Barn stormers! - The Killers, Razorlight, and Kasabian [NME (June 25th, 2005)]
Barn stormers!
NME catches up with some of last year's bands who are returning to Glastonbury as conquering heroes
Brandon Flowers The Killers
DAY: Friday TIME: 9:30pm STAGE: Pyramid
Last year, NME labelled you “the biggest draw of Glasto 2004”. Was it as good for you? “It was a really exciting time, a turning point for us. We didn't know how much England liked us!”
You were offered the job of replacing Kylie but turned it down. For the love of god, why? “Next year would be better. We want to feel that we grew and accomplished more later. There's nowhere to go from headlining the world's biggest festival!”
Will you be playing any Kylie songs in your set? “I'd like to. It'd be good to sing a few' nah nah nah's!”
Who are you looking forward to seeing? “The White Stripes. I'm a big fan, but I've never seen them live. I'm excited about the new album. I'm intrigued to see them play – just the two of them onstage.”
What's your best Glasto memory? “Watching Paul McCartney. Last year was my first Glastonbury and it was great.”
Are you planning any surprises or new songs? “We'll probably play a new song called ‘All The Pretty Faces’. It's great. We just need to write ten more now!”
Which bits of your set would you most like us to sing along to? “‘Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll’ or ‘All These Things That I've Done’. People singing along is what we focus on. I was one of those people who sang along and I still am.”
Where's the best place to have sex at Glasto? “On Ronnie's drumkit! If any NME readers are interested, just talk to our tour manager…”
Finally, do you have a festival survival secret? “Carrots. A lot of greens. Eat well!”
Carl Dalemo Razorlight
SATURDAY, OTHER STAGE, 11.05PM
Last year, NME labelled you “Third Summer Of Love heroes”! Was it as good for you? “We were added to the Other Stage bill so late that we weren't in the programme. But it was an amazing gig.”
Who do you want to see? “Brian Wilson, The Undertones and Elvis Costello.”
What's your worst Glasto memory? “Me and my girlfriend made the mistake of not going home in the band van. The next day, we walked around for hours until we got a taxi to the station, but then had to queue for two hours for the train.”
Planning any surprises or new songs? “Since we're headlining, we can do more or less what we like with the lights and stuff. It's gonna be big.”
Should we ban hoodies from this year's festival? “No, no, no, no, no! I like to wear my hood up. Hooded tops aren't to blame for any type of youth crime wave.”
Do you have a survival secret? “If it's muddy, don't worry! It's just a bit of mud.”
Tom Meighan Kasabian
SATURDAY, OTHER STAGE, 9.20PM
Last year, NME labelled you, um, “the new Darkness”! But we meant it in a nice way-you played dead early and went on to become massive, just like them, right? “Totally! Walking onstage at 11am and seeing 20,000 people there! That was fucking empire!”
Who do you want to see? “Bloc Party and Coldplay. They're the only bands I know who are playing the same day as us.”
Who do you not want to see? “Old men who are in their 70s with big, long, grey beards that are hanging to their knees. Gotta let go.”
Who should have replaced Kylie? “Shirley Bassey!”
Will you be obeying the anti-'shroom laws? “No! No! No! Fuck that! 'Shrooms are free. They grow in the fucking soil. They're real. God gave you 'em!”
Are you planning any surprises or new songs? “We've got a new song called ‘The Stunt Man’ Basically it's about Evel Knievel. That guy's a legend.”
There's no Glasto next year, where will you be? “Making babies!”
Worst Glasto memory? “Leaving on the Sunday at 5pm on the greatest comedown of my life. I was on a comedown 'cos I was leaving. Glastonbury was just wonderful.”
What's the best festival drug? “The air you breathe in.”
What's your favourite field? “It's all around you, innit? I like Stonehenge, where everyone lies around and stares at the stars.”
Translator's Note: I originally thought about not extracting Kasabian's short interview, given what had happened years ago. But then my brain reminded me that I still gotta do it because it's part of history.
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