Live Chat with Chris Transript | Транкрипция онлайн-чата с Крисом

Comment From Yana
Hi Chris, It’s Yana and Sasha from Russia. We saw video of you producing a song for a band Celadore in Red Door Sounds studio. What other bands have you worked with? By the way, see you on tour in September!

Chris Cheney: I have not worked with any other bands at the studio as we have been so busy with our record, I hope to get in there with more bands soon, see you soon and hope you are well!

Comment From TylerH
Hello Chris, First off, LOVE the new cd. I was wondering if you guys were planning to come back to the USA for this cd?

Chris Cheney: We would love nothing more than to be touring the US but no set plans at this point. We will be in Europe and japan but not ruled out touring the US so fingers crossed. We appreciate we have a lot of fans in the US so thanks for the support.

Comment From Caitlin
Hi Chris! Great to have you here! After putting together a sucessful 5albums, you obviously know what you guys are doing! What has been the easiest & hardest things about this 6th album? Thanks, Caitlin

Chris Cheney: The easiest decision was deciding to make another record, we knew after White Noise we had ideas .. The hardest part was that we had so many ideas and we ended up with 5 albums worth of material. We had to sort through and decide which songs would make this record. I think we have made the right decision.


Comment From David Hampson
You had a second guitarist with you on Tuesday night, is he going to be a permanent fixture when you tour and does this mean that the songs on the new album are more complicated then previous albums?

Chris Cheney: The songs on the new album aren't more complex but we felt there were some sounds and elements missing from our live show that are on our records. We plan to use him for some of the songs but not all, the idea is that it creates a fuller sound and you will hear parts of our record that have not been executed on stage. It will free me up to play some parts that have been missing from our gigs. Please don't judge till you've seen us in the room. It's a wall of sound!

Comment From Guest
Hi Chris. Congratulations on placing so high in the JJJ100 albums poll. After the upcoming tour, would you ever entertain the idea of a special show or two, playing the self-titled album in its entirety? Not even necessarily suggesting that it would be a quick cash-grab, rather a cool opportunity to hear some of the lesser played tunes. Thanks for your time (saw you guys on Tuesday night at the launch, loved it, thanks!)

Chris Cheney: yes we would love to do something like that, I think there are some great songs that have not been played live in some years. Hearing it on JJJ reminded me it's an exciting record and we won't rule it out by any means.


 Comment From Ricky C
Chris, you blokes supported us one wild night at The Punters ClubFitzroy years ago now man, you've gone onto sensational things and I wanted to say how proud we are of you. A good set of blokes, who deserved all that came your way. Top job man, keep it up...

Chris Cheney: Thankyou very much we feel very blessed and fortunate to be playing music and gotten to the level we are at and we've been fortunate enough to be able to do what we love for a living. Music is still everything to us. Long live The Punters Club.

Comment From Kerrin
So my question is about For Another Day - what exactly is it about? I have my own idea about it but i'd like to hear your view on it

Chris Cheney: I'm not the types of person that lives in the now I dwell on things from the past and the future so that song is a reminder to me about events that none of that matters and the only thing that does is what's happening right now. It's saying you have to live every minute like it's your last as you don't know what is around the corner. I am still struggling to deal with something at the moment, but it was an awakening that life is short and it's important to live in the now.

Comment From Jarrad
Hi Chris, what gig are you looking forward to most on your upcoming tour?

Chris Cheney: All of them, no word of a lie - because I am happy to be out of our concrete box in South Melbourne, i am relieved the album is finished and we have so much fire in our bellies for the tour and are chomping at the bit to get back to what we love doing.

Comment From Guest
Hi Chris, You are known for your detailed approach to all of your projects but with a new album, at what point do you start to relax and enjoy it? After recording? After release? Never? Sue E.

Chris Cheney: Relaxation is not in my vocab, I guess i'll start working on the next record, I have a lot of songs I want to see the light of day. In some form I want to release that material as i don't want it sitting on a hard drive - I am happy with the record but I am happiest when I am moving and not standing still.

Comment From Mark
I Have A Question! When you write songs to you actualy write them down anywhere or do you just remember then or do you record them on something?

Chris Cheney: These days it's easier with the iPhone, we record things, i have a terrible memory but I get inspired by random things so I make sure I put an idea down as I will forget an hour later. i have been known to get up in the middle of the night and put down a melody on a guitar. It's liberating and frustrating. This record i felt like I was channeling something beyond me .. with real quality ideas.

