Interview: IV Thieves
We grabbed IV Thieves for a quick chat about being detained, their new album, and council flats.
IV Thieves have just released their brand new album 'If We Can't Escape My Pretty', so we thought it was a good idea to grab them for a quick chat.
Who are IV Thieves and who's responsible for what?!
We're a 4-piece rock and roll band from the midlands / north of england, transplanted in Texas.
Nic Armstrong - Songwriter, Vocals, Guitar
Glynn Wedgewood - Songwriter, Vocals, Guitar (Also Drums & Nord on the record)
Shane Lawlor - Songwriter, Vocals, Bass (Also Guitar & Piano/Keys on the record)
Elliott Frazier - Drums
How did IV Thieves come about?
We used to be known as Nic Armstrong & The Thieves and toured like crazy in the UK before hitting the states. People may remember us from supporting Oasis (US Tour and at Milennium Stadium), Paul Weller, Razorlight, The Raveonettes, Jet, The Pretenders and loads of others. I think we've opened up for pretty much everyone!
We met in Nottingham 4 or 5 years ago, everyone was scraping a living, playing music and dreaming of getting out of the flats and the factories, and you know what, we fucking did it! But that's the life we know best and that's what we write about... and still have nightmares about, and still laugh about y'know...
What inspired the name IV Thieves?
A name change was long over due, as there's 3 songwriters and singers in the band, it seemed natural that the name should represent that. We thought the roman numeral IV looked kind of emblematic to be honest, but it's probably a pain in the arse to find the record in the shops as is it under I, or 4, or F (as in Four)?, but it's worth the hunt brothers and sisters!
How would you describe the IV Thieves sound?
We moved to America as to not be directly influenced by what our peers were doing. There's been pretty obvious comparisons with The Beatles as there's 3 singers and songwriters, and since Noel Gallagher said he loves the band, a million tiresome journalists compare us to them. I'd like to think we sound a bit like early Kinks...but that's probably wishful thinking on my behalf. Lots of harmonies, interesting lyrics, and that familar rock and roll sound.
Where do you draw your influences from, lyrically and musically?
Lyrically things come from things we've seen, people we've known, things people have caught us doing, stories from our imagination, dreams and nightmares we've had both awake and asleep.
Musically, we're all fans of good music, not shite. I don't know where it comes from or how it works though. I was exposed to Gem AM (the golden oldies station in Nottingham) at an early age, had an older brother who made me listen to great music, had a dad that was a drummer in the 60s and 70s - so I was surrounded by music... It's probably all ripped off something I've heard, I just change things here and there so it's not easy to spot... isn't that what everyone does directly or indirectly? I certainly don't want to be some avant garde twat who bangs a hammer on the side of a bath and mumbles something about nietzsche...
Any interesting takes of touring you'd like to share?!
Oooh, the stories I could tell you. We been detained on the US border, put in handcuffs and missed a show infront of 15,000 people - but I don't want to go into details in case the government decide to do a Charlie Chaplin on us. I've seen the inside of every service station in England, and I still never figure out how to get anything decent to eat.
So... your album hit shelves a few weeks ago - tell us all about it and why we should buy it!
'Cos it's fucking great. Simple as that. It's not part of a trend or a fad. We are a real band, have real fights, the bruises and cuts are real, as are the songs and the words.
Finally, what plans do IV Thieves have over 2007?
I intend to write the best material of my life. To make another record. To get back on the road. To diversify. To shift a few copies of the record. To stay out of the council flats and factory... isn't that what everybody wants?
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