- April 19, 2006 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
- K2K: You started the band with your brother, Jared.
SL: It’s been kind of happening all of our lives. I started by banging on pots and pans, and he started playing guitar at a very young age. It just kind of progressed throughout our lives. I remember sitting in my bedroom, I set up this kit in my room, and he had this Marshall amp and a guitar. It was 1996 or so. We were talking and decided that we wanted to share this performance with other people. So we brought in a bass player. In no time, we were playing outside L.A., in venues, under different names. We wouldn’t have the same name, we would pick random names, so no one would attach themselves to it. We just wanted to play in front of people.
K2K: That’s how the Butthole Surfers started off.
SL: Oh really? Then we wanted to make a CD. We looked for the right family to connect with. Virgin happened to be it.
K2K: Who got that deal?
SL: We both got it.
K2K: Are you the younger brother?
SL: It depends on what day?
(laughter in the background)(someone comments “If you were a Hot Pocket...”, referring to the interview with Tomo and Matt)
SL: That’s funny. I was just quoting that to someone earlier today. It’s so funny, because Tomo hadn’t done many interviews at that time, and he answered it honestly. “Uh, I think I’d be mushroom...”
K2K: Do you and Jared both make decisions on how everything is done with the band?
SL: The first album, it was like that. That was the recording process. That was how we... how it was coming on throughout our lives. The second album, it wasn’t so much like that. There was a direction that we wanted to go towards, and the other guys complemented that direction. They had great input on this album, which we all wanted. We want a band. We want a rock band, we don’t want... We just want a band. Everyone contributed, and the sound is the way it is now because of everybody’s contribution. Getting the backgrounds and places we’ve traveled.
K2K: What are some of the favorite places that you’ve played?
SL: I love New York City. I love smaller towns in middle America. The energy is just sick, because that’s all they have. It’s “That Show,” you know. New York City was great. We sold out this place called The Avalon twice on a Thursday and Friday. That was cool.
K2K: Any wild stories yet from the road? Or are you pretty straight forward?
SL: Pretty straight forward. Uh... We can’t really say, really. (laughs) As far as craziest shows... no one was crazy, but we have some really dedicated fans. We have fans who travel from Japan, rent a car and follow the bus. We have fans from Mexico who do that. Yeah, yeah. They come up. From Mexico City, there was a couple who came up. For me, since I’ve never done that... I’ve never followed anyone in a band. I’ve never even waited in line. So I don’t get it. So that’s kind of crazy.
K2K: Oh we would if we could. We’ve been fans for about three years.
SL: Really? Oh, thank you.
K2K: I’ve liked you guys since the first album.
SL: Well, the first album was Jared and I’s every experience that we’ve ever had through music, through life, through everything. Sonically and visually, we put into that album. This one we wanted to disregard that, and be more stripped down and less layered. We did all that. We always want to change and evolve. We disregarded that way of recording, and did this stripped down, raw, to the point, more personal type of deal. And I think we’ve succeeded in that.
K2K: Everything I have heard so far has been awesome.
SL: Thank you.
K2K: The first album was so seasoned sounding, for a first release. The music and all, it sounded like you’ve been doing this forever. You had that sound nailed.
SL: We love music. We’re true musicians. We love all forms of music. We grew up listening to all types of music, and we were subjected to different types of instruments, and it comes across. What also comes across, which was refreshing for that time in recording, was that we listened to groups like Yes, Pink Floyd... you’ve read all that stuff. We’ve listened to a lot of amazing groups.
K2K: With the type of music you listen to, how old are you?
SL: I’m 36.
K2K: You just don’t hear people quote those bands anymore. It sucks that, while those bands were around in the 1970s, and only now do we have the technology to really do something with their styles.
SL: They wouldn’t last these days. Not with what’s happening.
K2K: But if progressive rock came in now, with all the technology... You guys are bringing that around. That’s amazing.
SL: It’s definitely a great opportunity.
K2K: Where did the name 30 Seconds To Mars come from?
