ROONEY (Taylor Locke) Discuss their latest press releases.

July 9, 2007, 11:11 PM

Here's what I knew about Rooney before today:
1. They had a single on the radio 4 years ago
2. They were on The OC

That didn't seem like enough information to conduct an interview, so I pulled up their Wikipedia to get the low down. There really wasn't TOO much more than the 2 things listed above. They got their name from Ferris Bueller...don't care. They were on the Herbie Fully Loaded soundtrack...still don't care. Video game soundtracks and soap operas...ugh.

Oh here we go...

So the band has been working on their sophomore album this entire time. Been in the studio with 3 different producers trying to get this album together, including the second attempt with Howard Benson, noted hit maker. Wonder what happened there?

After a few attempts, I finally get on the phone with Taylor Locke, lead guitarist for Rooney. He let me know that the phone call may not sound great since he was walking somewhere to get something to eat. Gee, thanks.

Taylor on touring with Fergie: "She offered it to us and we accepted because it's like you can only go if you win tickets. A viral kind of thing. Tickets aren't even on sale and its not really our kind of tour but the crowds are good. And she only plays 3 shows a week, so we're booking headlining dates in between.

Taylor on the new album Calling The World (July 17): We're happy with it. It comes out in under 2 weeks. Long time comin. We're pretty happy with it. July 17th."

Taylor on what the future holds for Rooney: "Touring. Lot's of touring. Touring on our own. Do something in August and then back to Europe in September. We're just taking it as it comes. Playing shows and trying to spread it."

Taylor on recording the second album multiple times: "We've been making 3 records, 3 different times with 3 different producers. It wasn't until the third one that we really liked it."

Taylor on internal problems: "We changed management and changed the people at the label we were working with. But really we just wanted to make the right sophomore record with the right producer. We ended up going in with John Fields."

Taylor on the Howard Benson version that was scrapped: "We want to have those as like supplemental material..so those songs will come out...in some way. We remixed some songs and we're playing them live, so for hardcore fans, there will be a lot of extra material."

What Taylor really wants his fans to know: "New record is coming out July 17th, weve been away for a long time cause we've been working really hard on it and we plan on touring relentlessly and our shows are really good. We put on a good show, people like to sing along. We have fun with what we do and we take it seriously, so come check it out."

I'm disappointed. I wanted to hear the drama about true artists struggling against an established money-hungry system to release their art without influence from non-artists...but all I got was a plug for the release date and him telling me how good they are. LAME.

I know I was interrupting this guy's lunch or whatever, but I was still hoping for a little more. I was hoping to talk to an actual artist and not a robot hype machine. I mean they ripped off The Doors album art for their new cover...is it wrong for me to expect more from them than what is dished out by EVERY other band? He seriously didn't tell me anything that wasn't in the press releases. So... MEH. That's what I have to say to them.

Good luck with the record...and your Fergilicious tour.

www.myspace.com/rooney