The American rock band is kicking off its first Australian tour in more than 20 years in the national capital
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00But, but, you know, sometimes, I mean, look, generally, I'm always very grateful for that song because it gave this band a chance to have a career for coming up on 40 years.
00:13And, you know, so I'm grateful for it that way.
00:20I think that that, when I wrote that, I was, I was at a very, I was at some crossroads in my life.
00:27And, and, and that song is really important to me.
00:34You know, sometimes I feel like it's, it's overshadowed everything else we've done.
00:40But, you know, better to have one than never have any.
00:45And I think if you lose sight of how exciting it is to have like an entire building full of people singing a song along with you.
00:55No matter where you are in the world.
00:57Then you've lost the plot entirely.
00:58Yeah.
00:59You know.
01:00And it's, you know, and I always find it annoying, and I'm not naming any names, but I know some, I know a couple of pretty big rock stars.
01:09And they're just, they refuse to play their biggest hits.
01:12And it's like, this is going back before I quit drinking, when I would speak my mind, when I was loaded.
01:21I just remember sitting at a bar with a guy that said, I hate that song, I'm never going to play it again.
01:26And I was just like, you are such an asshole.
01:29Like that song bought you a house in the Hollywood Hills.
01:33What is wrong with you?
01:34And allows you to write so many other songs.
01:37Yeah.
01:38That song gave you a career.
01:40Yeah, yeah.
01:41You know, all those other songs, like, they're dependent almost upon like something like that happening.
01:48You know, for a band to be around this long.
01:50It's like crazy.
01:51It's like you gotta, not you, I have to keep my head down and try to remain grateful.
01:59Because sometimes it's, sometimes it's, it's difficult.
02:03Like, you know.
02:04But it's like, you take a step back.
02:06It's like, nobody's forcing you to be your Mr. Rockstar in quotations, please.
02:13You know, you can go, you can go back to Buffalo and be a bartender anytime you want.
02:19Yeah, yeah.
02:20So.
02:21And it's not terribly summery for you at the moment, but you're going to be here for a couple of days.
02:37Is there anything you like to do while you're in Canberra?
02:40Is there anything you want to do?
02:42I'm just enjoying the beautiful place where we're staying.
02:46Yeah, yeah.
02:47And the weather is so gorgeous.
02:49I mean, I live in New Jersey and Robbie lives in Buffalo.
02:52And it's freezing.
02:54It's like, I mean.
02:55It's 17 degrees here.
02:56It's ugly and cold right now.
02:59And, you know, so it's just nice to be here.
03:04And it's kind of nice to take a break from the States at the moment.
03:09Yeah, yeah.
03:10It's intense over there.
03:12It's a bit intense.
03:14There's a lot happening.
03:15Yeah, it's crazy over there right now.
03:17I took a great walk this morning around Peace Park.
03:19Yeah.
03:20Behind our hotel there.
03:21And it's just beautiful there.
03:23Yeah.
03:24You know, the weather, nice cool breeze.
03:25Yeah.
03:26It's just amazing.
03:31Eyes up at the big light.
03:35What does the name of the band mean?
03:37Nothing.
03:38If we find out, we will call you first.
03:41Yes.
03:42You know, you can just make something up.
03:44Yeah.
03:46It's like I've been looking for the perfect, you know.
03:49Explanation.
03:50Yeah, you know.
03:51But it has no meaning, but we're stuck with it.
03:55And it's been so long, and it doesn't seem to have hurt us any.
03:59So, you know.
04:00It's just our band's name now.
04:02Yeah.
04:03I mean, I think about smashing pumpkins.
04:04Yeah.
04:07And I hear you're going to be, like, filming a little bit for Australian Idol.
04:11And I think one of the contestants is going to sing Iris.
04:14Really?
04:15Wow.
04:16Well, apparently.
04:19I'm glad I'm filling you in on this.
04:21Yeah.
04:22You know what's funny?
04:23Is that really happening?
04:25I think that's true, yeah.
04:26We'll be out looking.
04:27Thanks for telling us.
04:28That's why we got, like, seven managers.
04:32I'll see something online, like, Iris will be, like, in the top ten in, like, Brazil.
04:37Like, two years ago.
04:38Two years ago, and I'm like, somebody must have sang it.
04:40Yes.
04:41You know, like, that tends to happen a lot.
04:43Yeah.
04:44You know, with that song.
04:45Yeah.
04:46It's been in a lot of different markets that way.
04:47And, you know, it always kind of reminds people, you know, of the songs.
04:51For sure.
04:52And how do you feel about that?
04:53Like, a young person like that, obviously, you know, trying to get their foothold in
04:58the industry, and they've chosen your song.
05:00Like.
05:01It's an honor.
05:02You know?
05:03It's like.
05:06That that song can be so universally accepted.
05:09You know?
05:10And age pretty well.