Anthony Rossando: Bands have to do what they’ve gotta do to survive. C: It really is a nasty marriage but there is nothing you can do about it really. Is there a limit to how far bands can take it? For instance Jack White and Coca-cola? T: There is a certain cheese factor and you gotta be careful. I remember Michael Jackson did an advert for Pepsi so I guess he [Jack White] was just trying to be like him. A: It would depend what kind of companies you’re talking about. If you’re gonna associate your name with something then you’ll try to make sure it’s not some evil fucking oil company. I’d like Oxfam to sponsor us, but they don’t have much money. C: So you’d like a charity to give you all their money then? <Laughs> You’ve collaborated before tonight in your side project The Chavs, hows that going? Carl Barat: I forgot about that actually! Tim Burgess: The Chavs, well so far we’ve done aTV show, we did a pub gig and something for Strummerville at Glastonbury, it was quite shambolic really.
There are big plans though, I think we’d like to do an EP or an album or something like that. What is the attraction with working with each other? T: It kind of worked out well with this thing as we’re friends and we were both in the city at the same time, but it was just convenient! Sometimes cos we’re both so busy it’s a chance to meet up . C: It’s just to be working with a mate really, he’s into the same music. And he has tremendous hair. Yeah he has a bit of a Clint Boon going on there, or maybe even one of The Horrors. There have been loads of strange collaborations over the years, like Sharleen Spiteri and Wu Tang Clan, which artists would you like to see perform together? T: Yeah that one was pretty twisted, you wouldn’t expect that. I dunno, I suppose it’s pretty far out really us doing an Adam Ant song with original members of the band. C: I’d say John Lennon and Peter Andre. A: Or Dustin Hoffman and Dusty Springfield. C: John Prescott and Django Rheinhardt. A: Tony Blair and Kurt Cobain. C: Yeah plays guitar doesn’t he? A: I reckon it should be Clinton and Blair then cos he plays saxophone. We should start a rumour that they are starting a band.
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C: I think I will, I think it has to. It’s unfortunate that maybe some bands will be brought to you by McDonald’s, but with the record industry the way it is at the moment it’s the only revenue that bands can find.