I knew I was going to Projekt Revolution for my birthday. I had a goal to rock out and rock hard, but then came this thing. I found out I’d also be interviewing Placebo at Projekt Revolution in Camden, NJ. It started out as a phone interview but somehow by some miracle, I got to do a face to face interview. My birthday just got better. I’d been a Placebo fan for a few years and in fact, they happen to be one of my favourite bands. Happy Birthday to me!
Placebo, for those of you in the dark or on substances that don’t allow you to remember anything, is a three piece (Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Hewitt), British rock band that have been doing their thing internationally for a little over ten years. In 1996, their self-titled debut album brought the world a sound unlike any other sound out there at the time. It was raw, untamed and uncensored honesty about sex, drugs, love and life backed by grinding guitars, heavy basslines and solid beats. Their latest album, Meds, has brought the band full circle and back to that same honesty. This summer they joined the Projekt Revolution tour and alongside bands like HIM, Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance (lets not forget the reason for the season Linkin Park), they have sufficiently unleashed a Revolution upon the people of North America. I got to spend some time in a very hot and humid Camden, NJ talking to bassist/guitarist Stefan Olsdal.
Even though Placebo has been around as long as they have been, American audiences still seem to be learning about them. I’ve heard other bands say it’s pretty difficult to get a break in America and that American audiences are tough. I’m not sure they’re so tough but slow, I can see. They have toured here to much smaller audiences than what they see in Europe and during PR I knew the audiences were probably even smaller. In Europe, Placebo sells out venues like the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ. “Playing to American audiences like the ones we see at festivals like this one is a chance for us to show them who we are and what we have to offer.” he told me, while looking for a lighter. (I don’t smoke so I was no help.) “It’s definitely different but we get the chance to show people who might not have the chance otherwise.” I saw a few hardcore Placebo fans at the two shows I attended but I also think there were a few people who might now be inclined to give them a listen on their own.
Their latest album, Meds, is an almost “back to basics” album for Placebo. What it offers
by Rose Spotts
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