Interview: Incubus Are the 'Nice Guys' of Rock
By: Natassia Lopez - U-WIRE
April 6th 2002 12:57am
(U-WIRE) STANFORD, Calif. -- Tattoos, surfing, six packs, hip-hop, love ballads and rock 'n' roll. Could you really ask for anything more from a band? Incubus, one of the hottest bands in the world today, is kicking off its 50-date U.S. tour on April 11. When people think "rock star," they typically think "cocaine, STDs and late-night parties with naked midgets covered in shaving cream." Incubus, however, is no Led Zeppelin or Motley Crue. In fact, they are almost universally known as the "nice guys of rock." With multi-platinum record sales, the band, which was formed while its members were in high school in Calabasas, Calif., are some of the humblest and most hard-working guys in the industry. I spoke with Incubus' 29-year-old DJ, Chris Kilmore, about the band's latest album and tour. Intermission: OK, you guys made an awesome first album. In the band's bio, Brandon [Boyd, lead singer] explains that you wanted the following album "Morning View" to be more adventurous and to, "transcend the confinement of the studio." So you guys got out of the studio and into a mansion in Malibu. How did that locality make it a much cooler creative experience? Chris Kilmore: The environment really affects your creative process. Being in Malibu gave us more space and freedom. In the studio, it is much more dark and you have a lot of time constraints. Being on our own, we had 24 hours -- any time of day to work. It was relaxing and bright. For a band, you have to make your first album in the studio so that you know your space. Then, once you get your work ethic down, you can decide what kind of environment you need to make a more "open" record. Intermission: Do you consider this to be the best album you have made? Kilmore: Yes. No question. Intermission: What is your favorite song on "Morning View?" Kilmore: You know, everyone asks me that, and it's so hard to answer because it changes day to day. Right now I really like "Warning." Intermission: "Warning" is your new single at this time. Kilmore: Yeah, that's probably why I like it so much. ... I've been hearing it constantly. Intermission: How do you think rock stars are portrayed today? Do you guys consider yourself a typical rock band? What makes you different? Kilmore: When I think of rock stars, I think of someone like Creed. The leather pants, the pyrotechnics. ... We just got back from touring with Creed in Australia. They are definitely rock stars. Scott [Stapp, Creed's lead singer] is wearing those leather pants, and they have fire shooting up everywhere during their shows. I do consider [Incubus] to be a typical band, with a twist. We're not afraid to be creative. We're very experimental. Intermission: What kind of instruments did you guys experiment with on the new album? Kilmore: We used a lot of strings. ...We also integrated Indian instruments, and flutes -- made it very international. [Guitarist] Mike [Einziger] used some Chinese instruments. On the song "Aqueous Transmission," we tried out a pipa. It was all one step at a time. Everytime we experimented we were all like, "Wow. Interesting." Intermission: I read in a recent interview in Rolling Stone that you guys really aren't the passive-aggressive band that everyone thinks you are. You guys like the parties, the porn, the women, except supposedly, for Brandon. How much do you hate being called the "nice guys of rock?" Kilmore: I don't mind being called the "nice guys" at all. I'd rather be called that than anything else, because the truth is we really are nice guys. We all like to have a good time too, though. After the shows, we have people backstage, get really drunk, take shots, hang out. Most of us have girlfriends, but we all like the occasional strip club. Intermission: A couple months ago, you finished your European tour. Which country was your favorite? Kilmore: We've toured Europe six or seven times. This was the first time we did Japan and Australia. Portugal used to be my favorite country, but now I think Australia is getting up there. Intermission: How receptive were the fans compared to American fans? Kilmore: The fans are pretty much the same. Each time, we play bigger and bigger places. One of the best shows was in Wimberley, in London. There were about 11,000 to 12,000 people there. The best part though, is to be in a country like Portugal, where hardly no one speaks English, and see them singing the words to your songs as loud as they can. Intermission: What is your favorite part of touring? Kilmore: Definitely playing shows and being on stage. Sometimes you get caught up with all the photo shoots and video shoots and press stuff, but when you step out on stage, that's like your home. You look out on the crowd and see all the people that are there to see you, and it's just so real. Intermission: What goes through your head when you see screaming crazed fans, especially girls, at your concerts? Kilmore: (Laughs) Aw man, it's so funny because all of those girls are there just to see Brandon. And I kinda laugh at him when we're up there, and he gets all embarrassed about it. But it's great to have your fans. It's very reassuring. Intermission: Originally you came from Pennsylvania, then struggled in L.A., and joined Incubus in 1997. In comparison to five or six years ago, how has this rush of fame changed your life? Kilmore: My life is less stressful, and I'm the least-stressed person in the band to begin with. Before it would just be "check to check trying to pay rent." But now I have a car, I'm buying a house; I'm growing up. We've finally gotten our success. And the great thing is that it was slow. Each step along the way made us stop and smell the roses. We'd get our single played on KROQ and it was like "Wow! Yeah! All right!" And then we got a shitty-ass tour bus, and we'd be excited about that. And then "Make Yourself" [the band's debut album] came out. Each step takes you further. And I appreciate how it all came about because we could have been like those one-hit wonders where it all comes really fast, and then leaves. We've worked hard and been able to appreciate all the little things that have come with the success. Intermission: You had said that your work is all about texture, not hip-hop. What is the difference? Kilmore: Where did you hear that? Intermission: Spin Magazine. Kilmore: Man, that's bullshit. Hip-hop is me. I am the epitome of hip-hop. I love the textures and scratching, but there is a time and a place for it. Most DJs just come in with their own style and fit the music to what they know. I try to find my niche. I am always experimenting and making my turntabling fit the sound, while creating new sounds too. Intermission: What bands have really influenced your style or sound? Kilmore: Public Enemy. They took different sounds and rock samples and mixed them together. Chuck D and Flavor Flav were conscious and powerful. They took the responsibility to back up everything they said. I was really influenced by their lyrics and their music. Like I was saying, the newer DJs today mimic the videos they see, and then there's no new or creative ideas to help the art of DJing. That's why I love making my own sounds. Intermission: Any thoughts on the legalization of marijuana? Kilmore: That shit should be legalized. It is not a crime. If you want to smoke out with some of your friends or do it on your own time, I see no problem with it. I do think there should be some rules when you use it, just like with alcohol, but if you're not offending anyone when you use it, it's not such a big deal. Intermission: What bands are you guys really into now? Kilmore: Well, we've been out of the country since January, so I really haven't had a chance to hear anything new. I like the Strokes and the Hives, but I'm also into Indian music like Shashila Raymond. A lot of sitars and tablas. I guess my job is to listen to really weird music so that I can bring new sound to the band. Intermission: Anything you have to say to people at Stanford who don't know you? Kilmore: You're in for a surprise. We're a very diverse group. We're hard and heavy and melodic and basic, if you can understand that. We go in between and outside of that. At our concerts we have a very giant mix of people. ... But you also have those moments during our concerts with the lighters and everyone singing along. "Diversity" is definitely the word though. Incubus will be playing the San Jose Event Center Arena on April 14, the Arco Arena in Sacramento on April 15, and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on April 16.
 (C) 2002 The Stanford Daily via U-WIRE
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