3 Colours Red
    Artist Main

Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat

04/02/1999 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Lyndsey Parker

3 Colours Red may be the darlings of Britain (Alan McGee--the man who signed such worthy Britpop heavyweights as Oasis, Primal Scream and Teenage Fanclub to Creation Records--compared them to '77-era Clash and declared them his favorite band), but they're not stopping with the U.K.--3 Colours Red are out conquer the world. They're currently touring America with Silverchair, and with the exception of a mishap in Reno involving a bumbling bus driver and the occasional longing for a good cup of English tea, they're having a great time on this side of the Atlantic.

"I think we're the type of band that can do it in both places," says 3CR guitarist Chris McCormack about crossing over from the U.K. to the U.S. "It's not about fashion, it's about having good songs." 3CR's other guitarist, Ben Harding, agrees: "We don't rely on being British to bolster our image. We're international artists." 3 Colours Red certainly don't want to be limited to the flighty British music scene, which is often dictated by fickle rock journalists that Chris refers to as "power-trippers" and drummer Keith Baxter even less kindly dubs "sh!theads."

On April 1, 1999, Chris, Ben, Keith and bassist/ singer Pete Vuckovick were scheduled to come by LAUNCH's Los Angeles headquarters for a live online chat at 3 p.m.; when they failed to show up, we thought they were pulling an April Fool's prank on us. But they finally made it here, despite horrible L.A. traffic, a rainstorm, a scheduled soundcheck that same afternoon, and yes, a bumbling bus driver. Now that's dedication! Something tells us this band's going to go far.

LAUNCH_Host: Here's the first question....

lara764: Why do you sometimes wear the black sellotape on your arm - is it simply a fashion statement?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: No, It's because I'm covering up the world's worst tattoo. It's kind of a cross on my arm to signify a mistake.

ZoeandNikki: What do you think of the "Beautiful Day Generation": (The sad people who come because they heard one song and suddenly become groupies?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Great, because they put us at number 11.Ben: In the UK Chart.

Shari-Black-Velvet: Do you think that becoming a well known band (in England at least) has changed you, personality wise?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: NO. Not at all.

lara764: Who is the Copper Girl?

3_Colours_Red: Keith: All firing at you, Pete. Pete: She's a police woman. From Boston.

lara764: Pete - we met your mate at the March Wulfrun gig - he works with computers and was very nice. Do you all miss England and is it quite a culture shock?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: I miss a nice cup o' tea.

Shari-Black-Velvet: How are you going down with the American audience?

3_Colours_Red: Ben : Going down pretty well...much better than we expected. Although, having said that, we didn't know what to expect. Keith: From the size of the audience, the reactions been %100. All 40 people.

Fah_Q: You had a song called "This Is My Hollywood." So are you excited to be playing in Hollywood tonite? Is LA everything you expected?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: I think if you listen to the words, it's not about Hollywood...It's just nice to be playing in the States at all.

skylar142: where did you get the name 3 colours red

3_Colours_Red: We stuck a pen in the local listings magazine.

3_Colours_Red: Keith: It's one of a trilogy... 3 Colours Blue, 3 Colours Red, and 3 Colours White. Chris: None of us have actually seen the film, though. Ben: It's a set of French art house movies made by a Polish director.

3_Colours_Red: It's just a name. There's no big meaning behind it.

Jensil: Which direction for 3CR now - gritty rock or syrupy pop?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Syrupy rock. Ben: Gritty pop!

Drizzt_X: When you opened for Iggy did you get to meet him? What's he like?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: It wasn't like opening for Iggy, really. It was more like opening for the Sex Pistols, although Iggy was on the bill. It was more about opening for the Sex Pistols for me.

lara764: Pete - are you still pursuing the cello?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Yes, when I've got some time. Chris: On his 2 days off of the year.

Fah_Q: I read the band started out through the mail. How were you able to write songs that way?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Because we couldn't afford to meet with each other. We didn't live in the same place, but we both had the same 4-track tape machines, so we sent tapes through the post. Chris: It's not a bad way of writing songs, when you think about it, 'cos it's easy to focus more.

Shari-Black-Velvet: Which has been your best/worst gig of the US tour so far?

3_Colours_Red: All: Portland Keith: I think the best one would have been last night, but... we didn't play. Ben: The bus driver thought we were going to Reno. Chris: Now that it's over, we just want to kill him. Keith: I don't think he's our real bus driver. I think he killed our bus driver and he's beneath the bus somewhere.

Ric_Melia: does the band agree with the statement written on the Revolt CD: "There is not truth, only human opinion"?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: There is no truth. Pete: Obviously. Keith: We totally disagree with that statement.

ZoeandNikki: Why don't you ever play other B-Sides like "God Shape Hole", "Yellow Hair Carriage" or "My Own Gauge"?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: Because we forgot them! No, the whole point is that we move on. There was a point last year that we wrote a lot of B-sides. You can't play them all.

lara764: Which song on Revolt are you most proud of?

