取材者：Emma Guido
翻訳：@postmcrjapan
オルタナティブやエモロックで育った人は誰もマイケミ解散の衝撃からまだ立ち直ってないだろう。
でも大丈夫。一つの扉が閉まると、もう一つが開くっていうだろ？解散して1年が経ち、野心溢れる元マイケミメンバーのソロ活動がもう始まっている。そしてその先頭に立ったのは元リズムギターのfrank iero。8月末にfrnkiero andthe cellabrationとしてソロのデビューアルバム「stomachaches」をリリースして、そして一週間前から記念すべきファーストツアーがニュージャージー州のhowellスタート！我々のスタッフemma guidoがfrankとニューアルバムや音楽業界、そしてソロアーティストとしての進化について語る！
mindequalsblown（以下MEB）：ソロアルバムのリリース、おめでとうございます。「stomachaches」のツアーがスタートしますね。マイケミ時代もたくさんのサイドプロジェクトに参加してきたが、今回のプロジェクトはどんな感じですか？ソロになって、何か変わりましたか？
frank（以下F）：サイドプロジェクトは毎回違いますね。似てるところはもちろんあるけど、やっぱりみんな個性があって、違う思考回路や性格が必要となってくる。今回はすごくストレートなんで一番難しかったかも、ごまかしが効かないからね。僕はたくさんの質問されるフロントマンなんかになりたくなかった。前は他のメンバーがいたから「お前が答えろよ～」と逃げられたけどね（笑）今は心をさらけ出さないといけない立場なんで、まだちょっとどう対応すればいいのかがね。
MEB:一か月半のツアーですが、何が一番楽しみにしてますか？
F:曲に生命を宿すことが一番楽しみだね。一人で書いたんで、バンドでプレーすることはこれが初めてだから。今までは5人の仲間と大音量で曲を叩き出してきたから、今回はなんか正反対のことをやっちゃって。逆方向から作業してたって感じ。
MEB:お子さんたちが産まれてから父親とミュージシャンの役割を両立してきましたよね。お子さんたちが少しずつ大きくなるにつれ、その役割分担は少し楽になりましたか？
mindequalsblown（以下MEB）：ソロアルバムのリリース、おめでとうございます。「stomachaches」のツアーがスタートしますね。マイケミ時代もたくさんのサイドプロジェクトに参加してきたが、今回のプロジェクトはどんな感じですか？ソロになって、何か変わりましたか？
frank（以下F）：サイドプロジェクトは毎回違いますね。似てるところはもちろんあるけど、やっぱりみんな個性があって、違う思考回路や性格が必要となってくる。今回はすごくストレートなんで一番難しかったかも、ごまかしが効かないからね。僕はたくさんの質問されるフロントマンなんかになりたくなかった。前は他のメンバーがいたから「お前が答えろよ～」と逃げられたけどね（笑）今は心をさらけ出さないといけない立場なんで、まだちょっとどう対応すればいいのかがね。
MEB:一か月半のツアーですが、何が一番楽しみにしてますか？
F:曲に生命を宿すことが一番楽しみだね。一人で書いたんで、バンドでプレーすることはこれが初めてだから。今までは5人の仲間と大音量で曲を叩き出してきたから、今回はなんか正反対のことをやっちゃって。逆方向から作業してたって感じ。
MEB:お子さんたちが産まれてから父親とミュージシャンの役割を両立してきましたよね。お子さんたちが少しずつ大きくなるにつれ、その役割分担は少し楽になりましたか？
F:難しくなる一歩だわ。「いつ帰ってくるの？」とか「なんで行っちゃうの？」みたいな質問聞けるような年齢になって、もう納得させるような返事がなくてね。最初はね、僕が曲を書いてるって聞いたら、子供たちすごく喜んでてたよ？「アナ雪」の曲を書いてるとか思っちゃったみたいで。違うぞと説明したら「え？じゃ何してんの？「アナ雪」じゃなかったら何書いてんの？」って。
MEB:ソロアルバム「stomachaches」は8月末にリリースされたが、frankにとってすごく大きな存在だったMCRの解散後、ソロアーティストとしてどういう気持ちで第一歩を踏み出したんですか？
