Interview: Justin Hawkins

“Only that my whole family will be there, it’s special in that respect. After it finishes we’ve got a day off and then we’re off to America, it’s very exciting.”

“They do where they can. I’m not sure about Dan, he might be on tour himself then.”

“Largely in places in Lowestoft, like the Fighting Cox and the Brewery, all the country pubs around there. Norwich I only played once I think…the Butchers Arms – is that right?”

“Why does it have to be different? It’s got the same singer and lead guitarist. It’s just a different bunch of songs. It’s man-rock. I think I am the first to come up with that moniker.”

“We did. In fact all three of our singles have got to number one, and the album too. I don’t know how the charts work. I don’t think anybody does – you get people that are lower than people in the rock charts higher then them in the normal charts. The main rock chart is most mystifying. The man-rock charts are much simpler because there’s only one band in it.”

“No it’s different. It’s all about the music. The venues aren’t big enough to put pyrotechnics on the end of our guitars, we’d end up melting people’s faces when we play guitar solos, and we’d rather just play guitar solos.”

“At the time I think it was a coincidental. Nu-metal was dying it’s death and we came along, I don’t think we spearheaded anything. There was no rock to be saved, and I obviously took it all with a pinch of salt. There will always be great bands around in every generation.”

“I Hope Hot Leg doesn’t get big. No, it would be nice but we have to face the fact what we do is for a niche. For a little while I did capture people’s attention, but it’s not going to be like that again. We just have to make it work. I haven’t made any money for five years, but I made enough money the year before to live off since then.”

“I love Norwich City. Norwich as a club has a great football heritage of neat passing football. It went downhill when they stopped being a selling club. As far as I’m concerned if they’re doing well I’m doing well. I’d like everybody to get behind behind our boys. Whenever Norwich are doing well I’m doing well. When Norwich were promoted it coincided with my good fortune.”

“I still consider Lowestoft my home. I was five seconds away from calling the album Lowestoft Rock. I lived in lots of places, various places in Lowestoft, and I lived in Euston Road in Great Yarmouth and Pier Walk in Gorleson.”

“It’s a more progressive record. Some of the playing is a step up, I’ve improved as a guitar player. I’m trying to be slightly more inventive with the arrangements, but it’s from the same kernel. It’s not rocket science, it’s brain surgery! It’s a typical third album. It makes sense. It’s got more of the songwriting stuff of the first and the production values of the second. We can’t go back to making trashy sounding records again.”

“In lots of ways it’s better. I enjoy doing it more. If people don’t like that’s just too bad, it’s made.”

“Ten or 11 records. Ten more records and one concept album. I haven’t made the best one yet.”

“I don’t think it’s funny. I don’t see any jokes in it. All that stuff’s real life. It’s all self autobiographical. Or semi-autobiographical. Or fictional. I don’t realty care, why does it matter? We just like the music we made. Gay in Eighties? Why’s that funny. I didn’t write that one anyway so I really couldn’t comment.”

“Just a mean, fun, supervibe rock show with four exemplary musicians at the top of their game. It’s s the pinnacle of the tour for us. If you enjoy having fun you must attend. If you enjoy good music you should go. I’m just looking forward to coming home and we haven’t even been out a day yet. It’s that coming home vibe – we don’t normally get to come home. The other thing is it’s my birthday the day after. I’ll be 28.”

“It has to be man rock. If I did jazz it would be man-jazz, and nobody wants to hear that.”