IN FLAMES
IN FLAMES HAS ALWAYS HAD ITS OWN UNIQUE SOUND BUT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN YOUR MUSIC OVER THE YEARS, IS THIS SOMETHING INTENTIONAL? OR IS IT SOMETHING HAS NATURALLY EVOLVED?
IN FLAMES: We don’t know, we had no idea that we were doing it. It just happens, of course there is some change because we are getting older it’s been 20+ years in the making you know. Things happen to make the change. Studio preps and you learn a lot from all the touring you do. You have different approaches to the same thing as well. Naturally, we don’t want to do the same record over and over again, we don’t really write on the road instead we book a studio then we start writing. Then we tour for a couple of years and then we feel like we want to make another album and then we go in and do it. So therefore things happen in those years. I guess what is important to us, is to keep the essence of In Flames which would be melody that’s where we start. Today we can do it on vocals and keyboards rather than bass guitar and in the early days it was mainly guitar which was the driving force.
YOU ARE TOURING WITH OF MICE AND MEN AND FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. WHAT’S THE CONNECTION LIKE BETWEEN THE THREE BANDS?
IN FLAMES: I think it brings a lot of diversity to the full show. Five Finger Death Punch we have known for years but Of Mice and Men we aren’t that familiar with. I will start to understand them when we play with them it’s a great opportunity for all of us to tour it’s going to be a big tour.
WHAT FEELS BETTER, THE ACCOLADES OF GETTING A GRAMMY OR MAKING A NEW ALBUM AND EXPRESSING MORE OF WHO YOU ARE?
IN FLAMES: Album by far, I mean a prize is fun, it’s like well “OK thank you very much”, it’s a honour but to go into the studio with nothing and coming out with something that you feel is 100%complete that’s extremely satisfying. Meeting your fans getting to know people who listen to your music you know Live from T5 show that’s really satisfying without them we wouldn’t be here.
HOW IS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE PLAYING WITH NIELS NIELSEN AT HELLFEST?
IN FLAMES: He’s having a blast and it feels really good to have someone up there that plays on the keyboards and I’ve known him for many years. He’s a good friend and when I asked him, he said I should do that. So he is having a good summer camp he’s like -What do you mean rehearse? He just showed up at the first gig Rock and Ring.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU GO OVER THE TOP?
IN FLAMES: We haven’t gone over the top yet, we are still pushing it, but yes in the early days there were definitely fan scenes. When we started out on Gothenburg even before I was in this band I was in another band called Dark Tranquillity with people selling things at the show and everyone was promoting each other, tape trading and you were printing your own 7 inch Slayer magazine from Norway that was a big thing.
THE DRUMMER JUST LEFT RECENTLY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BREW BEER WHERE THERE ANY OTHER REASONS?
IN FLAMES: I can still brew beer and be in the band that’s not the main reason he wanted to be home with his family.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T IN IN FLAMES TODAY?
IN FLAMES: I have no idea; I’ve been doing this my whole grown up life. I love being in this band and doing what I do so hopefully I can do this for many years to come and not think about that question to be honest
WHERE WAS YOUR VIDEO CLIP FILMED?
IN FLAMES: It was an amusement park and they have a haunted house people can pay money to go in there and get scared never really got it but we opened it up and hired some zombies to chase me around and it was kind of brutal hitting me all over but the end result was pretty good.
DO YOU THINK AS LEMMY SAID PLAYING GUITARS IS A MAGNET FOR WINNING PUSSYS?
IN FLAMES: Well in his case I guess it was I guess you are exposed to a lot of people if that’s your end goal I think you are in it for the wrong reasons.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HELL FEST?
IN FLAMES: It’s amazing, it’s grown and grown and it’s insanely big right now. Some of the coolest acts you can ever find are here and we are really impressed. It’s one of the bigger ones, we have here its insanely well organised I haven’t been to the food court yet but that’s where you judge a festival, the food.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT?
IN FLAMES: Last time the audience was really good, there was a constant flow, lots of people flying over the barricades and a lot of people singing along. I think in general, France is a very passionate audience so am expecting good things its after midnight so hopefully people are awake when we play.
YOU WORK WITH HOWARD BENSON ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR FUTURE COLLABORATION WITH HIM?
IN FLAMES: We haven’t booked a studio date, but I would love to work with him and his team again because they are very good at what they are doing. We felt comfortable in the studio and leaving winter Sweden and going to the sun in California was an excellent choice, so it might happen, but we are still touring, so we haven’t thought about it that much.
ARE THERE ANY AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH?
IN FLAMES: Karnivool that would be awesome at least touring with them that would be great or AC/DC would be cool.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHANGING BAND MEMBERS?
IN FLAMES: We have changed a lot of band members over the years but it’s over 24 years. I think the band is better than ever because we have the people that want to be in the band and who enjoy doing the live shows.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT COMING BACK AND DOING SOME OF YOUR OLDER ALBUMS LIVE?
IN FLAMES: We want to include old songs into our set but not go for just one album well see it might happen we’ll let you know.