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0 UK indie rockers Fiction Plane journeyed Sunset Strip side for one of only two U.S. appearances promoting the release of their new record Sparks. The seasoned three-piece, comprised of frontman/bassist Joe Sumner, guitarist Seton Daunt and drummer Pete Wilhoit, has already toured the world in support of Sting, The Police and The Bravery, as well as headlined their own sold-out European tour. Now poised to make their mark in the States, band leader and rock royalty progeny Joe Sumner has relocated to Lala Land and is quickly making his presence known.
Before taking the stage for their Nov. 18 performance at the Viper Room, the jovial lads from Fiction Plane spoke with TheSunsetStrip.com about the importance of having a driver’s license, the daunting question of nepotism when you are Sting’s son, and supermodels who work in coffee shops.
What does it mean as a band to be playing The Sunset Strip and the Viper Room?
Sumner: It means that we’re still playing the f*cking Strip after 10 years. Ha! No, really, we love it. We played our first show on The Strip, here [at the Viper Room] about nine years ago, and it was packed! It led us to believe in dreams… Dreams that don’t come true.
Speaking of dreams, what are your childhood recollections of The Strip? What did it mean to finally get a chance to play here?
Wilhoit: It always seemed larger than life for a kid from Indiana… When you come here, it’s still pretty wild. The whole place is one big party, and we always have fun playing here. I think that even if we were to become huge and be able to pack Staples Center, it would still be cool to come back and play the Viper Room, ’cause it’s always a good time.
In Europe, the band is a bit more well known and plays to a substantially larger crowd. What does it mean for a UK band to have success in the States? How do you know when you’ve “made it”?
Wilhoit: That’s a good question! Well, in the States, each state is sort of like a European country…so we’ve had greater success in certain European “states” compared to others.
Sumner: You get a tour bus — that’s what success means… It means that me and Pete don’t have to drive anymore. Now that would be success!
Your new record, Sparks, is soon to be released in the U.S. Where did you record? What’s the vibe?
Sumner: Well, we wrote it in New York, recorded it in London… New York was pretty inspirational for the feel of it… The lower east side, Manhattan is cool… Just trashy, full of garbage; a horrible looking place with really cool bars and supermodels working in coffee shops. So it was a good combination of things.
Wilhoit: It was a great vibe. We enjoyed it. We went in, not having any idea what we were going to do, and just all sat down and jammed, and created something together.
The new video for “Out of My Face,” has a pretty heavy war theme. Is there any kind of political statement/message behind the song/video?
Sumner: Not really… We’ve got other songs that are more overt political statements like “Death Machine,” which literally says “f*ck you” to war…but that song is more about going silent when things are shitty, such as in war.
Pete, being the only American in the band, how did you come to join the group?
Wilhoit: Well eight years ago, they said, “Do you have a driver’s license?” and I said, “Yes,” and they said, “You’re hired.” Otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to get around.
Sumner: Yeah, we were looking for a drive…drummer.
So Joe, you literally just moved here. How are you enjoying our fair city?
Sumner: Well it’s a little tricky without a driver’s license. So, I’m getting one. I ride the metro system daily. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be taking my bicycle back to Venice from here.
The dreaded question, I have to ask: the whole nepotism thing. Still an issue, always an issue?
Sumner: I just get bored with the mention of it… Would rather talk about anything else.
At the same time though, touring with your dad, and The Police, you haven’t necessarily avoided the whole thing?
Sumner: It’s just one of those things. You sort of either directly approach it or combat it or try and get over it or avoid it…and it all amounts to the same thing. So we just suck it up and take the good opportunities when we can… Even if I was a street sweeper, I’d get the same thing.
What’s it like as a band playing stadiums then going back to a small club tour, and making that sort of mental adjustment?
Sumner: It helped us get used to playing, and being professional about it…’cause as a support band in a stadium, usually there’s no one there. So you kind of just get used to “doing your thing” no matter what. You could get no reaction, or an amazing reaction and you still give it everything… So now when we play clubs and we start off the set and the crowd looks a bit scared at first, you can still give it your all. Give it everything, not hesitate.
For more info on Fiction Plane check out www.FictionPlane.com or www.Myspace.com/FictionPlane.
Photo courtesy DZR Images.
–Brent X Mendoza
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