fuelinterviewwbrett

TV Guide Online: Tonight we are chatting with Brett from Fuel about their brand new album. Hi Brett!

Brett: Hello, America!

Question: How does it feel that your record sold 60,000 copies its first week alone and that you debuted at number 7?

Brett: We are absolutely ECSTATIC over here...Very excited to be sure. We look forward to seeing everyone at the show, and we hope you're enjoying the record so far!

Question: What city are you guys in tonight?

Brett: Toledo, Ohio. We're playing at the University of Toledo in Savage Hall.

Question: What other singles shall we expect from the new CD, and is it anything like the others?

Brett: Well... we're looking at songs such as "Innocent," and "Last Time," and "Bad Day," and we're more than happy to hear suggestions from the fans. :)

Question: I heard that "Bad Day" is an older songs and was tacked on to SLH at the request of the record company. Are you completely satisfied with "Something Like Human's" track list, and is there anything you would add or take off?

Brett: Yes, the song "Bad Day" is an older song. It's the oldest song on the CD. We've recorded that song numerous times and could not seem to get it right. This time we feel like we finally caught it, and it's the closest to what we want Fuel to be about. And, yes, the record company wanted it on there, but we wanted it on there as well.

Question: How does it feel to be back out on the road???

Brett: Here we go!! :) We love to tour. I've always said in the past that we would make the records so that we could tour. There's nothing like walking on stage to hundreds of thousands of your fans screaming at the top of their lungs.

Question: Brett most of the songs are written by Carl what kind of interaction does it take to get his message and feeling across that you do so well.

Brett: Well... You know, he does his writing, and I do my writing as well. Some of the time we meet in the middle, but most of the time we do his songs, and a lot of times I don't want to know what he was writing about, that way I can decipher it myself and give my own interpretation. That's the beauty of music to pull it into yourself and give it meaning.

Question: Was "Knives" based upon a specific incident, Brett?

Brett: "Knives" was based on a number of instances that took their toll.

Question: Brett since you are the lead singer sometimes you are referred to as the 'frontman' of the group. Do you feel that people shouldn't call you this and has that ever cause problems throughout the group?

Brett: Well, that's what I am. :) Front man, lead singer, just like Karl is the guitar player of the band. What should I be called? LOL

Question: Hi! Are you going to be doing any tv shows in the near future to promote the new album?

Brett: We hope to. We have a different late night talk shows that we are inquiring about even as we speak. Can't say just which ones just yet.

Question: I've been extremely disappointed with many bands sophomore efforts in 2000, and was pumped up to hear the CD and know that you guys stayed true to your music and what makes Fuel my favorite band. did you feel a lot of pressure to make this album great?

Brett: Of course you're going to feel a lot of pressure going in to make your second record. You definitely want to top yourself, mature as a band, and you want to songs and the songwriting to advance, and you want to make better songs.

Question: Do you think the success you've had has changed you drastically or have you remained the same?

Brett: My life is much more hectic now, for sure. I think I'm still the same person. I don't think I have an "Ego", or anything like that. I still feel like the humble person I was raised to be., Between the four of us, we were taught to be thankful and to give that thanks back and be appreciative of it as well.

Question: Where did you first get started in music?

Brett: I've sung my entire life since I was four or five years old. And I first picked up the guitar when I was 13 years old. After that, I was completely hooked.

Question: Brett, what are your hobbies? How do you like to spend your days when your not working?

Brett: During the winter months, I like to do a lot of snowboarding, as much as possible. I'm a big outdoors guy. Whenever I get the chance to get away from the city, I take the opportunity to do it.

Question: I saw you guys last year at Universal Studios FL, Halloween Horror nights (you guys were so bad ass!), I was just wondering did you guys get to go around afterward and enjoy the studios?

Brett: That afternoon we had tickets for the entire park. It was AMAZING! Especially the Spider-Man ride... That was the coolest! We were able to cruise to the front of the line, get the good seats. It kind of felt like cheating the system, but at the same time... :)

Question: Who do you plan on going out on the road with in support of the new album?

Brett: Right now we're doing a headline tour. A band called with Vallejo is opening for us. 3 Doors Down and us are looking into doing a co-headline tour together, but nothing's solid yet. Beyond that, we're not sure who else we're going to try to line up.

Question: When you sing, it looks like you put so much heart into the song. ...does that ever wear you out completely?

Brett: It can get very tiring at times, and there are moments before you walk on stage that you question if you can even do it. But, once you do walk out on that stage and hear everyone screaming, the adrenaline takes over and everything feels great.

Question: What artist has influenced your music the most?

Brett: I grew up in the '70s, so we were listening to a lot of the old Elton John stuff, before Disney got a hold of him, and the Beatles, Led Zeppelin. I was a big fan of KISS, and when I was probably in 7th or 8th grade, I became a big fan of the Cult and stuff like that. A wide range of stuff within the realm of rock and roll, you might say.

Question: How long have you guys been together?

Brett: The band's been together for about eight years.

Question: Do you ever get nervous before going onstage?

Brett: No. It's more adrenaline than stage fright. We love playing, and we've done it for so long, that stage fright really isn't an issue anymore.

Question: Do you ever go to your fans websites??

Brett: As much as I can. Sometimes it's really hard to be able to write notes back and everything. But, we are reading everything that gets sent to us and looking for what your feedback is.

Question: What is the meaning behind the song "Hemorrhage" (in my hands)?

Brett: Back to what I was saying earlier, music is open to interpretation. Finding that meaning for yourself just makes the song just that much more important to the listener.

Question: What is the weirdest thing a fan did??

Brett: I actually had some fans... they had their own local band. They found out where we were staying and what room I was in. They set up their band equipment outside my window, and gave me an audition to try and get on the show. I couldn't get them on the show, but I was able to get them backstage.

Question: How many songs from the old album will you guys do during your set on this tour? will it be the new material with the hits from sunburn, or will we hear untitled, new thing, and some of the other songs that weren't singles

Brett: Right now in the show we're doing now, we're doing half and half. We're doing more of the obscure songs, such as "Untitled." And the beauty of having two records now, that we have so many songs to choose from that we can use in the set, that we can put songs in, take others out...mix things up. So there's no telling what you might hear. :)

Question: BRETT, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GO ON STAGE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE MOST AND WHAT DO YOU DO BEFORE YOU GO ON . BECAUSE I NO SOME PEOPLE PRAY AND STUFF???

Brett: I just think about the show, and the fans. And think about what I can do to push the show even further and give the fans the best show that I can.

Question: If you could tour with any band who would it be?

Brett: Back to what I was saying earlier about our influences, I know the Cult is out there now, and I would love to do a few shows with them.

Question: Brett, did you like the necklace I gave you in Boston???? PLEASE ask this question...I�m begging!!!

Brett: Yes. Thank you. I'll put them with the rest of them, just like you said. :)

Question: Do you guys think you will be touring for "Something Like Human" for a long time or are there plans for a vacation?

Brett: Well, we're just getting started. So we will be on tour for the remainder of this year, as well as. Right now, the mentality is that we will tour for as long as the record allows us to, and the fans allow us to.

TV Guide Online: Thank you Brett! We wish you the best on tour and hope you can talk with us again soon!!

Brett: Everyone out there, thank you very much for chatting with me. We hope to see you real soon. Hope you enjoy the music, the new record. And we hope to continue to give you new records for years and years to come. See you at the show!

TV Guide Online: Log on to www.fuelweb.com for more band and tour info. And pick up their new CD "Something Like Human".