MARS old school Interview 2002
₪ ø lll ·o.
Visualizzazione post con etichetta 30secondstomars memories interview. Mostra tutti i post
Visualizzazione post con etichetta 30secondstomars memories interview. Mostra tutti i post
24 apr 2013
2 apr 2013
Shannon Interview of memories ♥
April 19, 2006 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
K2K: You started the band with your brother, Jared.
SL: It’s been kind of happening all of our lives. I started by banging on pots and pans, and he started playing guitar at a very young age. It just kind of progressed throughout our lives. I remember sitting in my bedroom, I set up this kit in my room, and he had this Marshall amp and a guitar. It was 1996 or so. We were talking and decided that we wanted to share this performance with other people. So we brought in a bass player. In no time, we were playing outside L.A., in venues, under different names. We wouldn’t have the same name, we would pick random names, so no one would attach themselves to it. We just wanted to play in front of people.
K2K: That’s how the Butthole Surfers started off.
SL: Oh really? Then we wanted to make a CD. We looked for the right family to connect with. Virgin happened to be it.
K2K: Who got that deal?
SL: We both got it.
K2K: Are you the younger brother?
SL: It depends on what day?
(laughter in the background)(someone comments “If you were a Hot Pocket...”, referring to the interview with Tomo and Matt)
SL: That’s funny. I was just quoting that to someone earlier today. It’s so funny, because Tomo hadn’t done many interviews at that time, and he answered it honestly. “Uh, I think I’d be mushroom...”
K2K: Do you and Jared both make decisions on how everything is done with the band?
SL: The first album, it was like that. That was the recording process. That was how we... how it was coming on throughout our lives. The second album, it wasn’t so much like that. There was a direction that we wanted to go towards, and the other guys complemented that direction. They had great input on this album, which we all wanted. We want a band. We want a rock band, we don’t want... We just want a band. Everyone contributed, and the sound is the way it is now because of everybody’s contribution. Getting the backgrounds and places we’ve traveled.
K2K: What are some of the favorite places that you’ve played?
SL: I love New York City. I love smaller towns in middle America. The energy is just sick, because that’s all they have. It’s “That Show,” you know. New York City was great. We sold out this place called The Avalon twice on a Thursday and Friday. That was cool.
K2K: Any wild stories yet from the road? Or are you pretty straight forward?
SL: Pretty straight forward. Uh... We can’t really say, really. (laughs) As far as craziest shows... no one was crazy, but we have some really dedicated fans. We have fans who travel from Japan, rent a car and follow the bus. We have fans from Mexico who do that. Yeah, yeah. They come up. From Mexico City, there was a couple who came up. For me, since I’ve never done that... I’ve never followed anyone in a band. I’ve never even waited in line. So I don’t get it. So that’s kind of crazy.
K2K: Oh we would if we could. We’ve been fans for about three years.
SL: Really? Oh, thank you.
K2K: I’ve liked you guys since the first album.
SL: Well, the first album was Jared and I’s every experience that we’ve ever had through music, through life, through everything. Sonically and visually, we put into that album. This one we wanted to disregard that, and be more stripped down and less layered. We did all that. We always want to change and evolve. We disregarded that way of recording, and did this stripped down, raw, to the point, more personal type of deal. And I think we’ve succeeded in that.
K2K: Everything I have heard so far has been awesome.
SL: Thank you.
K2K: The first album was so seasoned sounding, for a first release. The music and all, it sounded like you’ve been doing this forever. You had that sound nailed.
SL: We love music. We’re true musicians. We love all forms of music. We grew up listening to all types of music, and we were subjected to different types of instruments, and it comes across. What also comes across, which was refreshing for that time in recording, was that we listened to groups like Yes, Pink Floyd... you’ve read all that stuff. We’ve listened to a lot of amazing groups.
K2K: With the type of music you listen to, how old are you?
SL: I’m 36.
K2K: You just don’t hear people quote those bands anymore. It sucks that, while those bands were around in the 1970s, and only now do we have the technology to really do something with their styles.
SL: They wouldn’t last these days. Not with what’s happening.
K2K: But if progressive rock came in now, with all the technology... You guys are bringing that around. That’s amazing.
SL: It’s definitely a great opportunity.
K2K: Where did the name 30 Seconds To Mars come from?
SL: It comes from an old, old book. The Aggress Apocraphyx. It’s a quote in the book. That’s where part of the name came from. Really it’s about exponential growth in technology. It’s about that in society we’re in this constant state of projection that everything is “Now, now, now, now.” It’s hard to retain any information with so many things coming at you. It’s really almost like we’re 30 seconds from Mars, conceptually speaking. There is a lot more than that entails. It’s big. It’s theatrical. It makes sense with the music, the way the name is and the music sounds.
K2K: Are you or Jared into Sci-Fi at all, or is it more spiritual?
SL: It is. Again, that goes through growing up the way we did. We didn’t grow up with a TV. We were really poor. We didn’t have the normal G.I. Joe dolls and such. We had music and exploring and stuff. With music, and the lack of information like TV and stuff, the normalcy that people had - for lack of a better word - we had to escape through music, through art, through painting, and stuff. That led itself to the way it sounds, and the way this whole 30 Seconds To Mars is. It’s a huge art project, really. The fans are participating. They’re making their own clothes. They get tattoos on their body parts. It’s really amazing. It makes sense because that’s where we come from. We grew up in communes and went to festivals and stuff like that, with our mom. It kind of makes sense when you look at it. I don’t think I’ve ever said this type of thing in an interview before.
K2K: You appreciate art and creativity. Is anyone else in your family creative?
SL: My mom. She’s into photography, graphic design, and music.
K2K: What are your hopes? Where do you want to expand out to? What do you want to do?
SL: I don’t know. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing right now. I want to keep evolving and changing and living in the moment. I just want to do that. I want to be able to keep spreading 30 Seconds To Mars like a fucking disease throughout the world.
K2K: Are you involved in other arts like film or anything?
SL: I’m a photographer. I do a lot of that. I just finished a rewrite on a TV show for cable.
K2K: What was it like working with [producer] Bob Ezrin?
SL: He recorded Pink Floyd “The Wall,” KISS “Destroyer,” The Bangles, and Peter Gabriel, who I’m a huge fan of. He was our first pick for our first album. He was the first fucking guy on our list. He called. He called and we met him. He wasn’t anything like I ever expected. He was this guy who was like, just a dress shirt, slacks... You think Pink Floyd “The Wall,” you think some spiritual guru. This guy wasn’t that. Bob Ezrin is a true genius. He’s an artist. He’s a musician. Just to the tilt. He has an amazing way of creating layers of sounds.
K2K: Who did the new album?
SL: Josh Abraham. He did “I’m A Robot” and a bunch of other people. He’s a friend.
K2K: Do you think you’ll ever work with Bob Ezrin again?
SL: You never know.
K2K: Tell me about the Phoenix logo.
SL: It represents a lot. It means rebirth. It means great power. It means struggle.
K2K: How long have you personally been playing?
SL: I’ve been playing drums ever since I was a kid, really. I took several years off to sort of figure things out.
K2K: And did you figure them out?
SL: You know, I’d never never know, because I don’t think you ever figure things out. I think it’s an ongoing process. I think the day you think you’ve figured something out, you’re in trouble. That’s what I think.
K2K: It’s like the saying, that true knowledge is knowing that you know nothing at all.
SL: There you go.
K2K: Who are you influences in playing?
SL: So many. (pauses to think)
K2K: Any favorite drummers?
SL: I like Steve Gadd. A studio guy. I like the Cure drummer. The main one, the longest one running. Even the first guy. All of them. I like their tribal... The Cure drummers. Stewart Copeland. Lars Ulrich?
K2K: Really?
SL: For the first two [Metallica] albums - “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride The Lightning.” For what he did with that type of music, it’s all good. What he did for that music was amazing. Very musical, man. Very musical. After those albums, I’m not sure. I stopped listening. But it’s very cool.
K2K: Do you like [Yes drummer] Alan White?
SL: I love Alan White. I have a bunch of influences.
K2K: Mostly progressive, or jazz drummers?
SL: I love jazz drummers. I love Sade’s drummer on “Smooth Operator” and “Love From Luck.” I think that’s the same guy. I like... Spyro Gyra had an amazing drummer. Weather Report. The album with the hat on it. I forget his name. Steely Dan.
K2K: All that you’re naming here... Were these albums or songs that influenced you, or just the players?
SL: The melodies. The songs. How it all fits. It all just moves.
K2K: What kind of equipment do you use? Are you endorsed?
SL: I’m endorsed by Sonar Drums. They’re a German company. Amazing drums. Sabian Cymbals I use. They’re great.
K2K: So, knowing that you’re a photographer... How long have you been shooting?
SL: I’ve been shooting since I was a kid.
K2K: Professionally at all?
SL: Professionally, I’ve been shooting for 10 years.
K2K: What do you shoot?
SL: I shoot medium format Hasselblad. I use... I have a digital SLR now. Nikon F4. I just got, for a present, a Yoshika instamatic. Yes. They’re cool.
K2K: My personal favorites have always been the old classics. The Olympus OM-10, and the Nikon FG-20.
SL: Wow. I love Nikon. They’re tanks. I grew up with Nikon. Canon, I haven’t really touched upon yet. Nothing against them.
K2K: Are you a film or digital guy?
