Wolfmother: Andrew Stockdale Spills The Truth

Though he has steadfastly denied his roots, Andrew Stockdale, lead guitarist/singer of the Australian trio Wolfmother, finally spills the truth. Here, in an interview with Ultimate-Guitar, the musician cops to his classic rock influences - though belatedly. The band's first major release album titled after the group combines Zeppelinesque riffs, Sabbath-like trumpeting rhythms, and even snatches of golden oldies like the Hollies and even the Beatles. Andrew is opinionated though passionate, headstrong yet still dedicated to the idea that music might take people to a higher plain - if only for a few minutes. He may take himself a bit too seriously, and expound just a little too much on the ways of the world, but for good or bad he is an honest young man and here he shares those ideas.

Ultimate-Guitar: What really intrigued me with the record were the classic influences. You obviously listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Hendrix?

Andrew Stockdale: Hey, what are you talking about? Where did you pull this out?

Come on, Andrew. Fess up. For a band to take those influences and turn that into something modern, that's something really new. What interested you in that era of music?

This is a difficult question. Well, okay. What inspired me? Well, I like riffs. I grew up listening to a lot of indie music, where it was kind of discord and chord progressions. And rock and roll just had riffs, and it seemed solid and it seemed to sound good. And I wanted to try and be a part of that and try and write a riff. I wasn't specifically thinking of any particular band like the ones that you mentioned.

But you did listen to those bands?

Uh, I've heard. You know, I've listened to maybe eight songs by those bands. I haven't got all the albums or anything.

Is that the truth?

Of course! Are you calling me a liar?

Not at all.

No, I just had The Best of Black Sabbath and I heard "War Pigs" and various other things. I've listened to Led Zeppelin. I've listened to?that's it. I've listened to thousands of songs in my short life span. You could listen to the Animals. You can listen to the golden oldies, psychedelic music, Hendrix or whatever. So, yeah, I just wanted to play a riff and that was it. I wanted to break away from that discord and indie, sort of 90's kind of Sonic Youth, Pavement, various other things that I loved. I loved all that kind of stuff, I wanted to do a straightforward riff.

I know that the other guys are into like Kyuss and a lot of stoner sort of stuff. And maybe that also influenced that sort of, a bit more minimalistic, contemporary sort of vibe. But how it all works and how the sound evolved, you can talk about references as you mentioned, but I think what a lot of people overlook is that it's the synergy of the band. A band is three people playing together and playing off people. It's a rare occurrence when you get a band that can actually play together. You can get a band where there's like a drummer who's like a drummer that's like the star drummer and he isn't listening to the song and he's just imposing their own drum solos over the whole thing, or a singer who's over singing or anything.

I think that's the thing about Wolfmother. It's that it's a good band. And we've made the songs number one, and we all try to create good music rather than showcasing our talents or whatever.

Did you specifically want a trio?

Yeah. Yeah, well it's a lot easier for the ideas to follow through their natural progression with three people. If you have more people in the band, you've got to convince five people that it's a good idea to do the song. Whereas with three people, it seems really streamlined.

"I just wanted to play a riff and that was it."

Did you want keyboards as part of the sound?

Well, yeah. The keyboard comes into it in "Woman." "Dimension" was the first song and there's another keyboard in that. And then "Woman" is a keyboard that's just for a solo. And then the next song was "White Unicorn," and that's the keyboard with the delay pedal, just to put in an abstract sound. Just to create a psychological journey in the middle of the song. After that, Chris started jumping more on the keyboards throughout the song. And you know, playing it in the verse, the chorus, doing more so it has come more to the forefront from there. But originally, it was just to kind of add those little elements to the song.

When he's playing the keyboards live, does it allow you to do more with your guitar playing?

No, it doesn't really affect me. I haven't noticed it. It doesn't change the way I play at all.

So whether he's playing electric bass or keyboard bass, it doesn't change anything?

Not that I'm aware of.

Can you talk a bit about the guitars and amps that you are using on the record?

The guitars, well, I used a 1980s 335 Gibson for most of the album. We used a Laney Clip amp. We used an Orange 1960s amp. We used a Hi Watt. We used Marshall JMPs. But you know, I don't really know much about amplifiers. For the technical specifications of what they do, I just go by sound. I know what sounds good, but I don't know why it sounds good.

Don't you play an SG?

Yeah, I play an SG.

But you didn't play it on the record?

No.

Have you been sort of a hollow-body guitar guy?

I think it just sounded better for the recording. But I haven't used one live. I've got one, though. I would like to use it.

How do you record live? Is it the three of you putting down live tracks or are you guys laying for a drum track?

Yeah. What we do is go into the studio, all three of us, we mike everything up. We've put the amps in another room. We go through the song. The drum kit is all miked up. So we play it live, but what we're doing is we're only recording the drums. We've all got headphones on and we just record the drums. And from thereon, we do the bass keyboard after that. And we do the vocals after that, layering it over that initial drum track.

Guitars go on last?

That's right. Well, it's before the vocals though.

Can you describe what your guitar sound is?

Fuzz. A fuzz tone. A distorted tone. It's loud.

You are playing loud in the studio?

That's right. Extremely loud.

That's important to the stuff you're doing?

Yeah, probably, because the valves sound great if you turn it up to 11.

"It's a rare occurrence when you get a band that can actually play together."

Would you have wanted to work with producers like Eddie Kramer or Andy Johns? Someone who would have worked with Zeppelin or bands like that?

I love the sounds of those records. I don't know. I'm very happy with what Dave (Sardy)did and I like the sound that he's done. So I do have a kind of loyalty to Dave.

Was he somebody you specifically wanted to work with?

Yeah. We were impressed by the way that he could do big rock guitar sounds and he could also, he had a sort of feel to the psychedelic era and a softer, acoustic things. He seemed like a very well rounded producer.

You came from flamenco guitar background?

Yeah, when I was a kid I played flamenco. Sat in my bedroom for two weeks playing flamenco. It's all I wanted to do. I wanted to go to Spain and become a fucking gypsy!

So when did rock take over?

Actually at the same time I was playing like Henry Rollins songs and I had an electric guitar. I had a bit of both at the same time. I loved both different worlds, but they are entirely different. The thing I thought with rock and roll was that is was just stupid. I just thought it was undermining my talent. I thought I could do better.

You thought that flamenco required more of a player?

It's an art form. It's more of a pure art form. Rock and roll is just like, a lot of it, is just kind of dumb. And the guitar is just silly. You're not going to learn anything and you're not going to become better. You're not going to have more insight into who you are in your soul and how you feel. A lot of it is just based on very simple emotions: aggression, love lost. I mean there are certain rock bands that do take it a lot further and do take it a bit more seriously. There's content within in it that you can take from it into your life. But I'd say a lot of it is just based on teenage rebellion and is a passing phase. I don't want to dedicate my life to that.

Is that not what you're playing?

No, you're right. You're right. On the other hand, that's what I'm good at. That's what I can do. I can do the no brainer, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll. That's who I am. I realized who I was. I wasn't good enough for the flamenco.

Can you name bands that moved you lyrically?

Bob Dylan. Yeah, that's good stuff. No one can kind of snub you off of getting into that. Nick Drake. I really love Nick Drake. But I found it too melancholy, too restrictive, too inhibitive. It's just one emotion. I don't like things that just tap into one emotion. That's why for me The Beatles, to me, are the number one band. They can go from "Norwegian Wood" to "Tomorrow Never Knows." They are open as people. They're very open people. And I think sometimes people just get too, what's the word for it?

Isolated?

Isolated and absorbed and preoccupied with one little phase in their life, one little emotion they feed off of and exists within the rest of their life. You've got to break out of that. Like angst, or punk angst stuff. To me, after a little while, it becomes a little too prefabricated, angst. I mean, just write a love song! Write a song about a fucking bird! So what if your mom didn't direct debit $30,000 dollars into your trust fund and didn't buy you a second bloody Hummer or whatever. "Mommy and daddy don't love?" It's just like, who gives a shit? I can't relate to it. I don't care. I don't subscribe to their cause. I don't believe their angst. I don't believe their pain. Just be honest and say you're happy. You're middle class. You've got everything you want. You got a great education. Your parents love you. That might not make a great rock song, but that's the truth. The rest of it is just pretentious gesturing that can fool a couple million people with a good advertising campaign and distribution contacts. But do I want to listen to it in my free time? No way! I don't care less about it.

You touched on Dylan earlier. Is your song "Joker & The Thief" taken from his lyric in "All Along the Watchtower"?

Yeah, probably. I've totally ripped it off from Dylan. I have. I have. Every time you see a hip-hop artist go, "Make some noise," does everyone give them shit for doing the same thing? This is like one line from a song 40 years ago. It's a good line.

I'm not giving you shit. I'm just asking you a question because you had mentioned Dylan earlier.

No, not you. I'm just saying that other people do.

Talk about the effect on that riff of "Joker & The Thief."

Yeah, what did I put on that? A Small Stone. I was in a shop one morning walking into where we jam. I saw this AC/DC "Thunderstruck." And I was like, I want to write a stadium rock song. I went into the studio and said, "Doo-duh-lee, doo-duh-lee." What's the best thing to do after that? Just do something cleaner. "Doo, doo, doo.." Because, you know, you've got to have a big intro and then you have to have a balls-to-the-wall riff to knock it on the head in the next stage. But yeah, that's it. That's what I wanted to do and that's how I did it. And people don't know what they want to do. That's the thing in life. There's a lot of lost people. And you can take your path and everyone will either get in your way or encourage you. But the fact is, I took my path and I knew what I wanted to do. That's it. You've got to find out what you want to do.

You've got to find out what you want to do, who you are, and how you want to live your life. And that's the never-ending mystery. What's your religion, your political stance? That's what I think is important. How we are going to live as a society going into a world that is decrepit with so much environmental damage and so much corruption. It's a male-dominated society that is basically on a path of destruction. In our own little way, how can we make our existence a positive part of a global consciousness? What can we do? That's what I want to know.

"That's what I can do. I can do the no brainer, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll."

And for you, music is your way in the world?

Yeah, I mean, I hope with Wolfmother, I can do something positive. Everyone wants to hear, "What about the groupies? What's the craziest thing you've done backstage? Do you take drugs? Do you smoke pot? Do you do this?" I struggled before I was in a band. I never had any money. I've gone into the bank and filled out a withdrawal slip for five dollars because I didn't have enough money in there. It's become a society of the haves and have-nots. From the outside, there's no fucking way in. You look at all these massive corporations and you've got to be a part of it. And people live in so much anxiety and fear of reaction, fear of not being able to have a house and two cars and a wife, and that they can support a family. There's a lot of pressure in modern life. Look at a place like L. A. It's polluted to hell and back. What is anyone doing about it?

They're trying to get the cars more under control. In the long run will it work? I don't know.

I guess what gets me thinking about is that I've had a child recently. I've got a little daughter.

Congratulations.

Thanks. And you look at her and you think, she's four months old. What kind of world is she going to live in when she's, you know, 40? That's a scary thought.

I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm definitely trying to find direction spiritually. I believe in positivity - positive thought, positive action. I don't have any faith, but I'm a believer.

At the end of the day when you look back at the record, is this the record you wanted to make?

It's entertainment. It's 52 minutes in people's lives. It means nothing. It's just a bit of escape. It's rock and roll. It's just fun. Maybe it inspires them to do something, to make music or do whatever they want. Maybe it's a bit of escape from their lives. But at the end of the day, it's just music.

If it hadn't been successful, would you still be playing clubs and fighting the good fight?

Yeah, I don't know what I'd be doing. Maybe I'd be a teacher. I'd like to be an art teacher. I don't know. Do teaching. Do a simple job. I wouldn't want to be fostering any ambition to do anything of any great responsibility or consequence. I romanticize the simple life. What I'd like to do is have a house that is self-sufficient, solar-powered, surge system, environmentally in the hinterland in Queensland, Australia, and be a teacher and teach art. And probably ride my bike down there with a little family, raise kids, play the guitar, and that's it. That would be my life.

You would walk away from all of this?

No, I'm saying if this didn't happen.

And as this gets bigger and bigger, does it get harder to maintain those ideals and not be part of the problem as opposed to the solution?

