In case you didn’t know, Bloc Party is, in no particular order, Kele Okereke (vox, guitar), Russell Lissack (guitar), Gordon Moakes (Bass) and Matt Tong (drums). This post-punking clan of fierce individuals have fast established themselves as the thinking-person’s choice in the new British invasion. Now in the midst of a major world tour promoting their new album, A Weekend In The City, Bloc Party are a real tough band to catch up with. But somehow we got lucky enough to snag drummer Matt Tong in our Hot Seat and we didn’t let go until we got some answers. Read on…
Q: Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
A: There was a time in Tokyo when I lost it completely. I went out drinking with my wife’s best friend and my drum tech and ended up crashing a karaoke room full of complete strangers just because they were singing that wet Aerosmith ballad from Armageddon. I drank all their booze and made them sing Bonnie Tyler with me or something like that, I can barely remember. And then I needed a burger and was ranting at my wife’s friend with burger coming out of my mouth at 8am and then I went back to the hotel and was meant to be up 3 hours later for a photoshoot but I guess I was too drunk to set my alarm clock properly and it took half an hour for the tour manager to wake me up. Then we had to go to the venue to do promo but I started feeling really sick and started running off to the toilet in between interviews to vomit really hard. All the Japanese venue crew were laughing me when all I wanted to do was to curl up and die and then I went to sleep. When I woke up, I was still really drunk and still couldn’t walk straight when we got to the stage. It was the worst thing ever and completely unprofessional. I’ll never do that again, I swear.
Q: What type of college class would you most want to take and why?
A: Engineering because I’d like to work for a NASCAR pit crew.
Q: What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
A: Salt Lake City because the mormon kids go completely crazy and flip out when the sun goes down. Salt Lake City is one seriously debauched place.
Q: What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
A: Play in time or you’ll get thrown out of the band.
Q: What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
A: German language instructional CD.
Q: What’s the last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to?
A: Last good book: The Age Of Reason - Satre; TV show: Peep Show.
Q: What’s the first concert you ever saw and how was it?
A: Blur at the Bournemouth International Centre. It was really boring, at the height of their Great Escape fame. All I remember is they had these flashing pills come down halfway through a song and fifty people fell over in a pile when they came on. They came back a few years later touring Blur and it was excellent, they played most of their set twice as fast.
Q: What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
A: Boggle (travel edition), shoes and underwear.
Q: Who are your major musical influences?
A: Billie Piper and Snake.
Q: Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
A: Tips? Don’t clean your wok with a scouring pad or washing up liquid. Simply use warm water and wipe away any residue with a kitchen towel. Over time, a good wok builds up a non-stick surface all of its own which is compromised when you apply soap to it.
