RFC Interview: Black Rebel Motrocycle Club

In support of their latest album, Baby 81, Black Rebel Motorcycle are back in town tonight for a headlining gig at The Vic. After taking a slight acoustic folk detour on their previous album, Baby 81 has been heralded as the band's "return to rock" or, in less favorable terms, a "return to form." RFC caught up with guitarist and vocalist Peter Hayes just before the band headed out to start their current North America tour to discuss the new material and how its holding up so far live.

Download: BRMC - "Took Out A Loan"

So, are you guys already tired of fielding questions about how Baby 81 is your "return to rock?"

[laughs]...umm, it's come up a lot. I dunno...I didn't know we had left! [laughs again]

But you know what I mean right? Literally almost every piece written about the new record so far makes some reference to that.

Yeah, yeah...but as far as I'm concerned, Howl [the last BRMC record] was as much rock and roll as anything else to me. Maybe I'm off base, maybe I'm way out of touch, but to me [rock] encompasses more than just loud guitar.

Speaking of those loud guitar parts on Baby 81, how is the new material coming together live?

It's good...[but] still working on stuff as far as putting it all together.

What songs are clicking the best so far?

Weapon of Choice...and 666 Conducer, we just figured out how to do that yesterday. We weren't sure if that was going to work. We were trying to make it sound too much like the record and it wasn't really working as far the acoustic guitars. So we're probably going to amp it up a little more and make it more of a space-out kind of jam.

Looking into the future, how many more albums you think BRMC has in them?

Wow, that's a good question...I'd love to keep on making it as long as we can, [but] I really can't say you know? I think it's interesting as far how you see The Stones still going, you see Dylan still playing music...I really dig the idea of living this until you die. That's kind of where I started, there's no back-up plan. You know, like mom and dad saying, "make sure you have something to fall back on"? That didn't happen [for me]. It's living this until it's over and I'm in to that idea, you know? And I'm hoping I'll be able to do that...and I'm hoping in this band, but you never know.

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BRMC's brand new album BABY 81 is in stores now! Catch them on tour!
May 31 2007
Webster Hall New York, New York
Jun 1 2007
Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 2 2007
9:30 Club WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Jun 4 2007
Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio
Jun 5 2007
The Music Mill Indianapolis, Indiana
Jun 6 2007
City Hall Nashville, Tennessee
Jun 7 2007
Roxy Theatre Atlanta, Georgia
Jun 9 2007
Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Jun 10 2007
The Social Orlando, Florida
Jun 12 2007
Zydeco Birmingham, Alabama
Jun 13 2007
The Republic New Orleans, Louisiana
Jun 14 2007
Meridian Houston, Texas
Jun 15 2007
La Zona Rosa Austin, Texas
Jun 16 2007
House of Blues Dallas, Texas
Jun 17 2007
Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jun 19 2007
University Theatre Las Vegas, Nevada
Jul 7 2007
T In The Park Festival Kinross, Scotland
Jul 8 2007
Oxygen Festival Dublin, Dublin
Jul 10 2007
Leadmill Sheffield
Jul 11 2007
Academy Liverpool
Jul 12 2007
Met University Leeds
Jul 14 2007
Dessau Festival Dessau
Jul 16 2007
Paradiso Amsterdam
Jul 17 2007
Dour Festival Dour
Jul 18 2007
Sommerset House London
Jul 19 2007
Pyramid Portsmouth
Jul 20 2007
Anson Rooms Bristol
Jul 21 2007
Rock City Nottingham
Jul 24 2007
Gray Hall Copenhagen
Jul 25 2007
KB Malmo
Jul 27 2007
Storsjoyran Festival Ostersund