Oh, yeah. Everyday there's opportunities to do whatever you want to do. I don't know. Now all I've got to do is make music. That's all I've got to do. Music and playing shows is cool. I'm not doing anything wrong. If I sound a bit like some other band, who gives a shit? I'm not killing people. It's not starting a war, I'm not polluting the atmosphere, I'm just making music.

When you see the iPod commercial on TV or people talk about your guitar playing or recognize you as a songwriter, is it a good feeling?

Oh, yeah. Fuck yeah. No other band from Australia has ever?Well, I mean we got pretty high on the U.S. charts (debut album came in in the Top 30). This is a huge opportunity and something that so many other bands that have come before us never had this chance before. And they would love to do it. They'd love to do it. So sometimes I just go, "Wow." You know. We're pioneers.

"I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm definitely trying to find direction spiritually."

In some respects, definitely.

From where I come from we're pioneers. I'm over here now, but if I didn't make this music I'd be in Brisbane. My brother is a music teacher. My sister is a P.A. My dad lives in a retirement village. My mom works at Strand Bags selling handbags. I'm from nowhere. This is, this is huge, you know. To them, I'm a fucking star. No one's living like this. No one could ever conceive that I could be a part of something like this. It's fucking huge.

You worked with a band for four years before playing a show - is that accurate?

Yeah. I was in a band for four years jamming. I've been in lots of other bands. I've always asked people to get together and jam. That's just what I do. If someone has long hair, I'll go, "Hey man, do you play an instrument? Cool. Let's meet up on the weekend and jam. Let's do a show." I walk into a room and there's the drum kit set up and amplifiers, and I just get excited. For me, it's the best thing in the world you can do with your time. It represents freedom.

Nothing can match it. It's like a transportation; it takes you to another place. It's free. You don't have to be like sensitive, you can be like a man. Screw all this PC crap. Did I say the right things? Did I say he, she, we, fucking this, that, and the other. You can just pick up a guitar, blast it, and who cares. You can make your own noise and be yourself and whatever you want to do. I love that.

So you are out on the road touring with Pearl Jam?

We're going to do three or four shows in Europe, yeah.

Is that a symbiotic match for you musically?

Well, I don't know. They're from the grunge era. Maybe there's a bit of, yeah, we do explore that kind of aggressive, emotional world that they dabble in as well. We play rock and roll, but we're inherently different as well.

2006 © Steven Rosen

Comments

[twistedsister]

I love Wolfmother but this guy seems kind of an ass.....

[pigglesworth]

This guy is an egotistical *******... And it is reflected in Wolfmother's music.

[Strat_Monkey]

That Black Sabbath thing must be bullsh*t... They even play the same kind of instruments (SGs and Rickenbacker basses) that Sabbath did back in the day!

[Greenfinger182]

UG is funny when asking questions.

[CowboyUp]

I dont think this guy knows if hes coming or going :-I

[Hypnot1st]

He's being pretty "tongue in cheek" when he talks about Sabbath and Led Zep. It's more of the "look I'm a genius" image. Same with Bach, he said he didn't study any other musician's stuff because it "tainted his own." In truth, it was utter BS, he was constantly ripping off and studying every other musician he could find.

[punk_mike_88]

Wolfmother is a good band I don't care what anyone says.

[will1990]

i smell an axl rose dun dun dun

[edibledevilboy]

haven't heard much of their stuff... but he seems like a bit of an idiot...
Why make music if it's just fun it should mean more than that, right?

[Four Symbols]

intersting interview

[ibanez87]

Kyuss rules!

[Serrana]

I dont think hes egotistical...but he has had a lot of fame thrown at him in a very short time. I enjoyed this article a lot, I think Andrew is right on. We shouldn't be judging whether or not he listens to Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin CDs. We should be enjoying a little bit of the 60s and 70s thats been brought into our boring, 50 cent filled 2006 lives. I liked Wolfmother before they came out big, and I must say I am extremely happy with them being popular. I hope they administer a new outbreak of 60s/70s style bands, cus for being born in 1989 I kinda missed out on any type of glamorous music lifestyle.

Anyways, good interview. Andrew is the effing man!

[fitzyfantastic]

In addition to being a prick, he didn't come off as a very bright person either. He reminded me of a less friendly Nigel Tufnel, to be honest.

UG: Can you describe what your guitar sound is?
AS:Fuzz. A fuzz tone. A distorted tone. It's loud.

Thanks for that, we had no idea.

[RATicuZZ]

most of those questions were a bit pants

[SMFar2112]

this guy sounds like a piece of shit. wolfmother better be incredible when i listen to them.

[Unseen_hero]

Serrana wrote:

I dont think hes egotistical...but he has had a lot of fame thrown at him in a very short time. I enjoyed this article a lot, I think Andrew is right on. We shouldn't be judging whether or not he listens to Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin CDs. We should be enjoying a little bit of the 60s and 70s thats been brought into our boring, 50 cent filled 2006 lives. I liked Wolfmother before they came out big, and I must say I am extremely happy with them being popular. I hope they administer a new outbreak of 60s/70s style bands, cus for being born in 1989 I kinda missed out on any type of glamorous music lifestyle.

Anyways, good interview. Andrew is the effing man!

I wouldn't call my life 50 cent filled. That's sad. And I don't feel like listening to 60's and 70's music either. It's old. Sure, it's good. But it's old. You got to keep an eye for new bands, something new to the table--and it seems wolfmother is it for classic rock fans right now...

[the_trooper49]

He's saying he didn't really listen to zeppelin or sabbath ? The guy sounds almost identical to Robert Plant and the guitar riffs sound like Sabbath, The tone souds like Zeppelin ...

[Noosie]

Never heard of these guys before but this guy seems to be rather full of himself as long as their a decent band i guess i can deal with him...

[ENADSIDOG]

whinge whinge when your all famous aussie rock bands and get interveiwed by ug i cant wait to see your angel response, and in fact alot of guitarist in bands dont know mutch about there equipment at all, they know brand names

[Nirvana_RATM2]

they are a good band , i love them. But for some reason this guys comes off as an idiot or a sarcastic ass

Can you describe what your guitar sound is?

Fuzz. A fuzz tone. A distorted tone. It's loud.

You are playing loud in the studio?

That's right. Extremely loud.

like wtf man lol!

[FS Guitar]

Serrana wrote:

I dont think hes egotistical...but he has had a lot of fame thrown at him in a very short time. I enjoyed this article a lot, I think Andrew is right on. We
shouldn't be judging whether or not he listens to Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin CDs. We should be enjoying a little bit of the 60s and 70s thats been brought into our boring, 50 cent filled 2006 lives. I liked Wolfmother before they came out big, and I must say I am extremely happy with them being popular. I hope they administer a new outbreak of 60s/70s style bands, cus for being born in 1989 I kinda missed out on any type of glamorous music lifestyle.

Anyways, good interview. Andrew is the effing man!

my thoughts exactly man. he's making rock n roll for the freedom and fun of it all. if he says he doesn't listen to a lot of sabbath and zeppelin, i believe him. people tend to forget that there actually were other bands besides those two during the 60s and 70s. he admits he listens to a lot of Dylan and Beatles so its not like he's trying to hide all his influences or anything. I like Wolfmother, and i did before they blew up. They're a good band with a good philosophy. they're not trying to change the face of rock n roll, they're just trying to bring back some of the good stuff from way back when, when that was what music was all about and before they had mesage boards to rag on bands you don't like.

[~=====[:]X[:]|}]

Yeah he seems to be confused about what he's doing. I mean this is BULLSHIT>>

The thing I thought with rock and roll was that is was just stupid. I just thought it was undermining my talent. I thought I could do better.

Then why does he play ROCK N' ROLL if he thinks that? I don't know how he plays this good. It's like he likes it but doesn't want to admit it. I mean this comment is undescribable!

It's entertainment. It's 52 minutes in people's lives. It means nothing. It's just a bit of escape. It's rock and roll. It's just fun. Maybe it inspires them to do something, to make music or do whatever they want. Maybe it's a bit of escape from their lives. But at the end of the day, it's just music.

Don't get me wrong I like their stuff but his comments make me feel like I'm listening to, I guess posers?

[Nirvana_RATM2]

yes but i understand but come on maybe a little basic knowledge I mean

Can you describe what your guitar sound is?

Fuzz. A fuzz tone. A distorted tone. It's loud.

You are playing loud in the studio?

That's right. Extremely loud.

come on!

[MetalFever666]

This guy is something. He's right about music being fun and all but it should be more than just "52 minutes in people's lives. It means nothing." That just makes him sound that much more of an A-hole.

He claims he didn't grow up listening to Sabbath or Zeppelin. Maybe he's lying, maybe he's not. But their style of music most definitely sounds like they were influenced by them.

Decent Band. But nothing special and seems like not a lot of people would ever listen to Wolfmother over Sabbath or Zeppelin.

[recliner33]

When your jamming and stuff it's hard not to come up with a riff that doesn't sound like a sabbath riff. They are simple, slow and heavy. When I play guitar I come up with lots of riffs that sort of sound like something Iommi and sabbath would have done.

If I sound a bit like some other band, who gives a shit? I'm not killing people. It's not starting a war, I'm not polluting the atmosphere, I'm just making music.

That basically sums up everything about people saying they sound like all of these other bands.

I know that the other guys are into like Kyuss and a lot of stoner sort of stuff. And maybe that also influenced that sort of, a bit more minimalistic, contemporary sort of vibe.

That's ****ing sweet that they listen to kyuss, they are one of my favourite bands and one of the best stoner rock bands ever. If you ask me, I'd say they have more Kyuss influences in their music the sabbath or zeppelin. But no one says that because not many people have heard of kyuss, they just pick the no brainer influences like sabbath or zeppelin. Like almost every rock band has sabbath and zeppelin influences and it's not just in wolfmothers music where you'd find it.

[jcthomasva]

sounds like the last thing he needed to do was give an interview.

[Dan The Poet]

He's Making Me Dislike WolfMother Even More

Black Sabbath & Led Zeppelin > Wolfmother

[recliner33]

the_trooper49 wrote:

He's saying he didn't really listen to zeppelin or sabbath ? The guy sounds almost identical to Robert Plant and the guitar riffs sound like Sabbath, The tone souds like Zeppelin ...

Ok he only sound identical to plant in the song woman. If you guys listened to the rest of the cd you'll find he doesn't sound much like robert plant, I personally think he sounds more like Jack White.
And I do believe Andrew when he says he doesn't listen to much sabbath or zeppelin, maybe it's the other two band members that are into those groups.

[Seymore190]

I think that if he makes people believe that he never had any assosciation with Black Sabbath or Zeppelin, they will start to think he is a musical genius. To me he just seems like a jackass who looks like an elf.... or the guy in Pinnochio who gets turned into a donkey.

[The Novice]

Never listened to Wolfmother and now I never will, because of this guy.

[recliner33]

Why is wolfmother getting bashed for sounding similar to bands from 30 years ago. Like alot of these new emo and screamo bands all sound similar but noone is bitching about that. Like if one emo band comes along there's about 20 other bands to follow that sound the exact same. I can't tell the difference from alot of the bands out there. To me sounding similar to bands from 30 years ago is more origional then sounding like the bands of today because there's not as many bands out there that sound like the older rock bands. All I'm trying to say is that wolfmother sounds more origional then most bands out there today. Instead of ripping off of older bands they rip off the newer ones so they can get away with it.

[guitarfan93]

he is liying,there so much zep and sabbath influence on that record for him to just ,"have heard of it,"

[SlashNX]

Wolfmother rock! This guy is just trying to be funny!

[Serrana]

I dont think andrew wants to come out as a musical genious. He knows he makes his music simple, and on purpose. Nothing he plays is extraordinarily complicated. What hes saying is whats been said by tons of people for years. Good, fun, hard rock is just that; good fun hard rock. He plays it because he enjoys it, and he thinks its fun. He knows that people wont come away with some type of spiritual enlightenment, or a new way of thinking about the world like you might if u listen to Dylan, he just wants to make fun music that is entertaining. I feel the exact same way. And to make this kind of music, he has to "dumb" down his guitar and his lyrics. Rock n roll is simple. Hes not bashing it hes saying what is necessary in order to play it.

