| Nov. 5 2002 - Plaza TV interview: Finland
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by unknown |
Mark Lanegan, Queens of the Stone Age. How are you doing at the moment?
Well, we'll see. It's too early to tell. But I think I'm alright. How are you?
I'm fine, thanks. So, how has the European tour been so far?
Oh, it's been great. Although, it's been a bit chilly everywhere, especially the last couple of days. We're what we like to call 'weather pussies.' Coming from California anything seems cold and this seems like an icebox.
You were the vocalist of Screaming Trees, you have done five solo albums before you joined Queens of the Stone Age, and I read somewhere that actually when you joined Screaming Trees you played the drums first. Didn't you? Like for a while?
Yeah, I did, but I was what we call a piss-poor drummer, so they made me the singer. Not because I could sing either but because the guy who was singin a good drummer. And then they sorta taught me how to sing.
Have you played the drums since that?
No, I was so humiliated by that experience that I still haven't gotten over it. I'm still trying to get used to singing and I'm sort of embarassed by that.
What's your favorite instrument? Is it singing or the guitar?
Well, I like playing the guitar but again, I'm not very good at it. But when no one's around, when I'm writing songs, I like playing the guitar.
When did you actually join Queens of the Stone Age? What happened?
I don't know. I think I had surgery or something. When I came out of it I was singing with these guys. No, Josh had asked me to sing on the first record, but due to circumstances beyond our control I wasn't able to. And then when the second one came around he asked me to come down and do a couple things, and it just sort of went on from there.
So, you started touring with them this summer, or was it a year ago?
Ah, almost two years ago now. Towards the end of the last record, which again was just supposed to be for a couple of shows and then it ended up being a whole tour, and I'm still doing it. So, you know, it's like starting with marijuana and moving on to harder things. It really happened that way. Just stages, you know, so I didn't notice it was happening and now I'm their boy.
Can you see yourself doing something else except for the music?
I can, but I'd rather not think about it. You know, I'm sorta used to this now and I don't know what else I would do that would be socially acceptable or legal.
Are you a permanent member of the Queens of the Stone Age nowadays?
That's what they say, but I'm not buying it. You know, cause I've seen so many guys just get the axe. They're really nice to them and then they turn around and uhnh, they're gone.
So you can't know for sure?
You never know and nobody trusts each other. That's the thing. Always on pins and needles, wondering who's next.
What kind of a show are we going to see tonight?
I have no idea. That's part of the fun of playing with these guys, is that it's different every night. The setlist is always different and the songs are always different. So, just on a basic level it should be a good rock show.
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