Interviewed in person at Leeds Fest
Whilst crouching down packing my camcorder away, I saw a luminious sticker with Billy Talent scrawled across it stuck on the leg on of their tour manager. Heart pumping, I approached him to persuade - or beg - for five minutes of their time. So I began talking like an excitable, star-struck school girl to lead screamer Bejamin Kowalewicz and beautiful bassist Jonathan Gallant.
Altsounds: I cant believe I got Billy Talent!
B: Are you a fan then?
Altsounds: I loved your first album, it’s awesome.
B: What about the others?
Altsounds: Well, I bought the second one a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had time to listen to it properly, and it didn’t grab me on first listen…. erm…sorry.
Altsounds: Have you guys heard of Altsounds?
B: Nope.
J: I listened to your first website but I didn’t get into the second one. [Laughing]
Altsounds: [Blushing] Basically we are an online publication and we’re by the people for the people. So we are basically like a massive fanzine. Do you have a message for any people who haven’t heard of you before or fans looking for something new from you guys?
B: Well if they haven’t heard of us then they don’t care where the message is coming from.
J: Check us out.
B: Yeah check us out.
Altsounds: Please could you tell me your favourite joke?
B: I have got some good Michael Jackson jokes?
Altsounds: Aw man, You wanna risk it so soon?
B: Oh, yeah I’m evil. They found out that MJ actually died of food poisoning… they found a ten year old wiener in his stomach.
J: That’s a good one.
Altsounds: I haven’t heard that one before.
J: I made up a joke… You ever watch the Flintstones?
Altsounds: Yeah.
J: You know how they drive the cars then right?
Altsounds: Yeah.
J: Why did Fred Flintstone stop his car. Because he stepped on pebbles.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha! I like it, did you really make that up?
J: Yeah I made that up, I swear to god.
B: Put it online, oh wait, now it is online!
Altsounds: So if I were a princess...
B: I'd have a crush on you and sweep you away to a far away land.
Altsounds: Awesome!
B: And we'd live happily ever after by a brook and have lots of little animals running around and children chasing the animals.
Altsounds: Awesome, not quite my dream though. Brooks and animals?
J: That is awesome for like a 2 minute meeting though.
Altsounds: Love at first sight then?
B: It is.
Altsounds: But if I were stuck in a tower how would you rescue me?
B: I would probably get a helicopter and dangle a ladder down so you could climb up the ladder and then we'd go to our brook.
J: Hmm, I guess I would just have to build some sort of scaffolding.
Altsounds: So you’ve played Reading and you’re closing the Lock Up Stage, bit of an honour. Which do you prefer Reading or Leeds?
B: It really is an honour yeah. Reading was awesome though, it’s going to be hard for Leeds to beat it. [Smacks bottle against hand]
Altsounds: Have you played IN Leeds before…
Both: Yes, yes, many times.
J: We are veterans of the cockpit.
Altsounds: So are you guy’s straight edge?
Both: Nah we both drink alcohol.
Altsounds: Any recommended hangover cures?
B: Barroca, Iron Bru and one apple and I’m fine.
J: I used to do the Gatorade thing but now I’m like a good catholic boy and just suffer through the agony. As punishment.
Altsounds: So any crazy stories from the band recently?
J: Last night Noodles from The Offspring told Aaron (Solowoniuk) that he looked like Kevin Bacon…
Altsounds: OK, my time’s up, thanks so much [scary stalker voice]: I love you! [Joke]
B: No problem and good luck to Altsounds!
When they’re walking away, I calm myself down by drinking energy drinks and cooling my red face with the can.
Billy Talent will be in the UK from October 19th to November 1st before dashing off to Germany [November 16th – November 27th], Austria [November 29th - 1st December], Italy [3rd December] and Switzerland [4th December].
Altsounds: I cant believe I got Billy Talent!
B: Are you a fan then?
Altsounds: I loved your first album, it’s awesome.
B: What about the others?
Altsounds: Well, I bought the second one a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had time to listen to it properly, and it didn’t grab me on first listen…. erm…sorry.
Altsounds: Have you guys heard of Altsounds?
B: Nope.
J: I listened to your first website but I didn’t get into the second one. [Laughing]
Altsounds: [Blushing] Basically we are an online publication and we’re by the people for the people. So we are basically like a massive fanzine. Do you have a message for any people who haven’t heard of you before or fans looking for something new from you guys?
B: Well if they haven’t heard of us then they don’t care where the message is coming from.
J: Check us out.
B: Yeah check us out.
Altsounds: Please could you tell me your favourite joke?
B: I have got some good Michael Jackson jokes?
Altsounds: Aw man, You wanna risk it so soon?
B: Oh, yeah I’m evil. They found out that MJ actually died of food poisoning… they found a ten year old wiener in his stomach.
J: That’s a good one.
Altsounds: I haven’t heard that one before.
J: I made up a joke… You ever watch the Flintstones?
Altsounds: Yeah.
J: You know how they drive the cars then right?
Altsounds: Yeah.
J: Why did Fred Flintstone stop his car. Because he stepped on pebbles.
Altsounds: Ha ha ha! I like it, did you really make that up?
J: Yeah I made that up, I swear to god.
B: Put it online, oh wait, now it is online!
Altsounds: So if I were a princess...
B: I'd have a crush on you and sweep you away to a far away land.
Altsounds: Awesome!
B: And we'd live happily ever after by a brook and have lots of little animals running around and children chasing the animals.
Altsounds: Awesome, not quite my dream though. Brooks and animals?
J: That is awesome for like a 2 minute meeting though.
Altsounds: Love at first sight then?
B: It is.
Altsounds: But if I were stuck in a tower how would you rescue me?
B: I would probably get a helicopter and dangle a ladder down so you could climb up the ladder and then we'd go to our brook.
J: Hmm, I guess I would just have to build some sort of scaffolding.
Altsounds: So you’ve played Reading and you’re closing the Lock Up Stage, bit of an honour. Which do you prefer Reading or Leeds?
B: It really is an honour yeah. Reading was awesome though, it’s going to be hard for Leeds to beat it. [Smacks bottle against hand]
Altsounds: Have you played IN Leeds before…
Both: Yes, yes, many times.
J: We are veterans of the cockpit.
Altsounds: So are you guy’s straight edge?
Both: Nah we both drink alcohol.
Altsounds: Any recommended hangover cures?
B: Barroca, Iron Bru and one apple and I’m fine.
J: I used to do the Gatorade thing but now I’m like a good catholic boy and just suffer through the agony. As punishment.
Altsounds: So any crazy stories from the band recently?
J: Last night Noodles from The Offspring told Aaron (Solowoniuk) that he looked like Kevin Bacon…
Altsounds: OK, my time’s up, thanks so much [scary stalker voice]: I love you! [Joke]
B: No problem and good luck to Altsounds!
When they’re walking away, I calm myself down by drinking energy drinks and cooling my red face with the can.
Billy Talent will be in the UK from October 19th to November 1st before dashing off to Germany [November 16th – November 27th], Austria [November 29th - 1st December], Italy [3rd December] and Switzerland [4th December].