And about the people that think hes an idiot for saying fuzz tone and that he plays extremely loud. I think hes making fun of himself. He probably gets asked these questions a million times and is doing what Dylan did. Just entertaining himself. Since he listens to Dylan its possible he has also taken how Dylan deals with reporters.

probably one of the biggest hints that he is possible making fun of himself is the reference to Spinal Tap in
That's important to the stuff you're doing?

Yeah, probably, because the valves sound great if you turn it up to 11.

Hes got a good sense of humor. He may come off as an ass in this but I think hes trying to answer the questions without putting up any BS about how people want him to "fess up" to listening to zep, or how he should be modest on his bands success, or how his music is prophetical. He said it himself...he just plays simple rock music. Dylan said the same thing himself.

During the concert I saw him at, it was 6/6/06...at the beginning of it we saw a bunch of the stagehands put this odd statue of a cat on top of one of the amps. It looked like a very happy cat, was smiling, and was fairly comforting. He never said anything about the cat til halfway in the concert.
"So...it's 6/6/06 right? That means its pretty f'in evil right?!(the crowd started cheering here. We thought he was going to play zep or sabbath or something. His voice started getting louder)The day of the beast and all that jazz, right?! WELL, seeing the occasion, Wolfmother decided to go out and get the most badass lighting show we could find." He took a step back and pointed to the cat. It started lighting up in christmas colors. They then went right into love train I thought it was cool.

[TheSilverBeatle]

He's pretty cocky for being in a Sabbath/Zeppelin cover band.

[Led Wing]

What does it matter if he doesn't know the technical aspects of his equipment? He still makes whatever he uses sound good.

And so what if he thinks rock and roll is just fun? That's what it is. Of course you can go deeper, and usually you want to do that to get better at what you make, but some people take rock and roll way to ****ing seriously, like it'll save the world or something.

[12-string]

egocentric mofo, slap that bizzle

[hyootah]

thats a big post

[SixStrings]

"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

[recliner33]

Serrana wrote:

I dont think andrew wants to come out as a musical genious. He knows he makes his music simple, and on purpose. Nothing he plays is extraordinarily complicated. What hes saying is whats been said by tons of people for years. Good, fun, hard rock is just that; good fun hard rock. He plays it because he enjoys it, and he thinks its fun. He knows that people wont come away with some type of spiritual enlightenment, or a new way of thinking about the world like you might if u listen to Dylan, he just wants to make fun music that is entertaining. I feel the exact same way. And to make this kind of music, he has to "dumb" down his guitar and his lyrics. Rock n roll is simple. Hes not bashing it hes saying what is necessary in order to play it.

And about the people that think hes an idiot for saying fuzz tone and that he plays extremely loud. I think hes making fun of himself. He probably gets asked these questions a million times and is doing what Dylan did. Just entertaining himself. Since he listens to Dylan its possible he has also taken how Dylan deals with reporters.

probably one of the biggest hints that he is possible making fun of himself is the reference to Spinal Tap in
That's important to the stuff you're doing?

Yeah, probably, because the valves sound great if you turn it up to 11.

Hes got a good sense of humor. He may come off as an ass in this but I think hes trying to answer the questions without putting up any BS about how people want him to "fess up" to listening to zep, or how he should be modest on his bands success, or how his music is prophetical. He said it himself...he just plays simple rock music. Dylan said the same thing himself.

During the concert I saw him at, it was 6/6/06...at the beginning of it we saw a bunch of the stagehands put this odd statue of a cat on top of one of the amps. It looked like a very happy cat, was smiling, and was fairly comforting. He never said anything about the cat til halfway in the concert.
"So...it's 6/6/06 right? That means its pretty f'in evil right?!(the crowd started cheering here. We thought he was going to play zep or sabbath or something. His voice started getting louder)The day of the beast and all that jazz, right?! WELL, seeing the occasion, Wolfmother decided to go out and get the most badass lighting show we could find." He took a step back and pointed to the cat. It started lighting up in christmas colors. They then went right into love train I thought it was cool.

I agree with you completely on everything you said. Like rock and roll can be kinda dumb and you don't have to be the smartest person to play it but it's still fun to play and I enjoy listening to it. I don't think he's trying to come across as a musical genius either, he's more funny to me then trying to be an ass or anything like that. Like you don't have to be a genius to come up with a rock riff, I think that's what he was trying to say, he wasn't bashing rock.

[SixStrings]

^ ironically that passage from Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower", goes with the part of the interview when he seemed kind of frantic about the direction the world is heading.

[Stilgar]

Nobody mentioned the Pink Floyd rip-off in their music- listen to The Earths Rotation Around the Sun and Floyd's Astronomy Domine. Wolfmother's pathetic attempt of a psychedelic song is a floyd rip-off alternated with the allman bros., all in a grand total of about 3 minutes.

Not to mention the Minds Eye video with Floyd's live at pompeii - which im sure is a joke by wolfmother (which makes it more lame because they couldnt think of anything creative so "oh...lets just copy floyds video")

[recliner33]

When Andrew said that rock is dumb kinda reminded me of the time when dave grohl was in nirvana and he said that most metal bands were dumb because he didn't want anyone to categorize nirvana as metal, which alot of dumb people did after they heard slts. But a year or two ago, dave started up the band probot which was a metal band. So i found that quote by dave to be extra funny after hearing about probot.

[greenday_alk3]

Hes the man! This Ug guy is a jerk asking these questions, he needs to show a little more respect to a guy who is actually successful and has a REAL job. Its obvious that if he says he was influenced by those bands then he'd just have to live in their shadow his whole career, i get that. Sounds like Andrew just wants to have a good time with his music

[Bored w/u]

I think this is a great band in the making. Its really cool that you can hear Zeppelin and Sabbath influences in them. It was just a matter of time before the classic rock sound came around again. History always seems to repeat itself. And with music all starting to sound the same again, this band sounds fresh and new but with some old school. I dont think he's cocky, he just sounds confident in what direction the band is going in.

[A7X_hyperfan]

Why is this guy making music at all if HE HIMSELF claims that it means nothing? AND he expects everyone to love him for it? Not me...

[Serrana]

he means it means nothing in the whole scheme of things. 2006 isn't going to go down as the year Wolfmother released their self titled debut in the states. The only-ONLY- band that made music that meant a damn thing was the beatles. They had such an impact on their culture that they are the only band that can be noted to doing so.

Andrew probably views music as a way to pay the bills with doing something you love. He obviously loves music. He just understands how limited it is. Instead of trying to change the world with politics, or trying to become a world leader of ambassador he is deciding to circumvent all that trouble and just have fun. You all are the ones taking him too seriously

[recliner33]

edibledevilboy wrote:

haven't heard much of their stuff... but he seems like a bit of an idiot...
Why make music if it's just fun it should mean more than that, right?

No it shouldn't. If you get too much into emotions and stuff it's just ****ing emo. Rock deserves to be fun, that's why bands like the eagles of death metal and wolfmother kickass

[Serrana]

I think I used circumvent incorrectly?

[matttt]

edibledevilboy wrote:

haven't heard much of their stuff... but he seems like a bit of an idiot...
Why make music if it's just fun it should mean more than that, right?

you dont actually know anything about rocknroll do you

[jimmyjimjim]

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?

[Disturbed42]

The Novice wrote:

Never listened to Wolfmother and now I never will, because of this guy.

your an idiot, you wont listen to a band because of what one guy in the bands says. thats whats wrong with music today, people judge bands on what they look like and how they act. music is supposed to be about the ****ing music. like if a band had the biggest ******* in the world id still listen to them(gun n roses). and also the guy could just be having a bad day, all those questions were bullshit anyways. so judge a band on there music not how they act

[UnsignedRecords]

not a big fan of the classic style of rock, i know how huge it is to some people seeing where rock has come from.

but good for him trying to keep it simple and making it, being hated and whatnot.

[fitzyfantastic]

Disturbed42 wrote:

The Novice wrote:

Never listened to Wolfmother and now I never will, because of this guy.


your an idiot, you wont listen to a band because of what one guy in the bands says. thats whats wrong with music today, people judge bands on what they look like and how they act. music is supposed to be about the ****ing music. like if a band had the biggest ***** in the world id still listen to them(gun n roses). and also the guy could just be having a bad day, all those questions were bullshit anyways. so judge a band on there music not how they act

I would hardly call those questions bullshit. The interviewer is asking him about how the music was created, who the influences were, and what kind of gear he uses. I see nothing stupid about those questions. I agree with you on the image thing, but the fact is Wolfmother is just rehashed 1970's hard rock / heavy metal. While it is refreshing to hear something different from the rest of the music today, it is far from original. It feels like less inspired Led Zeppelin to me, with a carbon copy of Tony Iommi's guitar tone.

[gregorisgod]

I like Wolfmother and I think he's just ripping the piss.

He's not saying "Oh I grew up on Sabbath and Zeppelin" because he wants people to listen to his band, not his influences. Yeah, he seems slightly egotistical but I bet he's not an ******* in the flesh.

I love Wolfmother though, they might sound like the 60s and 70s making a comeback but they sound different from most stuff out there at the moment.

I also like his simpler style and more simple answers - What is your guitar sound "Distorted and loud" I think that sums it up nicely.

He's not trying to appear as though he's a genius or be too big-headed, hence the simple answers, he's just having a laugh, and when he's saying

"52 minutes in people's lives. It means nothing."

just said to me "I did this for me, not to make a big deal of it in people's lifes. If they like it, great, if not, fine."

And about the people that think hes an idiot for saying fuzz tone and that he plays extremely loud. I think hes making fun of himself. He probably gets asked these questions a million times and is doing what Dylan did. Just entertaining himself. Since he listens to Dylan its possible he has also taken how Dylan deals with reporters.

As he said. Dylan dealt with reporters and interviewers in much the same way, we didn't all call him an *******. I like him and he seems like a laugh.

[ohmerrymayhem]

Jesus.. Can this fool be any more full of himself? Ridiculous. On, and to respond to Disturbed42, although it wasn't directed at me, maybe if The Novice wanted to hear this kind of music, he'd hear it from the groups that did it when it was original instead of some silly knock off making immitation songs to get paid.

[555666]

What a dick.....I mean *******.

[555666]

I mean a s s h o l e

[Seymore190]

None of these arguments change the fact that he is an elf.

[Kadaj]

He seems like a bit of a dick to me.

But whatever if people like they're music.

[krjwa]

you guys are all wrong, do you know how much this guy must hear "wow you sound like zepp or sabbith"!?
he never said he soudned liek them
and now he is setting the record straight by telling everyone he isnt trying to get rich off of other peoples style, he just loves rock and roll
the reason he sounds liek a cock is because hes fed up

[R_H_C_P]

I love Wolfmother, so damn much.
Best gig I've ever been to was them, and got to meet them all afterwards, they're all amazing guys with great sense of humours, not egotistical.

And did anyone else (when they first saw Andy) think he looks like Simon Amstell (from Popworld)? Haha

Wolfmother rule.

[ToesKa]

as long as the music is good i don't give a penny for his attitude... although he is a bit strange in the interview

[windnosail]

If WM sounds like the Beattles, Led Zep, Black S, Beattles, and a bit of David Bowie in my opinion, that is not a bad list to "sound like". I think WM is a great band from what I have seen so far and they have a unique sound despite the similarities. And if you don't like the interview answers, give it a rest, it really isn't a big deal. And you can't judge a band by how they answer questions - does anyone really judge music this way?

[poe_g]

Wolfmother kick ass! what a bunch of stupid questions to ask first! UG basically accused him of ripping of Sabbath and Zeppelin the second question in! come on, you got this guy offside as soon as you started the interview. no wonder he arced up.

[ForbiddenDonut]

name one song that Wolfmother copied.

Do you think after 50 years of rock music that every single band can be unique?

Hell, we've been waiting for a band like this!