Comment From Dylan
Hi Chris!How is scott's moving to byron bay going to affect the band?

Chris Cheney: It'll make me look more pale!
He may grow a beard, other than that it shouldn't affect us.

Comment From Guest

Hi Chris my name is Ethan, I play in a band called The Inebriates. Recently you visited Wheeler's Hill SC and our drummer gave you a pre-production copy of our upcoming EP. We would just like to know what you thought. contact us through the messenger or via email.

Chris Cheney: Hey it was really freaky to go back to our old high school, never been so nervous I have the CD, looked at it today, and we've been in Sydney doing promotions, but I promise I'll listen to it and let you know what I think. Best of luck!


Comment From Veronicaz09
Hey Chris thanks for taking the time to chat. After listening to he album a few times, I've noticed a a fresh "flow" to the album. What do you think was so different about this album from those prior? And any chance of you guys coming back to the states? We miss you guys!

Chris Cheney: I believe that there was a sense of not being able to top what we achieved with White Noise, so i was determined we'd create the best songs we've written. We ended up with more songs and at the end of it we went through every tune and picked the best ones that fit together. There's a common thread linking the songs more than our other records. We wanted the album to also flow and sound like an old record. Glad to hear you are hearing it the way we are.


Comment From Jay
Hi Chris, TLE are my favourite band, just wondering if you guys have any plans for future releases of unreleased songs/B-sides as a set? It sounds like you had alot of songs lined up for the current album, and it would be awesome to hear those that didnt suit the album but were great anyway! Cheers!

Chris Cheney: Jay, as we speak I am a fan of artists doing this. It's getting to the point where there has been enough time and earlier albums and now that I can look back and unearth some of our lost B-sides and songs. we are just trying to figure out the best way to do that. i'd love you to hear it one day, warts and all.

Comment From Jasmin
Hi Chris!! In an old photo of you and the band Scott is holding a Split Enz record 'See Ya Round'. Plus you've also covered the classic 'Distant Sun' by Crowded House. Have the Split Enz/Crowded House/Finn Brothers eras influenced you as an artist/band? Any other influences?

Chris Cheney: yes yes yes! I adore Crowded House, I am in awe of Neil Finn as a songwriter guitarist and singer, he's a true legend. Split Enz and CH are frequently spoken about in the rehearsal room.

Comment From Melissa
G'day Chris - I don't really have a question. Just wanted to congratulate you and the boys on a stella career (so far), and the new album!! Long time TLE fan. Met you briefly @ a Triple M gig a while back. My fav moment was some bimbo coming up to you after the gig, asking for a kiss. Your reply: “Sorry, I’m married”. GOLD! Sigh… A rocker with morals!

Chris Cheney: I've shattered all rock star illusions! Thank you but yes I am a loyal husband and I appreciate the support. I'm flattered!

Comment From Jay

When will you be likely to start touring internationally - specifically NZ? New album is BRILLIANT!!!

Chris Cheney: Thankyou, we plan to go to NZ ASAP we always had such a great time there and first place outside Australia we had a gold record.

Comment From TLE_Rawks!
What ever happened to Rats?

Chris Cheney: The burning question - it's gone but not forgotten, we have songs in the same vein as Rats that we plan to put out one day, it didn't fit this record, but don't fret it will see the light of day.

Comment From James
Chris, I'm just wondering what your guitar practise regime consider of when growing up. Is it really a case of becoming a recluse until you hone your craft? I have been playing for 20 years or so but I'm very inspiration based, meaning I can only really put in quality hours of practise when inspired to do so. The inspiration tends to coincide with new alb releases from my favorite bands, of which TLE is one. You really are a talented man.

Chris Cheney: It's fair to say I was obsessed with playing the guitar as a kid. i would get inspired to practice from seeing photos in a magazine, and it wasn't unheard of for me to sit for 5 hours during high school on the edge of my bed while playing. It's the only thing I felt I was any good at.

Comment From Erin
Will there be a DVD of your gig in September a'la 'Live at Festival Hall'?

Chris Cheney: No we aren't playing Festival Hall but we may film some shows. it's time ti mix things up, play the new record and resurrect old album tracks.

Comment From Margaux McDonald

Hi Chris. You decided to work with a co-writer whilst you were in New York. Is lyric writing a difficult or secondary part of the song writing process for you?

