Interview with Linus Lane, 27.03.10
-
How did your band meet?
I first met myself in my mother's womb, although I was too young to remember it.
-
Where did the idea for your band's name come from?
I don't have a band name as such, but I can tell you why my mother chose to call me 'Linus'. When she was pregnant with me she was watching a cartoon called Linus the Lion on TV. She thought it sounded like a nice name, and because my two older brothers had names that ended in "us" (Darius and Roofus), she thought it fitted the pattern. At least, this is the official story. I suspect she may have realized that "Linus Lane" sounded a lot like "Lois Lane", and so she chose it so I would get teased mercilessly at school. Apparently that type of thing is character building.
-
What music has inspired your band?
I've been a pop punk junkie ever since Greenday's Dookie was released. I was just a kid at the time. I remember my older brother had a copy of the CD. His room was next to mine, and I used to listen to it through the wall. After that he started listening to The Offspring, in particular Smash, which I think is still one of the greatest pop punk albums ever recorded. I fell in love with this kind of music, and nothing much has changed since then. These bands energized me. Their music made me feel glad to be alive, which is surprising when you consider a lot of the pop punk of this era was all about being a down and out loser (loser-core, I think they called it). My older brother also used to listen to Snoop Dogg (I think Doggy Style had just come out) but I never really got into that kind of music much. It seemed too dark, depressing and nasty. The first album I ever owned was a pirated version of Dookie on cassette tape. Anyway, after that I got into Blink 182's Dude Ranch in a big way, which resonated so strongly with me in my adolescent years. When I first heard Dammit it was almost orgasmic! I couldn't believe there were other people out there who felt that way too. Furthermore, the song made me feel like it was okay to feel like that. At this point in my life I was inspired by how powerful music could be in capturing and creating emotions, and making people feel better about things. This is when I first started writing my own songs. In my late teenage years, I became interested in music as a vehicle for expressing political views and critiquing society. I started listening more to Pennywise, The Sex Pistols, and even Bob Dylan. The simplicity and power of Dylan's songs, both musically and and in terms of their message, just bowled me over. Recently I've enjoyed watching Greenday grow up, and become more socially aware and politically subversive, and attempt more ambitious and well thought through concept albums. I guess as a result of all this, I try to make songs that people can relate to, that make them feel better about things, but also that make them think about the world and society.
-
Use three words to sum up your band?
Thoughtful, quirky, funny
-
What venue would you most like to play at?
I think I'd like to play at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. Not because it's the best venue in the world or anything, just because I grew up watching musicians perform there as a kid. I used to imagine what it would be like to be standing on that stage and staring out past all those lights, and the rows and rows of people, and the cameras, all there because of YOU. I guess it's childish, but the idea of being able to send a massive crowd of people wild by playing music still excites me enormously.
-
If you had a choice, who would be your support band?
Blink 182. I'd rather be their support band actually, there is no way I'd ever feel okay having them support me! But I'd be honored just to get a chance to meet them, let alone play music alongside them. That would be indescribably awesome. They're my heroes. The thing I love about their gigs is how funny they are when they're interacting with the crowd. The way they seamlessly blend stand up comedy and music is so entertaining.
-
Three people dead or alive you would invite to your gig, and why?
My music mentor Dave would have to be on the list. He's been there, planning, advising and imagining the whole thing through with me since I first decided I was going to record an album. I'd love to be able to give him the "we did it" look that Frodo gave Sam at the end of Peter Jackson's Return of the King. Minus the homoerotic undertones. My Mum and Dad, cause they'd be so proud! They've supported me in my creative endeavors ever since I could pick up a pencil, and let me stay at home shamefully long without making me feel bad about it! So they've earned front row seats.
-
What are you listening to at the moment?
21st Century Breakdown (By Green Day)/ Assorted Dashboard Confessional songs/ A whole lot of eighties music I got off the net (like the Ghostbuster's theme song and The Power of Love from Back to the Future)/ The Spider-Man movie soundtracks/ The Essential Bruce Springsteen (which ironically doesn't have my favorite Springsteen song, Secret Garden).
-
Where will your band be in five years from now?
I will have intergalactic control over the entire cosmos (but one step at a time)
-
Any tips you would like to share with your fellow muso's?
Bring new flavors and perspectives into the world. You don't have to reinvent the wheel or anything, but there's so much music out there, unless you're doing something differently, why bother? Oh, and don't forget to floss.
-
Do you live the Rock n Roll lifestyle?
I live at home with my parents. I rarely go out. I have very little social life. I have no car. I have no girlfriend. I still read Spider-Man comics. You tell me.