Now
I want to share an interview that Brian and Stefan did with Frech
magazine Têtu
in July 2013 while their band mate Steve Forrest was
sleeping off a crazy Parisian night.
;-)
Brian: (laughing) Our
previous album, “Battle for the sun“ was a stadium album. It
followed Meds, which was a very claustrophobic one and say…very
narcoleptic (smiles). We always react to the mood of the
previous one.
When we started working on LLL, one
theme came up very quickly, the oldest theme in music: love. Not very
close to Placebo, isn’t it? We had two possibilities: either we
went against the surge or we fully embraced it and didn’t hide our
own vulnerability.
Stef: Even
the title came up rapidly. When we were done with an album, we would
say: ‘oh shit, what name are we going to give to that one?’
(laughters)
“LOUD LIKE LOVE“, THE OPENING
TRACK, IS A VERY POSITIVE LOVING HYMN BUT THE ALBUM ENDS IN SOBS AND
ALCOHOL WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SONG “BOSCO“. DOES IT REFLECT YOUR
LIVES?
Brian: I think these two songs
underline how much we reject what we did in the past….
NO MORE ROCK 'N' ROLL WAY OF LIFE?
Brian: You know, I’m a father
now. My son is 7. It changes your views on life. It’s something
that prevents you from behaving like a dickhead rock star. When you
grow up in the public eye, you can very easily shut yourself up in a
bubble and lose yourself. There was a time when I got lost, very
often….
IN “TOO MANY FRIENDS“ YOU
SING: “MY COMPUTER THINKS I'M GAY“. WHAT DO YOU HIDE ON YOUR
COMPUTER TO SUGGEST SUCH A THING?
Brian: One day my computer sent
me targeted ads as if I were gay. I wondered : ‘what have I done?
What kind of porno have I watched so my computer thinks I’m gay
(laughs)’. In the meantime, I had friends who decided not to
take any more new friends on social networks because they already had
‘too many friends’. How can you have too many friends?
It made me consider our relationship to
modernity. Aren’t we losing the ability to communicate in real
life? For instance, we know many guys who use Grindr. It’s weird
because they can’t focus on you longer than 5 mn without checking
their app!
THAT SONG IS YOUR COMING OUT ABOUT BEING HETEROSEXUAL?
Brian: (smiles) I don’t
know if I’m really straight. I’m not a much more different man
than the one I used to be. I haven’t been in a relationship for a
long time, either with a man or a woman. So if I had to come out,
that’d be as an abstinent!
DO YOU MIND IF WE SAY THAT PLACEBO IS A QUEER BAND?
Brian: That’s fine with me!
I’d rather that than be a macho band!
Stefan: If we have to be tagged,
then yes. That’s a part of us. In the past, we’ve always been
honest about our lifestyles and sexual orientations but we don’t
get into a recording studio thinking ‘we’re a queer band so let’s
play music for fags!
STEFAN, YOU'VE MADE YOUR COMING
OUT AT THE VERY START OF YOUR CAREER. WAS IT DEEPLY NEEDED?
Stefan: I thought it was a good
thing to do. Nowadays, more artists acknowledge their homosexuality
but at that time there were few homosexuals in music. I soon reckoned
that if I could reveal who I was, then I’d have played my part in
setting more tolerance. I’ve received a lot of mails from young
gays who wanted to thank me. However, despite being successful, I’ve
also suffered from a fair amount of intolerance…
PLACEBO IS VERY POPULAR IN RUSSIA. DO YOU ALTER YOUR BEHAVIOUR WHEN YOU PLAY IN NOT SO TOLERANT COUNTRIES?
Brian: No way! Though playing in
Russia can be troublesome… But we’ve never been told: ‘you’re
not allowed to play such and such songs”
Stefan: It’s a bit more risky
when we perform in Indonesia or Muslim countries. Sometimes we’re
warned about using some words; we’re told to avoid provocative
clothes and any sexual intercourse on stage!” (laughters)
IT TURNS OUT THAT PLACEBO HAS MANAGED TO AVOID THE NORMALLY TRAP?
Brian: I think so! I just could
have shown better taste and more sense when I chose my dresses!
(laughs). I feel at ease with all this and I think we were
right. Even more so nowadays with all those assholes who are
demonstrating against gay wedding.
Stefan: Exactly! The debate gets
very close to the bone. It’s amazing to see that our society which
pretends to be civilised and liberal, finally wallows in intolerance.
It’s just blowing hot air!
(Têtu, July-August 2013)
(Têtu, July-August 2013)
Photo credits: Franck Juery, Radio XFM London, Tom Barnes
Post by Silke
Post by Silke