SL: Both.
K2K: So you’re not a purist in any direction?
SL: No. Whatever the emotion calls for.
K2K: Have you been shown anywhere? Any galleries?
SL: No. Not shown. I’ve been published. in several magazines.
K2K: What’s your background in writing?
SL: Writing? I’ve never written. This is the first thing I’ve written. The TV show.
K2K: What show is that, or can you not talk about it?
SL: I can’t talk about it, yet.
K2K: This isn’t something minor though, right? Like a regular show that will be seen?
SL: It’s a one-hour drama for cable. It’s a little racy. It’s for like HBO [type of network].
K2K: Is that something that your brother might be involved in?
SL: No. Just me.
K2K: Have you done any acting yourself? Looking to do any?
SL: No. You never know.
K2K: Are you hoping to do more writing as you go on?
SL: Yeah! I want to keep writing. I love it. I got several other things that I’ve got going on that are exciting.
K2K: Are you looking to do more scriptwriting then?
SL: Right. Scriptwriting.
K2K: Do you have any sort of discipline in your writing?
SL: It’s funny. If I could be on a plane all the time... I always tell myself that I can write on a plane. Like a 5 hour plane ride, I’ll be writing for 5 hours on that plane. If I’m in my room or somewhere, two or three hours.
K2K: What do you use for writing?
SL: Final Draft.
K2K: Favorite authors?
SL: Brett Elliott Easton. He did “American Psycho.” I read that way before the movie. Amazing.
K2K: Favorite photographers?
SL: Richard Avedon. Great. Amazing. I’ve learned a lot from [him].
K2K: What are the band’s musical or lyrical inspirations?
SL: Jared writes all the lyrics. For music, inspiration from everything. For lyrics, life experiences.
K2K: You have a unique style that takes you out there.
SL: I think it’s whatever note I hear, an emotion happens and then I try to translate that emotion through the expression of a drum beat or another melody that counters that. It could be a lyric which can cause an emotion. It’s all emotional for me. It’s an emotional process. It’s a raw type of thing, that I kind of harness and put down.
K2K: What’s your biggest drive in life?
SL: (long pause) Biggest drive... Exploration.
K2K: Introspectively, or outward?
SL: Both. Heavily inside, and almost equal outside.
K2K: Oh yeah, as a drummer, what do you think of Terry Bozzio?
SL: He’s an artist. That guy’s... he’s a tripper. He’s in his own little existence in his room. He’s that guy that... he’s the kid that is very musically inclined, but who locked himself up in a room since he was a kid, all the way up until now. He never had a life really. It was drums, really. That’s what I believe. And with that, you can do some fantastical things. The discipline that that guy has is amazing. He’s on his own level.
And with that, Shannon had to get ready for the show, and promptly disappeared until showtime.
SL: It’s been kind of happening all of our lives. I started by banging on pots and pans, and he started playing guitar at a very young age. It just kind of progressed throughout our lives. I remember sitting in my bedroom, I set up this kit in my room, and he had this Marshall amp and a guitar. It was 1996 or so. We were talking and decided that we wanted to share this performance with other people. So we brought in a bass player. In no time, we were playing outside L.A., in venues, under different names. We wouldn’t have the same name, we would pick random names, so no one would attach themselves to it. We just wanted to play in front of people.
K2K: That’s how the Butthole Surfers started off.
SL: Oh really? Then we wanted to make a CD. We looked for the right family to connect with. Virgin happened to be it.
K2K: Who got that deal?
SL: We both got it.
K2K: Are you the younger brother?
SL: It depends on what day?
(laughter in the background)(someone comments “If you were a Hot Pocket...”, referring to the interview with Tomo and Matt)
SL: That’s funny. I was just quoting that to someone earlier today. It’s so funny, because Tomo hadn’t done many interviews at that time, and he answered it honestly. “Uh, I think I’d be mushroom...”
K2K: Do you and Jared both make decisions on how everything is done with the band?
SL: The first album, it was like that. That was the recording process. That was how we... how it was coming on throughout our lives. The second album, it wasn’t so much like that. There was a direction that we wanted to go towards, and the other guys complemented that direction. They had great input on this album, which we all wanted. We want a band. We want a rock band, we don’t want... We just want a band. Everyone contributed, and the sound is the way it is now because of everybody’s contribution. Getting the backgrounds and places we’ve traveled.
K2K: What are some of the favorite places that you’ve played?
SL: I love New York City. I love smaller towns in middle America. The energy is just sick, because that’s all they have. It’s “That Show,” you know. New York City was great. We sold out this place called The Avalon twice on a Thursday and Friday. That was cool.
K2K: Any wild stories yet from the road? Or are you pretty straight forward?
SL: Pretty straight forward. Uh... We can’t really say, really. (laughs) As far as craziest shows... no one was crazy, but we have some really dedicated fans. We have fans who travel from Japan, rent a car and follow the bus. We have fans from Mexico who do that. Yeah, yeah. They come up. From Mexico City, there was a couple who came up. For me, since I’ve never done that... I’ve never followed anyone in a band. I’ve never even waited in line. So I don’t get it. So that’s kind of crazy.
K2K: Oh we would if we could. We’ve been fans for about three years.
SL: Really? Oh, thank you.
K2K: I’ve liked you guys since the first album.
SL: Well, the first album was Jared and I’s every experience that we’ve ever had through music, through life, through everything. Sonically and visually, we put into that album. This one we wanted to disregard that, and be more stripped down and less layered. We did all that. We always want to change and evolve. We disregarded that way of recording, and did this stripped down, raw, to the point, more personal type of deal. And I think we’ve succeeded in that.
K2K: Everything I have heard so far has been awesome.
SL: Thank you.
K2K: The first album was so seasoned sounding, for a first release. The music and all, it sounded like you’ve been doing this forever. You had that sound nailed.
SL: We love music. We’re true musicians. We love all forms of music. We grew up listening to all types of music, and we were subjected to different types of instruments, and it comes across. What also comes across, which was refreshing for that time in recording, was that we listened to groups like Yes, Pink Floyd... you’ve read all that stuff. We’ve listened to a lot of amazing groups.
K2K: With the type of music you listen to, how old are you?
SL: I’m 36.
K2K: You just don’t hear people quote those bands anymore. It sucks that, while those bands were around in the 1970s, and only now do we have the technology to really do something with their styles.
SL: They wouldn’t last these days. Not with what’s happening.
K2K: But if progressive rock came in now, with all the technology... You guys are bringing that around. That’s amazing.
SL: It’s definitely a great opportunity.
K2K: Where did the name 30 Seconds To Mars come from?
SL: It comes from an old, old book. The Aggress Apocraphyx. It’s a quote in the book. That’s where part of the name came from. Really it’s about exponential growth in technology. It’s about that in society we’re in this constant state of projection that everything is “Now, now, now, now.” It’s hard to retain any information with so many things coming at you. It’s really almost like we’re 30 seconds from Mars, conceptually speaking. There is a lot more than that entails. It’s big. It’s theatrical. It makes sense with the music, the way the name is and the music sounds.
K2K: Are you or Jared into Sci-Fi at all, or is it more spiritual?
SL: It is. Again, that goes through growing up the way we did. We didn’t grow up with a TV. We were really poor. We didn’t have the normal G.I. Joe dolls and such. We had music and exploring and stuff. With music, and the lack of information like TV and stuff, the normalcy that people had - for lack of a better word - we had to escape through music, through art, through painting, and stuff. That led itself to the way it sounds, and the way this whole 30 Seconds To Mars is. It’s a huge art project, really. The fans are participating. They’re making their own clothes. They get tattoos on their body parts. It’s really amazing. It makes sense because that’s where we come from. We grew up in communes and went to festivals and stuff like that, with our mom. It kind of makes sense when you look at it. I don’t think I’ve ever said this type of thing in an interview before.
K2K: You appreciate art and creativity. Is anyone else in your family creative?
SL: My mom. She’s into photography, graphic design, and music.
K2K: What are your hopes? Where do you want to expand out to? What do you want to do?
SL: I don’t know. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing right now. I want to keep evolving and changing and living in the moment. I just want to do that. I want to be able to keep spreading 30 Seconds To Mars like a fucking disease throughout the world.
K2K: Are you involved in other arts like film or anything?
SL: I’m a photographer. I do a lot of that. I just finished a rewrite on a TV show for cable.
K2K: What was it like working with [producer] Bob Ezrin?
SL: He recorded Pink Floyd “The Wall,” KISS “Destroyer,” The Bangles, and Peter Gabriel, who I’m a huge fan of. He was our first pick for our first album. He was the first fucking guy on our list. He called. He called and we met him. He wasn’t anything like I ever expected. He was this guy who was like, just a dress shirt, slacks... You think Pink Floyd “The Wall,” you think some spiritual guru. This guy wasn’t that. Bob Ezrin is a true genius. He’s an artist. He’s a musician. Just to the tilt. He has an amazing way of creating layers of sounds.
K2K: Who did the new album?
SL: Josh Abraham. He did “I’m A Robot” and a bunch of other people. He’s a friend.
K2K: Do you think you’ll ever work with Bob Ezrin again?
SL: You never know.
K2K: Tell me about the Phoenix logo.
SL: It represents a lot. It means rebirth. It means great power. It means struggle.
K2K: How long have you personally been playing?
