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By Michael Coyle Despite three platinum albums and nearly ten years of history, the average American knows squat about Supergrass. Maybe they recall "Caught By The Fuzz," the Oxford trio's rollicking 1995 breakthrough about a kid busted for buying coke, but probably not. Supergrass, to most Americans, was the band mentioned in the articles they read about the bands who played "Wonderwall," "Song 2," and "Bittersweet Symphony." Supergrass have, however, been doing just fine since that Brit-pop wave ebbed in the States. They're not even Blur or Radiohead caliber superstars in Britain (NME once called them "every bigger band's favourite opener"), but they do quite well and are, as reported and evidenced by drummer Danny Goffey, who does this interview while laying in bed at his London home, quite content. For the loyal who never forgot Supergrass, February brought a shimmering, pogo-along treat in the form of the record Life On Other Planets. Staggering through quick, liquor-loosened guitar-pop, the record is glam Bowie with a case of Madness and the bite of T. Rex. And it's their best since their white-hot debut, I Should Coco. Recorded languorously at a chateau in the south of France, amidst much wine drinking, Goffey explains that looseness was a part of the plan. They'd drink, they'd jam, there'd be a new song. "We'd play live, altogether, and record and keep the first or second take. Then maybe do a few overdubs. But that's pretty much it. We wanted it to have that feeling of not working too hard on it." As to the influences mentioned above, Goffey says they've been listening to a lot of those bands all their lives. As for what gets those songs out of them, he fumbles with an answer. "We're inspired by each other, going out, what we generally do at night. I don't know, maybe some films inspire us." Clearly, it's not something he's thought much about, and that's part of the joy of Supergrass. They are the other side to British rock's somber, ponderous Coldplay/Radiohead style; gleefully apolitical and obviously, madly in love with life. To further lighten their loads, Supergrass, which is also Gaz Coombes on guitar/vocals and Mick Quinn on bass, brought in producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air). "Doing it on [our] own would have been so much work," explains Goffey. So with this penchant for doing as little as possible, fans have to be wondering if Supergrass will find the energy to tour. Thankfully, they like that part of their job. "It's good, man," says Goffey, "Getting out on the highway and seeing all those beautiful places like Salt Lake City." Yes, he was joking. But he says he does like the Southwestern part of the country. Namely, he says he enjoys "Arizona and all that weird shit, [because people] don't get to see as many bands and they like it more. You get these kind of loners." The band can identify with the loner kids, he adds, better than the L.A. and New York crowds who seem to show up, "just to see if you've got cool haircuts." And a Supergrass tour doesn't sound all that laborious anyway. "We tend to drink quite a lot before we go on, and that sort of thing," Goffey chuckles. "It always helps to drink a lot of vodka before going on - I find." Where does he find the stamina to bang out a whole set of up-tempo songs whilst sauced? "Every three or four songs I get my drum-tech to get me a bottle of Red Bull," he explains. Spoken like a professional party man, which is really always how the band has come off. Having been signed when most of them were just teens, they tend to still act like they are. As long as they can catch all that youthful energy on a tape, why stop? "We've all got kids and shit," says Goffey. "That can make going out on the road harder. But sometimes it's a relief." He's ready for that relief in a big way. By the time this goes to print they'll be marching through Europe with Gaz so pissed he tells the crowd "Achoo," instead of "Thank You" after each song. Danny can't wait. "The girls go mental in Prague," he says. Who needs America? On the web: www.supergrass.com |
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Copyright © 2002 Mean Street Magazine, LLC |
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