Stop The Earth!

The lost prophets played at the o2 Academy in Leeds on Valentines day and I had the privilege to go back stage and meet some of the guys for an interview. Jamie Oliver and Stuart Richardson were happy enough for me to probe their minds, until Jamie had to go pee of course, after half an hour of holding it. Kudos Jamie.

Do you have a favorite new or upcoming band?

Jamie: The Dead Formats, they have a jaunty vibe with a punk rock ethic. I like that kind of stuff, there is a tonne of really good bands, creative bands *sneeze*

I hate that! When you’re going to sneeze but you don’t! my son does that! he looks so disappointed when he doesn’t go through with it!

Back to the question, I just want to fall in love with an album or band.

What bands are you following right now?

Jamie: I never stopped listening to all the stuff i liked when i was growing up, Shihad, a New Zealand band. Shihad came out with an album last year, They are the most under-rated band in the world, it’s a crime.

What advice would you give to new or struggling bands?

It’s, in my opinion, there is nothing more important than quality. *Stuart enters* If you can underline a quality in your work, in your art. If you don’t have honesty in your work then you are a fake, and people will find out.

Don’t wish you life away in pursuit of a dream only to find you have raised the bar, don’t miss the journey. When i do shows, the show isn’t a means to get to the next show…every show is a means in it’s own right.

Stuart: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in public, and learn to do things yourself because nobody else will. Believe in what you are doing because people can smell bullshit a mile away.

Jamie: Bands should say what is important to them.

Have you always wanted to be musicians?

Jamie: I didn’t, Well, i used to be a Painter, both my degrees are in fine art. BUT i am also an opportunist and the luckiest man alive to know these guys! *Stuart screams “YEA YOU WERE.”*

Stuart: Yes, since i can remember, i never saw anything else. I went through life with people telling me i couldn’t, we have huge chips on our shoulders for people over the years telling us we cant do this or that. I met someone in a studio, blagged my way in there and made coffee for a bit. One day i took over a session and made everything up, just jumped it. Luckily, it was good.

If you didn’t have music, where do you think you would be?

Jamie: Painting, i have a need to express myself and as long as i have the use of my eyes and hands i will. It’s more of a need to say how fucked up things are, it’s an extension of journalism really.

Stuart: Anything involving my OCD, producing bands is a really good way to focus in on it. Do you have OCD? I think everyone does, to a degree. It’s like Americans, they all have to be in therapy. I am a weird guy who likes to focus on little things. I think mixing music is meditation, forgetting about the past and the future and just being completely focused on one thing.

A lot of people i have spoken to about you guys say they never really heard about you until “last train home” - but what do you think your breakthrough single or album was?

Stuart: I think it was 1999 when we did our first demo and we were all really proud of it.

Jamie: I care more about the art rather than the name attached to it.

Do you prefer crunchy or smooth peanut butter?

Stuart: Smooth, it’s organic. Don’t want to be putting shit in your body.

Jamie: Smooth, it’s easier to digest, if you get me.

Boxers of Briefs?

Stuart: Briefs, I got boxers on now and im pissed off.

Jamie: Sports briefs, no wait, boxer briefs.

What is your favourite chocolate in a box of roses?

Jamie: Definitely not the toffee, the strawberry or orange.

Stuart: The whirls.

Have you ever had American chocolate?

Stuart: Yes, it tastes like Herpes. Although i do really like Reese’s Pieces because it has Peanut butter. Oh and M’n’M’s.

How would you define Time, in one sentence?

Jamie: Time is a vibration of energy and matter.

Stuart: PARTY TIME! oh and a series of mistakes.

After all of the questions were done, I went to the Leeds Metropolitan Museum where for a short while only they have a Geology exhibit to die for, showing off some asteroids, minerals and other really really cool geodes.

We are the ocean kicked off the gig with some amazing songs, giving the crowd some dual vocalism with the lead singer doing the loud parts and one of the guys in the back doing all the melodic singing. Kids in glass houses flew onto stage with an aura that got the crowd moshing away and during their performance many people were thrown out for crowd surfing.

After a long break, the main act came on stage. The lost prophets absolutely owned the stage, with Ian Watkins dominating the right half of the crowd (stage right) and Jamie Oliver controlling the left half with an iron grip (stage left). They played a lot of their new songs, but some old stuff like “last train home” and even did a cover of “The Omen” which seemed to be a crowd pleaser.

Nearing the end of the gig, inbetween songs the crowd started chanting “YORKSHIRE” and of course it got Ian’s attention, however he couldn’t quite understand what the crowd were saying and had to get down into the crowd to find out first hand.

Whilst i was at this gig, i ran into an ex-Bradford student who says “seen lost prophets 5 times now, so i feel i am well within my rights to say that was shit!” but i also ran into Fern Crickmore, a current Bradford student who said “Great gig,
can i marry Ian Watkins now?”. I don’t know about that Fern, but if he has any emotional attachment to the name, then I’m sure you are closer than most.

Despite mixed reviews, the gig was tremendous in every aspect (except drink prices) the lights were amazing, the music was astounding and all in all, i was happy to have stayed until the very end, catching the last train home.