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Cast your mind back – not all that far – to the end of May. We asked you to pose a selection of questions for Elbow. And you did. And the band’s guitarist Mark Potter has answered. Thanks, Mark.
From DiS user brusma: Guy's (Garvey, vocalist) on record as saying he's got the best job in the world, but can they all sympathise with musicians who get pig sick of it all, all the attention? If Elbow were as big and famous and plastered all over the media as, say, Chris Martin from Coldplay is (not the New Zealand cricketer), do they reckon it'd end up getting to them and taking all (or some of) the fun out of being a musician?
Mark: I would say that the celeb side of being a working musician is something you either embrace, and therefore take the rough with the smooth, or steer clear of by avoiding red carpet and media events, which is actually something Chris manages to do well - you rarely see him and his wife posing for paps.
Obviously when you're as big as those guys media attention is unavoidable, and I think if and when Elbow reach world domination status we would recognise that the media plays a huge part in your success and it’s entirely up to the individual as to how much of your personal and private life you put on display. With regards to it taking the fun out of what we do? That's impossible... I get to write and record great music with my best mates and then travel the world putting on the best live performance possible for people who actually appreciate and get what we're about. I can't see how any amount of media attention – which is essentially promotion – could ever take the fun out of that.
From DiS user jimbobbley: **How did Craig become an engineering genius? It's a bit annoying for us mere mortals – not only are Elbow an amazing band but they do it all themselves.
Mark: He learned all he knows from his big brother Mark.
From DiS user Damian: Is Guy serious about ditching the album format and releasing no more Elbow albums (apart from the forthcoming B-side collection) and just putting out tracks? We still need albums. Especially Elbow ones.
Mark: DO NOT FEAR! Guy was merely saying that there aren't that many bands out there making albums that are written as complete bodies of work; a book with chapters rather that a collection of short stories. It seems that the modern world's accessibility to music through download (which is a wonderful thing) might inadvertently be changing the way artists make music.
Until someone tells us we're crap, there will always be Elbow albums.
Video: Elbow, 'One Day Like This'
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From DiS user JAMESM: What happened to the proposed b-sides album? And do you have any plans for a 'stop gap' album or DVD after you finish up with the current campaign?
**Mark: The b-side album is very much happening and has become a lovely project, we're really enjoying putting it together and there will definitely be one, maybe even two new songs on it. Not sure about release, but we want it out soon as.
...Also did you watch the FA Cup Final? 'One Day Like This' was used during the closing credits. I'd be interested to know whether sales of the album rocketed in Portsmouth this past week?! I can imagine 20,000 Pompey fans forever associating that tune with the greatest day of their lives.
Mark: Didn't see it but many friends and family did, and we're dead chuffed they used our tune despite not having a huge interest in footy as a band. Not sure if it affected sales; probably a little bit but hard to tell.
From DiS user thommo: **Do you really have a tribute band called Arse?
**Mark: I don't know, but I hope so.
From DiS user gowman: Have you ever been in it up to your elbows?
**Mark: OH YES!
From DiS user QM79: **Would Guy like to come and have a pint of strawberry cider with me at the Brothers stall at Glastonbury? (It’s my treat…)
**Mark: Yes, he definitely would and I'm coming too.
_From DiS user HeartBrokenStar: **I recently saw Jimi from Doves in Sainsbury's in Macclesfield buying Valu Lager - are things that bad for Doves right now?
**Mark: Far from it. They are currently in the studio re-inventing the wheel!
From DiS user bamos: I've recently abandoned the side-parting experiment but I kinda miss it. Should I go back again?
**Mark: I say switch it up. Go side one day, then middle, then other side, then go crazy and sweep it right back. I love that shit.
From DiS user SCROTUM: **MILF is now a culturally acceptable phrase - why isn't DILF?
**Mark: I'm a dad so yeah, I'll endorse that expression. Go dad power.
Elbow’s latest LP, The Seldom Seen Kid, is out now through Fiction and is reviewed (9/10) here. See them live in the UK as follows:
June
14 Cheshire Delamere Forest
16 London Meltdown Festival 28+29 Pilton Glastonbury Festival
July
19 Southwold Latitude Festival
August
31 Iveraray Hydro Connect Festival
