Read this interview with Duncan

Eelco · Post by **Eelco** » 11/7/2002, 5:00 am

It's very interesting. Especially for Turnerists (at the end). It will be published in various regional newspapers in Holland this week.

Our Lady Peace isn't a second Nickelback
'Our music has to be sincere'
By Han Neijenhuis
They're big in their home country Canada. Hun second album 'Clumsy' (1996) sold more than a million copies. Huge numbers for Canada. And the rockband is also doing pretty good in the States. But Europe isn't really working out for Our Lady Peace. Maybe the Canadians are able, with an excellent new album 'Gravity' in the bags and an European tour on schedule, to profit from the success of Nickelback. Our Lady Peace-bassist Duncan Coutts has obviously mixed emotions about that suggestion. He has to agree that his band could use Nickelback's sudden success in their advantage for this side of the ocean. And if that happens he wouldn't be troubled with it. But on the other side Our Lady Peace doesn't want to be known for being Nickelback the Second. "We want people to respect us for who we are. And not because we're from the same country as Nickelback. Moreover we're a different band as them, you can't just throw us all on one pile. You know, I'm a big fan of U2 for a long time. And maybe even longer of The Waterboys. But I really didn't start to respect U2 because they come form Ireland, like The Waterboys", says Coutts, making the mistake that The Waterboys aren't Irish, but Scottish. It doesn't matter, his point is clear. Especially when it comes to a musical comparison of Nickelback and Our Lady Peace. Both bands rock, but while Nickelback sounds simple and straightforward, Our Lady Peace's music is more dynamic and has more depth. And that while the newest, fifth album 'Gravity' of the band from Toronto, was produced bij noone less than Bob Rock. The man also responsible for the rocksolid sound of Metallica's Black Album. "We saw Metallica's video about making the The Black Album. Bob Rock made a very good and pleasant impression on us. Somebody with passion for music and who doesn't like screaming ego's. Besides, everything he produces sounds amazing. He was on top of our list." Band and producer met on a moment that both were ready for a challenge. It clicked, says Duncan Coutts. "He wanted to work in a different way than he was used to. And so did we. Basically it came down to that we both wanted to record more from a live-feeling. Bob was also still used tot the traditional way of first recording the drums, than bass, and so further. But now he encouraged us to play live in the studio. Just the four of us playing and letting the recorder run. A lot of those tracks made the record directly. At the most we fixed some mistakes here and there." It makes 'Gravity' sound more honest and more passionate that the previous four Our Lady Peace-albums, according to Coutts. He also think the arrival of guitarist Steve Mazur was very good for the band. He doesn't want to say much about the departure of Mazur's precessor Mike Turner. "Mike wasn't in the same line as us anymore. He wanted to go in a very different way than the rest of the band. The decision to split was inevitable. Did that go in a nice way? Well, I've never been divorced, but I can imagine that you don't feel like talking about the seperation for a while. That's about what's going on between Mike and us at the moment." Anyway, according to Coutts Steve Mazur is the perfect guitarist for Our Lady Peace. "Just like Mike, Steve van play very atmospherical and on the background. But, when needed, he can also play awesome riffs and solos. We missed that with Mike. Steve is more versatile." That and the previously mentioned depth and dynamics are very important for Our Lady Peace. But the most important thing is passion according to Duncan Coutts. "Our music comes straight from our hearts. That's the only thing that counts. Selling many albums is nice. An European breaktrhough would be great. But not, when it takes out passion and integrity away. Sale figures are totally subordinate. Our music has to be sincere. Honesty to the fans is more important than selling millions of albums.
Our Lady Peace: 11/11 Melkweg, Amsterdam

OLPGoose · Post by **OLPGoose** » 11/7/2002, 11:28 am

well, that seems respectful enough....

