have to count everything but I have tons of stuff. Of course all albums, nearly all singles (some are hard to get after all the years), DVDs, posters, some vinyl and the special edition of the first album. Also the signed Deluxe Box to BFTS and two Deluxe Editions of LLL. And all collaborations they or Brian are making. Hotel Persona and Steve Hewitts new projects as well.

Placebo Anyway: Choose three songs from the area 2000 to 2014 which makes you feel closer to the band?

Stefanie Leßmeister: Slave to the wage (cause it was the first one and I love the meaning)

Allergic

Bright lights

Placebo Anyway: Do you see any difference between the fans from 2000 and the fans from nowadays?

Stefanie Leßmeister: Mh on my first concert in 2003 it was not that mixed up as it is now I think.

Placebo Anyway: Is there a stereotypical Placebo fan?

Stefanie Leßmeister:  I think not. People are different, so are the Placebo fans. Would be boring if we were all the same ;)

Frankfurt 2013

Placebo Anyway: What do you think about "Soulmates Never Die". Is this true?

Stefanie Leßmeister:  Definetely. There are people or in that case a band that you have a special connection with.That is part of your life and if that part would go missing you wouldn´t be the same person anymore.

Placebo Anyway: In your opinion, what unifies Placebo fans. What is the glue that puts them together?

Stefanie Leßmeister: I think it has to do a lot with the effect the band has on the fans, that puts us together, it really feels like a big familiar community.

Placebo Anyway: How do you see the evolution of the band on a musical way?

Stefanie Leßmeister:  Over the years they tried out a lot which is a great thing, especially to use all the facets of Brians voice and use different instruments and tunings.

Frankfurt 2013

Placebo Anyway: Do you think the inclusion of Steve Forrest gave the band somehting positve?

Stefanie Leßmeister: Of course, he is a sunshine. Nevertheless, I miss Mr. Hewitt and was not happy to hear he leaves but being in a band is also like a relationship with the bandmates...so if it doesn´t work anymore decisions have to be made. Better than a split of the whole band...

Placebo Anyway: Do you have a Placebo favourite member? Brian, Stef, Steve…and why?

Stefanie Leßmeister:  Of course Brian, he´s got a very interesting personality and all the changes he made through in all the years. I saw him in 2001 and I knew that is my favourite singer now!

Placebo Anyway: Which difference do you see in Brian when you look back and compare it with how he is nowadays?

Stefanie Leßmeister: He seems happier and being a dad is also a great thing for him. I am just worried about his health at the moment..he seems to deal with depressive episodes. Hope he will feel better soon and stop to run himself down according to his lyric writing or whatever. People change, they develop and they get older.That is normal.

Placebo Anyway: In 3 seconds 3 words about Brian, Stefan and Steve!

Stefanie Leßmeister:  Voice, profound, sunshine

Placebo Anyway: 20 Years to go...what is your wish for the next 20 Placebo years?

Stefanie Leßmeister: in general it is good as it is. Just the actual marketing stuff annoys me and it would be awesome if they also play smaller venues again.

Thank your for taking part in this interview! J

Placebo Anyway with Stefanie Leßmeister from Germany. Interview by SusanneCk