F:すごく大変だったと同時にすごくわくわくしてました。たくさんの感情が入り混じった感じで。（アルバムを出すのは）目的じゃなかったから、どういう気持ちだったかと聞かれてもよく分からないですね。マイケミをソロデビューの道具として使うとか、一度も思ったことがなくてね。あくまでもバンドの一員として活躍したかったです、ずっと。だから今回もバンドを結成したし、尊敬するメンバーと一緒にプレーできて本当ラッキーです。
MEB：アルバムの歌詞が特に好きで、一曲一曲強い個性がありますね。音楽を作る際、こだわりのスタイルやテクニックってありますか？
F: ないです。曲はそれぞれ違いますね。今回はドラムから始まって、次はベースを弾いてからボーカルを入れたけど、あの順番でレコーディングするのは初めてだった。なんでそうしたかも分からない、なんか自然にできた。自然と出てくる音楽が一番好きでね、全然関係ないことをしている時に突然メロディーが降りてきて、曲が出来上がるまで頭から離れない。そうやって作った曲が僕の中で一番好きな曲ですね。
ＭＥＢ：歌詞と音のバランスもよくて、色んな感情と音楽のジャンルが入ってますが、何にインスパイヤされましたか？
Ｆ：このアルバムのルーツはフォークにありますね。曲は全部自分が体験したことや知り合いから聞いた話、見てきたことからインスパイヤされました。音楽でそういう話を伝わろうとしています。考えてみると、大半の曲は若い頃の出来事からきて、ある意味で過去の自分が書いたアルバムだね。なんでそれが今になって出てきたのか…でも「美しき壊れ物」がすごく好きなんで、それが影響しているかもしれない。
ＭＥＢ：アルバムの中で一番好きな曲は？
Ｆ：どれも大切な曲だけど、「guittripping（罪悪感）」はたぶん一番苦労した曲だね。もう全然楽じゃなかった。正直でピュアな曲であるためにどういうサウンドであるべきかしっかりイメージできたのに、まったくうまくいかなかった。（曲作りは）時には苦戦で、時には簡単で、「guilttripping」の場合は苦戦が長引いたね。２週間ぐらいかかったかな？途中でちょっと距離をおいてみたわ。「もうだめだ、こりゃ」って思ったぐらい大変だった。「all i want is nothing→何も欲しくない（が一番近いかな？あーニュアンスがむずい）」も苦戦だった。曲が出来上がってんのに、何か違う。一時はアルバムから外そうかと思ったけど最後の最後にギター担当のevan（frankの義理のお兄さん）と曲を編集して、バックコーラスを加えてみたら違和感がなくなりました。
ＭＥＢ：マイケミだけではなく、他のバンドやプロジェクトに参加してきましたが、「stomachaches」に何か影響ありましたか？
Ｆ：新しいプロジェクトをやる度に自分の一部になる、ＤＮＡみたいに。今までのプロジェクトではっきり何を学んだかは言えないけど、その経験が今の自分を作り上げたのは確かだ。曲作りから挑戦してきたサウンドまで、色んな経験がなかったら今のアルバムが作れなかっただろう。
ＭＥＢ：フロントマンとなった今、演奏についての考え方は変わりましたか？
Ｆ：毎回バンドが違うから演奏スタイルも変わる。今回はバンドとしてはじめてのツアーだから特に楽しみだね。（メンバー）robとは（サイドプロジェクト）leathermouthと一緒にプレーしたことがあるけど、義理のお兄さんevanとはずっとバンドやりたかったのでいいきっかけになったね。mattは今年初めて会ったけど、すぐ意気投合してもう長い付き合いみたいな仲になった。今までは本当にいい流れで、ステージに上がるのが楽しみで仕方がない。
ＭＥＢ：長い間音楽業界の中にいて、流行りのサウンドやスタイルの変化をずっと見てきたと思いますが、ソーシャルメディアが現在の音楽業界やファンにどんな影響を与えていると思いますか？
Ｆ：いい影響があれば、悪い影響もあるね。最近はtwitterやfacebookやinstagramを全部使わないとダメとか更新しないとダメとか！ついていけないね。普通に生活しながら音楽を作ったら、全般のソーシャルメディアを更新する時間なんてないはず。子供と遊びながら片手でスマホをいじったり知らん人とスタバとかについてツイートするなんて、嫌だわ。あんまり魅力感じないね。暇な時はいいよ？瞬間的に人と繋がるのはもちろんいいけど、相手次第だね。何を言ってもＯＫだと思い込んでるかまってちゃんの若いやつらが大勢いて、何かの反応を求めてとんでもないことを言い出してくるけど、なんかすごく切ないんだよ。そこまでひどいことを言わないと自分の存在は誰にも気付かれないとか。そんなことをするより、何かの目的を探したほうがよっぽどいいと思うけどね。
