Gavin Gives it Up-Rolling Stone 1999

by Lou Carlozo
Chicago Tribune
1997

LEAD SINGER IS BUSHED BUT HE TAKES TIME TO WRITE

For weeks, KidNews reporter Lou Carlozo chased after Gavin Rossdale, lead singer for British rock band Bush. When he caught up with Gavin, the dude was on tour in Europe and exhausted. But after hearing about his many KidNews fans, Gavin wrote back, answering Lou's questions about life on the road, his fave bands and how success changed his world. So now, straight from Gavin...

Dear KidNews Readers:

Firstly, a big hello from a tired, ragged and hoarse-throated singer deep in the midst of Northern Europe. Stockholm, Sweden, at this point in the European tour is all sold out, and the shows are hot, sweaty and exactly how they should be. Anyhow, I've been asked a bunch of questions. I'll do my best. ... here we go. If I wasn't playing music I don't know what I'd be doing because music has always been my love, and even thinking about another career would have felt unfaithful. But if pushed, I'd hope it would be something creative, fun and personally rewarding -- money has never been an incentive outside of basic necessities. It seems that any band's success relies on a connection with its audience. For some, it's the excitement of the music, for others the lyrics, and hopefully it's the combination. Every night that we play, no matter where we are in the world, I see people losing themselves in what we do. Bands should provoke you, leaving you with more than you arrived with somehow... some effect, some emotion -- it doesn't matter what, it's all about feeling. And, therefore, the idea that alternative music is on the way out is maybe only an indication that too many alternative bands are not affecting people. I like many different types of music. The common link between them all is that, for me, they're all from the heart. My favourite bands range from Shellac, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus Lizard, Bob Marley, Pixies, Nirvana, Hole to Tricky, NIN, Tupac, Spain and Chet Baker to name just a few. I suppose the hardest thing about being in Bush is simply to be away all the time -- hotel rooms can be lonely. And obviously if you sell a few records apparently you become a target for the critics. People get really brave at their word processor. When they get personal or manically subjective it'd be good to meet them face to face. But if only... My life obviously revolves around music, so going to see bands is what I like to do with my friends. Obviously, seeing my friends is a bit of a luxury in itself. It's pretty strange what can happen after selling a few records. Obviously people treat you well, but usually you can spot the suckers a mile off. If not, well, life is too short and since there's not even enough time for the real good people in our lives, there's little room for the backstabbers. Though of course being a Scorpio, I can't help fixating on revenge sometimes.

Left to right: Gavin Rossdale, Nigel Pulsford, Dave Parsons, and Robin Goodridge.

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani attend the 40th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Arista Records Pre-GRAMMY Party

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani attend - Scream 2 Hollywood Premiere

Interview with Gavin Rossdale & Nigel Pulsford of Bush

Robin Goodridge, Gavin Rossdale, Dave Parsons, Nigel Pulsford

December 1997
In the U.S., the members of Bush require bodyguards to protect them from legions of crazed fans, while their fellow countrymen in the U.K. have only just begun to forgive them for making it big across the Atlantic, where many Britpop acts fail miserably. With the release of Deconstructed, on which Bush’s single hits were remixed by the créme de la créme of mix-wizards such as Goldie, Tricky and Philip Steir, Bush’s success continues to climb...

Your tour was completely sold out. How do you feel about being America’s darlings?

We love playing live and I think every kid who plays an instrument always has that dream in his head to tour the States one day. You grow up dreaming about the mythos of Route 66. When you’re actually on tour you soon find out that there is absolutely nothing glamorous about sitting in a tour bus for eight hours straight.

It was exhausting. Sometimes I just felt like I couldn’t do another gig. Then I went on stage and man, the audience, the feedback. It was like touching raw energy. When you go on stage, the adrenaline starts pumping and takes over. You get the feedback from the fans and you want to give your best. I can’t describe it. Playing live is so much more rewarding than being in a studio. Some guys love to be in studios and they love the recording process, to see how a song or an album gets put together. Fair enough, but it’s not for me.

You haven’t been releasing any new singles to speak of, and yet you worked on a remix album...
Bush Gavin Rossdale
In the States, we've reached a stage where we needed to create a certain vacuum. We don’t even manage to escape the fist album Sixteen Stones because people refuse to stop playing the singles of the first album. We’re in a position where we can’t release any new singles because there isn’t enough room for any new singles.

Also, it was an interesting idea, to try and mix two completely different genres, maybe influence the whole dance and techno scene with some good old fashioned rock. In a way, they are the old singles, but remixed they’ve got a completely different slant which is certainly interesting.

Bush is a British band, but you started out in the U.S. and then became one of the most successful British bands in the last 10 years. What made you decide to start in America?

It was not so much a decision we made. It was more or less the only chance we had. We started out in England in ’92, and I had already had two contracts with two different record companies. The singles didn’t sell, and nobody wanted to touch me anymore. I was sort of “damaged goods.” The companies were very aware of us, and we had a good reputation as a live band, but there were rumors around like: “Yes, he used to be good but you never know.” “He didn’t sell.” “He might have potential but maybe the boy is already burned out.” All the typical music biz crap and gossip. Our live gigs were always sold out, but we didn’t have a record contract, and from playing live you can’t survive, certainly not in England. We used to work in daytime jobs and play gigs at night. It was very exhausting and tiring. When Rob Kahane saw us and offered us a contract, we didn’t think twice. It was more or less, “Yeah, if they want us in the States, of course we’ll go!” We recorded our first CD, Sixteen Stone, with a small budget and never dreamed that we would enjoy such a huge success. It was simply fantastic, but it was also a long and hard way to get there.

For a while it looked pretty desperate. We had our contract and invested basically the whole budget and every single penny we owned into the album. We wanted to record a great album. It was a make or break situation, but we decided to risk it all and it paid out in the end. Even if it was really difficult for a while. Most of the members of Trauma died in a helicopter crash and those who survived didn’t like the album and didn’t want to release it because they thought it would flop. Some prints found their way to K-ROQ in L.A. and then it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t flop and they had to release it. But before it was released we had over eight months of discussions and negotiations whether it should be released or not. We tried to extract the album, to buy it back from them and all that, and it looked almost hopeless for a while.

In Europe it took a good deal longer for you to break through. How do you explain that? Do you sound “too American” for the European audience?

We didn’t realize that it was such a big deal that our record was coming out in America. You know, good or bad, it was a big deal. If people didn’t like it, they fucking hated it. In fact, it wasn’t so hated. Spin gave us a good review and Rolling Stone gave us a terrible review and we were still number one in their readers’ poll.

Also, in Europe we got blamed for our popularity in the States. And then it was fashionable to dis us. We were successful, that means an easy target. It really got to me for a while. It was the fact that we are British and preferred American rock. I never made a secret out of the fact that I don’t like Britpop. Come on, Britpop isn’t really music. When we started playing together as a band it was just the time when all the nationalistic crap in England started. You know the whole Britpop movement and we really didn’t fit in there. They tried to free themselves from the “American influences,” didn’t like U.S. guitar rock. Just funny everywhere we go we’re an English band -- and I’m not being nationalistic here, not like some other bands who blast the “proud to be British” stuff and do all that flag waving thing. But that’s all in the past now. It just took us a bit longer in Europe, but I think it’s healthier anyway.

Gavin, how do you feel about being 30? All grown up and mature now?
Age is a state of mind and 30 is just another number, nothing more and nothing less. Life is all about what you do with it, what you pack in and not about how much time has passed. What you did with your time is what really counts. Sometimes I wish I’d be 19 again, but I’m not sure that I’d survive again. Sometimes I feel 19 again and that’s fair enough. As long as I still get carded for cigarettes and booze I’m not too worried. Music has nothing to do with age and music has always been what pulled me through. I used to be scared but I’m not anymore. I think I’m just about as old as I feel. Sometimes I feel 100 but the next day I feel like a teenager again. I’ve met some 16-year-olds who were mature, some 40-year-olds who were still young at heart and some people who were barely 20 and already old. Age is a state of mind.
Are you OK now with being a sex symbol? A while ago you seemed a bit annoyed.
Nothing I can do about it anyway. It’s flattering and it’s certainly great for my ego. All the attention can be annoying and some of the mail I get... I think there is certainly something wrong with people who send me their worn underwear or pornographic photographs. It really doesn’t do anything for me. But I also get some of the most beautiful poems. That’s amazing. Sometimes I have days where I avoid mirrors, but everybody’s got those days. I don’t think I’m different from anybody else.
Being a sex symbol, I actually don’t even know what that means. I always thought Cohen was one hell of a sexy guy and look at him, wowee, he got laid well. I think he’s had some of the most interesting and beautiful women. Or Bob Dylan, the guy just had that certain something. Hendrix too. The way he moved, the way he played his guitar. It wasn’t a smooth sexiness. Their music and their lyrics were sexy. I’ve always been a sucker for great lyrics. It’s OK if I get compared with them. I feel flattered, more than flattered.
But you know what? Remember the Cohen song "Chelsea Hotel #2"? When he sings, “You told me again you’d prefer handsome men, but for me you’d make an exception” or “We’re ugly but we have the music,” I thought that was a bit cheap. He knew that he was a great looking guy and he was just playing it down, but then who the hell am I to judge? He probably was just fishing for compliments and we all need reassurance from time to time. I’m having my days where I feel awful, horrible. But that’s something everybody has.


by Gabriella
source.

