Jacob:
We are the group O Town. We were put together on a television show called Making The Band. The show was conceived for everyone interested in the music industry, to take a look inside it and see how a group gets started. Sometimes you start in a garage, sometimes you audition. Ours was audition. You saw us rehearse until we got a record contract. Now we have two No.1 US singles and a platinum album. And now, through our tour, people can still tune in and watch our life behind the scenes.

So, the programme is still running?

Dan:
The programme just started its third season in the US, so it's a pretty exciting time for us. I am sure it will come over to the UK. Yeah, you guys will get the new series pretty soon.

It must be hard being under almost constant camera surveillance. What would you say are the good and bad points of the whole experience?

Jacob:
We like to focus on the good. So, I think the fact that we get to show people that we are more than just a music group. Having that connection as human beings, going through problems and trials in our lives that people at home go through as well. They can relate to it. For us, that is important. And we love the fact that we get to do that.

You still surviving with each other?

Jacob:
Yeah. We have gone through so much together, it has really caused an unbreakable bond. There is a lot of stuff that we rely on each other for, business, friendships, decisions - life decisions. And just communication. We have grown up lot. So, we still get along like best friends.

The title of the new single is ‘Love Should Be A Crime’. Should it?

Jacob:
Sometimes. When your heart gets broken it should be a crime. Just the fact that love could be the greatest thing in the world, or, it could be the worst thing in the world. When it is not on your side, it hurts.

You are in the UK preparing for your first full tour here, enjoying yourselves so far?

Jacob:
Every time we come here it's a good experience. It's a lot like home. We do a lot of TV shows that we've done before. So, when we get there, people recognise us. The fans here are being very open to the experience as well.
Trevor:
This is the first time we're going be on stage with our band, in the UK and the whole of Europe. We're real excited to show everyone our live show, because we feel like that is our strongest weapon. If you like our music, you are gonna really love our live performance.

Are you nervous? Do you think you will get a different reaction from a less ‘O Town’ knowledgeable UK audience?

Dan:
I think we will, mainly because we are not over here all the time. So, when we come over here it seems like a bigger event, or a bigger ordeal. There is a little bit more pressure on us because we feel like we have to do good while we're over here.

Is there anywhere or anything that you would like to see or do while you're here?

Jacob:
Normally when we come over here we don’t really get time off, just because we want to get as much work done as possible. So we never really have days off to check out anything. Sometimes in the line of work we get to visit some places. We got to go and visit Big Ben the last time. That was cool.

You toured with Britney in the US last year. How does supporting such a big star differ from headlining your own tour?

Ashley:
I think, surprisingly, there were a lot of our own fans there. But, there was a lot of people who had never seen us perform before. Which is a big advantage for us. To get out there in front of 15-20,000 people a night, and convert fans. People that had never seen us perform before came, who maybe didn’t know a whole lot about us, and walk away going…wow! Then they go away and pick up the album. It was awesome for us. Our album sales jumped.

Are you surprised by the success of the album?

Jacob:
We had high expectations for us as a group, though it’s not anything you can count on. So, when the album goes platinum and you have hits from it, it’s a blessing. You are surprised every single time. Every time we have a single that hits, or a video that hits, we get excited.

Have you started work on the follow-up yet?

Trevor:
We are all writing it right now. As we speak, we are putting together demos. We actually just recorded the first song for it a week ago. So, it's in the beginning stages. We're real excited about it. It’s gonna be diverse, just like our first. Elements of rock, hip hop and R&B. And, hopefully we get a lot of stuff that we write on it.

We have similar shows to Making The Band in the UK. Have you managed to catch any of Popstars or PopIdols?

Dan:
We get those shows in the UK. However, I guess they are not really as big in the US.

Would you bracket the experience of the people in those shows, such as Hear’Say, as similar to yours?

Jacob:
I am sure they have been through some of the experiences. I am not exactly sure what is in the shows. But if they have music that is in the public eye, then that is a lot like us.

Would you class yourselves as a boyband? And, do you enjoy the likes of Backsteet Boys, *NSYNC and Westlife?

Dan:
I don’t really see anywhere else where you could put us. And I don’t see anything wrong with that either. Maybe we do have some similarities but there are some other things that separate us from the category as well. But, I am sure, until the end of time, we will be classed as a boyband.
Trevor:
We definitely have respect for every one of those groups. They are all out there doing there own thing. We don’t so much like their music, but we respect them.

What music do you listen to then?

Trevor:
We all listen to different stuff. A lot of hip hop or R&B or rock. Jacob is really into the Beatles at the moment. And he's been listening to Incubus.

What's the last concert that you wen to?

Jacob:
We actually went to Incubus two nights ago at Wembley arena. It was amazing. We really wanted to meet them. They are from a town very close to me and I have been trying to hook up with them, but we've never had the chance. So, we went to this show and tried to meet them. But, it just didn’t happen, for all sorts of reasons. However, we went to a restaurant in London later that night and they were there. I couldn’t resist going up to their table and say hello. They were really nice guys. 

Finally, anything you want to say direct to any UK fans that are going to catch the tour?

Trevor:
Have fun. Or, prepare to have fun. And bring a lot of energy.
Dan:
Bring somebody who doesn’t like us.
Jacob:
Don’t bring too many layers of clothes because it gets really hot
Ashley:
I agree with Dan. Bring somebody who doesn’t like us.

© Copyright 2002, Mareike E., All Rights Reserved