Chris Cheney: it's both difficult and secondary. I am always focused on the hook and the melody of the song first, without it you have nothing. i don't find lyrics easy but there were some key lines on this record that fell into my lap and I believe what ever you are going through in life influences your writing and I think our strongest lyrics are on this record.

Comment From harro
35 yr old chick, Ive just started learning guitar. finding it quite challenging.. any advice you can give on getting up to speed quicker?

Chris Cheney: Keep practising.. unfortunately there's no quick way. Spend time doing it. Don't be in a hurry to play amazingly well, if you enjoy it you will further yourself so much more. Listen to as much music as possible.

Comment From Brad
Hi Chris-heard a rumour that you were going to tour with the Foo Fighters-any truth in that?

Chris Cheney: no there's not. they are a kick arse band but don't know where the rumour started. We have been laughing about it!

Comment From Guest
Chris, i'm a huge fan, and i just wanna know, will 'rats' ever be heard, or is it gone forever?

Chris Cheney: it's not gone forever, it'll come back.


Comment From pop
Chris, do you guys have a twitter account?

Chris Cheney: no i don't - follow us on facebook

Comment From May
Loving the vocals these days more than ever - amazing! - so have you been taking lessons/advice? Or is it just your voice maturing in line with your songwriting?

Chris Cheney: No lessons, thank you, i am flattered! i think the songs i write demand a better singer than what I was at 22.

Comment From Jasmin
If you play Growing Up (Falling Down) during the Melbourne show in September I will love you forever!!

Chris Cheney: Haha! Ok done!

Comment From Caitlin
Chris - burning question for you! What is the one thing (aside from the obvious) you must take on tour with you? Do you have a good luck charm?

Chris Cheney: not necessarily though we try to make sure we are fit.

Comment From Nik Bicanski
will there be any b-sides with singles this time around?

Chris Cheney: Yes we'd love to do this, stay tuned.

Comment From Nick
It was well publicised that the octave riff to "How Do We Know" really kicked the songwriting process for White Noise into gear. Were there any new guitar related gadgets that inspired you for this album?

Chris Cheney: Yes, I have used more effects on this record vs others. There was the chorus peddle which gave songs an 80s flavour we were excited about. The good thing about a new guitar peddle is when it influences your writing. it's important for our songs to grow and sonically there's a broader spectrum now.

Comment From Yana Amur
What is the story behind the vintage Pacific guitar you have on promo photos for the new album? Is it playable?

Chris Cheney: it's not playable It's been on my wall for 10 years and it's only a shell of a guitar..

Comment From Caitlin
Hi Chris, I was sorry to hear about your Dad, that was very sad news. I'm glad he was able to hear the record in full though. How much has that influenced your songwriting & the themes/topics that you write about? Obviously ST/Roll On etc were much more political/socially focused.

Chris Cheney: it's been everything with this record, he was ill for a long time and dad was there from the start, he was always our number 1 supporter and his passing has been the most horrible moment of my life but i take comfort in the fact he's not facing what he was and this record is for him.


Comment From Guest
any ideas about a setlist for the gigs? anything that will absolutely be played?

Chris Cheney: It's going to be a different setlist to what you might imagine, lots of surprises.

Comment From Jarrad
Do you hate the song Uncle Harry now, and people always yelling it out at gigs? It sure annoys me a fair bit.

Chris Cheney: yeah it's not my finest moment, i can get the appeal but a bit novelty for my liking.

Comment From Erin
I've always been amazed with your song 'the room'- what inspired it? any plans to make another song with multiple parts?

Chris Cheney: I read articles on people that had been incarcerated for the majority of their lives and when they were released they couldn't cope ... the song is about how someone inside for so long, and how the world has changed. It's an amazing concept to think someone feels more comfortable on the inside of a room for so long.

Comment From OlyaVera Madtwins
In a time when showbiz work for entertaining and not for education - do you feel responsible for the messages you send to the people through your music and songs?

Chris Cheney: i don't feel responsible but I think it's important to send a positive message. i think artists should send what ever message they want but there's enough negativity in this world without people with a profile adding to it. Life's too short to spread a negative vibe. my mission is to spread positivity.

Comment From Guest
ever gonna play stay away from me live?

Chris Cheney: Maybe now that you have mentioned it I will put in into the mix.

