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Interview with Larry Love of Negative, by Margarita Khartanovich
First of all, congratulations on the release of Negative’s new album ‘Neon!’ It looks like the band has genuinely grown up.
Yeah, so far it is our best album. In some way it was resulted by the atmosphere during the recording sessions which was different from the usual one: Los Angeles, the sun and fun. It was for the first time when we worked like that. Jonne, Snack and I were working at the songs together sharing our ideas. We had some ready-made recordings on our computers which were there for two years already and more.
Which of songs from the album is your favourite?
I like Celestial Summer. And I think Kiss of Hope is interesting too as I wrote that melody when I was 16 or 17. I had another band (Shannon) back then.
You were singing in the previous band, before Negative. Why did you stop?
I sing a lot when I play guitar at home making some new songs. As for those times, Negative needed a guitar player. It was half a year after I met Jonne and we became friends. The other band was a little bit different – they were not dedicated to the music and I knew that. Sooner or later they would start doing something else. But Jonne was so much into this thing. I had the same feeling and was thinking how I could go forward. When I was a teenager I used to tell my Mum and Dad that I was going to be a rock star or I’d rather hang myself. They were like ‘you cannot quit the school; you will not succeed with your band’. It’s like ‘one in a million’ chance and blah blah blah. And, of course, I knew that but I didn’t give a damn.
And so you dropped out of school, didn’t you?
I almost finished it. There are 75 courses that we have to take here in Finland. And I have something like 13 left. But then we had so many gigs with Negative. Well, I don’t regret it. I used to attend the high school for adults when I had free time but then I quitted it too.
So, was it passion for music or passion for fame that drove you?
For music. The whole ‘band’ thing; touring and stuff. I read a lot of books about Aerosmith and realized that that was what I wanted to do. That lifestyle of a rock star! When I was at school, I hated to get up at a certain time and to do the same things day after day. There is so much more that one can do. Now things are not planned in advance, we just move forward and forward. And I see the bright future of Negative!
How was it to work with a new producer, Jimmy Westerlund?
It’s always interesting to try different things with different producers. For example, once Jimmy had this idea ‘let’s get really drunk and try to record some song’. We did it and started recording ‘Fucking Worthless’. The next day we listened to what we managed “to create” that night, and several minutes were enough for us to understand that we should never do it ever again. We are not used to playing drunk. We did it before, during the first album. You know, alcohol influences your brain, like, you remember the song but you play it too slowly. I get more inspiration when I’m sober.
How could you characterize your band members?
Jay is a kind of a basic, straightforward man. He likes eating, drinking, having sex, going to the gym. That’s our drummer. Snack is really nice, light and creative. Jonne, Snack and I are the ones who offer ideas for Negative, some creative force. Antti is more often together with Jay, they listen to the same music.
And what kind of music do you prefer?
When I’m at home, I like listening to music that is not that fast; I like pretty, slow songs. When I go to the gigs of other bands, I don’t quite watch them – I look at the way they play, especially the guitar because I play it too. That’s how I learn. Anyway sometimes I try to just enjoy the gig. I don’t listen to the radio. So I don’t know any new bands.
You are often compared to Slash. How do you find this comparison?
Well, It’s ok to me (laughing). I like Slash. When I was young I had two idols: Joe Perry and Slash. And Hendrix.
Do you want to play like them?
Everybody should have his own style. And honestly I want to have my own one.
Negative plays an old classic rock sound. How did you end up playing in this style?
It came naturally. First Negative was a cover band. They played covers mostly before I joined them. And they had that old-school, rock’n’roll style of playing. And I also liked Jimi Hendrix and things like that. It was not planned at all; we didn’t quite make it sound like this.
Why do you think Negative is so successful nowadays? There is not a single magazine in Finland that wouldn’t have written about you, and you tour a lot and pretty often all around Europe, Russia, Japan, China, Mexico.
We wanted it like nothing else. My concern is, if you really want something and believe that you can do it, then you will get it for sure. When we released our 3rd album and the single went to number 4, then number 1 in charts and radio stations started to play it a lot, then we realized that we had made it happen!
Any plans for the next album?
Not so far. But I have some songs already.
At the end of your gigs you always throw roses to the audience. Did you pick it up from Guns N’ Roses?
It started during our first tour when our manager Tommi came up with that idea to give flowers to the fans. We had 100 roses that time. We thought it could be nice to do that at the end of each gig. To be frank, we don’t always remember to buy roses. It’s Tommi’s job anyway.
You also had a gig at Tammerfest here in Tampere. How does it feel to perform in your home town?
It is nice, of course, but a bit nervous as you know lots of people here and they know you pretty close.
How do you see the future of music in general?
The next thing is the new equipment when you can listen to music surrounded by it – full immersion. People won’t have to do anything. Electric things will do everything for them.
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