UltraViolet · Post by **UltraViolet** » 11/8/2002, 4:01 pm

. Did that go in a nice way? Well, I've never been divorced, but I can imagine that you don't feel like talking about the seperation for a while. That's about what's going on between Mike and us at the moment."

those are the exact same words he said to me when I asked him do they even talk to Mike at all back in July. Finally an interview I can almost believe.

smoking_monkey · Post by **smoking_monkey** » 11/8/2002, 5:12 pm

wow...duncan said more then a few words

starvingeyes · Post by **starvingeyes** » 11/8/2002, 5:37 pm

gawwwwddd i am tired of hearing them slag turner's "versatility". what a bunch of obvious bullshit.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 11/8/2002, 5:40 pm

Mike was talented, but hey, they're gonna do what they want to look like the better people in this.

UltraViolet · Post by **UltraViolet** » 11/8/2002, 5:44 pm

primetimefool wrote:gawwwwddd i am tired of hearing them slag turner's "versatility". what a bunch of obvious bullshit.

\
I don't think they are Slagging Mike. It is forwahtever reason. Mike didn't want to do what they did. End of Story. Whether becasue he felt they were going against interity, or just hated working with Bob Rock. We will never know. I can't believe it is almost a year and people are still getting angry over all of this. I just let it slide. If it was really bad Mike would of said something to defend himself. I think we just need to realise for what ever reason Mike wasn't what they wanted or needed in a guitarist anymore. I don't see any slag in that. It is no different then us. You just have phases in your life where you move ahead or not. Maybe Mike felt this wasn;t where he wanted to go as a musician.

I don't know.I am not defending anyone in OLP. I am only saying we all nedd to give it a rest. Mike is gone and nothing will ever change that, as of now anyway. I know that sometime in the fduture we will be hearing from Mike again.

that is my opinion and I am staying with it. Also to tell you the truth, from the talks I would have with Mike last year, I had a feeeling he was somewhat unhappy and ready to leave.

Starseed3333 · Post by **Starseed3333** » 11/8/2002, 8:42 pm

Mike would never say anything back to that stuff. Hopefully he's above that, he's got his own thing going on, and he shouldn't care what they say.

That was 100000000X better than what Raine always says though. They should let Duncan do the interviews from now on. Either way, I know I don't believe a word they say about Mike in public interviews anymore. Its all publicity and politics, and unfortunatly, that is how they have to be.

I miss Mike. He and Jamie can come back and they can just have a giant band, like Slipknot, except without masks and better.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » 11/8/2002, 8:49 pm

At least Duncan had the courtesy to make it slightly more eloquent.

olp_gravity · Post by **olp_gravity** » 11/8/2002, 8:56 pm

like Gail said, mike's moved on and so have OLP
and its not like Steve sucks

he is a pretty amazing guitarist
i was a fan of Mike too even though i only saw OLP with him once and i've seen Steve play twice

if you haven't seen Steve play yet,i suggest you go out and watch him

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 11/8/2002, 9:00 pm

Now that I think of it more and more, I kinda wish I saw Mike play more than once....I got screwed at that show. The only Mike show I saw had Duncan not on bass, although the replacement played an awesome version of The Birdman, and was his first time playing it live.

liam · Post by **liam** » 11/9/2002, 1:38 pm

smoking_monkey wrote:wow...duncan said more then a few words

I've actually never heard duncan talk.

Starseed3333 · Post by **Starseed3333** » 11/9/2002, 2:44 pm

LIAM wrote:I've actually never heard duncan talk.

Duncan is always the chattiest. I don't know why he gets so quiet in interviews, but he usually talks. Back in older interviews he did too.........the little part in the newest Spotlight was cute

smoking_monkey · Post by **smoking_monkey** » 11/9/2002, 11:00 pm

i havent heard him say more then a few words in interviews since gravity came out.

sandsleeper · Post by **sandsleeper** » 11/10/2002, 11:32 am

Honesty to the fans is more important than selling millions of albums.

that's so great. :love: