Post by Heather on Feb 26, 2011 9:34:09 GMT -5
Hit The Floor interview with Sum41
Sum 41 are back with a new single ‘Screaming Bloody Murder’ and a new album on the horizon so we took the chance to chat to bass player Cone McCaslin to find out more…..
HTF: Hello! How are you guys? Up to anything fun today besides answering our lovely questions?
C: We’re doing really good. On tour in Europe right now. Have a day off today in Porto, Portugal. Trying some of their famous Port wine.
HTF: So we have been loving the new single ‘Screaming Bloody Murder’ at HTF, can you tell us a little about the song and what it’s about? Why should people love it as much as we do?
C: Screaming Bloody Murder is a song thats been kicking around for a while now. It was some music Tom had written and sent to Deryck. We all liked it and Deryck wrote some melodies and lyrics for it. Its a pretty good indication of how the rest of the album is in the way of how it goes from soft to hard to metal parts to soft, ect. This new album is very much like that. Kind of blending all the kinds of music we like into 1 thing.
HTF: On the subject of the new album….on Underclass Hero we saw you return to your pop punk roots a la All Killer No Filler but with this new album it seems your going to a more Does This Look Infected/Chuck era inspired sound. Was this intentional?
C: Not really intentional, it was just basically what kind of music Deryck was writing at the time. He was going through a pretty dark period in his life and this is what was coming out. Nothing was really intentional on this album. The heavy, dark and intense side of this album I think is just natural for us. We never try to repeat what we’ve done on previous albums. This album is different than our other albums and miles ahead I would say.
HTF : You have songs that range from pop punk to metal. Do you think you will ever settle on one style? What style does the new album lean to?
C: I don’t ever see us settling on one thing. We are into so many different things thats settling on one thing wouldn’t only be hard it would also be boring for us. This album leans more towards the heavier, darker, epic side of Sum 41. There’s not really any what some people would call “pop-punk” on this one. There are lighter stuff on this album but still leans towards the darker side.
HTF: This is the first time you’ve worked with english producer Gil Norton who has worked with many great bands from Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and The Distillers. What was the experience like and how did it differ from past records you’ve made?
C: Gil has done some great albums (you forgot Pixies) and hes a great guy and thats exactly why we wanted to work with him. Unfortunetely, it didn’t work out with him after a few weeks and we finished the album with Deryck producing the album. We have been recording together for so long that I guess we are pretty set in our ways on how we like to work and record. Gil had his ways which has worked great for him and we have our ways and they just didn’t work together.
HTF: Last year we saw super producer Jerry Finn pass away. He produced All killer No filler. What was it like working with Jerry and did you learn any future tips that you have used in your own productions?
C: Jerry was an amazing guy. Very funny and very good at what he did. He basically taught us how to record. He taught us the ropes in the studio. That was really the first major label album we did. We had recorded before on Half Hour Of Power but that was done pretty quickly. For All Killer we took our time and Jerry had already done so many great albums, It was a great fit for us. He not only taught us about recording but also showed us a lot of the shows we later went on to watch and reference in our inside jokes like Mr. Show, Tenacious D ect. The guy was hilarious and fun to be around and we all miss him.
HTF: So you recently announced 41 shows in France. 41 shows in the UK perhaps? Please..? We did ask nicely! icon smile Interview: Sum 41
C: haha. Its a possibility. We are kind of just in the middle of trying to round out our tour year. We’ll know more in the coming months.
HTF: On your screaming Bloody Murder Update on your website it explains that Steve lost his luggage in Paris. What other hotel items did he utilise in conjunction with the key card to floss?
C: I lent him some used socks and boxers cause I’m a nice guy. Not sure what else he was re-using or stealing from hotels but he was pretty ripe for a few days.
HTF: We think your idea for a mobile bar is genius (See video above 1:50). Who’s idea was it and is it going to be a genuine product for you?
C: We are pushing for it. I have a feeling it will become a reality one day which will be awesome. I think it was something Deryck and our drum tech Dan Moyse have been talking about for years. The blue prints for it have gotten a lot better then when the idea first came up. Its looks pretty great on paper now.
HTF: Any chance of some UK festival appearances this year? Any secrets you wanna let us in on?
C: There is a very good chance. There has been talk of us possibly being over there and Europe for a portion of the summer for festivals but nothing is confirmed yet sorry to say.
HTF: Any last messages to your fans?
C: Screaming Bloody Murder!!!!!!! March 29th!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the support!