Comment From Veronicaz09
After all the years of being in a band, what do you think has held this band together as such a solid unit?

Chris Cheney: Me, tolerance, a desire to succeed and not being content with anything we have done we are hungry for more! But we appreciate what we have achieved.

Comment From Jarrad
After 6 albums, are your live sets going to be much longer now?

Chris Cheney: Yes
Chris Cheney: An hour and a quarter doesn't cut it .... submit your requests now

Comment From Joab808

ANY chance at all of hearing "closing in" live?? It's a bloody ripper of a tune and I don't think you can even play it.... prove me wrong... DARE YOU!!

Chris Cheney: oooo - a challenge if ever i heard it!
Chris Cheney: Won't guarantee it live but I can still play it.
Chris Cheney: It'll be longer sets, more obscure tracks, bigger moments and we know we have 6 albums of material we have to cover now. Look out Springsteen!
Chris Cheney: Submit your wish list to our website or facebook page, or twitter account, we are open to suggestions and we will see what we can do .

Comment From Henk
What was the influence behind machine gun?. I've listened to it a few times and i cant figure out the meaning of the song,the lyrics start to make sense,then they go in a different direction

Chris Cheney: Initially it was written about referring to someone about a machine gun, heavy handed, forceful, hard arsed person, with an iron fist, it's not a deep song, it was more about the riff than anything.

Chris Cheney: Thanks guys for the live chat. Very excited to be back playing shows and hope you're digging the new record. Love you lots, see you soon!

Comment From Jay
Do you have any idea how I can get hold of Mr Businessman? Ive never even heard that song!

Chris Cheney: It was on our EPs Save the Day ... look for it...

Daily Telegraph interview | Интервью из Daily Telegraph.

EN: New interview with Chris from Daily Telegraph (14/07/2011):


