30 Seconds to Mars at Muchmusic
August 23, 2002
Interview with Rick the Temp
Muchmusic

>Rick: YOU ARE BACK WITH MuchMusic. TWO MEMBERS OF 30 SECONDS TO MARS HERE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES?

>NO, BUT WE WILL. I AM JARED FROM 30 SECONDS TO MARS.

>AND I AM MATT FROM 30 SECONDS TO MARS.

>Mr. WACHTER.

>THERE IS A SMALL SECTION OF THE MARSARMY OUT THERE.

>Rick: IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL THEM, MEMBERS OF THE MARSARMY?

>YEAH, I THINK SO. THEY HAVE BEACH BALLS WHICH WE CANNOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUT WE ENJOY THEM NONETHELESS. WE DID NOT PROVIDE THEM. KIND OF RAN OUT OF MONEY.

>Rick: ENOUGH BEACH BALL TALK. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS, YOUR DEBUT. A COUPLE YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT IT IS FINALLY HERE -- NOT FOR THE PUBLIC YET. SEPTEMBER 24, IT WILL BE RELEASED.

>YES.

>Rick: WILL IT LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS, JARED?

>IT ACTUALLY WILL LOOK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. THIS IS SHRUNKEN IN THE CORNER AND THERE IS A PHOTO ON THE FRONT OF SOMETHING, BUT IT IS SIMILAR.

>Rick: NOW, I HEARD, I READ, 100 SONGS WERE WRITTEN FOR THIS?

>THERE WERE ABOUT 100 SONGS THAT WERE WRITTEN AND IT WASN'T A COUPLE OF YEARS; IT WAS MORE LIKE THREE YEARS. AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE REALLY INTROSPECTIVE, KIND OF DARK, CHALLENGING TIMES. AND IT IS JUST NICE TO BE FINALLY OUT OF THE STUDIO, PLAYING FOR PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, SHARING THE MUSIC. IT HAS BEEN SO EXCITING AND REWARDING.

>Rick: THAT'S THE PAYOFF, RIGHT?

>YES.

>Rick: YOU WORK ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND THEN GET OUT THERE AND DO IT LIVE FOR THE FANS.

>YEAH, YEAH.

>Rick: HOW WAS THE RESPONSE? GOOD?

>IT HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE. WE HAVE BEEN TOURING ALL YEAR. WE STARTED IN JANUARY PLAYING SMALL CLUBS. THEN WE OPENED FOR A GROUP CALLED PUDDLE OF MUDD FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND NOW WE'RE DOING SMALL CLUBS AGAIN. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OPENING UP FOR INCUBUS -- A BAND YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF -- IN SEPTEMBER.

>Rick: I THINK WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM. THAT'S IN SEPTEMBER?

>YEAH.

>Rick: COMING BACK UP TO CANADA FOR THAT?

>WE ARE ACTUALLY COMING TO CANADA FOR THAT. AND AFTER THAT, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY YET, BUT WE WILL BE TOURING IN CANADA FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.

>Rick: THEY ALL LOVE THAT OUT THERE.

>CAN THEY HEAR THAT OUT THERE?

>Rick: SOMETIMES THEY CAN. CAN YOU HEAR US OUT THERE?

>SO THERE ARE 11 SONGS ON HERE.

>YEAH, THERE ARE 11 SONGS.

>Rick: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER 89?

>THEY WERE BURNED IN A FIRE. OUR STUDIO CAUGHT FIRE. THE DOG ESCAPED, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST GONE FOREVER. HAPPILY SO.

>Rick: YOU WILL STILL BRING SOME OUT FOR LIVE SHOWS MAYBE?