[silvertone420]

wolfmother sucks that's all i have to say

[poe_g]

silvertone420 wrote:

wolfmother sucks that's all i have to say

muppet

[Maitinin]

Quite ****ed that the interview was so much about making him 'admit' that his music is just Zep over again, so what? It's really great music, simple and loud

[skynyrdFAN17]

Serrana :
I dont think hes egotistical...but he has had a lot of fame thrown at him in a very short time. I enjoyed this article a lot, I think Andrew is right on. We shouldn't be judging whether or not he listens to Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin CDs. We should be enjoying a little bit of the 60s and 70s thats been brought into our boring, 50 cent filled 2006 lives. I liked Wolfmother before they came out big, and I must say I am extremely happy with them being popular. I hope they administer a new outbreak of 60s/70s style bands, cus for being born in 1989 I kinda missed out on any type of glamorous music lifestyle.

Anyways, good interview. Andrew is the effing man!

I agree 110%
I was born in 89 too and I hate that I missed out on all of this good music. Who cares who they sound like its better that nany rap crap that is on just about 24-7 and I cant wait for a new album

[5thhorseman]

I hear Sleep Kyuss and the Beattles more than Zep or Sabbath, but that's just me.

[somnambulist]

for a person complaining people aren't too open with their music, he sure isn't being very open to opinions...he's gotta chill a little bit.

and he's acting like he's the only person in the world who has sturggled in life...

wolfmother's a good band i guess but it pisses me off when the real people behind the music turn out to be jerks

[geetarguy92]

Mosaic wrote:

12-string wrote:

egocentric mofo, slap that bizzle


Die.


And to the rest of you, Wolfmother > You and your shitty emo music.

dude would say wolfmother are better than dream theater and the like
anyways im not really into wolfmother that much anymore still a good band though it just seems like its a bunch of zep covers now though

[geetarguy92]

and also led zeppelin are my favourite band ever never get bored of them lol

[Kevin97220]

This guys an ass

I could tell from the first response he gave
Now im never going to listen to Wolfmother

[ctb]

They're probably really good, but I haven't got the time to listen.

[rockinlewis]

will1990 wrote:

i smell an axl rose dun dun dun

i dont

[hippyfreak]

I agree with half the people on here saying that Andrew sounds like an idiot.... i don't think he sounds much like sabbath/zeppelin very much at all tho..... mainly just on mind's eye. I think the music is average but he's got the right idea. He seems to be "enviromentally aware" tho..... so cheers to him. and he's got SWEET hair so cheers again. he still sounds like sort of an idiot tho.

[supergohan931]

This guy's a ****ing idiot.

[7thhell]

Wolfmother rocks! I like how some of you say they suck or wont even check their music out just because you read an interview. That's funny.

[Burdell]

i think people who are bashing him are the idiots.

he states over and over again its just about the music. why would he try to create some image of himself that isn't true? he's just being honest. i see where he's coming from perfectly clear.

he's not an idiot. he just has a different point of view. he's not into equipment, popularity, image, the impact his music has, etc. He's just into making his music.

[moccasin11]

what an overrated band

[Taker]

jimmyjimjim wrote:

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?

Exactly what I was thinking. Anyway, he was a little too defensive during the whole interview, but it's understandable. They are a pretty good band.

[supergohan931]

Burdell wrote:

i think people who are bashing him are the idiots.

he states over and over again its just about the music. why would he try to create some image of himself that isn't true? he's just being honest. i see where he's coming from perfectly clear.

he's not an idiot. he just has a different point of view. he's not into equipment, popularity, image, the impact his music has, etc. He's just into making his music.

That's why, all of what he says is just the image he's trying to create for everyone to see him as some kind of genius. He contradicts himself, sounds like a jackass, and is cocky as ****.

[TheMrDoug]

All I know is that I want to do interviews on coke when I become a rock star...

[fu man chu]

this guy is a total douche bag... of course they ****ing ripped off sabbath, and zeppelin. You can tell by the attitude he had about stealing the line from all along the watch tower. He's one of those guys that has an opinion on everything, but isent quite intelegent enough to know why. Fuck i hate people like him. And who is he to comment on the current status of the world? It's turd ****s like him that screwed it up this bad in the first place. I dont even want to comment on his music either, but at least now i know why it sounds like it does.

[RustyGold]

GIVE THE GUY A BREAK.

I'm all behind Wolfmother. You see all these terrible, shitty emo bands claiming their music is "holy and straight from the heart." Which is ofcourse a load of bullshit because it's all commercialised pop. But in Wolfmother's case music is 52 minute entertainment. Nothing wrong with that. Just entertainment, no bullshit.

[RustyGold]

supergohan931sounds like a jackass, and is cocky as ****.

If anything, the guy is taking a piss at himself. How is that being cocky?

[irockaflyingV]

Wolfmother rock

[Bored w/u]

fu man chu wrote:

this guy is a total douche bag... of course they ****ing ripped off sabbath, and zeppelin. You can tell by the attitude he had about stealing the line from all along the watch tower. He's one of those guys that has an opinion on everything, but isent quite intelegent enough to know why. Fuck i hate people like him. And who is he to comment on the current status of the world? It's turd ****s like him that screwed it up this bad in the first place. I dont even want to comment on his music either, but at least now i know why it sounds like it does.

How are they ripping anything off? if you like and listen to a certain type of music there's a pretty good chance that your own music may sound like what you are listening to. It seems like you have many opinions do you hate yourself?

[Bored w/u]

they have kind of a cool name...

[BlueZephyr]

You are playing loud in the studio?

That was kind of a ridiculous question.

Rock and roll is just like, a lot of it, is just kind of dumb.

wtf? He plays rock. Was he dropped on his head?

[Jerkofski]

If you're going to make up your mind and decide that Wolfmother rips off Sabbath and Zep then why read the article? You have to be open. If he says he didn't really listen to them then he probably didn't. I mean green day plays punk music but people don't go around saying Oh My God Green Day just ripped off another Ramones song. I mean sure Wolfmother riff's sound like Sabbath but why do you care so much if it sounds good.

And if you're calling him an idiot maybe he is, but so are many other great rock stars. Even before the drugs Ozzy wasn't too bright and yet we still go crazy when he comes on stage. Also, as noted before, he probably gets asked these questions all the time so I'm sure it gets a little annoying answering the same thing over and over.

[Bored w/u]

why are so many of you pissed off at this guy? when have you ever heard of a nice well spoken rockstar? just try to remember how axl rose, eddie vedder, henry rollins interviews where.

[exiledsoul]

RustyGold wrote:

GIVE THE GUY A BREAK.

I'm all behind Wolfmother. You see all these terrible, shitty emo bands claiming their music is "holy and straight from the heart." Which is ofcourse a load of bullshit because it's all commercialised pop. But in Wolfmother's case music is 52 minute entertainment. Nothing wrong with that. Just entertainment, no bullshit.

man, stfu.
emo is more original than wolfmother, now dont get me wrong cause i hate emo, but it is from the heart cause its original, no one else has done it before.
wolfmother sounds exactly like zepplin and sabbath. this guy is also the biggest douche ever. hes getting all cocky and shit, this whole wolfmother bullshit can suck my left nut.

[randy_roads]

What a ****ing wanker. Not only does he sound egotistical, he also sounds dumb as ****. I have just lost all respect i had for wolfmother.

[GruntFuttock]

i used to like minds eye.....but after reading this interview, he has turned me off their music.... one minute he wants the world to become a better place, and then hes like 'i dont care, im not hurting anyone', ahh.....yea.....thats a little contradictory, headstrong my ass UG

[Tiamat]

what a retard LOL

[gatesofdawn]

i guess you could say this band is ahead of its time considering its time was in the 70's and just because they're out now in 06 they are unfortuantly labled a cover band. i say 60's and 70's rock is the best music in history and these guys know how its done. watching them play is like a breath of fresh air.

[WolFMotheR_32]

I have to agree, they did rip off a lot stuff from sabbith and zepp, but at least it sounds good. its not dumbass cookie cutter shit. Sardy found JET, who are quite possibly the greatest band in the WORLD, so he must be on to somthing.

But in all respect, Stock is kind of a wanker

[Xiang]

A lot of people are criticising Andrew's answers, saying he's egotistical, an ass, and all that. To tell you the truth, this is perhaps the crappest interview I have read in a long time. It's because of the interviewer.

The guy asks stupid questions, repeats them for no reason... why would you even do that?

At the beginning when he asks 'is that the truth?' in regard to his influences. Interviewers are supposed to be objective, this guy sounds like a regular Joe who's just ran into a music celebrity on the street and doesn't know what to ask.

Don't you play an SG?

Yeah, I play an SG.

But you didn't play it on the record?

Don't you play an SG? Erm... every picture you see these guys in Andrew has an SG, again why the hell is the reporter asking this question? It would have been much more appropriate to ask something like "That's really interesting, in all your publicity shots and live shows we see you with an SG, what were the reasons for playing a 335 in the studio?"

That's a question someone can actually answer, and give reasoning to and provide an insight with. But, 'Don't you play an SG?' the answer is going to be a yes or a no. Duh.

I'm not even a writing or journalism student and I know the difference between open and closed questioning techniques. With one, you open up to the person you're questioning, and in turn receive more depth and range in answers, the other you just get very specific and short replies.

This reporter was terrible.

[redchops]

SLAYER KICKS ASS!!!

[Tortiss]

man, stfu.
emo is more original than wolfmother, now dont get me wrong cause i hate emo, but it is from the heart cause its original, no one else has done it before.
wolfmother sounds exactly like zepplin and sabbath. this guy is also the biggest douche ever. hes getting all cocky and shit, this whole wolfmother bullshit can suck my left nut.

Ya but now theres a million emo bands who sound the same. At least Wolfmother sounds like there from the 70's right?

I would do the same thing if I was Andrew...Which is strange because my name is Andrew too:P

[Bored w/u]

WolFMotheR_32 wrote:

I have to agree, they did rip off a lot stuff from sabbith and zepp, but at least it sounds good. its not dumbass cookie cutter shit. Sardy found JET, who are quite possibly the greatest band in the WORLD, so he must be on to somthing.

But in all respect, Stock is kind of a wanker

When dont you hear sabbath and zeppelin in any rock band? when there's a band that has a drummer who hits his kit real F**kin hard doesnt it remind you of John "Bonzo" Bonham? When you hear a heavy, sleezy n guitar riff doesnt Tony Iommi come to mind? they were the originals. you can hear them in every band if you listen hard enough.

[snOwBL1nD]

Who cares if he's an ass or not?

Just listen to their music and be quiet.

[justy]

i agree with everything Serrana said....

Taker wrote:

jimmyjimjim wrote:

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?

Exactly what I was thinking. Anyway, he was a little too defensive during the whole interview, but it's understandable. They are a pretty good band.

I don't think his talking about being bigger than acdc...but more that on his first record they have gotten alot of success overseas when alot of the bigger aussie bands in australia have taken there time or not gotten success out of australia. take for example powderfinger, huge band here in aus, part from expats no one else in the world would realy of heard of them....

checked.
some were just barely acceptable. watch the flaming.

[archangels666]

You can get a band where there's like a drummer who's like a drummer that's like the star drummer and he isn't listening to the song and...

Am I the only one who caught this?

And yes, he contradicted himself a lot in there. And he pretty much insulted rock 'n' roll like five times in there. But oh well, as long as he's in it for the music.

[red star]

man this guys a jackass. he contradicts himself every other response and he obviously thinks hes smarter than the intereviewer. whata dumbass. betcha anything wolfmother sells out to the coporate mainstream within a year or two. shame though, i thought they were kinda cool.

[walk_down]

Ok, what the hell? He is really good at contradicting himself

[maggotcorpse079]

dood **** this retro crap that music isnt anygood and its dead so let it be dead wolfmother sucks so do all the bands from back in the day. YES I'M SAYING BALCK SABBATH AND LED ZEPPLIN SUCKS IN MY ONW PERSONAL OPINION!!!!! i appriciate what they did for music truley but it doesnt mean we have to like them

[Disturbed42]

this is so ****ed up, every other interview that ive seen and/or read about these guys they were all about having fun and not taking anything seriously, so i think either the guy was having a shity day or this interview is bull shit

[recliner33]

fitzyfantastic wrote:

In addition to being a prick, he didn't come off as a very bright person either. He reminded me of a less friendly Nigel Tufnel, to be honest.
UG: Can you describe what your guitar sound is?
AS:Fuzz. A fuzz tone. A distorted tone. It's loud.

Thanks for that, we had no idea.

