If I were to tell you Frank Turner‘s story you would think I was quoting some kind of Hollywood script. Frank’s beginnings in the world of music started in the hardcore punk scene. He still to this day has the tattoo of hardcore band Black Flag tattooed on his body. His own hardcore outfit Million Dead garnered a lot of praise from the UK music critics and built a devoted fan-base. Then the band ended and Frank decided the next best thing was to pick up an acoustic guitar and go folk. Now to most that sounds like quite a crazy transition and I am sure not many people could pull it off, but Frank did.
He won people over with his witty lyrics and powerful delivery and drew comparisons to another English songwriting genius Billy Bragg. His solo career has taken him all over the world where he has toured with some rock bands that still play heavy as hell music. He opens for them stepping out onto a stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar. That takes balls. And sure enough he wins over the fans every night. Now he is recording the follow up to ‘Love Ire & Song’ and recently signed to Epitaph whilst also keeping with his British label, Xtra Mile, as they “Are like family.”
MM – You’re in Austin Texas at the moment for SXSW how is it?
Frank Turner – It’s been really goof. Last time I was here I was playing shows and hardly no-one turned up. I just played 3 shows yesterday and they were all packed which is brilliant.
MM – You are playing with a backing band as well aren’t you?
FT – Yeah a group of lads from America called the Twisted Heart are backing me up. They got in touch and offered so I sent them along a CD so they could practice so there has been some preparation going into it. It was still quite nerve racking though as I had never met any of the guys before. I wondered if it would work or if we would click but yeah, it totally worked.
MM – What else have you been doing since arriving in Austin?
FT – Well I had a bit of a nightmare journey getting here. Then yesterday was just a mad crazy day of meeting the band then playing 3 shows pretty much back to back. I ended the day getting incoherently wasted. *laughs*
MM – Is there any other way to end the day? Have you managed to catch any bands yet?
FT – Not too many. I did manage to catch my friend Jonah Matranga and I also saw The Bronx which was cool. Incidentally, I am convinced I am in a time warp and its 1996 as I am going to see The Van Pelt tomorrow. They were one of my favorite bands and I never got to see them live so I am really excited about that.
MM – You could certainly be described as a hard touring artist, has that always been your work ethic?
FT – Yeah well I grew up listening to Black Flag and have this sort of hardcore puritan work ethic thing. I think it’s important to work as hard as you can. I still identify very much with Black Flag, more so their ethos and lifestyle than the music now. Black Flag are the band that basically laid the blue print of what I think punk rock is and should be.
MM – If you had to make a choice between playing electric or acoustic, which would it be?
FT – Ooh toughy! Well electric is great, when I am back playing in Britain with my backing band that’s really the pinnacle of what I want to do. But the acoustic, well I just love the fact that I can just pick up a guitar and start playing anywhere. You don’t need any special equipment just an acoustic guitar and a room full of people and you have a show.
MM – You tour with a lot of big bands and quite heavy rock bands such as Biffy Clyro, Gaslight Anthem and you have some upcoming tour dates with The Offspring. Is it quite daunting to step out onto stage and try to win over these rock fans every night?
FT – Oh it’s totally cool. I mean I am very confident with what I do and feel comfortable playing to any crowd. When I played with Biffy it was just me and an acoustic and I really enjoyed it. I liked that I was breaking conceptions of what bands should be playing with Biffy Clyro. It also means that if you do really well its more impressive, than say just having a similar hard rock band opening.
MM – I read that you intend to record and release a new album this summer?
FT – We are recording in May, releasing in September. And that should be theoretically a world wide release. I am doing the next album with my English band so we are recording as a band which I am really excited about. We are working with Alex Newport on this album whose done tons of great shit like ‘At the Drive In’ and ‘Two Gallants”. It was actually him that contacted me, which was really nice. I think its going to be a great record. It is definitely in the same ball park as ‘Love Ire & Song’ but almost more rock which stems from me playing with the band.
‘Love Ire & Song’ is out now. Frank Turner is touring with The Offspring this summer check http://www.myspace.com/frankturner for more info.
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