The Living Years

WHEN The Living End arrived in Byron Bay to record their sixth album, they had excess baggage.
The band's chief songwriter Chris Cheney had driven himself almost insane overloading the creative process; at one point 40 songs were album contenders.
Cheney became so obsessive he'd record songs with band mates Scott Owen and Andy Strachan during the day, then take them home at night and write three alternative choruses for each track.
"It became an incredibly tangled web," Cheney recalls.
"I kept trying to write choruses that topped the ones I already had. I'd have sleepless nights deliberating over songs, making it harder than it needs to be. I don't know any other way. I can't just go, 'That'll do'. Because it just won't do. It had become so incredibly difficult to make decisions. I probably need to talk to a psychologist about that."
There were other issues. The success of the band's previous album White Noise (the title track became their most-played song on local radio, beating signature song Prisoner of Society) saw Cheney fixated on how to follow it.
"I'm not ignorant," he says. "People said, 'White Noise is a great record; you'll never top that'. Who says we can't? It wasn't Abbey Road. There's room for improvement.
"I told myself I had to be f---ing relentless with this new album; I had to top White Noise if it was the last thing I did. I almost felt like I was going to end up in an asylum. It was sink or swim. Everything going on in my private life fuelled me to make sure this record wasn't a failure."
Cheney is intensely guarded about his private life. Long-time manager Rae Harvey says: "He never opens up; he writes most of his songs in the third person."
The previous two years had pushed Cheney to the brink. His second daughter Scarlett was born three months premature in 2008 - testing times for Cheney and wife Emma. His grandmother died last year, before his father Noel was diagnosed with cancer and given only months to live.
"It was this weird thing in the universe, all these things colliding within the space of two years," Cheney says. "It's got to mean something."
Noel Cheney was The Living End's earliest and most dedicated fan. His illness made Cheney question his motives for the first time in his career as he left his family to join The Living End in a Byron Bay studio earlier this year.
"I knew my Dad wasn't going to be here much longer," Cheney says. "It was still a shock; he went earlier than anyone thought. I knew things were getting bad, I was confused about making the record. I just felt what was the point of making an album. What does a record even mean? It's so insignificant.
"But what Dad wanted more than anything was for us to make a kick-a--- record. That kept me going. The only way I could feel good about myself and everything else that was going on was that perhaps this record would make everything OK, that it would be great. I couldn't focus on the record like I should have."
When Noel Cheney died on Anzac Day this year, his son had at least played him the finished record - which he'd go on to dedicate to him.
"He got to hear it, he loved it and I was thankful for that," Cheney says. "He was always our biggest supporter from the get-go. He was in a pretty bad way at that point, but he really dug it. It's that cliche; when it happened it was for the best because he'd been in pain, but I'm still struggling with the permanency of it.
"The only way I can cope with what's going on is to find the positivity - he's not dealing with what he had to deal with for six months. The album title deals with that: you have to move on."
The title, The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating, is something of which Cheney is proud. "It doesn't make exact sense, which is kind of why I like it," he says.
The band used US producer Nick DiDia (Powderfinger, Pearl Jam) as a fresh set of ears. Cheney wanted the band to try new ideas. They road-tested new songs under a secret name - the Safety Matches - to diehard fans. They loved them. The band, well, not so much.
"Pretty much all the songs changed from those shows," Cheney says. "Even Heatwave, which was on YouTube; that was ballsy, but it was pedestrian. We've done that. I can write 10 of those songs in 30 minutes without much effort."
The song survived, but in a new guise. Cheney started listening to bands such as The Prodigy to push The Living End's sound into more rhythmic, tribal territory.
"We wanted to create songs like a techno rave band," Cheney says. "We'd think, 'What would The Prodigy do here?' It's a million miles from what we do, but it's the same feeling live. They're intense.
"I love forgetting about impressing the audience with your musical chops and getting into a groove and letting the audience close their eyes and get taken away with the band. We've always been a spectacle band: 'You've got to see them play, look when he does this ... '
"I wanted to create a wall of sound, these massive epic songs that people can sing along to, that are anthemic, but people can also lose themselves in. We didn't want to leave a spot in our show where people wanted to go to the bar."
Cheney had four weeks in Byron Bay, and took one day off. His bandmates loved the area - bassist Scott Owen has recently moved into a house there. Still, Cheney's workaholic gene kicked in hard.
"As far as I'm concerned, we haven't made the record until we've bled for it," Cheney says.
"We have to bleed to make a Living End record, that's the only way we can do it. I'm used to doing 30 takes, singing 'til my voice hurts, killing myself to get it done.
"I probably added fuel to my own fire. I was really stressed out. I'd put a year and a half into writing this record and I really felt we had the best songs we've ever had. But at that point in Byron I was close to losing it and stuffing the whole thing up. That's the most important part, when you're laying it down for once and for all."
One song in particular, Ride the Wave Boy, was a personal mission for Cheney. He had the song while they were still touring White Noise.
"It had that real haunting quality from the start," drummer Andy Strachan says. "It already had something that made you feel shivers. Then came the lyrics. Given what he was going through at the time, it's pretty personal. It was hard for us to know what to say; nothing's going to fix anything. You just had to be there if he needed you."
The song is Cheney's favourite. "It was imperative that song ended up on the record," he says. "It summed up the entire journey, me battling my own demons, aside from all the personal stuff. There's lots of demons I felt I've had to battle with, as we all do. The whole record is about figuring out what life means when you've had such great losses and such great success as I've had."
The lyrics swing from third-person observations of men in pain before a first-person middle eight where Cheney sings, "I was too busy to stop and see the desperation in your eyes".
"I am that guy," Cheney admits. "Whether that is about my Dad, I don't know. I was there for him, but I wasn't around probably as much as I should have been and it's too late now.
"But all he wanted was for The Living End to be a success. It's also referencing (a former bandmate) who started putting needles in his arm, and Scott and I were too gung-ho about putting the band on the map to help him out. I really wanted that song on the record. It would have been so easy to go, 'The record is good enough without it', but 'good enough' doesn't seem to be within my make-up."
His bandmates talk about Cheney's perfectionism.
"That's something other people call me," he says. "I don't think I get anything perfect. That's the struggle. I feel like I'm always coming up short, so I dig in and keep trying. It's fine unless you've got to work with me, if you're married to me or you're in my family. It seems to be all-consuming."
Cheney says that attitude has become worse lately.
"I probably don't feel as in control. I didn't have that blase 'Yeah, we can take on the world' attitude like we did when we were 21, that reckless naivety," he says.
"Now I feel like we have to dig in if we want results, we have to work for it. I still feel like there's more to say, that there's more to do. This record is our most honest. There's a lot more of me on there than any of our other records. There's a lot more to life than social issues. If people are expecting to hear The Living End circa 1996, they'll be disappointed. It's not 1996. We've done that. It's not that far removed, but there's a depth to it we couldn't even imagine having on our first few records."
Last Saturday Cheney spent the day waiting to see where the band's self-titled 1998 debut album fared in Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian poll. It landed at No. 4, just ahead of INXS's Kick.
"It's not better than Kick," Cheney said. In fact, he avoided listening to the album played in full on Triple J. "It's so immature. We sound so young," he says. "But maybe that's why people like it."
But the timing isn't lost on Cheney. "In the same month our first album has been voted in the Triple J Top 5, our new album is released and it's called The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating. If that's not a sign, I don't know what is," he says.
Now comes the usual touring - there's already international releases lined up, as well as a full Australian tour. Which suits Cheney fine.
"This record was a hell of a journey; it nearly drove me insane. A lot of stuff has gone into making it what it is. I'm really proud of it; if it had come easy, it probably wouldn't be what it is. But if that's what it takes to make a record, I'm happy to give it a few years before we make another," he says.