He was being sarcastic and funny, dumbass.
I also believe andrew that he doesn't listen to much sabbath or zeppelin. Like the band pentagram came out in the early seventies and they were playing music that sounded exactly like black sabbath but the thing is that they never even heard of sabbath before and black sabbath was hardly known in the states until their paranoid album. Also, I'm not surprised that people are saying they sound similar to deep purple because of the whole keyboarding thing.

[recliner33]

^^^I meant i'm surprised that people aren't comparing wolfmother to deep purple, I messed up on that last line.

maggotcorpse079 wrote:

dood **** this retro crap that music isnt anygood and its dead so let it be dead wolfmother sucks so do all the bands from back in the day. YES I'M SAYING BALCK SABBATH AND LED ZEPPLIN SUCKS IN MY ONW PERSONAL OPINION!!!!! i appriciate what they did for music truley but it doesnt mean we have to like them

"Dood",And let me guess you listen to slipknot? Wow, they are so unorigional that they rip off mushroomhead for their sound and the whole mask thing and manowar was the band that use to start calling their fans maggots, so slipknot is so talented and origional. Like even the band the shagg's is more talented then slipknot and they were a ****ing joke. Lmao

[Magero]

I dont mind the music. This guy pisses me off. The fact they sold out to APPLE pisses me off further. However, as i said, i dont mind some of the music.

[recliner33]

Magero wrote:

I dont mind the music. This guy pisses me off. The fact they sold out to APPLE pisses me off further. However, as i said, i dont mind some of the music.

Did they sellout to apple just cause they let them play love train in their commercial. If that's selling out then lots of bands must sell out. Zeppelin must have sold out too then cause they leant their rock and roll song to a car commercial. I think putting good music in a commercial is a good thing. I'd rather hear a good song on a commercial then a shitty song. I think putting a song on a movie soundtrack is selling out just as much because the goal for both is to sell a product.

[ThorMx]

It's an art form. It's more of a pure art form. Rock and roll is just like, a lot of it, is just kind of dumb. And the guitar is just silly. You're not going to learn anything and you're not going to become better. You're not going to have more insight into who you are in your soul and how you feel. A lot of it is just based on very simple emotions: aggression, love lost. I mean there are certain rock bands that do take it a lot further and do take it a bit more seriously. There's content within in it that you can take from it into your life. But I'd say a lot of it is just based on teenage rebellion and is a passing phase. I don't want to dedicate my life to that.

Wow he wasn't kidding about him being opinionated. He kinda seems like an arrogant egobrain.

[ThorMx]

red star :
man this guys a jackass. he contradicts himself every other response and he obviously thinks hes smarter than the intereviewer. whata dumbass. betcha anything wolfmother sells out to the coporate mainstream within a year or two. shame though, i thought they were kinda cool.

Yea I agree. I liked them until now. It seems like he's trying to get the message out that he's above everyone. Really annoying.

[Typhoon700]

That guy is about as ugly as a bag of smashed *******s. Oh, and Wolfmother's album(s) are marinated in "suck" before they're released to us poor citizens.

[VelvetFireBC491]

How can you compare Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to Wolfmother
Led Zeppelin + Black Sabbath = Timeless
Wolfmother = Gone in a month

[7_seven_7]

the novice, how can you be so shallow, to not listen to a band cos you might think a member in the band is an idiot. so what? the music mite be mad shit. and yes he does sound like an idiot in the interview, but he obviously knows he's sounding like an idiot and he must not care what all you guys think too he's just being himself. and if someone asked me my guitar sound, id hav no clue either. and his guitar sound is fuzz so yea..

[7_seven_7]

recliner, hav you even took the time to sit down and actually 'listen' to slipknots songs? they are one of the most musically talented band i have ever heard, mick thomson can shred just like every other guitarist you mite wana compare him to. and joey jordison is.. an unbelievable drummer .. and when it comes down to music, its either made for fun or to release emotion and metal is how these guys obviously let it out. and if you judge them and think theyr shit just cos they wear freaky masks then your a dickhead, do you think they just wear them for no reason? theyr not trying to be hardcore, theyr not hiding behind the masks. theyr actually telling you more than you think but your too blind to even giv a shit.

[7_seven_7]

HAHA rusty gold your a legend, FUCK OFF emo i say

[morello_man]

this guy is pretty arrogant. especially considering they are just a heavier version of jet. The songs are better yes, but thats because they are completely ripping bands who write good songs...australian music is better than these guys. At lest I hope it is...

[Grinspoon-Guy]

I come from Sydney were these guys started out. Ofcourse they are extremely popular over here and their album to me is the best album i have herd to be honest. But what i want to know is are these guys really popular in America and other overseas countries, or is it just mainly Australia? Can someone please tell me!

[beau05]

7_seven_7 wrote:

recliner, hav you even took the time to sit down and actually 'listen' to slipknots songs? they are one of the most musically talented band i have ever heard, mick thomson can shred just like every other guitarist you mite wana compare him to. and joey jordison is.. an unbelievable drummer ..

no disrespect, but ive heard way better. and joey jordison might be a very good drummer, but he is by far unbelievable.

he seems to have a decent head between his shoulders, i like his views on having a riff driven song. thats prety australian-esque, like ACDC and Cold Chisel.

ive always thought they were a cheap imitation 60s rock outfit, now it seems there an indie band with a rock n roll twist. i might just buy there album

[GruntFuttock]

Grinspoon-Guy, im from sydney too....and they started out in Brisbane, Queensland u dumbass, it even says it in the interview, but as far as i am concerned, im gald they dont hail from sydney, they are so crap, and this interview just annoys me further. You think they are extremely popular, fair enough, they are, but thats because you're a mainstreamer mate, and mainstream sucks balls.... u gotta go underground for good aussis music....anyone ever heard of Parkway Drive, thats what Aussies are made of, pls any non-aussies, we aint all like Wolfmother f*****, we do have good bands!

[itsaboy]

This guy is an idiot when describing his guitar, and sounds like a bit of a prick

[facesofhope]

Go the wolfies, better than all the emo shit going around right now. One of the best live shows i've ever seen aswell.

[QOTSA_MOOSE]

You guys are dumb. I don't like Wolfmother, but I think he's like me, and hates reporters, and the media in general. You guys are all just sheep led by the media's pretenses on what is right and wrong, 'cool' and 'uncool', and 'in' and 'out'.

So keep on typing in your Myspace, keep on watching MTV2's latest reality craze, keep on judging bands such as Wolfmother for being 'posers' or 'a**holes' or 'rip-offs' or the myriad of other labels you've put on them. Because in essence, that's what society has degraded into. Labels.

To bands like Wolfmother, who are just playing to make music, not to appease these ignorant children who plague Earth, I salute you. Keep on rockin'

[Vinura]

a pity there arent more badns out there like Wolfmother

[vanceboy]

he tends to contradict himself a lot. he needs an ego check.

[RememberMyName]

I love Wolfmother. They're great. They're makin rock music, n that's all they wanna do. And people critise them.
And what he said about rappers and saying "make some noise!" is very true. Everyone bitches about them sounding too much like Sabbath. Well, how many other bands sound like Sabbath? And who else wants to hear more bands like Sabbath? I do, I know that much.
Besides, they're Aussies. I dunno what Mardi Gras Sydneyboy was saying up there, but these guys have the same attitude Zeppelin and Sabbath had back in the day. All they ever wanted to do was play. Give 'em a break!

[7_seven_7]

grunt why should you or the rest of us giv a f U ck what other countries think about aussie music or wolfmother? cos as far as im concerned, australia is the only country that has brought out good music recently. look how big the living end hav made it now.. i saw them in concert at may and they put on a show like only aussie could. if i was only allowed to live on aussie music, **** america. i could do it.

[rockinlewis]

Wolfmother are nothing at all like Jet

[Tod_Gakk]

Im aussie and i like american music better. And theres nothing manley about wolfmoher or andrews voice or guitar. hes also a novice, puerile song writer...I dunno who bob dylan is but he cnt be much sh***er then andrew stockdale. anyway i like wolfmother and i just think hes understandably bored. i also liked his old hair and think his afro detracts too much from the bands on stage artistry. Im tod gakk and im 43 years old

[7_seven_7]

oh my god, your 43? and you dont know who bob dylan is. im 17 and i know who he is, hav you been living under a rock?

[timmah1231]

Actually, I think this guy's honest. Think about it, how many people can really sit down to a lengthy interview such as this, unaware of the questions, and move in a single direction? Everybody's a bit hypocritical. All I really sense from this guy is honesty, he's not making anything up to further his image.

[recliner33]

7_seven_7 wrote:

recliner, hav you even took the time to sit down and actually 'listen' to slipknots songs? they are one of the most musically talented band i have ever heard, mick thomson can shred just like every other guitarist you mite wana compare him to. and joey jordison is.. an unbelievable drummer .. and when it comes down to music, its either made for fun or to release emotion and metal is how these guys obviously let it out. and if you judge them and think theyr shit just cos they wear freaky masks then your a dickhead, do you think they just wear them for no reason? theyr not trying to be hardcore, theyr not hiding behind the masks. theyr actually telling you more than you think but your too blind to even giv a shit.

Yeah I actually listened to slipknot songs before, I heard all of their first two albums and a few songs on their 2004 release. Alot of my friends use to listen to slipknot so I listened to a couple of their cd's when i was with them and out of all the songs that I heard there might have been one or two that were ok. And no I don't think that they suck or are untalented just because they wear masks, I just said that cause they stole their look from mushroomhead, i say they suck because I heard them. But I'll admit that I was being an over the top dickhead when I compared them to the shagg's cause no one is probably as bad as the shagg's. It was a bit of an exageration. And I don't think the guy off slipknot can shred like any guitarist out there. Like are you saying that he's just as good as Zakk Wylde, Dimebagg Darrell, Dave Mustaine, Randy Rhoads and people like that? I think he's nowhere close. Heck, in their first two albums that I heard their was hardly any guitar solos at all. Like he might be able to shred good but you can't tell from it by listening to slipknot. And I don't hate slipknot just because of their type of music either, I actually like alot of metal bands but just not slipknot. And there is no way they are the most musically talented band out there, if you wanna hear some musically talented bands then listen to stuff like Rush or Dream Theater or even some megadeth if your mostly into metal.

[Howe-n-Harrison]

wow thi sband soudns exactly the same as black sabbath and deep purple its nto even funny

[Howe-n-Harrison]

but tis still good, cuz now i can listen to sumtin that doesn tsoudsn liek a whinney little bitch who wears make up, music migth be cmoing back

[Tapir-man]

The real sad thing about all this is kids are gonna end up buying his album instead of ACTUAL Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath albums because the media machine is shoving this pretentious Aussie down there throats.

[~ZosoDude~]

Please people, this guy is a ****ing prick. He can't write good music, let alone even solo. Oh yeah they're mimicking the band from the 70's so they must be good.Bull Shitt. These guys are making money off of Sabbath's music (which isn't remotely great music) and they can't evn touch Jimmy Page with a 100ft. pole. Now "music is coming back". Not really because now we have angsty ten year olds idolizing some prick who doesn't even care about his own music. Just because he's breaking copyright law and this shitt is different from punk (sorry but it's worse but still the same prepubescent voices singing) This guy should give up. I must say I'm sorry to Bob Dylan for inspiring pricks like him.

[a_fire_inside_w]

That interviewer was an ass.
All of you that don't like Wolfmother, fine. But frankly the fans would like to be able to go someplace without people insulting them all day. Honestly.

And next time you try to do an interview, ask some decent questions. That was seriously the worst heap of crap I have ever read.

And BY THE WAY. I had the privelage to meet Andrew Stockdale, and I can pretty much say that he's not an ass, a prick, or any of the other things you guys said. He truly DOES care about the music and his fans. So please, leave the poor guy alone.

[recliner33]

~ZosoDude~ wrote:

Please people, this guy is a ****ing prick. He can't write good music, let alone even solo. Oh yeah they're mimicking the band from the 70's so they must be good.Bull Shitt. These guys are making money off of Sabbath's music (which isn't remotely great music) and they can't evn touch Jimmy Page with a 100ft. pole. Now "music is coming back". Not really because now we have angsty ten year olds idolizing some prick who doesn't even care about his own music. Just because he's breaking copyright law and this shitt is different from punk (sorry but it's worse but still the same prepubescent voices singing) This guy should give up. I must say I'm sorry to Bob Dylan for inspiring pricks like him.