3_Colours_Red: Keith: We've all got our own personal favorites. My own's "Paranoid People." Pete: Mine's "Beautiful Day." Ben: Mine's "Age Of Madness." Today. Chris: Mine changes every day.

lara764: We were disappointed not to hear "Age of Madness" at the Wulfrun gig. What was your inspiration for it?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Everything moving at a million miles an hour. Technology-wise, of course.

Drizzt_X: Why do you think the UK music press is so fickle and mean, loving one band one week then saying they suck the next week? Have they turned on 3CR yet?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: They're just power-trippers. Keith: It's just because they're a bunch of sh!theads

l05er: which songs do you like playing live the best?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: "Paranoid People." Keith: "Beautiful Day" never gets boring. Pete: Aye. Chris: "Time of the Morning" as well. "This Is My Time", that is.

Shari-Black-Velvet: Tell us one thing each about yourselves that would surprise 3 Colours Red fans.

3_Colours_Red: Keith: I'm a great chef. I love cooking. Chris: I'm sober. Ben: I like jazz. Pete: Uh....

tshirt_suntan: Any plans for festivals this year?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: Yeah, we're doing Reading. And we'll be doing some in Europe...they're all coming through at the moment. We just have to fit them into our schedule. Ben: We're hoping to do the Aerosmith show in London, as well. At Wembley Stadium.

tshirt_suntan: What is more important- recognition in your own country or in America?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Just general recognition, if that's not asking too much.. Chris: I think we're the type of band that can do it in both places. It's not about fashion, it's about having good songs.

Ric_Melia: does Chris still do any hairdressing?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: I cut Keith's hair on this tour. Keith: Can't you tell? Chris: I'm very proud of it as well. Keith: Now I'm going to sue your ass.

Goldleader: What was it like touring with Marilyn Manson? Was it as dramatic as the Hole/Manson tour, or did you guys get along?

3_Colours_Red: Keith: He was one of the nicest guys I've ever met.. :) Ben: We didn't throw a hissyfit.

Shari-Black-Velvet: If you had a day off and could spend it with any one person, anywhere in the world, who would it be? And what would you do?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: That's kind of a large question. Pete: Evel Knievel, but we did it last night. Keith: I'd like to spend a day with AC/DC. Playing with them in the studio. That'd be fantastic. Pete: In a sand pit.

Ric_Melia: Who's face is on the sticker found on Pete's black Thunderbird bass?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: That's actually a cum shot of a 65-year-old guy. Ben/Pete: It came out of a book of people who've taken their own picture during their orgasm.

ChrisSteve: What do you think of your fans?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: We love em. Keith: They're essential to us. We wouldn't be without them. Ben: They're our lifeblood. Keith: And we love 'em.

l05er: who have been your favourite support bands?

3_Colours_Red: All: Hmm. Ben: Stereophonics. Chris : I would say Symposium, because they're good people. Ben: We enjoyed having Cay too

Shari-Black-Velvet: In years to come, how would you most like to be remembered?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: That's a good question, because I can't answer it. For having hair... For once having hair.

Jensil: British bands like 3CR have had a hard time in the States. What is going to make you different?

3_Colours_Red: Keith: Because we're better than other bands. Pete: We're actually quite resilient. Ben: Because we don't rely on being British to bolster our image. We're international artists.

Goldleader: I know you had the producer as the Manic St. Preachers. Do you think Richey from the Manics is still alive, or what do you think happened to him?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: I don't think anybody can tell. Keith: I hope he's alive and well, but who knows..? Pete: I actually wonder if he himself is looking like C&A Man.

Shari-Black-Velvet: What CDs are on the tourbus stereo at the moment?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: We've been gettin' load of free stuff.. well, nickin' em from Epic. Pete: Tom Waits. Keith: Bit of Pink Floyd to calm those long journeys down. Ben: Mondo Mambo. Pete: And Blizzard Of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne.

Fah_Q: Are the Senseless Things still together? If so, why did Ben leave, and if not, why did they breakup?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: No, they're not together. Everyone's doing their own thing now. Mark's got Jolt. Cass is doing Delakota. And Morgan's helping out on that, and has his own project.

Ric_Melia: How did Chris's remix of the Wannadies "Hit" come about?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: I think the record company knew I was a fan, and wanted to rock up a version of one of their songs. They're one of the very few bands that I gave it a shot with really.

Bushy: What's Chris's favourite pub in Newcastle?

3_Colours_Red: Have you got any Sky Club questions? Chris: The Steamboat, which is in South Shields, my hometown. Which I've drunk in for many years, from being a teenager.

Drizzt_X: Alan McGhee from Creation compared you to the Clash. Do you agree?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: It's a compliment. It's not up to us to agree or not agree. Chris: There's a lot of different aspects to the Clash, you know. I'm sure we fit into some, but not all of them.

HalfwayUpTheDowns: Do you have email or anyway to contact you guys while you're on the road?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: I'm actually in the process of buying a computer, but every town we turn up in, it's always too late. I'm definitely to get one in the next couple weeks though.

lara764: Pete - how's your perky little rat, Lowell?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: He's actually pretty good. He's recently been in for a checkout cause he had a lump under his arm pit, or paw pit, but he's good now.