>SOME OF THEM, WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT PLAY WITH. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK WE CHOSE THE SONGS THAT SAY WHAT WE WANT SO SAY AND THAT FIT THE BEST ON THIS RECORD. WE ARE JUST EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE THE CD DONE, TO BE FINISHED WITH THAT SECTION, TO BE PLAYING LIVE, AND TO BE SHARING THAT WITH PEOPLE AND HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP KNOWING THE SONGS, AND SINGING ALONG NOW. AND JUST BEING PART OF 30 SECONDS TO MARS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE.

>Rick: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS, RECORDING THIS. YOU GUYS WENT OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. WAS IT WYOMING?

>YEAH.

>Rick: NO DISTRACTIONS THERE.

>BESIDES SEX WITH A MOOSE. THAT CAN BE DISTRACTING.

>OR THE OCCASIONAL VULTURE.

>THE OCCASIONAL BLACK BEAR.

>THAT WASN'T HAPPENING? COME ON.

>IT IS A FAMILY SHOW SO WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT. WE WANTED TO FIND A PLACE THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON US. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO MARS IS WE REALLY STRIVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT IS UNIQUE, DYNAMIC, CHALLENGING, INTERESTING, AND HOPEFULLY CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE. WE WANTED TO GO TO THE KIND OF OPPOSITE EXTREME AND TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE THERE WERE NO DISTRACTIONS AND LET OUR ENVIRONMENT REALLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE MUSIC. SO IT WAS INTERESTING.

>Rick: I WAS THINKING OF MONSTER MAGNET AND HOW THE GUYS WENT TO VEGAS TO RECORD.

>A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>Rick: BOB EZRIN, HE PRODUCED THIS ONE?

>YEAH, HE WORKED WITH KISS, PINK FLOYD, THE WALL, DESTROYER. HE IS A PRODUCER WHOSE INFLUENCE HAS BEEN FELT BY EVERYONE IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. WE FELT HE COULD HELP US CAPTURE THE SIZE AND SCOPE. WE WANTED SOMETHING REALLY AMBITIOUS. AND HE WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH. BESIDES THE FIST FIGHTS, HE WAS ALL GOOD. HE'S A CANADIAN, TOO, BY THE WAY.

>Rick: THE SOUND ON THIS, YOU LISTEN TO THE SOUND, IT IS A BIG SOUND. IT IS A DYNAMIC SOUND. A LOT OF ENERGY. THAT IS ME DESCRIBING IT. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>SOMETIMES WE SAY IT IS NEO PRAGUE NEW WAVE ARENA ART ROCK.

>Rick: IS THAT THE NEW THING?

>I THINK SO. IT IS LIKE WILDFIRE. THIS THING IS LIKE DISCO.

>Rick: GIVE IT TO ME ONE MORE TIME.

>NEO PRAGUE NEW WAVE ARENA ART ROCK. SOME HAVE SAID. I DON'T KNOW; YOU GUYS TELL ME.

>Rick: THEY ARE AGREEING. YOU HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS A REACTION TO WHAT IS OUT THERE MUSICALLY.

>YEAH.

>WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH WHAT IS OUT THERE MUSICALLY? TELL US.

>WE ARE HUGE MUSIC FANS. Mr. WACHTER, I AND SHANNON, WHO IS OVER THERE, AND SOLON, THE REST OF THE BAND. WE ARE HUGE FANS OF MUSIC AND, AS FANS, WE ARE KIND OF FRUSTRATED WITH THE STATE OF MODERN MUSIC. WE ARE SEARCHING FOR GROUPS THAT ARE INSPIRING OR ENTERTAINING. THIS IS A REACTION, SO TRYING TO FIND A SOUND, A SONG, AN AESTHETIC THAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED. AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR OURSELVES, AND HOPEFULLY IT PROVIDES A SOLUTION TO SOMEBODY; I DON'T KNOW. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD WRAP IT UP.

>Rick: WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?

>MAYBE THE GUY OVER HERE.

>MAYBE THE GUY OVER THERE DOING: SHUT UP FOR A SECOND, WILL YOU, PLEASE, SHUT THE HELL UP, ANYWAY.