ＭＥＢ：その通りですね。音楽業界についての考え方も年々変わってきましたか？
Ｆ：音楽は音楽で、ビジネスはビジネスで。お互い完全に別物ですね。音楽にはハイとローはあるけど、音楽業界はビジネスだから、残念ながらアーティストのことを第一として考えてない時もある。みんなが怖がっていて、そしてそれが業界のやりかたに反映されてるような気がする。
ＭＥＢ：マイケミファンもソロのファンの反応はいかがですか？思ってたのと違いましたか？
Ｆ：アルバムを作った時はリリースつもりじゃなかったから、別に反応とか期待しなかった。自分のためだけに曲を作ったからね。でも知り合いが曲を聴いてくれて、リリースしなよ！ってなった時、しぶしぶＯＫしたけど、半分は「そんなつもりじゃなかったのにな…」って思ったわ。なんかそういう運命だったかもしれない。こんなにもこころをさらけ出したアルバムを出すと、万人受けじゃないのに、人が勝手に批判したり解釈したりするからすごくナーバスになる。でも誰かが「このアルバム好き！」とか「わかるわ～」と言ってくれるともう、最高に幸せだ。
ＭＥＢ：インタビューが終わる前に、ファンやサポーターにメッセージはありますか？
Ｆ：やいたいことをやらせてくれてありがとう。自分でしかいられないけど、こんな自分でいられるのはみんなのおかげだよ。こんないいことないよ。
MEB:ソロアルバム「stomachaches」は8月末にリリースされたが、frankにとってすごく大きな存在だったMCRの解散後、ソロアーティストとしてどういう気持ちで第一歩を踏み出したんですか？
F:すごく大変だったと同時にすごくわくわくしてました。たくさんの感情が入り混じった感じで。（アルバムを出すのは）目的じゃなかったから、どういう気持ちだったかと聞かれてもよく分からないですね。マイケミをソロデビューの道具として使うとか、一度も思ったことがなくてね。あくまでもバンドの一員として活躍したかったです、ずっと。だから今回もバンドを結成したし、尊敬するメンバーと一緒にプレーできて本当ラッキーです。
MEB：アルバムの歌詞が特に好きで、一曲一曲強い個性がありますね。音楽を作る際、こだわりのスタイルやテクニックってありますか？
F: ないです。曲はそれぞれ違いますね。今回はドラムから始まって、次はベースを弾いてからボーカルを入れたけど、あの順番でレコーディングするのは初めてだった。なんでそうしたかも分からない、なんか自然にできた。自然と出てくる音楽が一番好きでね、全然関係ないことをしている時に突然メロディーが降りてきて、曲が出来上がるまで頭から離れない。そうやって作った曲が僕の中で一番好きな曲ですね。
ＭＥＢ：歌詞と音のバランスもよくて、色んな感情と音楽のジャンルが入ってますが、何にインスパイヤされましたか？
Ｆ：このアルバムのルーツはフォークにありますね。曲は全部自分が体験したことや知り合いから聞いた話、見てきたことからインスパイヤされました。音楽でそういう話を伝わろうとしています。考えてみると、大半の曲は若い頃の出来事からきて、ある意味で過去の自分が書いたアルバムだね。なんでそれが今になって出てきたのか…でも「美しき壊れ物」がすごく好きなんで、それが影響しているかもしれない。
ＭＥＢ：アルバムの中で一番好きな曲は？
Ｆ：どれも大切な曲だけど、「guittripping（罪悪感）」はたぶん一番苦労した曲だね。もう全然楽じゃなかった。正直でピュアな曲であるためにどういうサウンドであるべきかしっかりイメージできたのに、まったくうまくいかなかった。（曲作りは）時には苦戦で、時には簡単で、「guilttripping」の場合は苦戦が長引いたね。２週間ぐらいかかったかな？途中でちょっと距離をおいてみたわ。「もうだめだ、こりゃ」って思ったぐらい大変だった。「all i want is nothing→何も欲しくない（が一番近いかな？あーニュアンスがむずい）」も苦戦だった。曲が出来上がってんのに、何か違う。一時はアルバムから外そうかと思ったけど最後の最後にギター担当のevan（frankの義理のお兄さん）と曲を編集して、バックコーラスを加えてみたら違和感がなくなりました。
ＭＥＢ：マイケミだけではなく、他のバンドやプロジェクトに参加してきましたが、「stomachaches」に何か影響ありましたか？