Yeah I'll admit his solos aren't that good, if he solos at all, cause it's mostly keyboard solo's, but not many guitarists can touch jimmy page with a 100 foot pole. To me, page is like the second greatest guitarist ever.

[~ZosoDude~]

To me, page is like the second greatest guitarist ever.

Page was an innovator, and a genius at coming up with riffs, but was extremely sloppy. I'd say Stevie Ray Vaughan is #1. He's the best blues player to grace he planet. You should check him out.

He truly DOES care about the music and his fans. So please, leave the poor guy alone.

Alright, then why should he say otherwise in the interview. Oh it's "just music".

[r.i.p.bonzo]

will1990 wrote:

i smell an axl rose dun dun dun

jimmyjimjim wrote:

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?

k first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock, so theres the difference there. and ac/dc is one of the least inovatave, least entertaining bands in the world.

wolfmother is a good band, who cares if it sounds like zeppelin, i'm a huge zeppelin fan, i've seen robert plant, and i cried, it was the best show ever. i'm picky about the music i like, and this is good stuff. zoso dude does'nt know what he's talking about, i agree with the fact that andrews no jimmy page, but no one is no jimmy page, he's the best. but wolfmother is still creative. also stop bashing punk, listen to bad brains, and the avengers, and the clash, and the dead kennedys. thats real punk, not the shit you've probably been exposed to. i hate people who hear one band from a specific genre and dismiss the entire genre as crap, take hip-hop, i'm sure theres quite a few people here who dispise it, but public enemy, Run d.m.c. man, they're great bands, outcast is great too. so what if wolfmother "sounds" like zeppelin, i dont care if andrew hates zeppelin, or if he's secretly obsessed, wolfmother makes good music either way.

and for who ever said andrew sounds like jack white, i agree 100%, i tell my friends who have'nt heard wolfmother he's got kinda a jack whiteish voice, with a bit of ozzy and plant every so often, speaking of witch, everyone check out the raconteurs, jack whites new band, they're awsome.

i think all the people bashing wolfmother should get off their asses, and try to make some music, see how original it is. you're all being dicks, just because you dont like it does'nt mean its bad. i'd like to conradulate all of you for contributing to the degredation of music.

for wolfmother and its fans, thanks for making/enjoying some great music

[Serrana]

Firstly, JIMMY PAGE ROCKS!

Its quite obvious this interviewer was being a complete douche. He manufactured this interview to give a bad impression on Andrew. He wasn't interested in what Andrew had to say, he obviously wanted to nag them about their influences, and try to play on all of the things you people hate wolfmother for. He made this interview to bring them down. There will always be people that hate mainstream, but they can't take it objectively. I hate most mainstream, but thats cus its generally bad music. I dont have it because its mainstream.

I dont think you all are giving him a chance. And judging someone and their music by one faulty interview is horrible.

Id like to see someone on the "other" side of this argument give some sort of analysis of how he contradicts eachother. I can only name one instance, where he said he didnt wanna dedicate his life to rock n roll and the interviewer said "Isn't that what your doing?" and then he said yeah...yeah thats what I'm good at. I think hes trying to convince himself. But seriously, point out where he contradicts himself.

And please dont make his statement of "rock n roll is dumb" and "meaningless" to be the equivalent of "i hate rock and roll". Rock n roll is a form of entertainment, that is easy to play, and not very musically advanced. It is very much a fleeting pleasure in the grand scheme of life. He said himself what really matters is understanding yourself, not listening to some CD and prophesizing it. What you all are looking for in a band is something legendary, something that will answer all your questions for you. Take a step back and look at yourself. The band makes music. They make pitches to be picked up by your earwaves, and put words to those pitches to let your brain comprehend the meaning of the lyrics and enjoy the vocal melodies. Its a very superficial thing. You guys are bashing wolfmother cus he is coming out honest, like Dylan, and realizing his stuff wont have - and shouldnt have - that kind of impact on someone. Please, you all need to get out more. Enjoy life. Stop looking for a band to compromise the problems in a life, and enjoy it for what it is, 52 minutes of bloody rock n roll simple dumb fun. And when they don't give you that "spiritual enlightenment" dont get mad at them.

Okay, last thing for this post. I don't know why you deny someone when they are trying to be intelligent. The things he is saying is actually very true and you all should take it in and understand it, instead of rejecting someone whos trying to teach you something and calling him an egotistical self-centered *******. Don't get mad at a perfectly innocent person whose being honest when your the ignorant ones. There is information everywhere in the world. Accept parts of it you want, but don't bash those who are trying to give it out.

[Serrana]

sry for the double post, I messed up typing a bit. It should be "I hate it because its mainstream" in the first paragraph, and "he contradicts himself" in the second. And the last paragraph should be "Take it in and think about it"

[thepagesaretorn]

dude this guy doesnt have any respect for anyone...who brought up such an ass? he contradicts even himself lol

[r.i.p.bonzo]

thepagesaretorn wrote:

dude this guy doesnt have any respect for anyone...who brought up such an ass? he contradicts even himself lol

OMG did you not read the post above you, point out where he contridicts himself, serrana knows what he's talking about

[CreepyGuy]

Dan The Poet wrote:

Black Sabbath & Led Zeppelin > Wolfmother

Umm.. Duuhhh?!

[~ZosoDude~]

R.i.p. Bonzo

first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock

First of all F*** you,because Slash and Angus are more than anything you'll amount to
Bonzo, you obviously haven't seen Jimmy Page in his later years. He was in his prime till In Through The Out Door came out. The rest of the band worked double time, especially JPJ. The result was a crappy sound that Bonzo himself said was "too soft for Led Zeppelin. You probably don't have a clue of what I'm talking about though.

[c0ld_3mphasis05]

i have no clue what this article is about

but the guy in the picture looks like a little kid

[a_fire_inside_w]

Thank you Serrana. Seriously, you phrased that way better than anyone else could. And how true it all is...
You guys are so judgemental.

[a_fire_inside_w]

~ZosoDude~Alright, then why should he say otherwise in the interview. Oh it's "just music".

Look at all the other interviews they've done (www.wolfmother.com)
If you're making a judgement about the band because of one crappy interview, that's completely unfair to the band. We've all had our days where we said some idiotic things, or where we really screwed up. You never know, the day Stockdale did this interview might have been one of those days.

[frizzle fry]

alot of these dudez say they sound like sabbath and zep which they but half of them haven't heard a sabbath or zeppelin song. just because a band has the same vibe or in the same genre doesn't mean they are ripoffs

[ArcherTheVMan]

wolfmother are ace. i have to admit if this interviewer in particular came to ask me questions i'd react in the same way, he starts with silly questions and then does such things as asks a question then following it with another question that contradicts what he just said. by the sounds of it its the same interviewer as the one with herman li and the questions were below standard then too, it's pretty clear why this guys working for UG and not NME or Total Guitar etc.

[hard_rock101]

meh, i think wolfmother along with most new bands today are shit

[recliner33]

It's 52 minutes in people's lives

My wolfmother cd is 54 minutes, weird. But maybe the Canadian version of the cd is longer or something.

[r.i.p.bonzo]

~ZosoDude~ wrote:


R.i.p. Bonzo first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock First of all F*** you,because Slash and Angus are more than anything you'll amount to
Bonzo, you obviously haven't seen Jimmy Page in his later years. He was in his prime till In Through The Out Door came out. The rest of the band worked double time, especially JPJ. The result was a crappy sound that Bonzo himself said was "too soft for Led Zeppelin. You probably don't have a clue of what I'm talking about though.

yeah slash is a good guitar player, angus is'nt bad, but name another part of either of those bands that is worth a damn, axl and bon scott have two of the most annoying grading voices i've ever heard, and its not like i'm saying page can do no wrong, he's still one hundred times more inovative than angus young

[Serrana]

hehe, on a lighter and much shorter note than my previous posts, the interviewer picked the dumbest quotes out of the whole thing to put as captions for the pictures. And not to mention used some unflattering pictures of Andrew. He isnt as odd looking in real life.

[Serrana]

http://music.aol.com/videos/sessions/sessions_flash.adp?defaultCovers=571,577
,580&defaultID=580

I post too much. But check out the interview section of this, and maybe youll have a different view on the band.

[GiantRaven]

Maybe he wasn't in the mood to be interviewed

[garden of grey]

this guys a huge *******, NO BLACK SABBATH INFLUENCE???

every song ive heard sounds like a shitty version of paranoid!!
hes a wannabe, but he has too much of an ego to admit it.

if anyone on this site becomes famous, remember you are not god, and also remember to respect the previous gods if you are now really god!

[garden of grey]

Serrana wrote:


Its quite obvious this interviewer was being a complete douche

i agree with that though. whoever interviews these guys picks out of context quotes, ugly pictures, makes them seem mean, rude, and egotistical, has tried to make herman li, steve vai, slayer, yngwie, slipknot, and any other band to cross the news page look like shit

checked.

[paper pyramid]

people....

first off, wolfmother is byfar the most refreshing band the western world has had the privelege to hear since the beloved 60s and 70s. Becuase we are so easily convinced by the corporate advertising agencies within the music industry to simply accept the embracing of the glamorous "pop"-rock.... we become dissassociated with the foundations rock n' roll was built upon...riffs!! Andrew Stockdale is in fact a pioneer within the indfustry of music due to the grief he faces from the modern music world while attempting to recreate the simplistic elements of rock..through his luscious riffs. I have the album and i saw them live...and they may remind you of a classic group much like Zepp or Sabbath ( i thought that myself) but back of ppl and stop accusing the band of being "rip-offs"....they love the sound of that era and they are doing us a musical justice by reestablishing the sound of rock.

tell me what you think.

[JackWhite1988]

Wolfmother is this years Jet, bottom line.

[GruntFuttock]

7_seven_7, i totally agree, wats wrong with Todd_Gakk, never heard of Bob Dylan at age 43, im 16 and i know him quite well.....wats wrong with u Gakk, i cant believe u havent seen or heard subterranean homesick blues or any of his legend status songs

[woody99]

he looks like a demon baby.

[recliner33]

r.i.p.bonzo wrote:

~ZosoDude~ wrote:


R.i.p. Bonzo first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock First of all F*** you,because Slash and Angus are more than anything you'll amount to
Bonzo, you obviously haven't seen Jimmy Page in his later years. He was in his prime till In Through The Out Door came out. The rest of the band worked double time, especially JPJ. The result was a crappy sound that Bonzo himself said was "too soft for Led Zeppelin. You probably don't have a clue of what I'm talking about though.



yeah slash is a good guitar player, angus is'nt bad, but name another part of either of those bands that is worth a damn, axl and bon scott have two of the most annoying grading voices i've ever heard, and its not like i'm saying page can do no wrong, he's still one hundred times more inovative than angus young

I agree with you bonzo, slash and angus are kickass guitarists but they are overrated, some people consider them guitar gods but I think they are just good. Like they both belong to be as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time but not in the top 50 or anything like that. And I kinda think their singers are a bit annoying but they are still good, just not my preferance i guess. And I think jimmy page is the second greatest guitarist of all time, and we all know who's the greatest.

[Shopsy]

He may be arrogant but thats a perfect attitude for a rock and roll frontman

[Clarkinator]

Though he has steadfastly denied his roots, Andrew Stockdale, lead guitarist/singer of the Australian trio Wolfmother, finally spills the truth. Here, in an interview with Ultimate-Guitar, the musician cops to his classic rock influences - though belatedly... He may take himself a bit too seriously, and expound just a little too much on the ways of the world, but for good or bad he is an honest young man and here he shares those ideas.

Ok I am a journalism major, and have won feature writing awards before, and honestly this is the worst journalism I have ever seen. The writer is literally mocking this guy and trying to sound witty at the musicians expense. Its sad. Its pathetic. Like, why? Why would you write like that? If you interview someone, your taking the aspect that you are fascinated by that person, for no matter what reason. This interviewer takes the angle that he is better than the wolfmother guy (who I think is quite a good band). Seriously get people who can write stories and who know how to interview. The guy didnt wanna talk about his influences, that was clear, yet the interviewer of this story jammed the questions down his throat. Change your story about him. Focus on his new rise to fame. Anything. Its called adapting. Geez.