SL: I’ve been playing drums ever since I was a kid, really. I took several years off to sort of figure things out.
K2K: And did you figure them out?
SL: You know, I’d never never know, because I don’t think you ever figure things out. I think it’s an ongoing process. I think the day you think you’ve figured something out, you’re in trouble. That’s what I think.
K2K: It’s like the saying, that true knowledge is knowing that you know nothing at all.
SL: There you go.
K2K: Who are you influences in playing?
SL: So many. (pauses to think)
K2K: Any favorite drummers?
SL: I like Steve Gadd. A studio guy. I like the Cure drummer. The main one, the longest one running. Even the first guy. All of them. I like their tribal... The Cure drummers. Stewart Copeland. Lars Ulrich?
K2K: Really?
SL: For the first two [Metallica] albums - “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride The Lightning.” For what he did with that type of music, it’s all good. What he did for that music was amazing. Very musical, man. Very musical. After those albums, I’m not sure. I stopped listening. But it’s very cool.
K2K: Do you like [Yes drummer] Alan White?
SL: I love Alan White. I have a bunch of influences.
K2K: Mostly progressive, or jazz drummers?
SL: I love jazz drummers. I love Sade’s drummer on “Smooth Operator” and “Love From Luck.” I think that’s the same guy. I like... Spyro Gyra had an amazing drummer. Weather Report. The album with the hat on it. I forget his name. Steely Dan.
K2K: All that you’re naming here... Were these albums or songs that influenced you, or just the players?
SL: The melodies. The songs. How it all fits. It all just moves.
K2K: What kind of equipment do you use? Are you endorsed?
SL: I’m endorsed by Sonar Drums. They’re a German company. Amazing drums. Sabian Cymbals I use. They’re great.
K2K: So, knowing that you’re a photographer... How long have you been shooting?
SL: I’ve been shooting since I was a kid.
K2K: Professionally at all?
SL: Professionally, I’ve been shooting for 10 years.
K2K: What do you shoot?
SL: I shoot medium format Hasselblad. I use... I have a digital SLR now. Nikon F4. I just got, for a present, a Yoshika instamatic. Yes. They’re cool.
K2K: My personal favorites have always been the old classics. The Olympus OM-10, and the Nikon FG-20.
SL: Wow. I love Nikon. They’re tanks. I grew up with Nikon. Canon, I haven’t really touched upon yet. Nothing against them.
K2K: Are you a film or digital guy?
SL: Both.
K2K: So you’re not a purist in any direction?
SL: No. Whatever the emotion calls for.
K2K: Have you been shown anywhere? Any galleries?
SL: No. Not shown. I’ve been published. in several magazines.
K2K: What’s your background in writing?
SL: Writing? I’ve never written. This is the first thing I’ve written. The TV show.
K2K: What show is that, or can you not talk about it?
SL: I can’t talk about it, yet.
K2K: This isn’t something minor though, right? Like a regular show that will be seen?
SL: It’s a one-hour drama for cable. It’s a little racy. It’s for like HBO [type of network].
K2K: Is that something that your brother might be involved in?
SL: No. Just me.
K2K: Have you done any acting yourself? Looking to do any?
SL: No. You never know.
K2K: Are you hoping to do more writing as you go on?
SL: Yeah! I want to keep writing. I love it. I got several other things that I’ve got going on that are exciting.
K2K: Are you looking to do more scriptwriting then?
SL: Right. Scriptwriting.
K2K: Do you have any sort of discipline in your writing?
SL: It’s funny. If I could be on a plane all the time... I always tell myself that I can write on a plane. Like a 5 hour plane ride, I’ll be writing for 5 hours on that plane. If I’m in my room or somewhere, two or three hours.
K2K: What do you use for writing?
SL: Final Draft.
K2K: Favorite authors?
SL: Brett Elliott Easton. He did “American Psycho.” I read that way before the movie. Amazing.
K2K: Favorite photographers?
SL: Richard Avedon. Great. Amazing. I’ve learned a lot from [him].
K2K: What are the band’s musical or lyrical inspirations?
SL: Jared writes all the lyrics. For music, inspiration from everything. For lyrics, life experiences.
K2K: You have a unique style that takes you out there.
SL: I think it’s whatever note I hear, an emotion happens and then I try to translate that emotion through the expression of a drum beat or another melody that counters that. It could be a lyric which can cause an emotion. It’s all emotional for me. It’s an emotional process. It’s a raw type of thing, that I kind of harness and put down.
K2K: What’s your biggest drive in life?
SL: (long pause) Biggest drive... Exploration.
K2K: Introspectively, or outward?
SL: Both. Heavily inside, and almost equal outside.
K2K: Oh yeah, as a drummer, what do you think of Terry Bozzio?
SL: He’s an artist. That guy’s... he’s a tripper. He’s in his own little existence in his room. He’s that guy that... he’s the kid that is very musically inclined, but who locked himself up in a room since he was a kid, all the way up until now. He never had a life really. It was drums, really. That’s what I believe. And with that, you can do some fantastical things. The discipline that that guy has is amazing. He’s on his own level.
And with that, Shannon had to get ready for the show, and promptly disappeared until showtime.
₪ ø lll ·o.
30 Seconds to Mars Revolutionize Modern Rock
In 2000, Bill Viola collaborated with the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, and its lead singer Trent Reznor to create a video suite for the band’s tour (vid above).
Bill Viola: “It’s an image of ascension, of transformation… and the way out is not down, the way out is up.”
(full text)
By: Ellen Kizik, Dawgnet Features Editor
July 9th, Indianapolis welcomed 30 Seconds to Mars, whose first Murat Egyptian Room appearance was in February of 2003. 30STM is patiently awaiting the release of their sophomore project titled “A Beautiful Lie,” which hits record stores on August 16th.
In preparation, the guys have been touring endlessly since May. After numerous headlining shows and a two week break, 30STM join Chevelle and Taproot for the remainder of July and August. In the words of Matt Wachter “this tour is a little more slim and trim; fast and furious.”
Many may recognize the band by their lead singer/guitarist, Jared Leto who happens to be a famed actor, but it’s important to recognize that he’s only one fourth of this group of modern musicians. 30STM was created by the Leto brothers, Shannon and Jared, and evolved into a quintet in 1999. Shortly after, it grew into a real rock band with a record deal from Virgin and an ‘Entourage’ of music fans. Joining them on the second album and on tour are Tomo Milicevic on guitar and Matt Wachter on bass.
Milicevic is the newest addition to 30STM. Before auditioning and replacing the band’s original guitarist, Milicevic had reached rock bottom.
“I was going to quit music altogether. I even took pictures of all of my instruments and set up an Ebay account to auction them off. The next day, I found out about the opportunity to audition for 30STM.”
Milicevic was just another fan of the band before landing the part. “I actually bought their CD the day it came out,” Milicevic said. The rest is history, and luckily his instruments were saved.
As for career goals, these guys didn’t grow up wanting to become professional rock stars. Jared Leto aspired to be an artist or drug dealer and Milicevic was bred to be a concert violinist. However, Wachter knew he was going to be a musician from the early age of 5. In my opinion, it’s definitely a good thing these guys found their way to music because the prog-rock scene would be rather dull without them.
Creating music for them isn’t a choice. They have accepted a life of suffering and pain because they are passionate about what they do and it is expressed in the lyrics Leto writes, the music that all four of them create, and their energetic performances.
“Music is intangible,” explained Leto. “Songs have the ability to be immortal.”
“Music is a form of reincarnation,” added Milicevic.
Aside from music, Leto and Wachter describe themselves as huge “art fags” in general, mentioning visual artist Bill Viola as big influence.
According to Leto, “30STM strives to achieve the grandiosity of Pink Floyd while staying true to their modern rock roots.” Well, it is no the surprise that their first memorable concert experiences were all of legendary bands. Jared and Shannon Leto saw Led Zeppelin, Wachter attended an old school Black Sabbath show, and Milicevic witnessed Nirvana at its best.
30STM has many musical influences, but Jared Leto’s personal influence is Damien Hurst.
“He takes chances like nobody’s business.” And taking chances has certainly paid off for Leto in both of his careers.
On the their first self-titled release, 30STM worked with Bob Ezrin, who produced albums for Pink Floyd, Kiss, and Alice Cooper. The second time around, 30STM created an entirely different kind of musical masterpiece with the help of Josh Abraham, Virgin Records Vice President and producer of Velvet Revolver’s record. The journey these guys traveled was long, literally, but worthwhile. The writing process alone took over two years, spanned five different countries on four different continents, all culminating with nine-months of recording in LA, NYC, and South Africa.
“The new album is a gamete of emotion, professionally and personally,” Wachter said.
Out of the 40 songs Jared Leto wrote, only 10 made the cut. These 10 songs compliment each other very well. As for the other 30, they have been scrapped because as Leto explained “if it wasn’t good enough for the record, then it isn’t good enough for us.”
While in South Africa, Leto realized how lucky 30STM is to be doing what they love. They shared a story with me about a South African man who was so mesmerized when he heard Leto playing an acoustic guitar.
“He was fascinated that such a sound was coming from it. So many people haven’t even seen a show or a tour bus.” It was during his time in Africa that the album title “A Beautiful Lie” was born. When asked what Leto considers a beautiful lie, he said existence.
The second time around, Milicevic and Wachter accompanied the Leto brothers into the studio, as opposed to before where Jared Leto recorded everything except drums. Leto created the songs, but the process was completed together.
