Mark Richardson(Drummer) from Feeder chats to Room Thirteen.
Room Thirteen: You originally played for Skunk Anansie. How does the Feeder experience compare to that of the Skunk Anansie days?
Mark Richardson: It's a different day, a different band, different people, different songs and it's just different!
R13: Having joined Feeder at a particularly troubled time did you or do you feel that there is a pressure to live up to certain standards set by your predecessor?
MR: No. I am just myself. Jon was Jon and I am me. I have different ears than Jon but we both come from more or less the same direction.
R13: What do you feel you have brought musically to Feeder?
MR: Meat and potatoes.
R13: Do you get on with other band members socially as well as musically?
MR: Not so much when we're not on tour but definitely on the road. We hang out on the bus and on stage all the time.
R13: April 4th saw the release of "Feeling the Moment" which is the second single release from the album "Pushing the Senses". What has been the reaction so far?
MR: It has all been good so far. Really promising in Europe yet luke warm here in the UK but I think that was because we released two mellow tracks first. We need to get some rockin' shit out. So the next single is 'Pushing The Senses'
R13: Do you have plans to release any other singles from the album?
MR: Apart from "Pushing the Senses" there's possibly going to be one more.
R13: Are there any plans for a sixth album?
MR: Grant is constantly writing so I can't see why not.
R13: You are playing many festivals this summer, which are you looking forward to the most?
MR: Werchter festival, Gelsenkirshen, Oxygen festival, Rock Am Ring festival, Rheinkultur festival and of course Download festival.
R13: It's the first year Download have included a third day, so how do you feel to be headlining it?
MR: Fantastic! It's always an honour to headline a festival. We should be bringing some oldies out of the closet and I'm not talking about Grant!
R13: Do you feel any pressure to perform especially as it is new concept for download?
MR: No, we'll go out there and do our thing. It's no good trying to be something we're not.
R13: You have a couple of gigs coming up with REM and one with U2. How does it feel to support such prestigious bands?
MR: Very cool indeed but we have to remember to enjoy it as U2 dates don't come around so often. I did some when I was with Skunk and they really look after you. For the biggest band in the world, they're very down to earth.
R13: Are there any other iconic bands you would like to play with?
MR: If I could turn back time maybe Nirvana
R13: With three years of service under your belt what are you hoping to achieve with the next three years?
MR: Happiness, enjoyment and continued piece of mind.
R13: Do you feel you have found your place with Feeder or do you have plans to move on?
MR: I'm not going anywhere today. Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow.
For more infomation on Feeder please see their website here.