Ｆ：新しいプロジェクトをやる度に自分の一部になる、ＤＮＡみたいに。今までのプロジェクトではっきり何を学んだかは言えないけど、その経験が今の自分を作り上げたのは確かだ。曲作りから挑戦してきたサウンドまで、色んな経験がなかったら今のアルバムが作れなかっただろう。
ＭＥＢ：フロントマンとなった今、演奏についての考え方は変わりましたか？
Ｆ：毎回バンドが違うから演奏スタイルも変わる。今回はバンドとしてはじめてのツアーだから特に楽しみだね。（メンバー）robとは（サイドプロジェクト）leathermouthと一緒にプレーしたことがあるけど、義理のお兄さんevanとはずっとバンドやりたかったのでいいきっかけになったね。mattは今年初めて会ったけど、すぐ意気投合してもう長い付き合いみたいな仲になった。今までは本当にいい流れで、ステージに上がるのが楽しみで仕方がない。
ＭＥＢ：長い間音楽業界の中にいて、流行りのサウンドやスタイルの変化をずっと見てきたと思いますが、ソーシャルメディアが現在の音楽業界やファンにどんな影響を与えていると思いますか？
Ｆ：いい影響があれば、悪い影響もあるね。最近はtwitterやfacebookやinstagramを全部使わないとダメとか更新しないとダメとか！ついていけないね。普通に生活しながら音楽を作ったら、全般のソーシャルメディアを更新する時間なんてないはず。子供と遊びながら片手でスマホをいじったり知らん人とスタバとかについてツイートするなんて、嫌だわ。あんまり魅力感じないね。暇な時はいいよ？瞬間的に人と繋がるのはもちろんいいけど、相手次第だね。何を言ってもＯＫだと思い込んでるかまってちゃんの若いやつらが大勢いて、何かの反応を求めてとんでもないことを言い出してくるけど、なんかすごく切ないんだよ。そこまでひどいことを言わないと自分の存在は誰にも気付かれないとか。そんなことをするより、何かの目的を探したほうがよっぽどいいと思うけどね。
ＭＥＢ：その通りですね。音楽業界についての考え方も年々変わってきましたか？
Ｆ：音楽は音楽で、ビジネスはビジネスで。お互い完全に別物ですね。音楽にはハイとローはあるけど、音楽業界はビジネスだから、残念ながらアーティストのことを第一として考えてない時もある。みんなが怖がっていて、そしてそれが業界のやりかたに反映されてるような気がする。
ＭＥＢ：マイケミファンもソロのファンの反応はいかがですか？思ってたのと違いましたか？
Ｆ：アルバムを作った時はリリースつもりじゃなかったから、別に反応とか期待しなかった。自分のためだけに曲を作ったからね。でも知り合いが曲を聴いてくれて、リリースしなよ！ってなった時、しぶしぶＯＫしたけど、半分は「そんなつもりじゃなかったのにな…」って思ったわ。なんかそういう運命だったかもしれない。こんなにもこころをさらけ出したアルバムを出すと、万人受けじゃないのに、人が勝手に批判したり解釈したりするからすごくナーバスになる。でも誰かが「このアルバム好き！」とか「わかるわ～」と言ってくれるともう、最高に幸せだ。
ＭＥＢ：インタビューが終わる前に、ファンやサポーターにメッセージはありますか？
Ｆ：やいたいことをやらせてくれてありがとう。自分でしかいられないけど、こんな自分でいられるのはみんなのおかげだよ。こんないいことないよ。
MEB:
Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new
solo work Stomachaches. You have had many different musical projects
before, aside from My Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get
back into the touring mindset, what feels different about this new
project, now t - See more at:
http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
MEB: Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new solo work Stomachaches.
