Coventry newspaper
The Observer carried a story this week by
Matthew Bates with a feature on Tom Clarke entitled
'We'll Live And Die By Our Fans'. The article is reproduced below
(please visit The Coventry Observer website for more stories) for fans to read:
IF THERE'S one thing you expect to hear from The Enemy front man Tom Clarke, it's honesty.
The confident, and sometimes outspoken, Cov kid has always made his views clear on the band's chances of success as well as the current state of British music.
So when Clarke says he's more excited about the band's next album than their platinum debut, it's time to sit up and listen.
Speaking to the
Observer's
Matt Bates before Thursday's gig at city nightclub S7VEN, the 25-year-old predicted 2012 could be the biggest in the band's six-year history.
Along with a new album, they are even planning their biggest ever show in their home city. He remained tight lipped on details, but said it was not going to be at the Ricoh Arena or see them return to headline the Godiva Festival.
Tomorrow's (Thurs 16/02/12) show is a little smaller, with a capacity of 600, but will see the filming of the video for their latest single,
Gimmie The Sign.
Fans were so desperate for tickets they sold out in 90 seconds and in a sign of gratitude Clarke and band mates Andy Hopkins and Liam Watts even plan to give the single away for free.
It's a typically bold move from Clarke, who hasn't been shy of making sweeping statements since the band flew onto the scene with debut album
We'll Live and Die in These Towns in 2007.
In December, he caused controversy by saying the music industry was in an
'appalling' state, even claiming - in half jest - that it
"looks like we'll have to save music again".
The Enemy's second album
Music for the People, released in 2009, was rushed, according to Clarke, and although it reached number two in the charts it failed to reach the heights of the first.
"Our fans are some of the most loyal fans in music," said Clarke.
"We were the secret band at V Festival last year and only expected a half-full tent but when it was announced just hours before we had 60,000 people trying to log on to our website which pretty much made it crash.
"We owe them a debt which is why we're giving the first single away for free. Bands need to realise without their fans they are nothing."
However, his controversial comments have undoubtedly heaped more pressure on the trio's shoulders to get it right this time around. Not that it bothers them.
With time on their side, they have whittled down a shortlist of tracks from 30 to 13, with two more set to be axed before the album is released.
Clarke said it made no apologies for being a staple Enemy album, adding: "It's upbeat, exciting, guitar heavy music and I've never worked so hard in my life.
"Me and Andy sat down for five minutes the other week and said 'this is more exciting that then the first time round'. We had ideas but didn't know it was possible. Now it is because the fans are so passionate."
The unnamed album is not expected to be released until the end of the summer.
The Enemy front man gives us his views on the music industry, social networking and the city band's love away from music - the Sky Blue Army.
ON using twitter - @tomclarke_enemy:
"When we first started, the Arctic Monkeys had just begun their MySpace revolution.
"And it took me a while to understand what Facebook was and how to use it, but twitter is a whole different ball game.
"I try and make the time to talk to every fan who gets in touch although I might not get the chance to reply to everyone.
"But it's important because without the fans we're just three lads playing some tunes."
On music in the charts:
"The charts are full of insipid, manufactured rubbish.
"Take X Factor as an example; Simon Cowell has manufactured it so the show gets a Christmas number one every year.
"Thankfully it's popularity is dwindling at best after the last series but it saddens me that the chart is full of pre-existing songs written decades ago.
"There are thousands of brilliant bands and artists in the UK and the way you cement a career in music is to put the hard graft in, that's been shown ever since the Beatles.
"Now people are just a flash in the pan lasting five minutes and it's preventing real musicians from being in the chart."
On the band's second album, Music for the People:
"The second album was a brilliant album with brilliant moments on it, but it wasn't what people wanted.
"We borrowed too heavily from our own influences and it was rushed. It took just a month to mix it and that's why we've taken so much time on the third.
"We know we made mistakes but, having said that, it still got to number two in the charts and it's still something I'm proud of. There are mistakes on every album; if there weren't what would be the point of making another one?"
On Coventry City Football Club:
"These are fairly troubled times at the club obviously and that's reflected in the football.
"It needs to get better and there needs to be change from the top down.
"I haven't got involved because it's such an emotive topic but the club needs an owner that cares about its fans and about football.
"It has to be impossible for the players to put their all into the club with everything that's going on in the background."
*CREDIT: Coventry Observer/ Matt Bates
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