[incockgnito]

When I first have heard the Racounters - "$h1t, they sound like Zeps"
When I first have heard the Wolfmother - "Holy F#$@ - IT IS ZEPPELIN!"

Thieves - all what I say

[MyImmortal]

Wtf? This guy seems like a total dooch. It sounds to me like I know more about music than he does. The bassist in my band is like obsessed with wolfmother. I honestly think they suck. Woman isn't that bad though and its fun to play.

[DelongeFootwear]

i totally agree with Andrew on hes views about rock n roll. when you think about it, it really is simple and easy to play. but theres no reason to bash him for his influences and people seem to forget that zeppelin and sabbath werent the only bands of that era. so i do believe he wasnt influenced by them. but its a breath of fresh air from todays music. people who listen to classic rock only, which i knew MANY people who do, it gives them a chance to stop bashing todays music and say wow, this sounds like zeppelin. i dont particularly favor that type of music, but i respect it for what its worth and none of the punk bands like propagandhi or pennywise would be existent if it werent for the classic rock bands. so stop ****ing complaining and just listen to the music.

[RustyGold]

DelongeFootwear wrote:

i totally agree with Andrew on hes views about rock n roll. when you think about it, it really is simple and easy to play. but theres no reason to bash him for his influences and people seem to forget that zeppelin and sabbath werent the only bands of that era. so i do believe he wasnt influenced by them. but its a breath of fresh air from todays music. people who listen to classic rock only, which i knew MANY people who do, it gives them a chance to stop bashing todays music and say wow, this sounds like zeppelin. i dont particularly favor that type of music, but i respect it for what its worth and none of the punk bands like propagandhi or pennywise would be existent if it werent for the classic rock bands. so stop ****ing complaining and just listen to the music.

Thank you for clearing that up.
Also, I don't think Andrew was trying to generalise all rock...just most of it.

[jcphockey7]

please do another interview so i dont have to look at this guys face everytime i come to UG.
as for what he had to say he seemed either stupid or just arrogant

[TheGospelOfRob]

So who was doing the interview? Was it Cas?

Oh, and I hate Wolfmother with a firey passion. Like, I want them to die so I can pee on their grave.

[r.i.p.bonzo]

recliner33 wrote:

r.i.p.bonzo wrote:

~ZosoDude~ wrote:


R.i.p. Bonzo first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock First of all F*** you,because Slash and Angus are more than anything you'll amount to
Bonzo, you obviously haven't seen Jimmy Page in his later years. He was in his prime till In Through The Out Door came out. The rest of the band worked double time, especially JPJ. The result was a crappy sound that Bonzo himself said was "too soft for Led Zeppelin. You probably don't have a clue of what I'm talking about though.



yeah slash is a good guitar player, angus is'nt bad, but name another part of either of those bands that is worth a damn, axl and bon scott have two of the most annoying grading voices i've ever heard, and its not like i'm saying page can do no wrong, he's still one hundred times more inovative than angus young
I agree with you bonzo, slash and angus are kickass guitarists but they are overrated, some people consider them guitar gods but I think they are just good. Like they both belong to be as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time but not in the top 50 or anything like that. And I kinda think their singers are a bit annoying but they are still good, just not my preferance i guess. And I think jimmy page is the second greatest guitarist of all time, and we all know who's the greatest.

incockgnito wrote:

When I first have heard the Racounters - "$h1t, they sound like Zeps"
When I first have heard the Wolfmother - "Holy F#$@ - IT IS ZEPPELIN!"

Thieves - all what I say

recliner, who are you talking about, i'd say clapton, but thats just me, if anyone knows who chet atkins is, he'd be in the top three.

and incognito, i'm tired of arguing about wolfmother, they're good, and thats that, but the racontuers are sooooo original, you probably heard steady as she goes or something, which really does'nt sound like zeppelin at all, but seriously, they're on the forefront of creativity these days, broken boy soldiers is a great song, you should listen to that....but wait theres a mandolin in it, that means they stole it from zeppelin right?

[AEnemia]

Wow. This guy sounds like an egotistical, whiney, self absorbed little ****, doesn't he?

And why's he think it makes him so special that he listened to a shitload of old bands? Doesn't about EVERY band say that nowdays?

[gunner_011]

isnt it a good thing if a band comes out playing all this type of music that was played 20 - 30 years ago?? it give the people who listen to shit all day something else.. its not like zeppelin or sabbath are coming back.. so give wolmother a chane you wankers.

[recliner33]

r.i.p.bonzo wrote:

recliner33 wrote:

r.i.p.bonzo wrote:

~ZosoDude~ wrote:


R.i.p. Bonzo first of all guns 'n' roses sucks a giant cock First of all F*** you,because Slash and Angus are more than anything you'll amount to
Bonzo, you obviously haven't seen Jimmy Page in his later years. He was in his prime till In Through The Out Door came out. The rest of the band worked double time, especially JPJ. The result was a crappy sound that Bonzo himself said was "too soft for Led Zeppelin. You probably don't have a clue of what I'm talking about though.



yeah slash is a good guitar player, angus is'nt bad, but name another part of either of those bands that is worth a damn, axl and bon scott have two of the most annoying grading voices i've ever heard, and its not like i'm saying page can do no wrong, he's still one hundred times more inovative than angus young
I agree with you bonzo, slash and angus are kickass guitarists but they are overrated, some people consider them guitar gods but I think they are just good. Like they both belong to be as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time but not in the top 50 or anything like that. And I kinda think their singers are a bit annoying but they are still good, just not my preferance i guess. And I think jimmy page is the second greatest guitarist of all time, and we all know who's the greatest.
incockgnito wrote:

When I first have heard the Racounters - "$h1t, they sound like Zeps"
When I first have heard the Wolfmother - "Holy F#$@ - IT IS ZEPPELIN!"

Thieves - all what I say



recliner, who are you talking about, i'd say clapton, but thats just me, if anyone knows who chet atkins is, he'd be in the top three.

and incognito, i'm tired of arguing about wolfmother, they're good, and thats that, but the racontuers are sooooo original, you probably heard steady as she goes or something, which really does'nt sound like zeppelin at all, but seriously, they're on the forefront of creativity these days, broken boy soldiers is a great song, you should listen to that....but wait theres a mandolin in it, that means they stole it from zeppelin right?

What are you talking about? lol. I think hendrix is the best guitarist, then page and clapton would definately make the top 5 for sure. But I'm not ranking any more guitarists cause it's a waste of time. I liked the raconteurs after hearing steady as she goes and store bought shoes or whatever but after hearing the rest of the album I didn't like it that much. I prefer the white stripes more, but I prefer wolfmother over both of them even if they aren't as origional as the other two. They have some sweet riffs and they are much heavier, which i enjoy in music. The racounteurs were too poppish for me.

[Magero]

recliner33 wrote:

Magero wrote:

I dont mind the music. This guy pisses me off. The fact they sold out to APPLE pisses me off further. However, as i said, i dont mind some of the music.

Did they sellout to apple just cause they let them play love train in their commercial. If that's selling out then lots of bands must sell out. Zeppelin must have sold out too then cause they leant their rock and roll song to a car commercial. I think putting good music in a commercial is a good thing. I'd rather hear a good song on a commercial then a shitty song. I think putting a song on a movie soundtrack is selling out just as much because the goal for both is to sell a product.

No dude, i was angry at them for selling out to APPLE! not at them selling out, just who they sold out to.

[tess_m37]

recliner33 wrote:

Why is wolfmother getting bashed for sounding similar to bands from 30 years ago. Like alot of these new emo and screamo bands all sound similar but noone is bitching about that. Like if one emo band comes along there's about 20 other bands to follow that sound the exact same. I can't tell the difference from alot of the bands out there. To me sounding similar to bands from 30 years ago is more origional then sounding like the bands of today because there's not as many bands out there that sound like the older rock bands. All I'm trying to say is that wolfmother sounds more origional then most bands out there today. Instead of ripping off of older bands they rip off the newer ones so they can get away with it.

as if noone gives emo bands shit i hear it and the time, and give them shit too. people arent putting wolfmother down just cos they sound like zeppelin and sabbath, its just because andrew stockdale is an arrogent shit. I really like wolfmother but i agree with eeveryone else that he thinks really highly of himself

[osamabanana]

i dunno he seems like an ok guy to me. a bit strange. im an aussie and the whole first aussie band to make it thing was pretty crap i mean silverchair were famous when they were still in school. its kinda like a lot of 60-70 rock music id say but who cares its good

[_TheWorst]

Haha, that was a wicked interview.

Interviewer: "So Zeppelin & Sabbath influenced you eh?"
Stockdale: "Not not really, we just happen to sound exactly like them by pure coincidence; really."

Interviewer: "So you dislike shallow rock bands and want to contribute to the world with inspiring music right?"
Stockdale: "Yeah for sure, but we write shallow 'balls-to-the-wall' rock n' roll because it's all we can do"

Stockdale: "We're the only band from Australia to ever reach such acclaim"
Interviewer: "Except AC/DC right?"
"Stockdale: "Uh..... yeah, them too."

What a guy this Stockdale is.

[McKillswitch]

For gods sake people, if thats the way he is, thats how hell be, give the guy a break, let him make his decisons of who his Influences are, they might be Napalm Death for all we know!!!, don't force your shit on him, it's his life, Don't call him a t.wat or an *******, mabye thats just the way he is to you jackasses, and AC/DC and Gun"N"Roses are bollock, how dare someone compares them to wolfmother, they destroy them...

[smidy]

Tell me he was drunk when he did this interview. My god he needs to learn how to talk to the press pretty quickly.

[Serrana]

I swear nobody listens to me. You all are idiots.

And theres something in music called genres. Wolfmother, Zeppelin, and Sabbath are in the same genre. It means they sound alike, with same musical structures and tone.

[car]

I think this guy is,well I realy dont what to think of him but i know him and his band got some freaky music.
Fr:B.A. ZEPPELIN RULES!

[wolfmother256]

wolfmother rules. their album is the next one i am buying. finally a newer band with older style that reflects one sabbath, zeppelin, and more. they have deff. figured it out. if you haven't heard these guys check them out now!!

[euan_soad]

Don't you play an SG?

Yeah, I play an SG.

But you didn't play it on the record?

No.

The guys a dick. But they make damn good music.

[Panterica]

jimmyjimjim wrote:

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?

Alot of people mistake ACDC as being from England just cuz thats where Brain Johnson from. He probably thought the same.

[gunsnroses0017]

simple, but sounds similar to cream sabbath and zeppelin
whats wrong with that??

[DoctorFu]

I'd have to say that Wolfmother is my favorite band at the moment due to their fresh outlook at music and lyrical puzzles. The last artist to successfully combine the two wrote Purple Haze.

[seamus90']

how does this guy not listen to sabbath?

[Nirvana_RATM2]

~ZosoDude~ wrote:

To me, page is like the second greatest guitarist ever.
Page was an innovator, and a genius at coming up with riffs, but was extremely sloppy. I'd say Stevie Ray Vaughan is #1. He's the best blues player to grace he planet. You should check him out.

He truly DOES care about the music and his fans. So please, leave the poor guy alone.
Alright, then why should he say otherwise in the interview. Oh it's "just music".

page is amazing and def one of the best , but lets face it he rip off most all of zep's material!

[kcfshorty]

i dont think he came across as an ass...you guys are just a bunch of oversensitive rock nazis...

seriously...wolfmother is an awesome band...great music...i thought he seemed like an intelligent, straightforward type of guy...doesn't put up with bullshit, and he does his own thing...all the makings of a true artist...

and about music being "just music"...well thats what it is...its noise...at the end of the day...but what he said about escaping, and inspiring people WITH that music...thats what a musician does....he/she INSPIRES people...

[the waste]

"Write a song about a ****ing bird!" Now that is rock. Long live Wolfmother

[recliner33]

Panterica wrote:

jimmyjimjim wrote:

" i mean, no other band from australia...."
excuse me? are you suggesting your bigger and better than AC/DC?