>Rick: DO YO WANT TO SET UP THE VIDEO, "CAPRICORN"?

>WE ARE REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE -- NOT ONLY TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SO HANDSOME, BUT TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST VIDEO. THIS IS "CAPRICORN." IT WAS DIRECTED BY A GUY NAMED PAUL FREDURE. WE ARE PROUD OF IT. WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT. IT IS "CAPRICORN" FROM 30 SECONDS TO MARS.

>Rick: NICELY DONE. AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH THE GUYS AFTER THIS VIDEO FOR A WHILE SO STICK AROUND. (Playing video)

>Rick: NICELY DONE. "CAPRICORN" THERE FROM 30 SECONDS TO MARS.

>THANK YOU.

>Rick: LOOKS LIKE THE VIDEO SHOOT WAS FUN?

>IT WAS FUN MAINLY BECAUSE -- IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THAT IDEA COME TO LIFE. THE DIRECTOR DID SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH IT. THERE WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED KIDS THERE COVERED HEAD TO TOE IN MUD. THEY DUG THESE GIANT TRENCHES. IT WAS COOL. THIS IS SHANNON, BY THE WAY. THE BEST DRUMMER, AT LEAST IN THE UNITED STATES -- WE HAVEN'T CHECKED OUT CANADA YET -- AND ALSO MY BROTHER.

>Rick: YOU GUYS ARE BROTHERS.

>YEAH.

>Rick: AND THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP? I GREW UP LIVING WITH TWO BROTHERS IN THE SAME ROOM. IT WAS A CHALLENGE. IS IT A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING?

>I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT SUCKS. IT IS COMPLETELY HORRIBLE. WE FIGHT ALL THE TIME.

>I AM GRITTING MY TEETH RIGHT NOW.

>I HAVE TO CARRY A GUN. HE IS ALWAYS ON EDGE. IF I HAD A BULLET IN IT, MAYBE I WOULD USE IT -- NO, IT IS GOOD. WE HAVE A COMMON GOAL. WE HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. AS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES FAMILIES HAVE DIFFICULTIES, BUT WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION, AND, MUSICALLY, WE ARE INTERESTED IN ALMOST THE SAME THINGS.

>AS A BIGGER PICTURE, IT IS NOT WORTH FIGHTING OVER PIDDLY THINGS.

>WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>I'M JUST SAYING, IT IS GOOD --

>THAT IS SO OFFENSIVE, MAN.

>Rick: DROP THE GLOVES. SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT SHANNON IS THE BEST DRUMMER THAT YOU KNOW?

>NOT ONLY THAT I KNOW, BUT ONE OF THE BEST DRUMMERS ON THE PLANET.

>ARE YOU COMING TOMORROW NIGHT?

>Rick: TOMORROW NIGHT? IN MISSISSAUGA? AT THE PLAYDIUM?

>Rick: WE ARE GETTING THAT WRAP-UP SIGNAL AGAIN.

>SEPTEMBER 24, 30 SECONDS TO MARS.

>Rick: BEFORE WE GO, THOUGH, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ROLE THE ACTING PLAYS. WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF MAKING THE MUSIC AND BEING IN THE BAND THAT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE ACTING?

>GOOD QUESTION. TWO SEPARATE THINGS COMPLETELY, AND I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH OF THEM AND I AM PASSIONATE AND EXCITED BY BOTH OF THEM. I AM FOCUSED NOW AND ALL ENCOMPASSED BY 30 SECONDS TO MARS. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR IN OUR LIVES. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND BE IN CANADA ON TOUR, AND SO THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL -- KNOCK ON WOOD.

>Rick: KNOCK ON SOMETHING HARD. OCTOBER, THE TOUR. TOMORROW AT PLAYDIUM IN MISSISSAUGA. AND SEPTEMBER 24, "30 SECONDS TO MARS," THE ALBUM, IS COMING. NICE MEETING YOU. THANKS, GUYS.