SL: It comes from an old, old book. The Aggress Apocraphyx. It’s a quote in the book. That’s where part of the name came from. Really it’s about exponential growth in technology. It’s about that in society we’re in this constant state of projection that everything is “Now, now, now, now.” It’s hard to retain any information with so many things coming at you. It’s really almost like we’re 30 seconds from Mars, conceptually speaking. There is a lot more than that entails. It’s big. It’s theatrical. It makes sense with the music, the way the name is and the music sounds.
K2K: Are you or Jared into Sci-Fi at all, or is it more spiritual?
SL: It is. Again, that goes through growing up the way we did. We didn’t grow up with a TV. We were really poor. We didn’t have the normal G.I. Joe dolls and such. We had music and exploring and stuff. With music, and the lack of information like TV and stuff, the normalcy that people had - for lack of a better word - we had to escape through music, through art, through painting, and stuff. That led itself to the way it sounds, and the way this whole 30 Seconds To Mars is. It’s a huge art project, really. The fans are participating. They’re making their own clothes. They get tattoos on their body parts. It’s really amazing. It makes sense because that’s where we come from. We grew up in communes and went to festivals and stuff like that, with our mom. It kind of makes sense when you look at it. I don’t think I’ve ever said this type of thing in an interview before.
K2K: You appreciate art and creativity. Is anyone else in your family creative?
SL: My mom. She’s into photography, graphic design, and music.
K2K: What are your hopes? Where do you want to expand out to? What do you want to do?
SL: I don’t know. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing right now. I want to keep evolving and changing and living in the moment. I just want to do that. I want to be able to keep spreading 30 Seconds To Mars like a fucking disease throughout the world.
K2K: Are you involved in other arts like film or anything?
SL: I’m a photographer. I do a lot of that. I just finished a rewrite on a TV show for cable.
K2K: What was it like working with [producer] Bob Ezrin?
SL: He recorded Pink Floyd “The Wall,” KISS “Destroyer,” The Bangles, and Peter Gabriel, who I’m a huge fan of. He was our first pick for our first album. He was the first fucking guy on our list. He called. He called and we met him. He wasn’t anything like I ever expected. He was this guy who was like, just a dress shirt, slacks... You think Pink Floyd “The Wall,” you think some spiritual guru. This guy wasn’t that. Bob Ezrin is a true genius. He’s an artist. He’s a musician. Just to the tilt. He has an amazing way of creating layers of sounds.
K2K: Who did the new album?
SL: Josh Abraham. He did “I’m A Robot” and a bunch of other people. He’s a friend.
K2K: Do you think you’ll ever work with Bob Ezrin again?
SL: You never know.
K2K: Tell me about the Phoenix logo.
SL: It represents a lot. It means rebirth. It means great power. It means struggle.
K2K: How long have you personally been playing?
SL: I’ve been playing drums ever since I was a kid, really. I took several years off to sort of figure things out.
K2K: And did you figure them out?
SL: You know, I’d never never know, because I don’t think you ever figure things out. I think it’s an ongoing process. I think the day you think you’ve figured something out, you’re in trouble. That’s what I think.
K2K: It’s like the saying, that true knowledge is knowing that you know nothing at all.
SL: There you go.
K2K: Who are you influences in playing?
SL: So many. (pauses to think)
K2K: Any favorite drummers?
SL: I like Steve Gadd. A studio guy. I like the Cure drummer. The main one, the longest one running. Even the first guy. All of them. I like their tribal... The Cure drummers. Stewart Copeland. Lars Ulrich?
K2K: Really?
SL: For the first two [Metallica] albums - “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride The Lightning.” For what he did with that type of music, it’s all good. What he did for that music was amazing. Very musical, man. Very musical. After those albums, I’m not sure. I stopped listening. But it’s very cool.
K2K: Do you like [Yes drummer] Alan White?
SL: I love Alan White. I have a bunch of influences.
K2K: Mostly progressive, or jazz drummers?
