Altsounds - Altsounds.com Q&A Interview - Dallas Green of Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire get pulled apart into the different media lion pits - just as Deftones start up on the main stage. Bad timing. And Dallas is clearly disappointed to be missing the Deftones set. I force him onto my interrogation sofa and squeeze in next to him, as he has sat right in the middle of the sofa. Nice and cosy, I try to keep it short and sweet so he might be able to see the Chino and the gang in action.

Altsounds: Alex-is-on-fire, Alexis-on-fire?
Dallas: Alexis-on-fire.

Altsounds: So Dallas, do you drink?
Dallas: I used to drink but then I stopped drinking for four years and then we did the Warped Tour this summer and it made me start drinking again.

Altsounds: So, best hangover cure?
Dallas: Oh, I haven’t been drunk-drunk yet to have a hangover, I’ve just kind of slowly gone back into it.

Altsounds: You’ve played Reading already and now you’ve just played Leeds…
Dallas: We’re playing twice.

Altsounds: Really, that’s a little odd?
Dallas: Yeah, we play the main stage then the lock up stage at 8 pm, cos its more fun over there. So its like, yay, we're on the main stage, but then we go play a good show. It isn’t just 20,000 people going 'this isn’t The Kaiser Chiefs, who is this?', that’s pretty much the whole set on the main stage, like only a couple of kids who know who we are. So we do a smaller show later on for all the kids who do know who we are.

Altsounds: I see, so do you prefer Reading or Leeds?
Dallas: Well last year we did Leeds first and then we did Reading. I think Reading was better but that’s just because the first show is always not as good. But Reading was really good this year so we'll just have to see.

Altsounds: Ok, so if you were on death row what would be your last meal?
Dallas: Whistles - Probably some pizza from Pizza Express, we don’t have it in Canada and I love it, we eat it all the time when we are over here.

Altsounds: Can you tell me something random or crazy that’s happened to you as a band recently?
Dallas: Well, we were just doing a signing and there were kids bringing stuff and this kid turns up with a mannequin hand for us to sign.

Altsounds: Did he explain?
Dallas: Nah, just handed it over, which I thought was pretty weird.
Altsounds: I quite like that, you could stick it to your wall maybe!

Altsounds: What is your favourite joke?
Dallas: I have no idea.

Altsounds: No idea?
Dallas: So...A guy walks into a bar and he's like...Ow!
Altsounds: That was my favourite joke for 5 years!
Dallas: Yeah!

Altsounds: Ok, so obviously you’ve got shit loads of tattoos, what’s the most you’ve you spent on just one?
Dallas: Well I’ve never spent that much on them because someone from my home town used to give them to me on a deal. And now I met this guy while we were touring who’s like my best friend who’s a really great tattoo artist and he doesn’t really charge me that much.

Altsounds: What would you like to say to our readers?
Dallas: Erm, if you have heard of us thanks very much for listening, if you haven’t, hopefully you’ll check us out, so thank you in advance if you do like us, sorry if you don’t.

Altsounds: That’s very polite.
Dallas: I’m Canadian that’s what we are.

Altsounds: If I were a princess locked away in a tower, how would you rescue me?
Dallas: Well, I would travel back in time from where I am now, to get something that isn’t made yet, freak everybody out and go up there and get you because they’d think I was a weird alien or a king from the future.

Altsounds: What was the turning point when you thought ‘This is it this is what I want to do?’
Dallas: Actually, I went to go see the Deftones play when I was 16 in Toronto. I didn’t even play music, but that show made me really want to play music for people. I was going so crazy in the crowd with everybody that I thought wouldn’t it be great if I could play here and get people to do that.
Altsounds: That’s the best answer I’ve had so far, probably because it’s the most honest.

Altsounds: So you’re from Ontario?
Dallas: Yeah

Altsounds: So if I were going to Ontario, where would I go to rock out?
Dallas: There’s lots of good places in Toronto to see shows, the Opera House is a good venue, its not too big or too small, its 700 or 800 capacity so it can be a really crazy big show but at the same time not really. But there’s lots of good little clubs too. Also maybe try Halifax or Vancouver. Anywhere in Canada is good!

Altsounds: Ok great, were done, you’re free…!

Dallas literally ran from the couch and made his way to see Deftones on the main stage. Alexisonfire's album 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals' is out now on Vagrant Records.