The Kooks are not your typical rock band, and their lead singer and guitarist Luke Pritchard was not our normal Curtain Call interview. For starters, he chatted via cell phone from a Moroccan shisha bar (where you smoke flavored tobacco in shisha pipes). As the mellow sounds of Lionel Richie and Air Supply played in the background, he talked about the Kooks’ influences and early experiences, as well as his love for vintage instruments and some of his favorite retail stores. Even though they’re barely 20 years old, Pritchard and his bandmates have been making waves in the U.S., appearing on the most recent One Tree Hill soundtrack and performing at this year’s Coachella festival.
M&SR: What artists inspired you?
Pritchard: Loads. Going back years, the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly and stuff like that. Real traditional, sort of sweet melodies. That kind of stuff. As I got older, I got into Dylan. But I think as a band we have so many different influences. All of us are different. Max [Rafferty, bassist] is into reggae and funk, I’m into folk, Paul [Garred, drummer] likes new wave…so as a band, we have tons of influences. I think it’s one of the things of our generation. There’s just so much music to get your hands on.
M&SR: How did you get started playing guitar?
Pritchard: I don’t know, I just always thought girls like guys who play guitar [Laughs]. No, I’m joking. I think the guitar is probably the easiest instrument to write on. For me, it is. You can literally take it anywhere and just pick it up and play it.
I actually smashed my first guitar. I was a rock and roll 8 year old [Laughs]. My mom bought me [a guitar] and I got really annoyed a few months into learning. I got really pissed off because I wanted to play “Yellow Submarine” and I couldn’t get my fingers right. So I just smashed it. I remember my mom came home and I was in tears. I remember it really vividly. She said, “OK, I’ll buy you one more but I’m not buying you another one. So either learn it properly or don’t at all.” It was a Cort or something. I can’t remember [what kind of guitar it was].
M&SR: At this point, have you come
to prefer certain brands and gear
over others?
Pritchard: I like Telecasters. I like Fenders. They make great guitars. I’ve got this really strange one I bought in a vintage guitar shop in Texas. In Austin, when we were doing South by Southwest. A handmade guitar. The body is completely metal. It’s a Telecaster and I use it all the time when we play live. It’s really cool, completely rare. It’s one of a kind. There’s not another one in the whole world like it, so it’s got a really kind of weird sound.
( continued, next page >> )
[ pages: 1 - 2]
|
you can download this entire issue here >>