SL: I love jazz drummers. I love Sade’s drummer on “Smooth Operator” and “Love From Luck.” I think that’s the same guy. I like... Spyro Gyra had an amazing drummer. Weather Report. The album with the hat on it. I forget his name. Steely Dan.
K2K: All that you’re naming here... Were these albums or songs that influenced you, or just the players?
SL: The melodies. The songs. How it all fits. It all just moves.
K2K: What kind of equipment do you use? Are you endorsed?
SL: I’m endorsed by Sonar Drums. They’re a German company. Amazing drums. Sabian Cymbals I use. They’re great.
K2K: So, knowing that you’re a photographer... How long have you been shooting?
SL: I’ve been shooting since I was a kid.
K2K: Professionally at all?
SL: Professionally, I’ve been shooting for 10 years.
K2K: What do you shoot?
SL: I shoot medium format Hasselblad. I use... I have a digital SLR now. Nikon F4. I just got, for a present, a Yoshika instamatic. Yes. They’re cool.
K2K: My personal favorites have always been the old classics. The Olympus OM-10, and the Nikon FG-20.
SL: Wow. I love Nikon. They’re tanks. I grew up with Nikon. Canon, I haven’t really touched upon yet. Nothing against them.
K2K: Are you a film or digital guy?
SL: Both.
K2K: So you’re not a purist in any direction?
SL: No. Whatever the emotion calls for.
K2K: Have you been shown anywhere? Any galleries?
SL: No. Not shown. I’ve been published. in several magazines.
K2K: What’s your background in writing?
SL: Writing? I’ve never written. This is the first thing I’ve written. The TV show.
K2K: What show is that, or can you not talk about it?
SL: I can’t talk about it, yet.
K2K: This isn’t something minor though, right? Like a regular show that will be seen?
SL: It’s a one-hour drama for cable. It’s a little racy. It’s for like HBO [type of network].
K2K: Is that something that your brother might be involved in?
SL: No. Just me.
K2K: Have you done any acting yourself? Looking to do any?
SL: No. You never know.
K2K: Are you hoping to do more writing as you go on?
SL: Yeah! I want to keep writing. I love it. I got several other things that I’ve got going on that are exciting.
K2K: Are you looking to do more scriptwriting then?
SL: Right. Scriptwriting.
K2K: Do you have any sort of discipline in your writing?
SL: It’s funny. If I could be on a plane all the time... I always tell myself that I can write on a plane. Like a 5 hour plane ride, I’ll be writing for 5 hours on that plane. If I’m in my room or somewhere, two or three hours.
K2K: What do you use for writing?
SL: Final Draft.
K2K: Favorite authors?
SL: Brett Elliott Easton. He did “American Psycho.” I read that way before the movie. Amazing.
K2K: Favorite photographers?
SL: Richard Avedon. Great. Amazing. I’ve learned a lot from [him].
K2K: What are the band’s musical or lyrical inspirations?
SL: Jared writes all the lyrics. For music, inspiration from everything. For lyrics, life experiences.
K2K: You have a unique style that takes you out there.
SL: I think it’s whatever note I hear, an emotion happens and then I try to translate that emotion through the expression of a drum beat or another melody that counters that. It could be a lyric which can cause an emotion. It’s all emotional for me. It’s an emotional process. It’s a raw type of thing, that I kind of harness and put down.
K2K: What’s your biggest drive in life?
SL: (long pause) Biggest drive... Exploration.
K2K: Introspectively, or outward?
SL: Both. Heavily inside, and almost equal outside.
K2K: Oh yeah, as a drummer, what do you think of Terry Bozzio?
SL: He’s an artist. That guy’s... he’s a tripper. He’s in his own little existence in his room. He’s that guy that... he’s the kid that is very musically inclined, but who locked himself up in a room since he was a kid, all the way up until now. He never had a life really. It was drums, really. That’s what I believe. And with that, you can do some fantastical things. The discipline that that guy has is amazing. He’s on his own level.
And with that, Shannon had to get ready for the show, and promptly disappeared until showtime.
Written by Philip Anderson
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