“The guys elevated the songs, encouraging me to follow through. We inspired each other,” Leto explained. The writing process that Leto underwent varied. Sometimes the lyrics came first, other times a melody. Some songs actually evolved into others.
“A Beautiful Lie” delivers a complete package that captivates the listener. It tells stories of life and the changes and hardships one encounters along the way. The first track and single “Attack” delivers a punch before you even know what hit you. There is a predominant reference to lies throughout the entire album. The lyrics are personal and the music is addictive.
At first, I was a little skeptical about how unique the final project would be because Josh Abraham, who achieved Grammy success from fashioning Velvet Revolver out of ex-Stone Temple Pilots and ex- Guns ‘n Roses members, produced this album. But after a few listens, all of my doubts were washed away and the originality of 30STM shined through. For more information about 30 Seconds to Mars, visit www.30secondstomars.com.
July 9th, Indianapolis welcomed 30 Seconds to Mars, whose first Murat Egyptian Room appearance was in February of 2003. 30STM is patiently awaiting the release of their sophomore project titled “A Beautiful Lie,” which hits record stores on August 16th.
In preparation, the guys have been touring endlessly since May. After numerous headlining shows and a two week break, 30STM join Chevelle and Taproot for the remainder of July and August. In the words of Matt Wachter “this tour is a little more slim and trim; fast and furious.”
Many may recognize the band by their lead singer/guitarist, Jared Leto who happens to be a famed actor, but it’s important to recognize that he’s only one fourth of this group of modern musicians. 30STM was created by the Leto brothers, Shannon and Jared, and evolved into a quintet in 1999. Shortly after, it grew into a real rock band with a record deal from Virgin and an ‘Entourage’ of music fans. Joining them on the second album and on tour are Tomo Milicevic on guitar and Matt Wachter on bass.
Milicevic is the newest addition to 30STM. Before auditioning and replacing the band’s original guitarist, Milicevic had reached rock bottom.
“I was going to quit music altogether. I even took pictures of all of my instruments and set up an Ebay account to auction them off. The next day, I found out about the opportunity to audition for 30STM.”
Milicevic was just another fan of the band before landing the part. “I actually bought their CD the day it came out,” Milicevic said. The rest is history, and luckily his instruments were saved.
As for career goals, these guys didn’t grow up wanting to become professional rock stars. Jared Leto aspired to be an artist or drug dealer and Milicevic was bred to be a concert violinist. However, Wachter knew he was going to be a musician from the early age of 5. In my opinion, it’s definitely a good thing these guys found their way to music because the prog-rock scene would be rather dull without them.
Creating music for them isn’t a choice. They have accepted a life of suffering and pain because they are passionate about what they do and it is expressed in the lyrics Leto writes, the music that all four of them create, and their energetic performances.
“Music is intangible,” explained Leto. “Songs have the ability to be immortal.”
“Music is a form of reincarnation,” added Milicevic.
Aside from music, Leto and Wachter describe themselves as huge “art fags” in general, mentioning visual artist Bill Viola as big influence.
According to Leto, “30STM strives to achieve the grandiosity of Pink Floyd while staying true to their modern rock roots.” Well, it is no the surprise that their first memorable concert experiences were all of legendary bands. Jared and Shannon Leto saw Led Zeppelin, Wachter attended an old school Black Sabbath show, and Milicevic witnessed Nirvana at its best.
30STM has many musical influences, but Jared Leto’s personal influence is Damien Hurst.
“He takes chances like nobody’s business.” And taking chances has certainly paid off for Leto in both of his careers.
On the their first self-titled release, 30STM worked with Bob Ezrin, who produced albums for Pink Floyd, Kiss, and Alice Cooper. The second time around, 30STM created an entirely different kind of musical masterpiece with the help of Josh Abraham, Virgin Records Vice President and producer of Velvet Revolver’s record. The journey these guys traveled was long, literally, but worthwhile. The writing process alone took over two years, spanned five different countries on four different continents, all culminating with nine-months of recording in LA, NYC, and South Africa.
“The new album is a gamete of emotion, professionally and personally,” Wachter said.
Out of the 40 songs Jared Leto wrote, only 10 made the cut. These 10 songs compliment each other very well. As for the other 30, they have been scrapped because as Leto explained “if it wasn’t good enough for the record, then it isn’t good enough for us.”
While in South Africa, Leto realized how lucky 30STM is to be doing what they love. They shared a story with me about a South African man who was so mesmerized when he heard Leto playing an acoustic guitar.
“He was fascinated that such a sound was coming from it. So many people haven’t even seen a show or a tour bus.” It was during his time in Africa that the album title “A Beautiful Lie” was born. When asked what Leto considers a beautiful lie, he said existence.
The second time around, Milicevic and Wachter accompanied the Leto brothers into the studio, as opposed to before where Jared Leto recorded everything except drums. Leto created the songs, but the process was completed together.
“The guys elevated the songs, encouraging me to follow through. We inspired each other,” Leto explained. The writing process that Leto underwent varied. Sometimes the lyrics came first, other times a melody. Some songs actually evolved into others.
“A Beautiful Lie” delivers a complete package that captivates the listener. It tells stories of life and the changes and hardships one encounters along the way. The first track and single “Attack” delivers a punch before you even know what hit you. There is a predominant reference to lies throughout the entire album. The lyrics are personal and the music is addictive.
At first, I was a little skeptical about how unique the final project would be because Josh Abraham, who achieved Grammy success from fashioning Velvet Revolver out of ex-Stone Temple Pilots and ex- Guns ‘n Roses members, produced this album. But after a few listens, all of my doubts were washed away and the originality of 30STM shined through. For more information about 30 Seconds to Mars, visit www.30secondstomars.com.
₪ ø lll ·o.
19 mar 2013
MARS Interview of Memories 2005 ♥
“Goth At Heart”
by Jeffrey Sidelsky
I sat down with Jared Leto and Tomo Milicevic on their tour bus on a balmy July afternoon outside the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. The guys were excited about discussing their latest album and being several months into their tour. After selling 100,000 copies of A Beautiful Lie they are now headlining a tour which will bring them to your town real soon.
MORE THAN 30 SECONDS WITH TOMO AND JARED
Jeffrey: Hey, hi Tomo, how ya doing?
Tomo: Good, how are you? What’s your name again?
Jeffrey: I’m Jeffrey from Outrovert.com, a new online magazine. I’m here to talk to you about you about your new album. I listened to it, I like it a lot.
Tomo: Oh cool. Thank you. We like it, too.
Jeffrey: Yeah, yeah. I was thinking about how it was recorded…on about three or four
different continents…..
Tomo: Five different countries, four different continents. South Africa, London, Morocco, Thailand…
Tomo: Five different countries, four different continents. South Africa, London, Morocco, Thailand…
Jeffrey: How did that work for you?
Tomo: It was incredible. It’s really the only way to do it, I think. You gotta get out of your element. We could have stayed in LA and did it, you know, but by leaving that element it really helped us to focus on what we were doing. And it definitely made a better sounding record.
Jeffrey: Cos it sounds really smooth. When I was listening to it, it plays like an old time album; it plays from beginning to end….
Tomo: That took a lot of time. Just figuring out the sequence. Once you have the songs, just deciding what order to put them in…but I think we did a good job.
Jeffrey: Yeah, I think so, too. Now I was gonna ask about comparing the first and the second album…
Tomo: Well, obviously I wasn’t around for the first album. Jared did that one all by himself. The first record was very tight, and this record is much more emotionally available. The first record, also I think Jared was trying to see how much he could do. As far as what kind of layers he could provide. And this one we really, really wanted to strip it down because he was coming up with such good vocal lines and melodies and lyrics that we wanted to support that. And we wanted to make it as simple as possible. Because simple, sometimes is a lot more interesting. It’s much more difficult to do…
Jeffrey: It’s almost paradoxical. You have to strip everything away to get to the core of things and what an interesting concept.
Tomo: Yeah yeah absolutely. I mean, like I said just a second ago it’s very easy to fill it with stuff and make it sound cool. So you can constantly add stuff, so like to prove that it’s absurdly difficult to play one note. Yet to make it very simple and still have that work, well… yeah.
Jeffrey: So how many shows have you done so far?
Tomo: We started May 8th. (it is now late July).
Jeffrey: That’s a lot so far.
Jared: Three months!
Tomo: We started this leg July 9th.
Jeffrey: Well the spring part must have been nice, but these last two days have been like a heat wave…. Philly in the summer can be killer.
Jared: Crazy, right?
Jeffrey: Oh, horrible. So you actually spent some time in Philly, right Jared? How does it feel to be back?
Jared: It feels great. One thing I really miss is the great architecture. Such great buildings. To be so close to New York City and see these buildings that people would shoot each other for….I like Philly. I lived on 13th , 13th and Spruce. Is this a local magazine?
Jeffrey: Well I’m local but the magazine is based out of Jersey.
Jared: Oh I see. I worked too at a place in Philadelphia, at a place called Afterwords.
Jeffrey: Oh did you work there? The bookstore?
Jared: Yeah. Which is kind of a gay bookstore. But I like to call it alternative.
Jeffrey: Wow, I lived right up the street from there years ago. I don’t remember seeing you ringing me up.