Ric_Melia: What is the song WWW.SAD about?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: How'd you know about that song? It's not out yet...It's personal...Tell us how you knew about that song...

chemical_girl__: chris - whats the significance of your necklace? cuz u seem to always wear it...

3_Colours_Red: Chris: It was a present of my brother, and I can't take it off anyways. It's a rune stone that protects myself, people around me. From myself!

l05er: do you like stage-divers?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Yeah, especially when my throat's a bit raw, cause I don't have to sing much. Keith: Ben starts kicking em, he's usually pretty plastered, so beware. Ben: I **** Hate em! Come near my pedals and fear for your life! Chris: I think it adds to the gig. I don't mind them as long as they don't hang around acting like idiots.

Shari-Black-Velvet: If you cold have 3 wishes, what would you wish for?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: 3 More. Ben: A million wishes.

HalfwayUpTheDowns: Do you like the west coast or the east coast better?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: I like the West Coast, because it's usually sunny. Ben: We haven't had the chance to make a proper comparison, so we'll find out later in the year. Keith: They both have good places. It's great everywhere in this country.

ZoeandNikki: "You're litmus then you're dead" - What did you mean by these lyrics? Are you comparing us to an experiment?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Um, maybe. :)

chemical_girl__: how do u get ur spikes so, well spiky, chris?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: Fudge. Keith: Chocolate Fudge. Ben: An Australian hair product.

l05er: what current bands do you like?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: Current bands...Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, AC/DC...

Richie_sambora: What is the strangest thing u have recived from a fan

3_Colours_Red: Keith: I got a pink inflated alien, with a pair of my drumsticks attached to them. Chris: We all got one, but not with drumsticks. Pete: Did I get one? Chris: We've had some very strange letters, though. Pete: I got one from the "Institution" that had a skull and crossbone on it. Very scary. I got some bizarre stuff about Sylvia Plath as well.

chemical_girl__: i was wondering - was the water cold when u were filming the video for 'beautiful day'?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: No it was quite warm. Chris: I didn't want to get out. Ben: It was freezing in the studio.

Jensil: Is it true that your best audiences are always in Sheffield????

3_Colours_Red: Chris: No. Pete: Who said that? Ben: You shouldn't take what we say on stage literally. It's called power of suggestion.

Goldleader: Whats the most interesting place you guys have autographed?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: Asbury Park, NJ.

Ric_Melia: Explain the new direction in the quiet songs If and Everything, from This Is My Time...

3_Colours_Red: Pete: I was trying to get a song without guitars for a change.

LAUNCH_Host: We can only take a couple more questions....

Bushy: do you feel you have 'sold out' with 'Beautiful Day'?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: You 'sell out' the minute you sign a record deal. Chris: You can't sell out these days. Every band in the world wants to sign a record deal. If that's selling out...We never said we were a hardcore punk band or something. We're just making songs. Pete: We've sold out some venues, though.

Shari-Black-Velvet: Which one lyric from a 3CR sums you up best?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: "I am one of the Paranoid People." For Pete, that is. Pete: It's my signature tune.

l05er: what is chris' favourite guitar?

3_Colours_Red: Chris: My Les Paul.Which is beaten to f--k.

Shari-Black-Velvet: It's April Fool's Day - did you pull any pranks on each other or anyone else?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Yeah, we've been nice to each other. Keith: I didn't realize it was 1st of April.

ChrisSteve: How well do you all get on?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: Better than we used to... Chris: And sometimes worse. Pete: But we're all here, aren't we? Keith: Yes, one big happy family.

Shari-Black-Velvet: How are you getting on with Silverchair?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: Fine. They're a very nice bunch of guys.

chemical_girl__: when u supported marilyn m, did u ever see him without makeup?

3_Colours_Red: Keith: Yes I did once at the end of the tour. He still looks strange. Ben: It's a horrible sight. Pete: Ugly.

lara764: When you come back to England, who is the first person you will visit or what is the 1st thing you'll do?

3_Colours_Red: Pete: Customs. Ben: I'm going to see my family. Keith: Go back home to my girlfriend. I can't wait. Pete: ...and our respective dealers. Art dealers, that is.

LAUNCH_Host: 3 Colours Red have to take off now, because they have to soundcheck for their show tonight at the House Of Blues in L.A. with Silverchair. Thanks to the band and everyone who chatted! Any last words, 3CR?

3_Colours_Red: Ben: Thanks for your questions! All: Please buy the album for all your friends! It makes a great gift! (*LOL*)

3_Colours_Red: LAUNCH is giving away a bunch of our autographed CDs and some other cool stuff, like a Sony PlayStation! You'll see a banner for the contest on LAUNCH.com, so click on it and it'll show you the way.

LAUNCH_Host: Thanks everybody. There will be a transcript of this chat on LAUNCH.com tomorrow. Come back to relive the magic, word by word...

3_Colours_Red: Bye!