interview
by J-O
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
After the recent cancellations in Liverpool and Sheffield where ‘Funeral For A Friend’ were scheduled to headline the 2004 ‘NME Awards Tour’ yet pulled out due to illness within the band, the interview began with a sense of uncertainty. With the main question being ‘Are you playing tonight?’ Speaking to Kris Roberts (Guitar) and Darren Smith (Guitar) the definite response was ‘absolutely’. Kris and Darren told me how eager they were to play Manchester again, following the recent support tour to rock legends Iron Maiden. ‘We’re well up for it’ Kris told me. ‘After pulling the last two shows with Matt and myself catching the flu, were just eager to get back on stage’. ‘We're not completely recovered yet, but the show needs to go on !".
Both Darren and Kris were keen to say that the band would be rescheduling the two dates in Liverpool and Sheffield, taking to more intimate venues, to repay the fans that missed out. ‘We’ve already confirmed the ‘Sheffield Leadmill’ Darren states. ‘Playing live is what were all about and pulling any show is something we have never liked doing… says Kris. The bands health is of course something we need to keep a watchful eye on… We only cancel if we cannot give 100% to our fans’.
When asking Kris and Darren what the recent Arena tour in support of Iron Maiden was like they instantly began to grin. ‘Growing up on Iron Maiden and then supporting them on an arena tour is something you never expect’ Kris said. Darren agrees saying ‘With me and Kris being the guitarists and Iron Maiden being a heavily guitar based band, we were on a non-stop high throughout the full tour. Maiden are our idols and have been for years’. ‘We learnt so much on the tour from them… With us still being a considerably fresh band and Maiden being around since the early 80’s we were playing alongside the experts’ Kris intervened. ‘We really learnt how to have fun as well as play better than ever before’ Darren declared. Before I had chance to ask he jokingly said ‘…and that’s our well kept secret before you ask’.
With the band playing ‘Download’ and ‘Leeds Festival’ last year I was curious to find out if they would be doing the same this year. Kris told me ‘Nothing has been confirmed yet but were thinking of Download with ‘Metallica’ already confirmed as the headliners’. Darren revealed to me how the band don’t like playing the bigger stages are they aren’t as ‘Intense’. ‘We like to play intimate gigs, so any festivals we do play will be on the smaller stages’ he added.
With the band releasing their fourth single, the bands first album ‘Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation’ is still very much ongoing. I asked Darren and Kris if there was any development on another release. Pleased to say, they told me they were working on new material, and have completed some demo recordings for one new track. ‘We have had a rollercoaster ride over the last twelve months, so after summer we will take a short break before going back into the studio in November. An early 2005 release is likely, although we may put out a single towards the end of the year to keep people on their toes’ Kris says.
I had to ask, as there has been so much conspiracy, if the name ‘Funeral For A Friend’ was taken from the Elton John song. Amusingly, Kris had no idea Elton John had a song out titled ‘Funeral For A Friend’. But Darren replied, ‘No it’s not true, we took the name from one of Matt’s (Vocals in FFAF) favourite songs, by ‘Planes Mistaken For Stars’, a hardcore rock group from Florida’. Kris said ‘The band used to be called ‘January Thirst’, but we changed the name when we replaced our older and more aggressive vocalist. When Matt joined it was almost a new line up with a new attitude. It was only right we changed the name. Funeral For A Friend sounded suited us, and got the full bands approval so we kept it’.
With Funeral For A Friend winning the ‘Kerrang Awards’ Best New Rock Act, and beating The Darkness to the top, who were tipped to win the award, I felt it was my place to find out how they felt after winning the award. Both Kris and Darren were ecstatic in just relaying their thoughts. ‘Just being at the awards, beside your idols like Metallica and meeting bands Linkin Park and The Darkness was a feeling to never forget’ Darren said. ‘As we sat down Lars Ulrich (Metallica drummer, as if you needed telling) introduced himself to the band and said how much he loved our album. To hear that from one of your idols was amazing’. Darren went on to tell me how winning the award was an utter shock to the band. ‘We never expected to win, and as we said on the night, we thought any category that ‘The Darkness’ were in, they would scoop the award… Winning the Best New Rock Act Award was truly unforgettable. Being rewarded for your hard work is one of the best feelings ever. To get it from the ‘Kerrang Awards’ is on another level’, he spoke.
Kris told me the band were touring with long time welsh friends, ‘The Lost Prophets’ in Europe, then were going to complete the year with the festival dates before the new recording sessions start. ‘We can’t wait to play tonight as were in good shape, and soundcheck went well’, piped Kris. ‘We owe the Manchester fans for supporting us over the years we’ve been playing here, and are going to give our all tonight… With pulling the two shows our anxiety is setting in, but we’ll take it one step at a time’.
Through interviewing Kris and Darren, and briefly speaking to Matt after soundcheck, the bands attitude was one of great anticipation. With the gig just hours away and the band on recovery, the NME Awards Tour in Manchester should be an amazing show.
Interview by : J-O
all pictures (c) FFAF
(c) (p) musicdash 2004