Aiden - Yeovil Ski Lodge - June 10th 2007
Interview on the tour bus with WiL Francis from Aiden by Cherry Pullinger


Yesterday, you played the main stage at Download festival, how did it go?
It went very well. I was kinda dreading playing Download.

Really, why?
We thought there would be lot more bottles thrown then there was, but we only counted nineteen bottles.

Did you get hit by any of them?
Nope.

What was the atmosphere like during the set?
It was rad, it was crazy, there were lots of kids who were into it and there were lots of kids who were like giving me the big 'fuck you' sign.

Were there any other bands that you got to see?
Yea totally, I got to see Motley Cru, lots of bands that I love you know?

Did you play any new tracks from the album?
Yea we played a song called 'One Love.'

How did the crowd respond to them?
Pretty good. It was kinda weird playing a song that no-ones really heard of, but yea, it went really good.

So, is the album finished now?
The album is finished, yes.

Can you describe the sound of it?
Err describe the sound..it's a lot different from our other records. Our other records are full on, like in your face. This ones more about song writing, melodies and lyrics and all that. It sounds better, it's got better songs.

When did you start working on it?
I've been writing the songs for a couple of years now, since we recorded 'Nightmare Anatomy.' We did pre production right before the Taste Of Chaos tour and then we recorded it in May.

Where did the idea for the album title 'Conviction' come from?
It came about knowing that everything that we do, all the things we've done and want to accomplish are done with conviction.

What are some of the songs about?
There are songs about all sorts of shit. There's a song about a friend of mine who's mum was a prostitute and that's how she made money.
There's a love song, called 'Moments,' and it's about being in love with misery.

Were there any bands that inspired you during the recording of Conviction?
Yea. I feel like a lot of bands these days who put out records are regurgitating what's happening in music.
On this album I haven't listened to any bands that have come out in the last ten years, they're all really old like New Order and Depeche Mode and stuff like that

How do you go about writing and recording a new album?
Writing comes whenever I feel inspired. I can be anywhere with a pen and paper and just feel inspired. Then we take the songs into the studio, on this record we actually recorded in one of my favourite studios, the 'Robert Lang' studio with producer John Goodmanson and then we go from there.

How do you feel about 'We Sleep Forever,' being featured on the official soundtrack of 'Dead Silence'?
Oh, it's great. It's cool that the movie people approached us and said 'hey, we wanna use your song in this movie.'

Have you seen the movie?
Totally, yeah, we saw it when it came out, it's really good.

You've recently toured with bands such as The Used, HIM and Lost Prophets, have you become friends with these bands due to touring?
Totally, yeah. We've become great friends with those guys

What bands would you like to tour with in the future?
I'd like to tour with Linkin Park maybe.

What made you play this one off gig in Yeovil today?
I don't know, erm. We played here when we first toured the UK and the venue kept on contacting us, asking us to come back so we just decided to come back and play Yeovil.

Will you be back in the UK soon for another headline tour?
Yea sure, we'll be back in the fall with The Used on the Taste Of Chaos International tour and then next year for a headline tour.


Interview by Cherry Pullinger


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