Deconstructed (Bush album)-Released November 11, 1997

info-click here

MTV MOVIE AWARDS

Gavin Rossdale,lead singer of the rock group Bush,performs at the MTV Movie Awards.This event occurred in the Barker Hanger at Santa Monica Airport

MTV Movie Awards

Bush

April 24, 1997
The Rosemont Horizon
Rosemont, IL
A Review by Marty McSnegg


I walked up to the Horizon expecting to see a mixed crowd of teenagers and young adults, but I was assaulted by a view of purely pubescent throngs. I felt really old until I finally caught sight of the Dude on the Right - I always feel young around him. Anyway, after a few comments with him I departed for my seat before the concert began. All the while I was sitting there I kept thinking that the possibilities of statutory rape did not look good to me so I kept my eyes from focusing on any particular person. Luckily for me the lights went down quickly and Veruca Salt hit the stage, but I'll get to them later.
Bush was the headliner, and when 9 o'clock came around the band strolled on stage and the crowd of hormonal females immediately began to wail for Gavin Rossdale, Bush's lead singer, and Gavin played those young girls well, so well in fact that it almost made me sick how he would strut across the stage to the platforms set up just so he could get more screams. This is nothing against Bush, I just think Gavin, whether intentionally or not, played it up too much.

Anyway, the boys of Bush came out of the blocks racing with two songs from "Razorblade Suitcase," including their first single from that CD called "Swallowed." Now, I admit that I have both "Razorblade Suitcase" and "Sixteen Stone" at home, and this night the band had a very tight sound that was true to their releases, all except for the fact that they tended to extend almost every song ending so that Gavin could throw a palsy-like fit that would set the girls in the crowd screeching so loud that my eardrums nearly burst. The endings were cool, but I could really do without the hearing loss.



Over the course of the concert Bush played all of its big hits from both CD's including "Machinehead," "Comedown," "Everything Zen," and a fantastic solo performance of "Glycerine" by Gavin. While the night held a couple of surprises for the crowd, the band got one as well.

As the intro to "Cold Contagious" started, Gavin's microphone fizzled and needed to be replaced. Rather than stop playing, the band just kept jammin' an extended intro while doing a very good cover-up for the road crew so that they could wire up a new mic. I was impressed the band didn't bail, but I guess that's why they get paid the big bucks.

Now maybe the band was surprised at the technical problem, but the surprise for me came when the band covered the Rolling Stones classic, "Wild Horses." The young crowd didn't seem to recognize it, but I grew up with my brothers and sisters listening to the Stones and this was always one of my favorites. Personally I found it a little strange, Bush covering a Stones song, but overall it was a treat.

The night was starting to come to a close, the band left the stage, and after an insufferably long break before the encore (about 7 minutes), Bush finally returned to a deafening high-pitched scream. Three songs later, including the songs "Swallowed" and "Little Things," the show was done.

I thought the entire show was good by most standards, but was a little disappointed that the rest of the band, that is all except Gavin, showed little enthusiasm throughout the entire show. Gavin though, had this amazing talent of showing tons of enthusiasm while still maintaining his brooding character that could just provoke depression in the teenagers. I don't know if that's too difficult, though, the depression part, because wasn't it Bart Simpson who said "Making teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel?" Me, I just wanted to walk up to Gavin and tell him to turn his frown upside-down - life's not that bad.

Well, Bush played around 18 songs and kept the crowd screaming and moshing for nearly two hours. Overall I give Bush TWO THUMBS UP for keeping the crowd happy, but I would really like to see more excitement from the rest of the band rather than it just being the "Gavin" show. They've got the talent, let them showcase it.

http://www.entertainmentavenue.com/concert_hall/reviews/b/bush/bu042497.htm

Gavin Rossdale of Bush Elizabeth Glasser Pediatric Aids Foundation

Gavin Rossdale (right) and Dave Parsons from the Rock Band Bush Performing Live

British band Bush storming U.S. charts

December 8, 1996
Web posted at: 9:45 a.m. EST

From Correspondent Mark Scheerer

NEW YORK (CNN) -- What band has the best-selling new British import in the United States in over a decade?

