A Interview from Merthyr Rocks

Well A have been a band since around 93, a lot has changed in 21 years, so can you give us a brief history of A?
It took 3 years to get a deal, which happened in 96, then we toured and did 260 shows in one year and then 270 the next year. We then went to California to work on the album but it didn’t do well enough for us to keep touring. We were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get big quickly but when we did it was good that we already had ‘How ace are building’ and ‘Monkey Kong’ so it meant that when we played would could have decent sets. As time moved on and music evolved like it naturally does me and Dan then moved on to producing so this is like a bit of a holiday for us at the moment.

Now you’ve not really been A since 2005, with just the occasional tour and breaks in-between, what keeps you coming back?
Just for fun really and wanting to play our songs. We haven’t even rehearsed and it’s nice to not have to care so much.

Now are A back for good? We’ve interviewed you a number of times over the past few years and you keep saying how you’re making new material, are you or is that dead and are you now just going to tour every now and again?
I’d love us to be back and write some songs but it’s just finding the time at the moment. I’ve been really busy the past few years and Dan has been really busy with his radio show so it’s just finding the time to do it properly.

Now how did this year’s re-union come about? Was it the Blackout that made you come back and play?
I was in LA in March and I went out for breakfast with a mate of mine who is a promoter and he said I’ll buy you breakfast if you come and play a show. We turned up and did that and then Sean asked us to do this, so the first gig was kind of our rehearsal for this one.

How does it feel to be playing festivals again? You’ve played some of the biggest in the world, so what’s it like playing in Merthyr?
I’ll tell you afterwards (laughter).

You were due to play a warm up gig in Coventry yesterday but unfortunately it was postponed till December, what can we expect from this exclusive gig, the site says you’re playing Hi-Fi serious in full, is this true? And are you worried that you’re going to be shot at again?
I have no idea who has said that, a lot of things about this gig have been a disaster so I don’t think we will be. We’ll play some songs from it but I’d like to play some songs from ‘Monkey Kong’ and ‘How Ace’ as well.

A’s fan base has aged over the years, do your gigs tend to have just the old fans or are you still attracting young fans?
I don’t know because we haven’t really done any shows. The last shows we played were with Bowling For Soup so it’s a bit hard to gauge.

Now you’ve had a long history, what are some of your main highs and lows?
Winning a Kerrang award was a big high, especially as that was when the fans first started voting for them. Playing Reading and Rock Am Ring were amazing as well as touring with Green Day and Blink 182.

Do you have a favourite A song? Also is there a song that you hate, but you have to play as the fans love it?
Old Folks I would say is my favourite or Starbucks but I also like Nothing because it is easy to sing (laughter).

Now Dan and Adam where members of the Bloodhound Gang, are they (you) still and if so is there anything in the pipeline for them, and would this make way for a A/Bloodhound gang tour again?
Yeah they’re still involved with that but being able to do something with the two bands would be definitely awesome.

What’s your opinion on the whole anti-piracy laws going on at the moment and how it will affect the music industry?
I think it’s good but a bit late because we’ve probably missed a whole generation of kids who will never change the way they get their music. Ten years ago people joined bands to become rich and famous and nowadays they realise that it is probably the hardest thing to do. I think it would be great if fans woke up and realised how hard they were making it for bands. I would never illegally download a song because I know how much goes into making it and I also think that downloading music is great value for money, it’s the same as two cups of coffee.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
Can I be a polar bear? (laughter). I’d love to be a polar bear, they’re amazing animals.

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Thanks for all the great times and thanks for not nicking our music (laughter).