Alot of people mistake ACDC as being from England just cuz thats where Brain Johnson from. He probably thought the same.

Also weren't angus and malcom young born in scotland but them and their family moved to Australia before they were in their teens?

[lessthanjeff420]

your all retarded, your making him sound worse than he probubly is

[recliner33]

jett12 wrote:

hes the ugliest man alive

No, Lemmy of motorhead is, lol

[Naeroon]

So what if he doesn't know musical equipment-ation? Jimi Hendrix didn't know musical theory, and he's one amazing mother****er.

[recliner33]

Naeroon wrote:

So what if he doesn't know musical equipment-ation? Jimi Hendrix didn't know musical theory, and he's one amazing mother****er.

Yeah true, Hendrix couldn't even read music, he'd only learn by ear, but he's still the greatest guitarist ever.

[nastyguitar7129]

man, stop hatin on the guy. so what if he doesn't give the best answers in the world? i mean, you guys have no idea what his life is like, and neither do i. you shouldn't talk shit about someone you don't even know. now if you met him and he was a total dick to you, then i could see, but it sounds like some of you just hate him to hate, which is stupid. just listen to the music man, seriously.
-peace

[HmTownHero1007]

Strat_Monkey wrote:

That Black Sabbath thing must be bullsh*t... They even play the same kind of instruments (SGs and Rickenbacker basses) that Sabbath did back in the day!

geezer only played a ric in the latter days of black sabbath and only for like 1 record. he played mostly p basses.

[auranos]

What I would like to know is how a website like UG got such a lengthy interview with a guy like Stockdale. Is UG bigger than I think it is? O_o

[gutfeeling666]

Cut the Guy some slack danzig he's a musician and Wolfmother had to have some good songs to get themselves popular in the first place.
You are truley a mutt.
St. Anger rocks!

checked

[recliner33]

gutfeeling666 wrote:

Cut the Guy some slack danzig he's a musician and Wolfmother had to have some good songs to get themselves popular in the first place.
You are truley a mutt.
St. Anger rocks!

I agreed with you completely until that last sentence.

[Guitarsmarts]

wolfmother rocks ass and I think their guitarist was being down to earth and actually cool for once. I've read countless interviews when if dudes are asked about their guitar tone they go into this rant about how their new found fame has given them like godly equipment and place themselves on this like mountain of glory. This guy doesn't sound like Zep or Sabbath at all, if anything it sounds more like The White Stripes. I have to admit that before I read this post I never even heard of Wolfmother but after that interview and listening to their shit, they rule. All you haters out there are just bitches and you wish you could play rock but instead you are just little fags who have no control over you're emotions and have no artistic outlets. Anyone who plays music can relate to this article and in having said that, im gunna go shred till my fingers bleed, peace!

[Nick_inthesurf]

I think the interviewer put Andrew on defence from almost the beginning when he questioned his influences. Im sure that hes been asked that question many times (I've read countless interviews asking him this) and hes just got fed up of it. His answers in each of the interviews remain consistant in his musical influences, so i dont doubt him. Sure he may have sounded like an ass during the interview, but i think if you read it again you can realise that it makes perfect sense and hes not really being an arrogant prick.

Like the band for the music, not the personalities. If you dont like the music, dont listen. I dont want to hear about how much you think they sound like Led Zeppelin or Sabbath, its old hat.

[[NIN]_ROCK!]

I like Wolfmother and they're creative, there's no doubt about it. Still, this guy freaks me out because I just don't stand arrogance and this ass shows a lot of it. Anyways, ROCK ON!

[tess_m37]

Guitarsmarts wrote:

wolfmother rocks ass and I think their guitarist was being down to earth and actually cool for once. I've read countless interviews when if dudes are asked about their guitar tone they go into this rant about how their new found fame has given them like godly equipment and place themselves on this like mountain of glory. This guy doesn't sound like Zep or Sabbath at all, if anything it sounds more like The White Stripes. I have to admit that before I read this post I never even heard of Wolfmother but after that interview and listening to their shit, they rule. All you haters out there are just bitches and you wish you could play rock but instead you are just little fags who have no control over you're emotions and have no artistic outlets. Anyone who plays music can relate to this article and in having said that, im gunna go shred till my fingers bleed, peace!

holy s.hit man no offence but you sound like an absolute tool!

[NIN]_ROCK! wrote:

I like Wolfmother and they're creative, there's no doubt about it. Still, this guy freaks me out because I just don't stand arrogance and this ass shows a lot of it. Anyways, ROCK ON!

I totally agree with this comment. i respect andrew stockdale for making awesome music but he's still really arrogant- that wont stop me from loving wolfmother though

[Kikuta]

Anyone else notice how he looks like a rat? F***ing disgrace to us Aussies!

[xlr8steve]

I can't say i would personally like this guy if I met him at the local pub but Wolfmother are a great Aussie band and are proof that great music is still alive!

Rock on!!!

[tess_m37]

any fellow aussies seeing wolfmother next thursday? i am YAY!!!!

[recliner33]

Guitarsmarts wrote:

wolfmother rocks ass and I think their guitarist was being down to earth and actually cool for once. I've read countless interviews when if dudes are asked about their guitar tone they go into this rant about how their new found fame has given them like godly equipment and place themselves on this like mountain of glory. This guy doesn't sound like Zep or Sabbath at all, if anything it sounds more like The White Stripes. I have to admit that before I read this post I never even heard of Wolfmother but after that interview and listening to their shit, they rule. All you haters out there are just bitches and you wish you could play rock but instead you are just little fags who have no control over you're emotions and have no artistic outlets. Anyone who plays music can relate to this article and in having said that, im gunna go shred till my fingers bleed, peace!

I agree with you that they sound more like the white stripes, however you are going on like they are the best band ever, which is far from it. But wolfmother is still good.

[sether]

doesnt listen to zeppelin or sabbath i dunno sonds kinda funny to me he does sound like sabbath a lot not so much zeppelin but at leats he gave credit to dylan and music does mean something no 52 minute of nothing crap i mean come on what abotu that guy that killed people and he based it of heltor skeltor by the beatles.

[gunsnroses0017]

gutfeeling666 wrote:

Cut the Guy some slack danzig he's a musician and Wolfmother had to have some good songs to get themselves popular in the first place.
You are truley a mutt.
St. Anger rocks!

i agree with everything u said especially that last sentence

[garber x]

Firstly, I want to say that since you all hate mainstream- which i do too, no one cares what you think- we are the minority. Secondly, you all disgust me. A band (notice the word bandnot "man")should be able to play whatever they want whether it sounds like another band or not. you guys have no idea what Andrew, Myles and Chris have been through.

There will always be a band that sounds like Led or Sabbath. it has become a "sub-genre." you never know, they may have never wanted to make it big, as andrew said, it was all just about jamming. he already had plans for his future. he said himself he wasnt good enough to do anything really unique or original. there are very few bands who have that talent.

I apologise for what i said in the first line but i just had to release some anger.

cya

[poo sangers]

I agree wit garber x. i am in the same boat, besides no band is completely original, there will always b similarities

[rsot76]

I think there are a few frustrated musos here that are a little jelous!! Seriously how many of you would love to be in a famous rock band? How many of you would kill to be in Andrew's shoes and touring the world and playing to thousands of prople? It's all well and good for you to sit infront of a computer and make these horrible comments but I'd like to see what answers you would give. I know how the music industry works and the crap you go through. The musicians go through so much and have a huge responsibility. Believe me when you get asked the same questions fifty times a day and you're probably doing shows in between, it eventually gets to you. I read this interview over and over and tried to work out what it was that Andrew said that upset some of you. So he didn't go into great detail about his sound so what! It's fuzz, it's a pedal. Get over it. I met Andrew, he's actually a cool guy. We spoke for a while and he was very down to earth. He was tired because of the touring but he wasn't a dick like some other rockstars that I've met. He even called the other guys in the band to come out and chat to the fans. If he was a prick he wouldn't have given a shit. There was no arrogance or attitude from him at all. Goodluck to him and the boys they are an awesome live band and very grounded for what they have achieved in such little time. It's about time that a band like this has come out of Australia. If they have a sound and a vibe and it works then power to them. At least these guys can play their instuments and they play it well. Get over it and just appreciate the music.

[xed]

I think most people are taking what he is saying WAY too seriously. I think most people need to lighten up and get a ****ing sense of humour. Get out of your dark bedrooms and go for a walk or something. He's just taking the piss out of everything. He is probably tired and just talks shit and can't be bothered to be coherent. Also, he must have done like 20 interviews before this one - and the questions would get repetative.

[rsot76]

rsot76 wrote:

I think there are a few frustrated musos here that are a little jealous!! Seriously how many of you would love to be in a famous rock band? How many of you would kill to be in Andrew's shoes and touring the world and playing to thousands of people? It's all well and good for you to sit infront of a computer and make these horrible comments but I'd like to see what answers you would give. I know how the music industry works and the crap you go through. The musicians go through so much and have a huge responsibility. Believe me when you get asked the same questions fifty times a day and you're probably doing shows in between, it eventually gets to you. I read this interview over and over and tried to work out what it was that Andrew said that upset some of you. So he didn't go into great detail about his sound so what! It's fuzz, it's a pedal. Get over it. I met Andrew, he's actually a cool guy. We spoke for a while and he was very down to earth. He was tired because of the touring but he wasn't a dick like some other rockstars that I've met. He even called the other guys in the band to come out and chat to the fans. If he was a prick he wouldn't have given a shit. There was no arrogance or attitude from him at all. Goodluck to him and the boys they are an awesome live band and very grounded for what they have achieved in such little time. It's about time that a band like this has come out of Australia. If they have a sound and a vibe and it works then power to them. At least these guys can play their instuments and they play it well. Get over it and just appreciate the music.

[JESJESJES]

ive seen andrew interviewed heaps of times on telly and he comes across as a really easy going loveable guy.. almost like a hippy! all this interview screams to me is the interviewer is a d*ck and andrew is just having fun with him

when wolfmother perform live they go off and andrew comes across as pretty much the coolest guy on the planet... same with the rest of the band.

oh and he doesnt look like a pixie those fotos are so old.. his hair is like the size of a mountain now!

anyway wolfmother are my favourite band and dont bag em till uve seen em!!

[JESJESJES]

i would just like to add

WOLFMOTHER ARE THE BEST EFFING BAND IN THE UNIVERSE!!

[montypython]

some parts are to be funny i mean if you actually read it, the whole thing, the interviewer takes everything too seriously and damn Andrew is a nice guy. for some fun interviews you should really check-out Nardwar vs Wolfmother. now that is fun stuff!
Wolfmother rock!! props to JESJESJES

[Purple Platypus]

get over yourselves people. honestly. who cares if the guy is a gearhead or a zephead or listened to sabbath or whatever...it has no relevence to your daily lives. look at paul mccartney; when he's asked what kind of bass strings he uses he says "they're long and metal' he doesn't know, he's just writing and playing music. if andrew's guitar tone is a loud distorted fuzz tone and he's asked to describe it why would you need to go into exactly what you use to make it. the question was asking him to describe his guitar sound...he did. end of story. who cares if he's being sarcastic or how he sounds, maybe he was having a bad day when he was interviewed, who cares. he answered all the questions and i think it was a good interview. obviously zep and sabbath got their sound from other influnces, different combinations can add up to different things...who cares. and stop giving everyone flack for saying that their music is great; if you put out an album you don't think is great then you are selling yourself short and not staying true to yourself as a musician or a songwriter. i'd expect nothing less of him.

[Purple Platypus]

Strat_Monkey wrote:

That Black Sabbath thing must be bullsh*t... They even play the same kind of instruments (SGs and Rickenbacker basses) that Sabbath did back in the day!

anyone recall who used SG's and rickenbacher bases before sabbath? oh I know...a little band from liverpool you may not have heard of...the beatles or something? oh yeah...give it up people.

[2006_rachee]

wolfmother are friken AWESOME!!!! I LOVE THEM, i saw them live in the goldcoast, aus. & i'm getting a wolfmother tatt soon, yeah!!! hehehe. I've never before come accross a band where every one of their songs is amazing. BLOODY LEGENDS THEY ARE!