Hello Liam of The Prodigy. What are you doing right now?
Hello Slashmusic. I’ve just got back from another tour of Japan. We go there every year. I always come back with bags full of trainers.
And lots of electronic trickery and gizmology, no doubt?
I’m not really a gadget man, Maxim is the gadget man. I can’t outdo him on that stuff. I’m Mr Basic with the equipment I need. I used to have loads of gear, but it just got too confusing, too many options. (Isn't it all just pressing a button – Ed)
What’s in your pockets?
Nothing. New pair of trousers today.
How very flash. Anyway, before we know it, it’ll be festival time again and you’re playing Download. Your new trousers will get dirty there.
We’re really up for it. The bill’s interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing how good or bad Guns N’ Roses are going to be. That should be good for a laugh.
It’s probably the loudest festival in the world. You might need some cotton wool.
It won’t be louder than our tour, I know that. It’s good for us to do things like this, we know we can carry it, it’s a good challenge.
Are you like an older statesman of the festival scene now?
Ha ha. It’s all in the head, man. As long as Primal Scream are still doing it, I’ve got an excuse.
There are sometimes a lot of strange smells coming out of the smoky tents at festivals. What’s your favourite smell?
My son’s head. He’s two.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found in a hedge?
I found a knife once. My dad made me take it down the police station. I was pleading with him not to make me give it to the police. I was 11 or something. It could have been a murder weapon. My dad gave me £20.
Have you ever been intimidated by a hairy dog?
Depends on how you’re defining hairy dog. I got intimidated by some hairy dogs in some dodgy clubs when I was 18…
Eh? Oh right, you mean ladies. How quaint. What are you most ashamed of, Liam?
The outfit I wore when the band started. Keith took it upon himself to design this outfit. It made us look like the Green Cross Code man, with green and white stripes. It was awful. I’m embarrassed about it, but you can’t turn the clock back.
No you can't. Which body part could you live without?
I couldn’t live without my hair. I could do without my head sometimes.
You're not getting any younger, though. It could just fall 'off your head'. And speaking of which, when was the last time you were 'off your head' on killer rave drugs?
New Year’s Eve. It has to be a special occasion because it’s not a quick drug to get over, it’s definitely a two-dayer. Actually come to think of it, the last time was the end of January. I just remembered another special occasion.
There was an 'r' in the month? What’s the most revolting thing you’ve ever put in your mouth?
A wasp. You know sometimes when your head just goes and you get a little confused? I had a crisp in one hand, and a wasp landed on my thumb, and for some bizarre reason, I put the wasp in my mouth. I was about 13. It didn’t sting me. I got away with it. I spat it out. I didn’t actually chew it luckily.
Lightweight! Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever vomited?
I’m a good drinker, I’m hardly ever sick. I’m not a puker.
What’s the best record you’ve ever made?
The new one I’m making at the moment.
Yawn. Everyone says that. What’s the worst record you’ve ever made?
I wouldn’t say it’s the worst, but the one I’m least happy with is ‘Baby’s Got A Temper’. I wasn’t doing it for the right reasons, I felt I had to put a record out, with the record company on my back, rather than doing what I wanted to do. I fell into some kind of routine and formula. It’s so easy to see it now, but I couldn’t at the time. I could do a remix now and make a better record out of it.
Liam out of The Prodge, thank you very much. See you at Download!
No, thank you, Slashmusic.
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