Jared: I ran into one of the owners this past New Years in Rio. I went up to him and had to remind him, “hey it’s me Jared I used to work for you at Afterwords”.
Jeffrey: So you studied at University of the Arts. What did you study?
Jared: I studied film. Also pottery classes, light drawing, art history. An art fag.
Jeffrey: Well there you go. So I was talking to Tomo about comparing the first and second album and how the intention was to go the simple route. Pull away the layers.
Jared: Well I think to change directions completely was the only option.
Jeffrey: Also, looking at some of the titles of the songs, The Fantasy, A Modern Myth, Was It a Dream? a theme seems to emerge. Could you comment on that?
Jared: About what, specifically?
Jeffrey: Well I think there’s a pre-occupation with time, not necessarily the present, but words like Myth, Dream, and Fantasy suggest segments of time that one is blurring with reality. And then you go and call the album A Beautiful Lie.
Jared: There’s unreality and reality and change and choosing to believe a myth or a lie or a fantasy, which are all kind of a similar idea. One is real life and the other is fantasy. A lot of it is about choosing to believe. About how it affects you. Coming to terms with immortality as you get older.
Jeffrey: Well I was looking in this current issue of the Metro….
Jared: Oh is that in Philly, too?
Jeffrey: Yeah, you could pick it up at a bus stop.
Jared: I haven’t seen it.
Jeffrey: I didn’t bring it with me; you could pick it up on the 47 bus.
Jared: Or maybe at Afterwords.
Jeffrey: Oh no not anymore. It’s a house design shop.
Jared: Oh no.
Jeffrey: Well anyway you were quoted as saying that you’d like 30 Seconds to Mars to be a cross between Pink Floyd and the Sex Pistols. The live shows, anyway. I found that so interesting because the Sex Pistols were intended to destroy the old dinosaur bands like Pink Floyd. It’s an interesting combination to name check.
Jared: These are really great questions and thoughts. You’re making me think a lot, too, which I like. I thought the collision of those two worlds, especially since they might have hated each other, would be the ultimate experience to witness in a band. The hybrid that these two opposites would represent, in my imagination, is obvious. And you can see it in our live show, it’s what we’re going for. I definitely have elements of the over the top front man.
Jeffrey: Yes.
Jared: And I like that
Jeffrey: I was on the website for the band and people want to know if they’re going see you and the guys. I mean, from really far away places.
Jared: Definitely, we’re gonna be touring the rest of the year probably. We’re going to be all over the world.
Jeffrey: That’s gonna make a lot of your fans very happy. I was talking to Tomo about the continuity of the album, how seamless and polished and the sonic sheen it has.
Jared: I’m happy to hear people say that. Every song is like a chapter to a book, we worked really hard to make that happen.
Jeffrey: Do you consider yourselves an LA band?
Jared: No I don’t. We’ve carried on as such nomads.
Tomo: For example, I came to LA from Detroit.
Jeffrey: Detroit’s a big music city.
Tomo: Oh yeah.
Jeffrey: You’re playing tonight. It’s Friday night in Philadelphia. You’re excited. But what do you do on your days off?
Jared: I work on catching up on everything. Staying healthy. Finding a really great baby spinach salad. You try to take care of yourself. But right now I don’t have any clean socks and I had to take time to buy a pack of socks which I won’t be able to wash before the show.
Jeffrey: Oh, what color.
Jared: Black.
Jeffrey: Excellent.
Jared: Well I’m a Goth at heart.
Jeffrey: Well, I’m really surprised at the length of your hair. I expected to see the hair all long and bleached out. Maybe some splash of color.
Jared: I just shaved it and now it’s growing out. Goodbye chi chi hair.
Tomo: Can I interrupt? I don’t know why they take an entire side of a refrigerator on the tour bus and turn it into a freezer. I totally object to it, it’s absolutely retarded. But I guess I don’t have any say as to what goes on around here. The crew and the children decide what goes on around here and that’s rubbish. Rubbish!
Jared: That’s what happens when you’re a band of pirates. Gypsies.
Jeffrey: Do you think you’re born that way?
Tomo: I was. My dad’s side of the family, my grandma, god rest her soul, came directly from a traveling band of gypsies.
Jared: There’s nothing more exciting than finding vegan ginger snap cookies. Do you want a piece?
Jeffrey: How are they?
Jared: They are the shit!
Jeffrey: So the album comes out on the 19th or the 30th ?
Jared: August 30th pushed from the 16th.
Jeffrey: Is that alright? Is there any story behind that?
Jared: What simply happened is we don’t have a video yet. It’s sorta not a big deal. Just a two week delay in which we will do a video for Attack.
Jeffrey: I have to say your singing style comes close to Kurt Cobain, the screaming, the loudness. We haven’t heard lungs tearing it up like that since Courtney’s solo album, I mean really powerful. Where do you draw that from, Jared?
Jared: Oh, wow. Everything is drawn from passion and conviction. Wanting to express yourself in a different way. Conveying the urgency. Getting across the desperation of a certain emotion when I’m singing it.
Jeffrey: Would you want to be around for the end of the world?
Jared: What an interesting invitation.
Tomo: I’d go to that party.
Jared: If it’s gonna happen…..
Tomo: It will happen.
Jared: If it’s gonna happen I want to be part of it.
Jeffrey: Andy Warhol once said about someone that she’d go to the opening of an envelope.
Jared: Oh my god, that’s genius.
Jeffrey: We’re about out of time, have a great show.
₪ ø lll ·o.
16 mar 2013
♪ MARS Live + Interview of Memories ♥
30 SECONDS TO MARS at The Roxy in Boston, MA
2nd August 2005
Eric: Now you’ve played a lot of shows over the years. Anytime there is a band that has an actor in it, there is a lot of skepticism. I think you have proved yourself with all of the live shows and…
Matt: Thank you.
Eric: Do you think you’ve gotten past the skepticism?
Jared: Not many people saw WKRP in Cincinnati: The New Years and Matt was not only terrific on the show…
Matt: Thank you.
Jared: But his consistency as an actor has really helped us as a band. His work as a dramatist has only made us stronger. I mean when he played Lenny the 47-year old transvestite in the off-Broadway “Piggy Wiggy on my Diggy Shniggy Piggy (laughs all around)… I got no Piggy… (laughs all around)
Matt: People ask me a lot about that one.
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee…
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee and breasts, I thought he deserved a Tony.
Matt: (smiling) I thought I deserved an Academy Award.
Jared: But instead he got some guy named Fred in a bar on 32nd street. (In a gay voice) He’ll do just fine. (back to normal) Oh god I shouldn’t drink caffeine before interviews.
Matt: (laughing) I love you like this! I gotta say.
Jared: And all I had was that little bit (points to his Starbucks cup that only ¼ of it has been drunk)
Matt: Thank you.
Eric: Do you think you’ve gotten past the skepticism?
Jared: Not many people saw WKRP in Cincinnati: The New Years and Matt was not only terrific on the show…
Matt: Thank you.
Jared: But his consistency as an actor has really helped us as a band. His work as a dramatist has only made us stronger. I mean when he played Lenny the 47-year old transvestite in the off-Broadway “Piggy Wiggy on my Diggy Shniggy Piggy (laughs all around)… I got no Piggy… (laughs all around)
Matt: People ask me a lot about that one.
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee…
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee and breasts, I thought he deserved a Tony.
Matt: (smiling) I thought I deserved an Academy Award.
Jared: But instead he got some guy named Fred in a bar on 32nd street. (In a gay voice) He’ll do just fine. (back to normal) Oh god I shouldn’t drink caffeine before interviews.
Matt: (laughing) I love you like this! I gotta say.
Jared: And all I had was that little bit (points to his Starbucks cup that only ¼ of it has been drunk)
Eric: Favorite 80s song?
Jared: I’d have to say “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Matt: Yes.
Jared: Ooh. Pinch my nipple! Just relax. (laughs all around)
Jared: I’d have to say “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Matt: Yes.
Jared: Ooh. Pinch my nipple! Just relax. (laughs all around)
Tomo: I want Jared to be like this more of the time.
Matt: Yeah. You need to drink more (caffeine).
Jared: (In an accent) My brain is working faster, Faster, I CAN FEEL IT! (big laughs all around) … (mumbles)… (in his accent still) Tell me is this the truth you’re telling me or something…
Matt: You’re catching him in a very, very rare state.
Matt: Yeah. You need to drink more (caffeine).
Jared: (In an accent) My brain is working faster, Faster, I CAN FEEL IT! (big laughs all around) … (mumbles)… (in his accent still) Tell me is this the truth you’re telling me or something…
Matt: You’re catching him in a very, very rare state.
(full text)
Erin: Ok, we gotta ask the name question. Where did you come up with 30 Seconds to Mars?
Matt: Our imaginations.
Tomo: Yeah, it has nothing to do with space or time travel at all.
Matt: It’s not meant to be taken literally. It’s just what we feel best describes…
Tomo: We should actually move somewhere else because it’s going to get super loud.
Matt: Yeah.
(We move downstairs to a much more quiet area because another band is doing soundcheck upstairs where we were originally)
Eric: Alright.
Tomo: So, anyway.
Matt: So yeah. We kind of get pigeonholed into that whole “oh you guys are all about outer space and time travel.” Those are all metaphors. They are all to describe our music and what we call the human condition. We all go through the same trials and tribulations, ups and downs, and good things and bad things. It’s something people can relate to.
