INTERVIEWING CAPTAIN EVERYTHING (By Gemma Short)

Hailing from Watford, and leading the British charge on influential label Household Name Records, Captain Everything! were rewarded for years of hard work and touring with a slot on the Lock Up Stage at this year's festival. And with this interview of course.

You’ve just released the single ‘The Bomb Song’, why did you decide to release a single?

We thought it would be the quickest way to get rich.

Any reason why you chose to release it on pink vinyl?

We thought to ourselves, "how can we make our single the sexiest and most appealing to the mass market... PINK VINYL".

The new album Buena Vista Bingo Club is out very soon on Household Name Records. It has been a fair time since your last release, has this album been a long time in the making or did you have a bit of a break?

With so much touring etc. it was hard to write an album and then Rich (our old drummer) left to join a cult, which put a hold on things again.

On your last album, It’s Not Rocket Science, you had the song ‘There’s No ‘I’ In Scene’. Do you think the UK “scene” has progressed since then, or is it still very divided?

That song was directed at the Folk “scene”, which we had a fleeting interest in. But now we don’t care about Folk anymore so we couldn’t say if that scene is still divided or not.

How did coming from Watford influence the band?

Our main influences from Watford would be Geri Halliwell and Elton John. They are a constant inspiration to us all and we look forward to meeting them soon so we can thank them in person.

A lot of British bands have been saying that it’s hard to get out across in Europe or America, although some have been able to get distribution deals. Have you had a similar experience trying to get your music heard outside the UK?

The first time we played in Europe we didn’t have a van so we tried to carry the gear on our backs, which proved pretty difficult. When there is a 10 hour drive between gigs and you have to walk there, it puts an extra strain on the relationships in the band. We are fans of camping though.

You’re playing The Lock Up Stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals this year of course, are you looking forward to it?

We are looking forward to it. It’s gonna be our first Main Stage headline gig and we are glad we got to choose all the other bands to support us. i.e. Pearl Jam, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Fall Out Boy, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand.

How did it come about, and why do you think you were approached to do it?

I think with our single sales going through the roof and the hotly anticipated album Buena Vista Bingo Club, we were the obvious choice. I think there may have been a big backlash from the fans if we weren't asked to headline.

The Lock Up of course has become quite influential on the UK scene and in giving bands air play, how important do you think this is?

I think it’s very important. I mean just look at the bands Mike [Davies] has discovered – Boyzone, Hanson, Busted to name just a few.

What are the plans for the future now that you have the new single and the album?

Spending the millions we receive in royalties on drugs and women, and I have always wanted a gold plated toilet seat!

Captain Everything! will be playing the Lock Up Stage at Reading on the Saturday.