With the sudden influx of international touring artists currently setting their sights on Australia, the concert-going public are understandably selective when it comes to venturing out.
But one travelling musical spectacle that is impossible to resist is The World Is A Vampire Festival – led by The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction – which kicks off on April 15 in Brisbane before taking in Bribie Island, Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide and Newcastle before finishing up on the Gold Coast on April 30.
“From the very beginning we wanted to be great and we wouldn’t accept anything less. We lived, breathed, ate music and trying to be a great group.”
Perry Farrell
Not only will fans be treated to two of the biggest and most successful bands of the last four decades, they will also have the chance to witness world wrestling live and like never before as Billy Corgan’s troupe lines up against their Australian counterparts in a display of controlled hostility unlike anything witnessed on these shores before.
Throw in Australian bands like Amyl & The Sniffers, RedHook and Battlesnake as well as select local supports, and you have the makings of one of the biggest and best festivals to hit Down Under since forever.
On the eve of their long journey to Australia, Jane’s Addiction’s manager Michael James oversaw an entertaining chat as Perry Farrell (vocals), Eric Avery (bass) and Stephen Perkins (drums) joined forces in delivering an insight into what to expect.
“I’m just starting to pull out the boots,” Farrell laughed when asked if the band had started packing yet. “
“It was great to hear the list of shows said by an Australian,” Perkins added, “because we’ve been looking at that list for the last two weeks, and now I know where we’re playing (laughs). We just got back from South America, so I didn’t really unpack, but I did wash everything and changed some ideas, but we’re ready!”
It’s a long run of shows for all of the bands involved, so we press the boys on how they prepare mentally and physically for a tour like this.
“We know Eric does his homework last,” Farrell smiled. “For me, I start to imagine the stage. I start to imagine the people in the place, and then I start to imagine what I would wear and like I say, I start with my feet because you don’t wanna get up there with bad shoes (laughs). It will just bum your night out.”
“I play barefoot on the drumset,” Perkins chimed in. “No gloves, no shoes or socks, but luckily I’ve got a room with a drum set here at the house, so I’ve been playing every day and taking care of the mental side and keeping stimulated creatively. That’s real important. Because the physical thing, I always keep tuned up. My stamina and endurance is always number one importance and always trying to stay with that creative juice, so I can get up there and just hit the stage running.”
In the full interview the boys tell us what to expect from the shows, the wrestling side of things and the possibility of the bands getting involved, their previous manager, Australian Ted Gardner and some fun stories of him, their knowledge of the Australian bands playing including Perry taking his daughter to see Amyl & The Sniffers, Jane’s Addiction’s longevity and why plus more.