Eric: Cool. I understand that the writing and recording process took almost 2 years for your new album, A Beautiful Lie, and that you guys traveled to 4 different continents.
Matt: You did your homework. (smiles) Good job. (laughs all around)
Tomo: Yes. All over the place. It was actually closer to 3 years to be honest.
Matt: Yeah I would say from start to finish.
Eric: What was that whole process like?
Matt: A rollercoaster. (laughs)
Tomo: A rollercoaster. That’s perfect. It’s very difficult, you know? We’re control freaks.
Matt: I’m sorry. (answers cell phone)
Tomo: We are very, very, very anal about what we do. We take it very seriously. Hold on. (looks at Matt)
Matt: (on the phone) We’re down the stairs. Yeah, down the front stairs where the entrance is. Yeah. Ok. Bye. (hangs up)
Tomo: We take everything very seriously. Our quality control standards are probably higher than any band out there. I don’t think anyone is going to redo and shuffle through things as many times as we did.
Matt: It’s not necessarily a formula. We don’t intentionally set out to do that.
Tomo: No, no. We just set out to make sure it’s the best it can possibly be.
Matt: Oh yeah. Every avenue is explored.
Tomo: Yeah. We don’t let any idea go unexplored. We set everything through to fruition.
Matt: Nicely said.
Tomo: Thank you.
Eric: So how do you feel it compares to your first release?
Matt: It’s totally different. It doesn’t compare.
Tomo: Yeah.
Matt: (shouting) Over here!
Voice somewhere nearby: Where are you?
Matt: Over here. Follow my voice. Come, come, come.
(the voice turns out to be Jared)
Jared: What are you guys doing?
Matt: We are having a little powwow.
Jared: Is there anything I can add to the mix for a bit?
Matt: Of course there is.
Tomo: I’m sure there is.
Eric: Hey, my name’s Eric. (shaking hand)
Jared: Ok, hey. Jared.
Erin: I’m Erin. (shaking hand)
Jared: Ok. 2 ½ questions you can ask me. Go! (loud laughing)
Erin: Umm…
Jared: (more laughing) (claps hands and points to Eric)
Matt: (laughing hysterically) Tom Cruise!
Jared: (To Matt) He didn’t get it. (To Erin) Go!
Erin: Umm… (laughing)
Jared: (To Eric) Go!
Eric: Where do babies come from?
Jared: That I still haven’t figured out yet. Thank god! (laughs all around) Go! (more laughs all around)
Eric: Ok, let’s go on to the next one. What would say is the main message you guys were trying to convey with A Beautiful Lie?
Jared: I actually try not to convey anything. I think it’s a bonus if people get a message or a cohesive thought from it. That’s fantastic. Certainly you have goals when working on a group of songs, a record of information that hopefully shares some common ground. Each individual song is like a chapter in a book. We talked about that a little bit. I remember when it was in the very beginning and I had notes written down talking about grand ideas and themes. Wanting to use certain metaphors to describe certain things… ideas like violence. External violence to represent an internal battle and you find that a lot. Song titles like “Battle of One” to “Attack” to “The Kill”… umm…
Matt: Something wrong?
Jared: (smiling) I’ve got to say so much of the work is done without being self conscious. Hopefully there is a lot of common ground that is shared from song to song. There is certainly themes that are present, but if someone gets the message… you can’t worry about the consumer.
(Matt’s cell phone goes off again)
Eric: Now you’ve played a lot of shows over the years. Anytime there is a band that has an actor in it, there is a lot of skepticism. I think you have proved yourself with all of the live shows and…
Matt: Thank you.
Eric: Do you think you’ve gotten past the skepticism?
Jared: Not many people saw WKRP in Cincinnati: The New Years and Matt was not only terrific on the show…
Matt: Thank you.
Jared: But his consistency as an actor has really helped us as a band. His work as a dramatist has only made us stronger. I mean when he played Lenny the 47-year old transvestite in the off-Broadway “Piggy Wiggy on my Diggy Shniggy Piggy (laughs all around)… I got no Piggy… (laughs all around)
Matt: People ask me a lot about that one.
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee…
(Matt’s cell phone goes off again)
Tomo: OH MY GOD!
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee and breasts, I thought he deserved a Tony.
Matt: (smiling) I thought I deserved an Academy Award.
Jared: But instead he got some guy named Fred in a bar on 32nd street. (In a gay voice) He’ll do just fine. (back to normal) Oh god I shouldn’t drink caffeine before interviews.
Matt: (laughing) I love you like this! I gotta say.
Jared: And all I had was that little bit (points to his Starbucks cup that only ¼ of it has been drunk)
Eric: Hey it’s cool.
Matt: Wait, what was the question?
Tomo: The question was skepticism. No. We don’t even listen to that.
Jared: Every band’s got challenges, every band. From the lead singer being a dope fiend to gaining 45 pounds to being a loser to not making a second good record to being too ugly to being to pretty to being too big of a rock star to being too boring, you know? Everyone’s got a fucking problem. I’ll take my problems over theirs any day. We’ve had a lot of success and we are very grateful for it. We have the best fans in the world.
Tomo: Yup. (Matt nodding in agreement)
Jared: We have toured with some of our favorite bands. We’ve just made a record we’re really proud of. You can’t make everybody happy.
Tomo: You can’t let it bother you. It’s not really that important.
Matt: You would go crazy if you tried to make everyone happy.
Erin: So right now you are on tour with Chevelle and Taproot. How’s the tour been going?
Matt: Great. We toured with Chevelle in…
Tomo: 2003.
Matt: 2003. It was a few years ago.
Jared: It’s borderline slightly too heavy musically for us. But there is something about Chevelle that they always lean towards a melody. We are very theatrical and are huge in thinking of the presentation of a live show. So, it’s not the perfect experience musically, but the biggest part is that it works. We really like the guys in Chevelle. They are friends of ours and they have been very kind to us.
Tomo: They definitely go out of their way to make us have a better show every night… which they don’t have to do.
Jared: Yeah. We’re a little more on the softer, more melodic side and they’re a little bit heavier. If our heaviest and more intense songs versus their more melodic seem to kind of have a nice collision there.
Tomo: Yup. I agree.
Matt: It’s a happy collision.
Jared: If they played a couple songs on the flute we might be…
Matt: A little Jethro Tull action?
Jared: I did try to use a flute by the way on this album.
Matt: I do remember that.
Jared: We kind of did end up using a flute sound on “The Fantasy.” It would have been nice to use a gospel choir too.
(a security guard steps in)
Security: Are you guys waiting for somebody?
Matt: Nope. We’re just doing an interview.
Security: Sorry.
Matt: It’s ok.
Jared: See how much respect we get! You see that?
Erin: I know that after this tour you are heading out with The Used. Any plans after that?
Jared: Who said that? The Used? Who are they?
Erin: The Used.
Jared: No! U2! (a look of confusion on Erin’s face) Yeah!
Erin: Oh…
Jared: No! I’m just kidding. (big laughs all around)
Erin: (laughing) Oh, I was gonna say, did the website lie?
Tomo: I wish.
Jared: Oh my god yeah. But the funny thing is is that I’ve heard that U2 is a crushing tour to get because everyone just goes to see U2.
Matt: It’s so huge.
Jared: So you’d be there and a lot of the crowd is probably older. But yeah, we’re going out with The Used, which is great because Bert (vocalist for The Used) is a madman. We’re friends with them as well. That’s going to be a very synergistic tour.
Tomo: Plus the Street Drum Corps are gonna be on it as well. So, it’s gonna be fun.
Matt: On the whole tour?
Tomo: Yeah, the whole thing.
Matt: Oh, that’s cool.
Jared: It’ll be a fun little package!
Tomo: After that we’re doing some radio shows and off dates in between that through September. I don’t really know which ones, but we’ll be busy through September for sure. That’s what we have right now.
Eric: Then maybe a headline tour?
Jared: Yeah, I’d like to do that after. We’re still waiting to see what happens with other tours out there but that will be the next thing once we get some other issues out of the way. We’re gonna have to decide what we’re gonna do.
Tomo: Yup.
Eric: We have a couple traditional questions we always ask. What’s your favorite food, favorite movie, and favorite 80s song?
(A doorman comes over)
Doorman: You guys all set over there?
Tomo: Yeah. We’re doing an interview. Thank you.
Jared: Favorite food I think would have to be… a warm goat cheese…
Matt: Mmmm yes! With Melba Toast!
Jared: Cranberry Toast, Spinach Salad. Followed by…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Tomato bisque sitting on a…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Thinly sliced cheesed and bread…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Fondue followed by tofu steak marinated with pineapple (looks at Matt smiling) chutney.
Matt: YES! (laughs all around)
Jared: (breaks into British accent) With green and red orange bell peppers, summer squash and friendly fruits and vegetables.
Matt: Ah yes.
Tomo: The god’s greens! That’s wonderful.
Matt: What was the second one?
Eric: Favorite movie.
Tomo: My new favorite movie is At Close Range.
Jared: (shouting) THX 1138
Matt: Yes, that’s a good one.
Eric: At Close Range?
Jared: (shouting) AT CLOSE RANGE!
Tomo: Yes, At Close Range is my new favorite movie.
Eric: Favorite 80s song?
Jared: I’d have to say “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Matt: Yes.
