This is my favourite Big Monster interview of all time. This made MTV news and a bunch of other websites that were a lot bigger when Brian from Brand New decided to take a swipe at Drive Thru records. It’s the Long Island equivalent of heat or OK!
BRAND NEW INTERVIEW : BRIAN LANE
Brand New are without a doubt most talked about bands at the minute, We caught up with Brian Lane, Drummer of the band to talk about Long island, Taking Back Sunday , The Movielife , and Morrisey
Big Monster: Hey, please tell us your name and position in Brand New
Brian: MY names Brian, and I play Drums
Big Monster: How did you guys first get together? Brian: Well me Jesse and Garret have been playing together since we were like fifteen, I went to college, everyone else worked for a while, we decided we wanted to play together and through friends found Vinny , and it just all worked out , we got a deal and its gone from there . There isn't much story behind it.
Big Monster: Where did the name Brand New come from?
Brian: I don't actually know, I know its from a Beastie Boys record, my friend Brandon came up with it, we were in a band called "The Rookie lot", we broke up, and wanted to form a new band, we used the name Brand New , he then left joined "The Movielife" but I liked the name so I kept it.
Big Monster: For anyone who hasn't heard you before, please describe your music.
Brian: It's Just Rock and Roll, if you like good song writing you will like our music.
Big Monster: Who are your influences?
Brian: There are so many, we like stuff from NO FX and all that fat wreck stuff, to Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Morrissey, The Smiths, Actually Morrissey a lot more then the Smiths, We actually went to the Salford's lads club today, as part of a photo shoot for the NME, that was really cool
Big Monster: Was it as cool as your Team Baldwinn photo shoots you did a few months ago?
Brian: No, its so cool Baldwinn shows up in a bear costume and takes photographs; he is a really cool guy
Big Monster: Why did you decide to call your latest album "Deja Etendu" as it translates to Already heard?
Brian: Because its funny, its really tongue in cheek, its because its not what you have already heard from us. On the last record we got labelled with so many other bands, which we weren't like at all. This album is very different sounding to the last, and this is our true sound.
Big Monster: Jesse has had a bit of an "on, off " relationship with John Nolan , have their been any fights on tour so far ?
Brian: John and Jesse have been friends for so long, they had a brief fall out, but they made up and are now still really good friends.
Big Monster: What's your opinion on Taking Back Sunday now?? , Do you hate Adam Lazzara?
Brian: I don't care, it's not relevant really, none of us really care about those guys, they have done stuff, but we just stay out of it. I think at first Jesse cared a bit, but now that is all in the past
Big Monster: Would you ever play a show with taking back Sunday again?
Brian: Yeah, why not, there aren't any plans to, but I wouldn't mind.
Big Monster: Are your songs purposely pretentious? , such as I believe you , but my Tommy gun doesn't
Brian: Yes, they are meant to, but its not Jesse being really overly pretentious, its him pointing out things. Like things about himself and others, things that he doesn't think are that great.
Big Monster: Why did you choose such long song titles? , This is just my opinion, but they seem a bit smiths influenced in a way
Brian: No , it wasn't intentional , a lot of them are related to songs , like Jesse relates certain experiences to songs , and that's why they came out like they did .
Big Monster: The sound on the second album is so much different to the first, what caused this massive change?
Brian: The Fact we got older, I guess, it wasn't that intentional, this is how we sound. The process of the first album was so different to the second that had a great impact on the sounds in both.
Big Monster: Why have you decided to go with Universal for the next record?
Brian: Well we wanted to sign to DreamWorks; a nice little independent, nice reputation, gave us a nice offer, literally the week we signed up they got bought out by Universal, but its cool, I think they will treat us good and we will be pleased with the outcome
Big Monster: Have you started to write it yet, Can you tell us anything about it?
Brian: We have started to write bits of it, there's not much to tell, its going to be better then the last!
Big Monster: You are now in a band with Brandon, ex movie life. Can you please tell us what actually happened to The Movielife?
Brian: Well, with that band there was little progression, they would sign to different labels, and still sell the same amount of CD's, play the same amount of shows, a lot of stuff happened to them, and it meant they didn't grow, eventually they signed to drive thru, I get the feeling that E.P they did for them at first was really pushed and they were made to have a whole different sound, which they didn't like, they didn't fit into the labels generic sound at all, eventually the stuff with drive thru being bought out made them quit. But they all pretty much have new projects
Big Monster: Who is the best band on Long island at the moment?
Brian: Glassjaw without a doubt
Big Monster: You have heard the new head automatica album, can you tell us what you think about it?
Brian: I haven't heard the full record yet, but from what I have heard I really think its good, both Daryl and The Automator are geniuses, its like James Brown guitar with break beats, it's really something.
Big Monster: What was it like playing a few shows with Todd Weinstock?
Brian: It was really cool, he is a friend of ours, so when Garret went home to a wedding we recruited him, he doesn't actually play bass but he handled it pretty well
Big Monster: What made you decide to put him in your video?
Brian: Well, it was just after the tour, and we thought it would be pretty cool having him in our video, we really enjoyed his company so we decided to stick him in it. You should have seen the emails we got, people thought that we had kicked Garret out of the band, and some that Garret had died in a car crash.
Big Monster: Do you think there is any future in Glassjaw at all?
Brian: No, I would love there to be, but I know Beck is so involved with merch direct, Daryl with Head automatica, and Todd with about 3 other bands, That I doubt they will do that much more. They have said that the next album will be the last, I don't know if they will tour that or not. I don't think there is much future after that.
Big Monster: Have you heard any Easy Tiger or any of Todd's other new projects?
Brian: God Damn you know your shit! Nope I haven't heard any Easy Tiger yet, I am sure it will be good though.
Big Monster: Which song was written 1st 70x 7, or There's no I in team?
Brian: 70 x 7 was written first, and not many people know this but our record came out a year before Taking Back Sundays.
Big Monster: How did you end up having the same lyrics in the songs?
Brian: Jesse and John are good friends, and they wrote the song about the same experience, from different perspectives.
Big Monster: You have toured with quite a few bands, who has been the best so far?
Brian: We have toured with so many, when we started out we all wanted to tour with The Foo Fighters, and we still haven't done that, but I hope we get the chance some day. I like taking really small bands out on tour with us, bands who not many people have heard, and give those guys a chance.
Big Monster: Any bands you would particularly like to take out on tour with you?
Brian: The Rocket Summer, I am not saying that just because of your T-shirt, I think its really good stuff, and would be great on tour.
Big Monster: Is there anything you wish had done differently?
Brian: No, I know so many bands who would say yes, but we have been lucky I guess, when we started out we would take what we were given, now we have had an input, and I think we have handled it well.
Big Monster: What's next for Brand New?
Brian: I don't know, we finish up here, do one more tour of America, then we record the new CD
Big Monster: Finally, is there anything else you wish to add?
Brian: Thanks to everyone who has come out to our shows, it’s been really great; everything in England has been superb, thanks
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