Skysports.com chats with Feeder frontman Grant Nicholas on all things World Cup, football and music.
Skysports.com chats with Feeder frontman Grant Nicholas on all things World Cup, football and music
Unless you have been living under a rock for almost 10 years, you will have at some point heard the tune of 'Buck Rogers' by Feeder over the public address system of a football stadium or played across a highlights montage.
Although it seems like only yesterday that the popular rock band first burst onto the scene, they are preparing to release their seventh studio album, 'Renegades', on 5th July through their own new label, Big Teeth Music.
The 11-track album explores Feeder's heavier, energetic side, while single, 'Call Out', is already available to buy and a busy summer of festival headline appearances is planned.
October will then see the band return to the road for their first tour since 2008, so with a hectic schedule on the horizon,
skysports.com jumped at the chance to have a chat with frontman and lead guitarist Grant Nicholas on all things football and music.
What are the World Cup moments that stand out for you?
Well, most of my memories are from when I was younger, before I became involved in music. My earliest memory is from when Argentina won in 1986, that was a really exciting time for football and there were some amazing players around.
Growing up in South Wales I used to play a lot of rugby when I was younger, but there was a real buzz around that time. I remember buying the shirts and going around to a different mate's house for each game. I seem to recall it being a pretty good summer as well; we played a lot of football outside.
I remember watching the game between Argentina and England and when Diego Maradona did the 'Hand of God' and no-one could really tell what had happened. The TV coverage wasn't like it is today, it just happened so quick.
The World Cup is so exciting though, even people I know that don't really follow football get excited about the World Cup.
So are you and the rest of the band big football fans?
We'll stop to watch a match or take time out if a big game is on. We've been on Soccer AM a couple of times and we had a really good time on there. Our music gets used a lot around the grounds and on big games and we've had some great moments with that. Music and sport go together really well and I think it's an important part of the TV build-up and hype.
The new single, 'Call Out', could be popular on the terraces?
The new album is more of a return to our earlier heavier stuff, 'Call Out', is one of the more poppy tracks on there. But people who have seen us on our Renegades tour have said it's a lot more like our first album, 'Swim'. It's a lot more of a stripped back sound, with big guitars and stuff. 'Call Out', although it's still a rock track, it's probably still one of the more accessible tracks on there.
There's a song we've done called, 'Renegades', as well, that could be quite a good one because it's chanty, and chanting is always good for sport. I've got a good feeling about, 'Renegades', but who knows? We've made a rock album and that's what we wanted to do, we didn't want to dilute the album to keep people happy.
Have you ever thought about doing an England World Cup song?
I would do it, or I would certainly give it a go but whether people would like it or not is another thing! For me, a World Cup song has to be a really good one to sing, and catchy. I'd like to think that something a little bit cooler would come
