Interviews

Hello Janne, while I get this started, you want to tell me how you like France so far?
Uh, really good actually. It’s already been 3 years since we last toured Europe and I didn’t remember that this part was so good. Last night in Strasbourg we had a great show.

La Laiterie?
Yeah. That was a really nice place

What venue did you play at in Paris?
Elysée Montmartre.

About the tour... Can you tell us a little bit about this tour, have you had any major problems so far?
Yeah. This tour started 26th of December last year, and so far we’ve been doing really good. Some small problems… Some fans stole the license plates from our truck that carries our stuff and of course this as caused some problems at borders… And our bass player has been sick for a few days but he’s going to see a doctor today.

I saw you guys when you were touring with Dark Tranquility…
Wow, that’s a long time ago!

Yeah! I think you guys have been touring since 1998?
Yeah…

So if you had to select one of our best memories of all the touring that you’ve ever done, what would you choose?
Ah I don’t know, that’s so difficult… I dunno… I mean for me the first time we went to Japan, that was something totally special, in that country everything I so different and they treat you so good and everything, and everything is so well organized and nice, so going for the first time to Japan is something will always remember for a long time.

You’ve been touring now for a while, so what are some of the bands that you enjoy touring with most?
I mean, with most bands we tour with we get along so well and have so much fun and stuff like that… Somehow, the last time we headlined in Europe, with Shadows Fall, those are really nice guys and we had really a lot of fun… We’ve been trying to get a tour somehow with them again but it hasn’t happened yet… But Shadows Fall is one of the bands that I remember having the most fun with.

Are there some bands that you refuse to tour with?
Yes.

Why?
Well of course there’s always financial reasons, but we also refused to tour with a band… Just because we didn’t want to tour with them.

But not out of personal issues, no one who dated your sister or something?
No, nothing like that.

Can I have a little touring anecdote about Hypocrisy?
Hum…. We just toured the USA with them as well… There’s one night that everyone will remember in a way… Somehow all the Swedish guys were awake and were having a party and running around the bus and blasting stupid Swedish music and drinking songs very loud and the next day the whole crew woke up and they were so pissed off because they couldn’t sleep all night.

Covenant?
I wasn’t on that tour, I’m sorry.

In Flames?
In Flames.. Uh… That was a long time ago, I can’t remember anything…. I’m sure that kind of stuff happened, but it’s already so long ago…

Dark Tranquillity?
Dark Tranquillity, I don’t know… One of their band members got left behind in one city. I mean the bus left and somebody wasn’t on it. And so the next day he had to take the train or something to come to the city. Yeah, everybody went to sleep and thought that he’s in his bunk and left.

Can you tell us about what is different in the crowds in Japan and Europe?
Well we’ve been in Japan like 4 or 5 times already. We were thinking that somehow, the very first time we went there, the crowds were totally crazy and nowadays they’re a little bit more calm. They’re not going so crazy anymore. But we remember the very first time we went there and they were all like totally crazy, started screaming and would never stop… But it doesn’t happen nowadays anymore…

How did you adapt to everyday life in Japan?
It’s different, but in everyday life it’s pretty much the same. Everything is so different anyway, but you know, no problem! You can always find something to eat, even in Japan!

About the European audiences, who are the wildest fans?
I dunno… I think Italy. They are… You know how Italian people are… But we haven’t been to Spain so far on this tour, but they pretty much tend to go crazy as well…

How do you prepare for a tour?
Well usually I have to buy some new underwear cos my socks and underwear on the previous tour … (laughs) Well generally stock up on everything, try to pay your bills before had and stuff like that, there’s a lot of stuff to take care of before we leave on tour… Like go to the supermarket and buy all kinds of stuff I think I’m going to need or I’m going to loose on tour anyway! Haha!

I see! Is this your computer?
Yes.

And you’re a Finn, so you can’t be seen without your phone. What besides your telephone and your computer do you travel with?
Well a digital camera, I just recently got into photographing a little bit… My Ipod is very important, and that’s it.

What did you learn not to bring when you are on tour?
Uh… Well there have been some things… Well I used to bring this small studio system for my laptop that I could use sometimes to play music, but I never used it so it was useless to carry it around…

What advice can you give to bands that have never gone on tour?
Bring a lot of plastic bags!