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RU: Перевод интервью с Крисом из Daily Telegraph (14/07/2011):

Когда The Living End прибыли в Byron Bay для записи шестого альбома, их "багаж" превышал норму.
Крис Чини, основной автор песен группы, почти довел себя до сумасшествия, форсируя творческий процесс; в какой-то момент количество песен, претендующих попасть на альбом, дошло до 40.
Чини до того зациклился, что днем записывал песни со своими коллегами Скоттом Оуэном и Энди Стрэккеном, а по ночам брал работу на дом и писал по три альтернативных припева для каждого трека.
"Это превратилось в невероятно запутанную сеть," вспоминает Чини.  "Я все пытался написать припевы, которые бы превзошли те, которые у меня уже были. Я проводил бессонные ночи в раздумиях о песнях, усложняя себе задачу больше, чем нужно. Я не знаю другого пути. Я не могу просто сказать "Это сойдет". Потому что это не сработает. Принимать решения стало неимоверно трудно. Мне наверное следует поговорить об этом с психологом".

Были и другие проблемы. Из-за успеха предыдущего альбома группы, "White Noise" (заглавный трек стал их самой ротируемой песней на радио, переплюнув даже коронный Prisoner of Society) Чини стал одержим написанием достойного продолжения.
"Я не "в танке"," заявляет он. "Люди говорили, "White Noise отличная пластинка, вам никогда не удастся превзойти ее". Кто говорит, что мы не можем? Это все же не Abby Road. Всегда есть место для совершенствования.
"Я сказал себе, что мне нужно быть чертовски безжалостным к новому альбому, мне нужно было превзойти White Noise, чего бы мне это ни стоило. Я чувствовал себя так, словно под конец окажусь в психушке. Тут либо плыви, либо тони. Всё, что происходило в моей личной жизни, подпитывало меня в стремлении написать не провальный альбом.
Чини чрезвычайно скрытен относительно своей личной жизни. Давний менеджер Рэй Харви говорит: "Он никогда не раскрывается, и пишет большую часть своих песен от третьего лица".

Последние два года довели Чини до крайности. В 2008 году его вторая дочь Скарлет родилась на 3 месяца раньше срока - время испытаний для него и его жены Эммы. Его бабушка умерла в прошлом году, а затем у его отца Ноэла диагностировали рак, и жить ему оставалось всего несколько месяцев.
"Это такая странная штука в жизни, когда все события происходят разом, в промежуток всего в 2 года", говорит он. "Это должно что-то да значить".
Ноэл Чини был первым и самым преданным фанатом The Living End. Его болезнь заставила Чини задуматься о своих побуждениях впервые за всю карьеру, когда в начале этого года он покинул семью ради студийной работы с The Living End в Байрон Бэй.
"Я знал, что отец долго не протянет," говорит Чини. "Но все равно это был шок; он ушел раньше, чем кто-либо мог предположить. Я знал, что ему становится хуже, и был поставлен в тупик с записью альбома. Я почувствал, что в создании альбома нет никакого смысла. Что вообще значит эта запись? Это так несущественно.
"Но чего папа хотел больше всего, так это чтобы мы записали отличный альбом. Это заставляло меня двигаться вперед. Мысль о том, что возможно эта пластинка что-нибудь изменит к лучшему, что она удастся, было единственным, что помогало мне не впадать в отчание. Но я не мог сконцентрироваться на записи так, как следовало бы.
Прежде чем Ноэл Чини умер 25 апреля этого года, его сын хотя бы успел сыграть ему законченную пластинку, которую он посвятил ему же.
"Он услышал альбом, полюбил его, и я был благодарен за это," говорит Чини. "Он с самого начала был нашим главным сторонником. К тому моменту он был уже в плохом состоянии, но ему действительно понравилось. Это опять же клише, но когда все случилось, это было к лучшему, потому что ему было больно. Но я по-прежнему пытаюсь смириться с тем, что это навсегда.
"Едиественный способ пережить это - найти позитивные стороны. Ему больше не приходится иметь дело с тем, что он терпел последние 6 месяцев. Название альбома говорит о том же: нужно двигаться вперед."
Название, "Конец это лишь повторение начала" - гордость Чини. "В нем нет определенного смысла, наверное отчасти потому оно мне и нравится", говорит он.