If you guessed Oasis, you're wrong. It's a band still struggling for critical acclaim and mainstream recognition: Bush.

The critics hate them. Hardly anybody in England even recognizes them. Yet their American fans have made them the darlings of MTV and radio. And for the second straight week they've got the No. 1 album in America.

Part of that success comes from "Swallowed," the first single from Bush's second album, "Razorblade Suitcase," a term lead- singer Gavin Rossdale uses for what writers carry when they come to profile the band.

"'Razorblade Suitcase' alludes to the fact that people always come to me, to the band, with a massive agenda already written," Rossdale says.

Take the recent Spin magazine cover story. The headline captures the critical establishments' take on Bush: "The lead singer's got the look ... the band, well, they're just Nirvana-wannabees.". QuickTime movie of Bush in concert)
"It's a compliment. I mean, if I'd been compared to, I dunno, Mariah Carey: 'Mariah Carey-wannabees,' I'd just be destroyed," Rossdale says.

The people's choice

But forget the critics. Bush was the people's choice at the recent MTV Video Awards.

"You know, we've never had much media hype or anything like that, so this is much more real in that sort of way," says bass player Dave Parsons. "So yeah, winning the viewer's choice is like amazing."

"It's the best one," adds Rossdale. "It's the one voted for by the people."


Their first album, "Sixteen Stone," sold more than 5 million copies in the U.S., where rock radio and MTV gave Bush a big push. They've outsold rival British rockers Oasis in America, but are far less well-known in England.

All that aside, Rossdale still gets the full gossip-column treatment these days. He's been linked to Courtney Love of Hole and Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, to name a few.

But like No Doubt's hit song, "Don't Speak," Rossdale takes a very silent posture about his love life.

"My status is that being in this band and traveling around the world has destroyed that side of my life," he says. "I understand people want to know things, but the speculative stuff and the rumors, it's just really hard."

But all things considered, things are pretty easy now for these four lads from the London suburb of Shepherd's Bush.

Razorblade Suitcase released Nov 19 1996

Info-click here

Gwen and Gavin in LA 1996 Oct 21

Gavin Rossdale/BushLive at Pinkpop 1996, Landgraaf, Netherlands - May 27, 1996

Bush - Little Things @ Pinkpop 1996

Bush - Everything Zen @ Pinkpop 1996

Bush - Glycerine @ Pinkpop 1996

Bush - Bomb @ Pinkpop 1996

Gavin Rossdale and fellow Bush band mates

Gavin Rossdale on the Cover of Rolling Stone April 18 1996

Gavin Rossdale/Bush, No Doubt deliver where the Goo Goo Dolls disappoint

by Anita Raman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The evening of March 31 began well when No Doubt took the stage as the opening act for the Goo Goo Dolls and post-alternative idols Bush.

No Doubt began their set with "Spiderwebs" and closed with the hit "Just A Girl" from their Tragic Kingdom album. Lead vocalist Gwen Stefani elicited positive crowd reaction with her powerful stage presence and voice. Her performance flowed with energy, which was refreshing in the face of today's teen angst trend.

However, the rest of the band stayed very much in her shadow, making the performance rather one-sided. The band also erred in leaving much of the superior material from their debut self-titled album off their playlist.

The Goo Goo Dolls took the stage next but delivered a disappointing performance. Opening with "Naked," their most recent single, the Dolls showed themselves proficient but played half-heartedly, as if they had thrown together whatever they could find and were only going through the motions. Also included in their set were several tracks from A Boy Named Goo , including "Name," and a few unreleased songs.

The Goo Goo Dolls finished unnotably, making space for the event of the evening, which was, of course, the Bush performance. The cohesiveness of Bush as a musical unit, combined with lead vocalist Gavin Rossdale's magnetic stage presence, turned the mosh floor into sheer insanity. The pop chart-friendly set included almost all of Sixteen Stone with the singles "Everything Zen," "Little Things," "Come Down," "Alien," "Glycerine" and a previously unreleased song titled "Green Fly."

Often criticized as post- alternative freeloaders, Bush does have musical credibility with guitarist Nigel Pulsford, bassist Dave Parsons, drummer Robin Goodradge and vocalist Rossdale.