You have had many different musical projects before, aside from My
Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get back into the touring
mindset, what feels different about this new project, now that you are a
solo musician?
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
MEB: Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new solo work Stomachaches.
You have had many different musical projects before, aside from My
Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get back into the touring
mindset, what feels different about this new project, now that you are a
solo musician?
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
MEB: Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new solo work Stomachaches.
You have had many different musical projects before, aside from My
Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get back into the touring
mindset, what feels different about this new project, now that you are a
solo musician?
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
Now that you are touring again, what are you most excited about in the next month and a half?
I’m really excited about seeing these songs come to life. This is kind of the first time these songs have really been played in a band setting. When I was writing it was just me. I’m used to having about five guys in a room playing really loud and playing a song out and this was the exact opposite of anything I’ve ever been used to. It’s like working backwards.
Since the birth of your first children, you have been balancing a role as a father and a touring musician. Now that your children are starting to get older, has it been easier or harder to balance the two jobs?
It’s getting harder and they fucking hate it, too. It’s weird because they are at that age now where they can tell you to come home and ask me why I have to leave. That’s a hard question to answer, you know? At first, they got really excited because I write songs so they thought I wrote Frozen (laughs). When I told them no they were like, “Then what are you doing?! What do you do all this time downstairs if you aren’t writing Frozen?”
Your solo debut Stomachaches dropped at the end of August. After the split of MCR, which was such a big part of your life, and taking the time to get back in it, how did it feel for you to take this big step as a musician on your own?
It’s nerve-racking, but also exciting. It’s a lot of different emotions all wrapped up into one. I don’t know how to feel about it because this was never a goal I set for myself. I’ve never thought of My Chemical Romance as a springboard for my solo career. That thought never came into my head. I always wanted to be in bands and that’s why I think I’ve made this as much as a band as possible. I’m really lucky to play with people I really respect.
I really love your lyrics on the album. Every track has its own strong identity. Do you have a specific writing style or technique when it comes to making music?
I don’t. Each song is different. On this record, I started a lot of the songs by programming drums then playing bass to that, then singing along to that as well. I’ve never really done that before. I don’t know why I did that; it just kind of happened and I like when music just happens. You’re usually doing something totally unrelated, and suddenly a song pops into your head and it won’t leave until you get it out there. Those are sometimes my favorite songs I’ve ever made.
The words and sounds were balanced really well, also. There were really great elements from all different ends of the emotional and musical spectrum. What inspired these strong emotions from you?
I feel like at the root of this record, it’s really like a folk record. They are very much based on stories of things that have happened to me or people that I know or things that I’ve seen. This is my attempt at telling those stores. It’s funny when I think about it, because a lot of these songs are from early on in my life. So I guess this record has really been written in the past. I don’t know why I channeled that. I tend to like things that are beautifully broken, though.
Which song ended up being your favorite to make?
They each have a special place in your heart, you know? I would say, however, “Guilttripping” was the hardest. I did not have fun making that one. It was just one of those things where I knew what I wanted to hear and how it had to sound in order for it to be true and pure, but it just didn’t want to work. Sometimes it’s a fight, and sometimes it’s a partnership. And that fight went on for a long time. It took maybe two weeks. I even remember having to step away for a while and thought, “This is not going to work.” There was another song I did that with as well and it was “All I Want Is Nothing”. I wrote and finished it, but it just didn’t sound right. I thought I was going to have to take it off the record. Then, at the last minute, I went back in with my brother-in-law, Evan, who plays guitar and sings, and had him do some backing vocals on it. It changed one of the transition chords and somehow fixed it.
My Chemical Romance was clearly not the only band or project you have been involved in in your career. What elements from your previous work did you bring to the table when creating Stomachaches?