Группа пригласила американского продюсера Ника Дайдиа (Powderfinger, Pearl Jam) в качестве свежей "пары ушей". Чини хотел, чтобы группа попробовала новые идеи. Они проверили свежие песни на концертах, выступая под секретным названием "the Safety Matches" перед преданными фанатами. Фанатам понравилось. А группе, скажем так, не очень.
"Почти все песни изменились после тех концертов," говорит Чини. "Даже Heatwave, которая была на YouTube; она была энергичной, но обыкновенной. Такое мы уже делали. Я могу без особых усилий написать 10 таких песен за 30 минут".
Песня выжила, но в новом обличии. Чини начал слушать группы вроде The Prodigy чтобы переместить звук The Living End на более ритмичную территорию.
"Мы хотели написать песни как техно рейв группа," говорит Чини. "Мы рассуждали, "А что бы с этим сделали The Prodigy?". Это на миллион миль далеко от того, что делаем мы, но в живом выступлении это те же ощущения. Они глубокие.
"Я люблю забывать о том, чтобы произвести на публику впечатление своей музыкальной техникой, и просто пускаться в грув и позволять слушателям закрыть глаза и унестись вместе с музыкой. Мы всегда были зрелищной группой: "Ты должен увидеть их вживую, смотри как он делает то-то..."
"Я хотел создать стену звука, массивные эпичные песни, которым люди бы подпевали, которые похожи на гимны, и в которых можно забыться. Мы не хотели оставлять хоть одного места в нашем выступлении, когда бы людям захотелось отойти в бар."
Чини провел четыре недели в Байрон Бэй, и взял всего один выходной. Его приятели полюбили это место - бассист Скотт Оуэн недавно переехал туда. И все равно ген трудоголика сильно руководил Крисом.
"Для меня запись не может быть закончена, пока она не подпортит нам много крови," говорит Чини.
"Нам нужно истекать кровью, чтобы создать очередной альбом Living End, это единственный путь. Я привык делать по 30 дублей, петь пока не заболят голосовые связки, гробить себя, лишь бы довести дело до конца.
"И я еще больше подливал масла в огонь. Я был в крайне стрессовом состоянии. Я потратил полтора года на запись этой пластинки и чувствовал, что у нас есть лучшие за нашу карьеру песни. Но в какой-то момент в Байроне я был близок к тому, чтобы потерять это и все запороть. Это самая важная часть - когда ты записываешь окончательный вариант раз и навсегда.

В частности одна из песен, Ride the Wave Boy, стала личной задачей Чини. Она появилась еще в то время, когда они ездили с туром к White Noise.
"У нее изначально было западающее в память качество," говорит барабанщик Энди Стрэккен. "В ней уже было что-то, что вызывало мурашки. А потом появились и слова. Учитывая, что он тогда переживал, это довольно личная песня. Нам было сложно найти слова, ничто уже не может исправить случившегося. Ты просто должен был быть рядом, если он вдруг нуждался в тебе.
Это любимая песня Чини. "Песня обязана была оказаться на пластинке," говорит он. "Она подвела итоги целого пути, как помимо личных проблем я сражался с собственными демонами. Как и у всех нас, у меня много таких демонов. Весь альбом направлен на размышление о том, каков смысл жизни, когда ты сталкиваешься и с такими огромными потерями, и со столь же великим успехом, какой был у меня".
Текст песни колеблется между наблюдением за страдающим от боли человеком, описанными от третьего лица, и словами от первого лица, где Чини поет "Я был слишком занят, чтобы остановиться и увидеть отчаяние в твоих глазах".
"Я этот парень", признается Чини. "Или же это о моем отце, я не знаю. Я был с ним, но наверное не так много, как следовало бы, а теперь уже слишком поздно.
"Но все, чего он хотел, это чтобы The Living End добились успеха. Песня также ссылается на нашего прежнего барабанщика, который подсел на иглу, а мы со Скоттом не помогли ему, так как были слишком озабочены тем, чтобы создать группе имя. Я очень хотел чтобы эта песня оказалась на альбоме. Было бы легче сказать "Альбом и так достаточно хорош и без нее", но "достаточно хорош" не свойственно моему характеру.
Его коллеги по группе говорят о перфекционизме Чини.