Interviewers: Steph Knight & Joe Dexter
Sum 41 are back with a new single ‘Screaming Bloody Murder’ and a new album on the horizon so we took the chance to chat to bass player Cone McCaslin to find out more…..
HTF: Hello! How are you guys? Up to anything fun today besides answering our lovely questions?
C: We’re doing really good. On tour in Europe right now. Have a day off today in Porto, Portugal. Trying some of their famous Port wine.
HTF: So we have been loving the new single ‘Screaming Bloody Murder’ at HTF, can you tell us a little about the song and what it’s about? Why should people love it as much as we do?
C: Screaming Bloody Murder is a song thats been kicking around for a while now. It was some music Tom had written and sent to Deryck. We all liked it and Deryck wrote some melodies and lyrics for it. Its a pretty good indication of how the rest of the album is in the way of how it goes from soft to hard to metal parts to soft, ect. This new album is very much like that. Kind of blending all the kinds of music we like into 1 thing.
HTF: On the subject of the new album….on Underclass Hero we saw you return to your pop punk roots a la All Killer No Filler but with this new album it seems your going to a more Does This Look Infected/Chuck era inspired sound. Was this intentional?
C: Not really intentional, it was just basically what kind of music Deryck was writing at the time. He was going through a pretty dark period in his life and this is what was coming out. Nothing was really intentional on this album. The heavy, dark and intense side of this album I think is just natural for us. We never try to repeat what we’ve done on previous albums. This album is different than our other albums and miles ahead I would say.
HTF : You have songs that range from pop punk to metal. Do you think you will ever settle on one style? What style does the new album lean to?
C: I don’t ever see us settling on one thing. We are into so many different things thats settling on one thing wouldn’t only be hard it would also be boring for us. This album leans more towards the heavier, darker, epic side of Sum 41. There’s not really any what some people would call “pop-punk” on this one. There are lighter stuff on this album but still leans towards the darker side.
HTF: This is the first time you’ve worked with english producer Gil Norton who has worked with many great bands from Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and The Distillers. What was the experience like and how did it differ from past records you’ve made?
C: Gil has done some great albums (you forgot Pixies) and hes a great guy and thats exactly why we wanted to work with him. Unfortunetely, it didn’t work out with him after a few weeks and we finished the album with Deryck producing the album. We have been recording together for so long that I guess we are pretty set in our ways on how we like to work and record. Gil had his ways which has worked great for him and we have our ways and they just didn’t work together.
HTF: Last year we saw super producer Jerry Finn pass away. He produced All killer No filler. What was it like working with Jerry and did you learn any future tips that you have used in your own productions?
C: Jerry was an amazing guy. Very funny and very good at what he did. He basically taught us how to record. He taught us the ropes in the studio. That was really the first major label album we did. We had recorded before on Half Hour Of Power but that was done pretty quickly. For All Killer we took our time and Jerry had already done so many great albums, It was a great fit for us. He not only taught us about recording but also showed us a lot of the shows we later went on to watch and reference in our inside jokes like Mr. Show, Tenacious D ect. The guy was hilarious and fun to be around and we all miss him.
HTF: So you recently announced 41 shows in France. 41 shows in the UK perhaps? Please..? We did ask nicely! icon smile Interview: Sum 41
C: haha. Its a possibility. We are kind of just in the middle of trying to round out our tour year. We’ll know more in the coming months.
HTF: On your screaming Bloody Murder Update on your website it explains that Steve lost his luggage in Paris. What other hotel items did he utilise in conjunction with the key card to floss?
C: I lent him some used socks and boxers cause I’m a nice guy. Not sure what else he was re-using or stealing from hotels but he was pretty ripe for a few days.
HTF: We think your idea for a mobile bar is genius (See video above 1:50). Who’s idea was it and is it going to be a genuine product for you?
C: We are pushing for it. I have a feeling it will become a reality one day which will be awesome. I think it was something Deryck and our drum tech Dan Moyse have been talking about for years. The blue prints for it have gotten a lot better then when the idea first came up. Its looks pretty great on paper now.
HTF: Any chance of some UK festival appearances this year? Any secrets you wanna let us in on?
C: There is a very good chance. There has been talk of us possibly being over there and Europe for a portion of the summer for festivals but nothing is confirmed yet sorry to say.
HTF: Any last messages to your fans?
C: Screaming Bloody Murder!!!!!!! March 29th!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the support!
Interviewers: Steph Knight & Joe Dexter