- Music
- 14 Oct 03
Getting Their Clause Into You
With a Rolling Stones support under their collective belts, it seems that nothing can stop The Cooper Temple Clause. Except perhaps their fondness for the gargle.
Question: How many members of The Cooper Temple Clause can you fit in a Mini Cooper?
Answer: Three, at a push, plus your correspondent (although it’s recommended you confiscate the keys).
Notorious trouble-making bass player Didz is riding up front, rooting through the glove compartment for the aforementioned keys – inciting nervous twitches from car owner and label exec Stephen Power, peering helplessly through the driver’s window – with Kieran and Dan neatly sandwiched in the back.
We’re stationed in the car park of Dublin’s Point Theatre prior to the band’s slot supporting the grandfathers of rock, the Rolling Stones; our unconventional interview locale is the result of the headliner’s tighter-than-a-nun’s-arse security.
The band’s last minute addition to the bill is yet another cause for celebration for the Reading sextet. ‘Promises, Promises’, the first single from their critically acclaimed sophomore album Kick Up The Fire And Let The Flames Break Loose, having rocked into the UK singles chart at an impressive number 19 – the band’s highest ever entry.
“That song was a good bridge because this album is quite different from the first one, and we didn’t want to confuse too many people,” says Ben, with a wry smile.
September sees the band embark on a hectic three continent tour.
“Any band will tell you being on tour can be quite stressful and exhausting,” resumes Ben. “But the fact is, that you get to see the world and do what you love so you can’t really grumble. Plus, a lot of the time the exhaustion is self-induced if you carry on getting absolutely wasted every night.”
Indeed, the band are renowned for their fondness for the sauce.
“It’s just that it’s very easy to do,” explains Didz. “We’re not very clever so we kind of do what’s there. Like, say we’re in this car right now, we’ll drive the car around, but if the car weren’t here, we wouldn’t have done it. It’s a very similar principle with alcohol.”
Perhaps they should get some tips from the Stones.
The Cooper Temple Clause’s Kick Up The Fire
And Let The Flames Break Loose album is out
now on BMG