Like No Doubt's set, Bush's performance depended on the stage presence of the lead vocalist. Unlike Stefani, Rossdale focused his considerable energies into becoming the ultimate angst-ridden icon. His ability to work the crowd is amazing.

Overall, the concert was worthwhile. However, it would have been better if the Goo Goo Dolls had actually cared about what they were doing on the stage. At least the performances by No Doubt and Bush made up for their shortcomings.



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This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the April 12, 1996 issue.

Bush Frontman Gavin Rossdale

Bush gives memorable show at Rupp

Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt accompany Bush for incredible showBy Robert DuffyArts Editor

No Doubt, Goo Goo Dolls, Bush.
It sounds like a mini-Lollapalooza, but in fact it's the list of bands that performed to an energetic crowd Thursday at Rupp Arena.

The show opened up with No Doubt, and I'm just disappointed that I didn't hear of this band earlier.

The set was everything a music fan could ask for and more. Lead singer Gwen Stefani seemed to feed off the energy of the audience as she ran back and forth across the stage, while at the same time keeping the song flowing smoothly.

There was a fun sing-a-long to "Excuse Me Mr.," with Stefani exchanging lyrics back and forth with the crowd.

And when the band finally performed "Just A Girl," it was no-holds-barred electricity. Before the song started, however, she asked the audience if there were any girls out there, because the song she was about to perform was for ladies only. Man, I love it when bands talk to the audience.

After No Doubt's set was over, I had the urge to drop out of school and follow the band wherever it went.

If you like what you hear of the Goo Goo Dolls from the radio or the group's album, then I guess you like its live show. Unfortunately, I just can't get into the band's music, since they just seem like every 30-something rock band trying to look like teen-agers to me. But, man, the high school girls around me sure enjoyed the set.

Bush, however, was absolutely incredible. You know you're doing something right when you're headlining at arenas after only one album (which, of course, has sold three million copies and has five hit singles from it).

Bush opened the set with its latest single, "Machinehead." The intensity of the whole band was evident as the members methodically churned out song after song with little time in between.

Every Bush song that you wanted them to play was played. When the band performed "Everything Zen" and "Swim." When it played "Little Things," the band produced an all-out nuclear explosion.

And, of course, lead singer Gavin Rossdale got the crowd roaring when he mentioned those good ol' Kentucky Wildcats. "How do you grow them so tall?" he asked the cheering Cat fans.

The band also played some new songs which are going to be on its new album, to be recorded this summer. One song, "Bubbles," is about being bored. But as Rossdale said to the audience, how can you live in Lexington and be bored, when we have our basketball and football teams?

The most emotional moment of the night came when Rossdale returned to the stage alone for the encore. Lighters lit up all over the place while he sang "Glycerine" and attacked his guitar.

There was a certain air of professionalism to this fairly new band. The band members had a mission and they did it.

Another good thing about the band was it seems that the "rock and roll star" thing hasn't gone to their head yet. Rossdale took time out to talk and even smile to the crowd every once in awhile (remember when you used to do that, Vedder?). There was even a point where Rossdale walked near to where I was sitting and laughed when he saw a poster that some girls wrote that read "Get Naked Please."

Although the stage was at half-court, the crowd was more pumped-up and louder than at the R.E.M. show from October. Rupp even opened up the floor of the arena for people to stand, crowd surf, mosh and do whatever sick and twisted things people will do when they're packed together (note to trivia buffs: the Bush show marked the first time Rupp opened the floor since 1978, when the Rolling Stones played there. It was in Bush's contract).

All in all, the show was not something to miss. Everything worked. The next step is to get those damn T-shirt prices down.


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© Copyright 1996, Kernel Press Inc. All Rights Reserved

Amazing performance of Glycerine by Bush at MTV's Spring Break 1996.

Amazing performance of Glycerine by Bush at MTV's Spring Break 1996. Despite heavy rain and chance of lightning, the guys played.

Bush performs "Glycerine" at Club La Vila in Panama City Beach during the 1996 Spring Break.

Gavin Rossdale of the band Bush and Gwen Stefani from the band No Doubt - Santa Barbara Bowl

Gavin Rossdale of Bush Z100 Jingle Ball

Glycerine Video

Gavin Rossdale of Bush performing at The Edge in Palo Alto, California

1995 06 07 Gavin Rossdale of Bush performing at The Edge in Palo Alto California photos by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Bush guitarist and vocalist Gavin Rossdale performs during the WHFStival Concert at RFK Stadium

Gavin Rossdale of Bush in Concert at Irving Plaza