I don’t know if I can say specifically. I think each time you do a project or have an experience it warms its way into the threads of your DNA. Do I know specifically what I’ve learned from each project? No, but each experience, I’m sure, had a place in who I am today. Whether it was songwriting or the styles that I’ve tried to experiment with on the record, I don’t think I could have done this record without doing everything I did in the past.
Now that you are front and center on that stage, has your view or opinion of performing changed in any way?
Each one is different. I’m looking forward to this show because it’s the first one and the first time we all play together. I’ve played with Rob before; he played guitar in a band called Leathermouth. I’ve wanted to be in a band with my brother-in-law, Evan, for years now and this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, I just met Matt this year, but we hit it off like we’ve known each other for a long time. I think it’s been a really great experience so far. I’m looking forward to getting up there.
Being in the music industry for so long, you have seen a lot of the changes and styles that have come and gone in the past years. Now with social media at the height of popularity, how do you think it has affected the music scene and the fans (youth) of it?
I think it’s good and bad. Nowadays, they tell you that you have to update this and you have to have a Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, etc.! I don’t understand how you can do all of it. It doesn’t make sense for you to have time to do all that and still create music and be a human being. I don’t want to be playing with my children with one eye and one hand while the others tweet and text people I don’t know about…Starbucks, you know? It’s not something that appeals to me. Everyone once in a while if you have some free time, you can do that kind of thing. I think that works and it’s fine, but I personally can’t find the time to do it. It’s nice to have these instant, mini-interactions; it’s nice, but sometimes it’s not, depending on the people you are interacting with. You try not to let one bad apple ruin it for everything, but sometimes it’s hard. People think they can say whatever the fuck they want to whoever. You have these young people who are just trying to get a reaction and it’s a “notice me” kind of thing, like “I’ll just say the most messed up thing I can think of so someone will just recognize that I’m here.” And that’s really sad if you really think about it. To do something so negative just so that someone realizes that you are alive. I think you need to look into yourself and find a purpose as opposed to that.
I completely agree. Also, how has your opinion of the music industry changed throughout the years as well?
There is music, and then there is the music business or industry, and one tends to have anything to do with the other. They are so completely different. I think music has its highs and lows and the music industry… it’s a business, you know? It doesn’t always have the arts’ best interest, unfortunately. I think people are very scared and you can see that in the way things are being run.
Now that you are doing your solo work, how has the reaction been from My Chemical Romance fans and new fans? Did you expect it at all?
I don’t know if I expected anything, because when I was making the record I didn’t think I was going to make a record. I just thought I was writing songs for myself. Then things got released and I played it for some people and they wanted to release it. I agreed to that somewhat reluctantly, but somewhat at the same time [there was] this morbid curiosity of like, “I guess that’s kind of cool that I didn’t mean to do this but it’s happening.” Maybe it was meant to be, somehow. It’s a nervous feeling to put something so naked out there and then have people criticize it or interpret it as if it were meant for mass consumption. When anybody says that they get the album or really like it, it feels incredible.
Before we end this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters?
Basically, thank you for letting me do what I do. I can’t be anybody but myself and you guys have allowed me to do that. That’s one of the best gifts anybody could give you.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
MEB: Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new solo work Stomachaches.
You have had many different musical projects before, aside from My
Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get back into the touring
mindset, what feels different about this new project, now that you are a
solo musician?
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
MEB: Congratulations on the new album! You start touring now with your new solo work Stomachaches.
You have had many different musical projects before, aside from My
Chemical Romance. Now that you are about to get back into the touring
mindset, what feels different about this new project, now that you are a
solo musician?
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
Frank Iero: Every project feels different. There are similarities of course, but it is such a different animal every time. It always requires a different mindset and different parts of your personality. With this one, it might be the hardest one because there is a lot less to hide behind. I never set out to be a frontman or singer that gets asked questions and stuff. There was always somebody else and I could say, “You take this one!” (Laughs) Now I feel like I have to let people in a little too much and I don’t know how comfortable I feel about that just yet.
- See more at: http://mindequalsblown.net/interviews/interview-frank-iero-frnkiero-andthe-cellabration#sthash.p3kc2LBx.dpuf
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