Love Amongst Ruin is the brain child of Steve Hewitt, drummer and songwriter in the multi million selling Placebo. As Love Amongst Ruin’s frontman he takes the lead for the first time in what has already been described as “one of the most explosive live bands to come in 2010”. This multi-faceted rock band promises the crunch of a stone age queen, the crossover appeal of a parkful of linkins and the melodicism of the hardiest fighter of foos. Drop in twists of New Order/Depeche Mode electro-twangle, Can/Kasabian motorika, Cure atmospherics and hardcore Metallica riffage. Steve Hewitt also served time at the stool of such diverse acts as The Boo Radleys, grit-rockers Breed, baggy chart stars K-Klass with whom he tasted huge global success, sharing the journey from post-Britpop indie hype band to multi-million selling international superstars with Placebo. The self titled debut album is released on 6th September 2010, preceded by the single So Sad (Fade). The band will be performing a series of UK and International shows before embarking on their debut tour in October 2010. Mr. T asked Steve some questions just before they headed out on tour…
Hi there, thanks for chatting to us at Lights Go Out.
It’s my pleasure.
First up, what’s the current mood within Love Amongst Ruin?
The mood is VERY good, we have so many positive things happening now it’s hard to keep up. The album’s out, the second video is done, the tour is about to kick off and we are getting lots of interesting offers for the future.
The album has just come out, how has the reaction been to it so far?
It’s been great, better than we had dared to hope for and that’s from both music fans and the media.
You’re about to head out on a tour of Europe and then back over to tour in the UK, are you looking forward to the tour?
Tremendously, recording is only ½ the process. I don’t think a song is really ever complete until you get it out and let it evolve on stage. Also, the fact that ½ this band have never been on a tour this size means that this will be a lot of fun for all of us.
In the UK, you seem to be playing some quite intimate venues, what was the thought logic behind this?
We had such a good time at the Camden Barfly in May and it’s a very intimate venue. Then we turned round a month later and played Scala to three times as many people. It seemed like everyone that was at Barfly came right back and brought friends. So, we decided to do the same thing for a lot of these dates. Play somewhere intimate and exciting this time, blow people away and then see them all come back with their mates next time round.
How was that first show at the Camden Barfly and have you learned much as a band since then?
It was brilliant. Hot, sweaty, everyone singing along, jumping up and down, the crowd right on the edge of the stage, we had a great time. Since then we’ve played Scala and Sonisphere and, for sure, we learn something every time we play. It just gets better and better.
What aspects of touring do you enjoy the most?
Playing live, getting that immediate feedback from the audience, it’s just great. There’s no feeling like it in the world. There’s a reason Ian Dury sang ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, is all my brain and body needs…..’ it is that powerful.
Which bands would you say have inspired your sound?
QOTSA, The Cure, Radiohead, NIN, AC/DC and Led Zep, to name a few.
How about the music, what is the new album about and is there any central theme running through it?
Despair, betrayal, hatred and greed are pretty much the common themes. Things that will probably speak to a lot of people during these troubled times we live in. That’s about 90% of the album. The rest is all about true-love.
Steve, how has it been moving into becoming a frontman? Did you find it an easy transition at all?
It has been easier than I once imagined it would be. I wasn’t very confident in my voice at the start of the recording process but I’m well past that now.
We know Steve has been in many well known bands like Placebo and The Boo Radleys, were any of the other members in bands before Love Amongst Ruin?
Donald Ross Skinner wrote and played with Julian Cope for many years and many other bands along the way. Keith York has been in more bands than we have time to talk about but most recently he’s been on the road with Ladytron and The Orb. The other three have all played in a bunch of bands between them, but maybe not any that you would have heard of. They are my secret weapons, amazing unknown musicians that everyone will soon be talking about.
I am sure you get asked about Placebo all the time, I’ll try not to ask too much about those days, but just wondered what the rest of Placebo thought about Love Amongst Ruin?
You’ll have to ask them, they don’t talk to me.
If it’s OK though I would love to ask about The Boo Radleys. As a long time fan of the band, I’d love to know what your fondest memories from those days were please.
My fondest memory was jumping over the drum-kit at the end of every show and showing my arse to the audience.
Obviously the rest of 2010 holds many shows for you, what else have you got lined up? Will there be any more singles lifted from the album?
The next single will be Home, it’s the anti-establishment ‘goth-disco’ anthem from the album. It’s the last song in our live set at the moment and it really is a fan favourite, and there will be one more single from this album. In December we been asked to play with Feeder at the Kerrang! Xmas Party in Birmingham, which was a big honour.
How about next year, what does it hold for Love Amongst Ruin?
Lots of exciting stuff, recording, re-mixing, filming and lots and lots of live shows.
And finally, what final words can you leave the readers of Lights Go Out with?
Thank you so much for caring enough to read this, I hope you like the music and we are really looking forward to seeing as many people as possible on the tour. Be there, you won’t be disappointed.
Now go check Love Amongst Ruin out online: www.loveamongstruin.com/
Thanks to Steve for chatting with us and Warren @ Chuff Media.
by Mr. T Oct 2010
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