Jared: Ooh. Pinch my nipple! Just relax. (laughs all around)
Matt: Mine would be “99 Red Balloons” by Nina. I love that song.
Eric: That’s a great song.
Matt: I could never get sick of it.
Jared: Katchagoogoo?
Tomo: I was only 2 years old in the 80s so I don’t have one.
Jared: You fool. Come on. Just say “Into the Beast” by Iron Maiden.
Tomo: Yeah why not? I like that one.
(At this point Jared lets out his best Bruce Dickinson yell. Jared, Matt, and Tomo all proceed to sing the chorus from “Run to the Hills.”)
Eric: You guys should cover that tonight.
Jared: Yeah, we tried.
Matt: We did. (laughs all around) We did.
Eric: Now obviously you guys have traveled to a lot of places, but if you could go anywhere, whether it’s through touring or just on your own…
Matt: Pittsburg, PA.
Tomo: Japan!
Jared: Antarctica!
Eric: Ok.
Matt: (To Jared) Yeah, you’ve been talking about that for a while now.
Jared: Yeah.
Tomo: I want Jared to be like this more of the time.
Matt: Yeah. You need to drink more (caffeine).
Jared: (In an accent) My brain is working faster, Faster, I CAN FEEL IT! (big laughs all around) … (mumbles)… (in his accent still) Tell me is this the truth you’re telling me or something…
Matt: You’re catching him in a very, very rare state.
Eric: I think he should drink the rest of it.
Tomo: (laughing hysterically) Yeah, me too!
Erin: So, what’s the best part about being in 30 Seconds to Mars?
Matt: Everything.
Jared: (still in accent) There is no best.
Matt: I don’t think you can really point to one thing and say it’s the best. This is kind of cliché, but there really isn’t a best. I think that just the experience or that the four of us get to share this dream. We all share this common vision of what we want and we’ve created it.
Tomo: And we get to do it.
Matt: Yeah, we get to live it out.
Tomo: The best part is that we get to do it. That’s the best part.
Matt: Same for me. The fact that I get to share a bunk with Tomo. (To a woman who interrupts that will be aforementioned as Rude Woman) Hi. How are you?
Rude Woman: Do you guys know I have a photo shoot after?
Matt: No we didn’t know that.
Rude Woman: It’s the cover a magazine. I’ll tell you about it.
Matt: Really?
Rude Woman: Yeah.
Matt: Well done! I loved your photos earlier by the way.
Rude Woman: What?
Jared: (In accent still) So happy to (mumbles)
Rude Woman: Did you guys actually look at the pictures?
Matt: Yeah.
Jared: (In accent) We’re just doing an interview right now sweet heart. (With a perturbed look on his face) Good to see you. (laughs all around)
Erin: Alright. So, where do you guys see yourself in 10 years?
Tomo: Doing exactly what we’re doing right now.
Matt: I was gonna say an old folks home.
Tomo: Sitting here talking to you about this interview we had 10 years prior and laughing about how I was right. Think about that for a second. Just imagine! Just imagine for a moment if it was the same group 10 years from now. Yes.
Eric: Ok, let’s do it then.
Tomo: Ok.
Matt: Is that it?
Eric: This is the last one. If you could say, and each of you can answer this individually, one thing to the entire world that everyone would hear, what would you say to them?
Matt: Please be quiet.
Tomo: Go to sleep. (laughing)
Jared: (long pause) August 30! (big laughs all around) (Editors Note: August 30, 2005 is the release date of A Beautiful Lie)
Tomo: I knew you were gonna say it! (more laughs)
Matt: The sinker.
Jared: A Beautiful Lie. (Breaks into another accent) I will stand upon Mount Cyanide and deliver up to me…
Matt: (in accent) Shout it out loud!
Jared: In great tombs of endearment with metaphors aside and truth in all my eyes. Here them August 30. Come. Be a new message. Prepare (HUGE laughs all around) so that thy credit card may not expire. Remember, on I-tunes immediately.
Matt: Your computer. Don’t forget.
Eric: Any last comments?
Tomo: Check out the website
Erin: Ok, we gotta ask the name question. Where did you come up with 30 Seconds to Mars?
Matt: Our imaginations.
Tomo: Yeah, it has nothing to do with space or time travel at all.
Matt: It’s not meant to be taken literally. It’s just what we feel best describes…
Tomo: We should actually move somewhere else because it’s going to get super loud.
Matt: Yeah.
(We move downstairs to a much more quiet area because another band is doing soundcheck upstairs where we were originally)
Eric: Alright.
Tomo: So, anyway.
Matt: So yeah. We kind of get pigeonholed into that whole “oh you guys are all about outer space and time travel.” Those are all metaphors. They are all to describe our music and what we call the human condition. We all go through the same trials and tribulations, ups and downs, and good things and bad things. It’s something people can relate to.
Eric: Cool. I understand that the writing and recording process took almost 2 years for your new album, A Beautiful Lie, and that you guys traveled to 4 different continents.
Matt: You did your homework. (smiles) Good job. (laughs all around)
Tomo: Yes. All over the place. It was actually closer to 3 years to be honest.
Matt: Yeah I would say from start to finish.
Eric: What was that whole process like?
Matt: A rollercoaster. (laughs)
Tomo: A rollercoaster. That’s perfect. It’s very difficult, you know? We’re control freaks.
Matt: I’m sorry. (answers cell phone)
Tomo: We are very, very, very anal about what we do. We take it very seriously. Hold on. (looks at Matt)
Matt: (on the phone) We’re down the stairs. Yeah, down the front stairs where the entrance is. Yeah. Ok. Bye. (hangs up)
Tomo: We take everything very seriously. Our quality control standards are probably higher than any band out there. I don’t think anyone is going to redo and shuffle through things as many times as we did.
Matt: It’s not necessarily a formula. We don’t intentionally set out to do that.
Tomo: No, no. We just set out to make sure it’s the best it can possibly be.
Matt: Oh yeah. Every avenue is explored.
Tomo: Yeah. We don’t let any idea go unexplored. We set everything through to fruition.
Matt: Nicely said.
Tomo: Thank you.
Eric: So how do you feel it compares to your first release?
Matt: It’s totally different. It doesn’t compare.
Tomo: Yeah.
Matt: (shouting) Over here!
Voice somewhere nearby: Where are you?
Matt: Over here. Follow my voice. Come, come, come.
(the voice turns out to be Jared)
Jared: What are you guys doing?
Matt: We are having a little powwow.
Jared: Is there anything I can add to the mix for a bit?
Matt: Of course there is.
Tomo: I’m sure there is.
Eric: Hey, my name’s Eric. (shaking hand)
Jared: Ok, hey. Jared.
Erin: I’m Erin. (shaking hand)
Jared: Ok. 2 ½ questions you can ask me. Go! (loud laughing)
Erin: Umm…
Jared: (more laughing) (claps hands and points to Eric)
Matt: (laughing hysterically) Tom Cruise!
Jared: (To Matt) He didn’t get it. (To Erin) Go!
Erin: Umm… (laughing)
Jared: (To Eric) Go!
Eric: Where do babies come from?
Jared: That I still haven’t figured out yet. Thank god! (laughs all around) Go! (more laughs all around)
Eric: Ok, let’s go on to the next one. What would say is the main message you guys were trying to convey with A Beautiful Lie?
Jared: I actually try not to convey anything. I think it’s a bonus if people get a message or a cohesive thought from it. That’s fantastic. Certainly you have goals when working on a group of songs, a record of information that hopefully shares some common ground. Each individual song is like a chapter in a book. We talked about that a little bit. I remember when it was in the very beginning and I had notes written down talking about grand ideas and themes. Wanting to use certain metaphors to describe certain things… ideas like violence. External violence to represent an internal battle and you find that a lot. Song titles like “Battle of One” to “Attack” to “The Kill”… umm…
Matt: Something wrong?
Jared: (smiling) I’ve got to say so much of the work is done without being self conscious. Hopefully there is a lot of common ground that is shared from song to song. There is certainly themes that are present, but if someone gets the message… you can’t worry about the consumer.
(Matt’s cell phone goes off again)
Eric: Now you’ve played a lot of shows over the years. Anytime there is a band that has an actor in it, there is a lot of skepticism. I think you have proved yourself with all of the live shows and…
Matt: Thank you.
Eric: Do you think you’ve gotten past the skepticism?
Jared: Not many people saw WKRP in Cincinnati: The New Years and Matt was not only terrific on the show…
Matt: Thank you.
Jared: But his consistency as an actor has really helped us as a band. His work as a dramatist has only made us stronger. I mean when he played Lenny the 47-year old transvestite in the off-Broadway “Piggy Wiggy on my Diggy Shniggy Piggy (laughs all around)… I got no Piggy… (laughs all around)
Matt: People ask me a lot about that one.
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee…
(Matt’s cell phone goes off again)
Tomo: OH MY GOD!
Jared: The fact that he could grow a goatee and breasts, I thought he deserved a Tony.
Matt: (smiling) I thought I deserved an Academy Award.
Jared: But instead he got some guy named Fred in a bar on 32nd street. (In a gay voice) He’ll do just fine. (back to normal) Oh god I shouldn’t drink caffeine before interviews.
Matt: (laughing) I love you like this! I gotta say.
Jared: And all I had was that little bit (points to his Starbucks cup that only ¼ of it has been drunk)
Eric: Hey it’s cool.
Matt: Wait, what was the question?