"Так уж обо мне отзываются другие," говорит он. "Мне всегда кажется, что я не могу сделать что-то идеально. Это борьба. Я все думаю, что где-то недоработал, и я продолжаю стараться. И это нормально, если только вы не работаете со мной, не замужем за мной или же не часть моей семьи. Потому что это касается всего.
Чини говорит, что в последнее время положение только усугубилось.
"Я наверное не чувствую, что могу управлять ситуацией. У меня уже нет пресыщенного отношения "Да, мы можем покорить мир", какое было у нас когда нам было по 21, этой беззаботной наивности," говорит он.
"Теперь я чувствую, что нам нужно стараться, если мы хотим добиться результатов, нам нужно работать для этого. Мне кажется, нам еще есть, что сказать, есть, что сделать. Это наша самая честная запись. В ней намного больше меня, чем в предыдущих альбомах. Она больше о жизни, чем о социальных проблемах. Если люди хотят слышать The Living End образца 1996, то будут разочарованы. Это не 1996. Мы это уже прошли. Различий не так много, но в новом альбоме появилась глубина, которую мы и не могли представить на наших нескольких первых записях.

Прошлую субботу Чини провел в ожидании результатов голосования за лучший австралийский альбом Triple J's Hottest 100, чтобы узнать, на каком месте окажется их дебютный альбом 1998 года. Он попал на 4-ое место, прямо перед альбомом INXS Kick.
"Он не лучше чем Kick," говорит Чини. Вообще-то, он даже не стал слушать альбом на радио. "Он такой незрелый. Мы звучим такими молодыми," говорит он. "Но возможно потому-то он и нравится людям." Но момент не потерян для Чини. "Наш первый альбом попадает в пятерку лучших альбомов на Triple J,и в этот же месяц выходит наш новый альбом под названием The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating. Если это не знак, то я даже не знаю, что можно считать знаком."
Теперь им предстоит турне, а зарубежные релизы уже выстроены в очередь, как и полноценный Австралийский тур. Что нравится Чини.
"Этот альбом оказался той еще задачей, и почти довел меня до сумасшествия. На него многое было положено. Я им действительно горжусь, и если бы все сложилось легче, то возможно он не получился бы именно таким. Но если создание альбома требует так много усилий, то я был бы не прочь дать ему еще пару лет, прежде чем мы примемся за следующий".

Перевод: Яна Амур.

Behind the scenes with The Living End | За кулисами с The Living End

"The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating" wallpaper

Click here for 1920x1080.

New song, early album release & YouTube live stream | Новая песня, ранний выход альбома и прямая трансляция на YouTube

EN: First of all, in case if you're not a facebook user then you might've missed the new song called "Machine Gun" that had been released last week. You can download it for free here.
Want to be among first people to hear the new album? Then join TLE's mailing list before Saturday 16 July to access an exclusive album stream on Monday 18th July!
And even more exciting news: on Tuesday 19th go to http://www.youtube.com/sessions to watch a special live set for Youtube Sessions. Details in the video below.

RU: На прошлой неделе The Living End бесплатно выпустили еще одну песню с нового альбома, называется она "Machine Gun" и скачать ее можно через facebook.
Если вы хотите услышать альбом раньше всех, то до 16-ого июля подпишитесь на email рассылку TLE и получите доступ к эксклюзивной трансляции альбома уже в понедельник, 18 июля!
И еще более захватывающая новость: во вторник, 19 июля The Living End отыграют специальный концерт из песен нового альбома, онлайн-вещание выступление можно посмотреть на http://www.youtube.com/sessions в 14.00 по московскому времени (8 PM для австралийцев). Кроме того, по этой ссылке вы также можете задать группе свои вопросы. Подробности в этом видео: