I think Placebo are a marmite band - Stacey Taylor about the Placebo UK/Irish tour & 20th Anniversary

Placebo tour 2015 & Placebo20 soulmate never dies interview

Interview by Susie Bosco, Diana E.T.Foghing, Mary Scott , Xenia Gerasimova and Zaryinta Molko – The Placebo Anyway Team  in colaboration with Stacey Taylor from  Aberdeen, Scotland  about the Placebo show in Aberdeen  (03/03/2015), all latetes news, the 20th anniversary and much more…
Layout: Susie Bosco 

Photo credits: by Stan bestmafia.com, Kevin Wells Life is better still @bigwhopperkevin / www.kevinwellsphoto.com

Our favourite band is on tour again. These days we are enjoying the biggest UK & Irish tour Placebo ever had.  Recently we could read what can the fans  expect from the gigs? The answer was: something more in touch with the band's roots. "We're playing in smaller venues than those we normally play in," says Brian, "to create a kind of intimate ambience. We recently played in small clubs around the United States, and while the tour wasn't financially successful, it boosted our confidence. It showed we could still pull off gigs like that!

Photo credits: Placebo World, connorwaiklezs, Liisavalo 

Placebo Anyway:  Hello Stacey!! . Lets start with our first question is.  How was the gig in Aberdeen? Did you get more in touch with the band’s roots in the smaller venues like Aberdeen’s Music Hall?

Stacey Taylor:  Hello!!!!  The gig was AMAZING!!!!!!!!  I have seen Placebo 3 times, and i think this was my most favourite time seeing them.  Seeing them in a smaller venue felt more intimate, and made you feel lucky to be so close to them.

Photos credits: aberdeengardening.co.uk & e-architect.co.uk

Placebo Anyway: Compared to the gigs in 2014 do you see any difference, for example the lighting?

Stacey Taylor:  I sadly didn’t see them in 2014, the last time I saw them was on their “Battle for the Sun” tour back in 2011.  Looking back at that gig and comparing the 2, this tour was much better visually.  The lighting seemed to be automated by the songs played, and the general layout and placement on stage worked better.

Photo credits: Stuttarter Zeitung 2011, 2014 - , Stacey Auld 2015

Pacebo Anyway: What about the boys energy?

Stacey Taylor:  As always, they gave it their all.  Brian comes across as being quite subdude and restrained but you can see that he is loving every minute of the performance by the way he performs each song from the first to the last.

Placebo Anyway:  Band's members are usually very restrain, non-talkative and laconic on the stage. We read some reviews about their concerts and people often are so unsatisfied with this "Placebo's bad behavior". What is your opinion?

Stacey Taylor: I would like to hear more from the band, but I can see where they are coming from – you pay to see a band play music, and not to have a Q&A session!! 

Placebo Anyway: About Molko little speeches before the songs. What’s your opinion?

Credits photo: Sinead Grainger - Indulge - Sound.com

Stacey Taylor: His speeches captivate the crowd and he is mesmerising to watch.  His voice is liquid gold and makes everything he says have a double meaning.  I love this as much as watching the band perform!!!!

Placebo Anyway: Regarding the new set list this time they added two classics Special Needs and I know, but One Of A Kind was eliminated from the set list . What are your thoughts about this?

Stacey Taylor:  I was delighted that they added some classic so the set list, and feel there was a very good mix of old and new tracks.  Some of the older songs I had never heard before, and the crowd was bouncing when they played “Special K”. 

Special K- not from Aberdeen but from the same tour! 

Placebo Anyway: Have you noticed a difference regarding the version of the songs they are playing?  (For example in Edinburgh STSG was a bit faster than it usually is)

Photo credits by Olly Stabler 

Stacey Taylor:  I like how they mix the song tempos up – especially when they performed “Meds”.  To me, it proves they are singing live and they are trying to improve the overall experience by changing the versions. 

Placebo Anyway:  Which live song is the best for you in a emontional way and why?

Special Needs- not from Aberdeen but from the same tour! 

Stacey Taylor:  I can't pick just one song!!!!  I think hearing “Special Needs” was emotional for me because it was one of the first songs of theres that I realised it wasn’t just words and there was an actual meaning behind it.  Also “Too Many Friends” was quite powerful because having the no photo policy at the gig it was re-emphasising the line “When all the people do all day
Is stare into a phone”

Photo credits: Ohrreckless - Aberdeen 

Placebo Anyway: What would be your dream setlist incorporating songs from every album?

Stacey Taylor:  Each time I have seen Placebo their set list changes.  I would LOVE to hear them sing “Nancy Boy”.  Dream setlist hmmmm probably a mix of songs from all albums.  Some upbeat, some more melodic. 

Placebo Anyway: When you get to the point where you realize that this particular gig is really kind of magic...Or every placebo concert is unforgettable and unique experience for you anyway?

Stacey Taylor:  As soon as Brian comes on stage!!!!  The atmosphere changes, like I said before he is mesmerising to watch and his gestures are so little but powerful.  He always makes me turn into a giggly little girl. 

Photography by Stan http://www.backseatmafia.com

Placebo Anyway:   What do you think about behavior of Brian Molko connected with using of camera's and smartphones during concerts?

Stacey Taylor:  I can see where he is coming from.  I don’t like watching a gig through the screen of someone else’s smart phone, so can imagine he doesn’t like performing to hundreds of smart phones.  I admit, I did take a few photos of him purely because he is amazingly stunning and I like to look at him. 

Placebo Anyway:   What do you think about official live pictures published on the Inet and illegal usage of them? Should they keep their taken pictures on PC only? Or it doesn't make sense if they are published or not allowed to be used...?

Stacey Taylor:  I havent seen any official live pictures from the Aberdeen gig, but have seen some on your page from other venues. I like looking through them, and re-living when I saw that particular light sequence at the aberdeen gig. 

Placebo Anyway:  A new tour, a new tour drummer. How was for you the moment you read on the social networks about Steve Forrest leaving Placebo?

Stacey Taylor:  I did feel slightly sad, because Steve hadn't been with Placebo for that long a time.  It seems to be a particularly difficult position in the band to keep full for long!! 

Photo credits: Planes / @Stefan Olsdal 

Placebo Anyway:  We wish Steve and his band Planes  good luck. There will go on tour soon too. Will you go to one of their shows?

Stacey Taylor:  Probably not.

Placebo Anyway:  Do you see any difference between Steve Forrest and Matt Lunn (old Placebo friend and drummer of Colour of Fire)? How do you think do the band members feel convenient touring with him?

Photo credits: Steven Lynn Photography

Stacey Taylor:  Having seen both Steve and Matt I can’t see a difference in them – they both play like their lives depended on it!!  They seemed more “into” playing the drums than Steve Hewitt did when I saw him perform with Placebo. 

Placebo Anyway:  Would you like to see Matt Lunn (old Placebo friend and drummer of Colour of Fire)  as an official drummer? Or do you prefer the idea of Brian & Stefan being the only official members now of Placebo?

Stacey Taylor:  I will always see Brian and Stefan as the original line-up and the drummer position being the one which will change.  As long as the drummer can play the songs well and give as much in his – or her!! – performance as Brian and Stefan then I don’t care who is in that position.

Placebo Anyway: One thing that we have noticed about this tour is how sometimes people are going alone and ask in the fan pages for company. In fact, the official twitter account once twitted a request for a fan. This is certainly not common behavior in other fan bases . Why do you think this is?

Stacey Taylor:  I think Placebo are a marmite band, and to find a fellow soulmate is rare!!  I have received some stick for being a fan of Placebo in the past, but I don’t care.  I would easy go and see Placebo myself, but don’t think I could go and see any other band that I like alone.  Perhaps because the crowd is mixed in age and gender anyway, and because they are a band who have meaning in their lyrics and not just anything to make a hit the audience is more open minded. 

Placebo Anyway:  What do you think, does Placebo music sound better live or recorded?

Stacey Taylor:  I think they sound similar.  I like hearing them live but when listening to a recorded album and closing your eyes it sounds the same. 

Placebo Anyway:   How do you think can all Placebo concerts be special, as for you and them as well?

Stacey Taylor:  Hmmmm I don’t know how to explain this one.  They do the same thing each concert – play their songs to a crowd – but the concept seems different everytime.  It feels like seeing them for the first time and I get the same butterflies before their gig as I did the first time I heard them on TV. 

Placebo Anyway: Let’s talk about Placebo members and their proyects. Did you get Brian’s book “Selected”? What kind of version did you order and how do you feel with this book, what does it give to you?

Stacey Taylor:  Yes!!!!  Of course I got the book!!!!!  I had the personalised signed copy in my basket but the website crashed, so my fiance was trying all day at home to get it for me.  I got a signed copy and it is one of my most prized posessions now and everyone gets shown the book and his signature. 

Placebo Anyway: What do you think about the introduction of the Brian Molko book “Selected”?

Stacey Taylor:  It is very simple, and honest.  Wouldn’t expect anything more from him. 

Placebo Anyway: Did you find any surprises in the lyrics in this book?  Different words than you thought?

Stacey Taylor:  Not really, but it was lovely having all the lyrics in one place. 

Placebo Anyway: Were you expecting something different?

FanArt by Marie Molko - Mini Placebo 

Stacey Taylor:  I expected it to be a bit bigger, but it is small just like Brian J

Placebo Anyway: Let us speak about more projects.  Some days before the touring started Stefan presented on the famous Spanish radio Channel ‘Radio3’  a song in colaboration with Digital 21. We could listen to the song “war” at the ‘Siglo21’  programme and we would like to ask you, what do you think about this project and  also the other social activities of Mr. Olsdal. More information here.

Stacey Taylor:  I don’t really pay attention to the other projects by other band members.  Brian is my favourite member so if he were to embark on a different project I would probably be more inclined in his venture.  Sorry Stefan!!

Stefan Olsdal by Olly Stadler 

Placebo Anyway:  On the Placebo Facebook page we could see the last weeks a comment about “a new album”. If you could choose a theme for this new album, what would it be? A live album, an accoustic album, more like the old days or similiar to LLL or something completly new?

Stacey Taylor:  I like their older albums (Placebo / WYIM / BMM) but like the growth and exploration of their newer ones.  Some of my favourite Placebo songs have the happy/punky/pop/anthem feel to them so an album like that would be ideal for me. 

Placebo Anyway:  We are celebrating  Placebo's 20 years. The first special thing Placebo prepared for their fans was the posibilty to listen to all their albums remastered online .  We enjoyed them a lot with this amazing sound. Did you like this idea? What about the upcoming vinyls? Do you want to get them even if you don’t have a vinyl record player?

Stacey Taylor:  I am debating this, if they re-released their albums re-mastered I would definetly purchase these. 

Placebo Anyway: Imagine you could prepare a special Placebo20th party in a small venue, band included. Choose a place which do you think it would be perfect and what would you prepare for this party?

Stacey Taylor:  Probably the place they played their first gig – to show where they started.  Preparation for the party ………… Wow, probably have their album covers on the walls around the venue and some infamous images of the band in all stages and all line ups. 

Placebo Anyway: Now let us go online. Imagine you have to organize something really special for the band on a virtual way. What would you do, including every soulmate all over the world?

Stacey Taylor:  It would be good to have an album of classic Placebo songs, with soulmates singing different lines to the songs.  I don’t know how to convey how much they mean to all their soulmates!!

Placebo Anyway: It is a known fact that it's impossible not to be hooked on Brain Molko...What do you find so attractive in him and how do you consider him? As a close friend (a soulmate), you could relay on, or just a handsome man with a great vocal skills and beautiful songs? What traits of character do you appreciate in him most?

Stacey Taylor:  Wow he is STUNNING!!!!!  His mannerisms, his gestures, oh and his facial expresions….he has more sex appeal than any other lead singer of any band that I can think of.  He is very much so someone I would like to chat to if we were in a bar.  I cant get anough of him and his gorgeous face. 

Placebo Anyway: What would you ask Brian Molko from 1996?

Stacey Taylor:  What would you like to achieve with Placebo in 5yrs / 10yrs / 20yrs time? 

Placebo Anyway: What would you ask Brian Molko in 2015?

Stacey Taylor:  Can you perform at my wedding please? *flutters eyelashes* hahaha in all seriousness; you said you would like to achieve XYZ in 1996 when Placebo just started out, do you think you have achieved all you would like to and what else do you think as a band and solo artist you could do?

Placebo Anyway: What would influence your questions?

Stacey Taylor:  What mood he was in.  He is a notoriously guarded and private person so I wouldnt like him to feel I was intruding on his personal life. 

Placebo Anyway: Many bands from the 90's are turning 15 , 20 years what do you think makes Placebo so different?

Stacey Taylor:  They havent had an hiatus, the main line up hasn’t changed and they keep diversifying their sound to suit the current musical climate.  Oh and their fans are very loyal!!!!

Placebo Anyway: Coming to the end of the interview, please define the Aberdeen concert with 3 words.

Stacey Taylor: Loud.  Passionate. Brilliant. 

Placebo Anyway: Now imagen you could give Brian and Stef a Thank You gift for the wonderful last 20 years with the band. Which gift would you choose?

Stacey Taylor:  My eternal thanks for being such an amazing band, and my continuing loyalty.  Cant put a price on that J

Placebo Anyway: Thank you very much for the interview Stacey!

Stacey Taylor:  Thanks for letting me be included in this JJ

Photo by Kevin Wells Life is better still www.kevinwellsphoto.com

Interview by The Placebo Anyway Team & Stacey Taylor, Aberdeen, Scotland