Tomo: The question was skepticism. No. We don’t even listen to that.
Jared: Every band’s got challenges, every band. From the lead singer being a dope fiend to gaining 45 pounds to being a loser to not making a second good record to being too ugly to being to pretty to being too big of a rock star to being too boring, you know? Everyone’s got a fucking problem. I’ll take my problems over theirs any day. We’ve had a lot of success and we are very grateful for it. We have the best fans in the world.
Tomo: Yup. (Matt nodding in agreement)
Jared: We have toured with some of our favorite bands. We’ve just made a record we’re really proud of. You can’t make everybody happy.
Tomo: You can’t let it bother you. It’s not really that important.
Matt: You would go crazy if you tried to make everyone happy.
Erin: So right now you are on tour with Chevelle and Taproot. How’s the tour been going?
Matt: Great. We toured with Chevelle in…
Tomo: 2003.
Matt: 2003. It was a few years ago.
Jared: It’s borderline slightly too heavy musically for us. But there is something about Chevelle that they always lean towards a melody. We are very theatrical and are huge in thinking of the presentation of a live show. So, it’s not the perfect experience musically, but the biggest part is that it works. We really like the guys in Chevelle. They are friends of ours and they have been very kind to us.
Tomo: They definitely go out of their way to make us have a better show every night… which they don’t have to do.
Jared: Yeah. We’re a little more on the softer, more melodic side and they’re a little bit heavier. If our heaviest and more intense songs versus their more melodic seem to kind of have a nice collision there.
Tomo: Yup. I agree.
Matt: It’s a happy collision.
Jared: If they played a couple songs on the flute we might be…
Matt: A little Jethro Tull action?
Jared: I did try to use a flute by the way on this album.
Matt: I do remember that.
Jared: We kind of did end up using a flute sound on “The Fantasy.” It would have been nice to use a gospel choir too.
(a security guard steps in)
Security: Are you guys waiting for somebody?
Matt: Nope. We’re just doing an interview.
Security: Sorry.
Matt: It’s ok.
Jared: See how much respect we get! You see that?
Erin: I know that after this tour you are heading out with The Used. Any plans after that?
Jared: Who said that? The Used? Who are they?
Erin: The Used.
Jared: No! U2! (a look of confusion on Erin’s face) Yeah!
Erin: Oh…
Jared: No! I’m just kidding. (big laughs all around)
Erin: (laughing) Oh, I was gonna say, did the website lie?
Tomo: I wish.
Jared: Oh my god yeah. But the funny thing is is that I’ve heard that U2 is a crushing tour to get because everyone just goes to see U2.
Matt: It’s so huge.
Jared: So you’d be there and a lot of the crowd is probably older. But yeah, we’re going out with The Used, which is great because Bert (vocalist for The Used) is a madman. We’re friends with them as well. That’s going to be a very synergistic tour.
Tomo: Plus the Street Drum Corps are gonna be on it as well. So, it’s gonna be fun.
Matt: On the whole tour?
Tomo: Yeah, the whole thing.
Matt: Oh, that’s cool.
Jared: It’ll be a fun little package!
Tomo: After that we’re doing some radio shows and off dates in between that through September. I don’t really know which ones, but we’ll be busy through September for sure. That’s what we have right now.
Eric: Then maybe a headline tour?
Jared: Yeah, I’d like to do that after. We’re still waiting to see what happens with other tours out there but that will be the next thing once we get some other issues out of the way. We’re gonna have to decide what we’re gonna do.
Tomo: Yup.
Eric: We have a couple traditional questions we always ask. What’s your favorite food, favorite movie, and favorite 80s song?
(A doorman comes over)
Doorman: You guys all set over there?
Tomo: Yeah. We’re doing an interview. Thank you.
Jared: Favorite food I think would have to be… a warm goat cheese…
Matt: Mmmm yes! With Melba Toast!
Jared: Cranberry Toast, Spinach Salad. Followed by…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Tomato bisque sitting on a…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Thinly sliced cheesed and bread…
Matt: Chutney!
Jared: Fondue followed by tofu steak marinated with pineapple (looks at Matt smiling) chutney.
Matt: YES! (laughs all around)
Jared: (breaks into British accent) With green and red orange bell peppers, summer squash and friendly fruits and vegetables.
Matt: Ah yes.
Tomo: The god’s greens! That’s wonderful.
Matt: What was the second one?
Eric: Favorite movie.
Tomo: My new favorite movie is At Close Range.
Jared: (shouting) THX 1138
Matt: Yes, that’s a good one.
Eric: At Close Range?
Jared: (shouting) AT CLOSE RANGE!
Tomo: Yes, At Close Range is my new favorite movie.
Eric: Favorite 80s song?
Jared: I’d have to say “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Matt: Yes.
Jared: Ooh. Pinch my nipple! Just relax. (laughs all around)
Matt: Mine would be “99 Red Balloons” by Nina. I love that song.
Eric: That’s a great song.
Matt: I could never get sick of it.
Jared: Katchagoogoo?
Tomo: I was only 2 years old in the 80s so I don’t have one.
Jared: You fool. Come on. Just say “Into the Beast” by Iron Maiden.
Tomo: Yeah why not? I like that one.
(At this point Jared lets out his best Bruce Dickinson yell. Jared, Matt, and Tomo all proceed to sing the chorus from “Run to the Hills.”)
Eric: You guys should cover that tonight.
Jared: Yeah, we tried.
Matt: We did. (laughs all around) We did.
Eric: Now obviously you guys have traveled to a lot of places, but if you could go anywhere, whether it’s through touring or just on your own…
Matt: Pittsburg, PA.
Tomo: Japan!
Jared: Antarctica!
Eric: Ok.
Matt: (To Jared) Yeah, you’ve been talking about that for a while now.
Jared: Yeah.
Tomo: I want Jared to be like this more of the time.
Matt: Yeah. You need to drink more (caffeine).
Jared: (In an accent) My brain is working faster, Faster, I CAN FEEL IT! (big laughs all around) … (mumbles)… (in his accent still) Tell me is this the truth you’re telling me or something…
Matt: You’re catching him in a very, very rare state.
Eric: I think he should drink the rest of it.
Tomo: (laughing hysterically) Yeah, me too!
Erin: So, what’s the best part about being in 30 Seconds to Mars?
Matt: Everything.
Jared: (still in accent) There is no best.
Matt: I don’t think you can really point to one thing and say it’s the best. This is kind of cliché, but there really isn’t a best. I think that just the experience or that the four of us get to share this dream. We all share this common vision of what we want and we’ve created it.
Tomo: And we get to do it.
Matt: Yeah, we get to live it out.
Tomo: The best part is that we get to do it. That’s the best part.
Matt: Same for me. The fact that I get to share a bunk with Tomo. (To a woman who interrupts that will be aforementioned as Rude Woman) Hi. How are you?
Rude Woman: Do you guys know I have a photo shoot after?
Matt: No we didn’t know that.
Rude Woman: It’s the cover a magazine. I’ll tell you about it.
Matt: Really?
Rude Woman: Yeah.
Matt: Well done! I loved your photos earlier by the way.
Rude Woman: What?
Jared: (In accent still) So happy to (mumbles)
Rude Woman: Did you guys actually look at the pictures?
Matt: Yeah.
Jared: (In accent) We’re just doing an interview right now sweet heart. (With a perturbed look on his face) Good to see you. (laughs all around)
Erin: Alright. So, where do you guys see yourself in 10 years?
Tomo: Doing exactly what we’re doing right now.
Matt: I was gonna say an old folks home.
Tomo: Sitting here talking to you about this interview we had 10 years prior and laughing about how I was right. Think about that for a second. Just imagine! Just imagine for a moment if it was the same group 10 years from now. Yes.
Eric: Ok, let’s do it then.
Tomo: Ok.
Matt: Is that it?
Eric: This is the last one. If you could say, and each of you can answer this individually, one thing to the entire world that everyone would hear, what would you say to them?
Matt: Please be quiet.
Tomo: Go to sleep. (laughing)
Jared: (long pause) August 30! (big laughs all around) (Editors Note: August 30, 2005 is the release date of A Beautiful Lie)
Tomo: I knew you were gonna say it! (more laughs)
Matt: The sinker.
Jared: A Beautiful Lie. (Breaks into another accent) I will stand upon Mount Cyanide and deliver up to me…
Matt: (in accent) Shout it out loud!
Jared: In great tombs of endearment with metaphors aside and truth in all my eyes. Here them August 30. Come. Be a new message. Prepare (HUGE laughs all around) so that thy credit card may not expire. Remember, on I-tunes immediately.
Matt: Your computer. Don’t forget.
Eric: Any last comments?
Tomo: Check out the website
www.30secondstomars.com. The album comes out August 30. In stores everywhere. Nationwide. Don’t forget to buy it.
Matt: (In accent) Shout it out loud!
Tomo: If you download it I will come after you with a knife!
Eric: We got the album in the mail this morning and it’s amazing.
Matt: (in accent) Well done!
Jared: Thank you guys!
Eric: Thank you.
Erin: Thanks.
Matt: (In accent) Shout it out loud!
Tomo: If you download it I will come after you with a knife!
Eric: We got the album in the mail this morning and it’s amazing.
Matt: (in accent) Well done!
Jared: Thank you guys!
Eric: Thank you.
Erin: Thanks.
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