Interview с Negative : DARKSIDE.ru

Your new album "Karma Killer" shares its name with Robbie Williams’ and “Linking Park” songs. Are they related in some way?

Actually, I think it has nothing to do with those songs. But I am a big fan of Robbie. Choosing the title for a new album is like naming a baby. So I don’t know...Maybe it has to do something with Robbie’s song. Because I have to admit that I haven’t even heard “Linking Park”’s version. And I love Robbie’s song. Actually, we were thinking of playing it. We only did covers of Neil Young and some Led Zeppelin at the festivals two years ago. Only for live shows we can do at least Robbie’s “Karma Killer”. I believe in karma, that there are two kinds of karma: good karma, bad karma and that we should treat people like we want them to treat us.

Yeah, actually it was something I wanted to ask you about that. Because you have so many religious images in your songs like devils, angels, sinners, lost souls and you have Jesus Christ tattooed on your arm. So do you believe in God?

I believe. I am really spiritual person since my childhood. My mother, she taught me how to pray.

Is she a Lutheran or a Catholic?

Catholic. But I don’t believe in church. I have my own image of my God and what it looks like: an old man with a great beard and stuff like that. I have always been really spiritual and I believe in things which I see with my own eyes. And I have seen some things and they proved that there is something after death. Some kind of spiritual trip when we pass away. Soul will continue..I don’t know...I think that there is that karma-thing in that way: how we work and how we do in general during our lifetime on Earth, it has something to do where is your place after you pass away. You know what I mean? I have my personal faith, I’m not a fanatic. I know and I feel really satisfied, I feel really good , safe with my own God.

You are from Tampere and you not that frequent guest in Helsinki. What is so attractive about Tampere and is Helsinki music scene different from one in Tampere?

I have lived in Tampere since I was born. All my friends and relatives are there. I don’t see any reasons why I should move away from Tampere. I think it’s really nice. ...Music in Tampere. Maybe it is going even stronger than in Helsinki these days. It’s a new LA., I would compare it with L.A. in a mini size. There is a lot of great bands coming ... and shitty ones – it’s natural. I think it is only good thing that there is new generation of live music. People go to concerts more than they used to, there are many new bands .So it is really nice. There is really huge music scene in Tampere now. It used to be like that in the 80’s, and then there is some king of break until the middle of 90’s.But now..We were the first band that came from Tampere and now there are many. And it’s nice. It doesn’t matter where you come from, musically or whatever. It doesn’t matter where you come from. I just like Tampere. It is good and safe town to live.

By the way, about safety. Nowadays you get a lot of public attention. What is your attitude towards it?

First of all I was a little bit confused, of course. Anyone would be. But in Finland it is somehow different. It hasn’t changed me. People usually say “I’m still the same person”. Honestly I have to say I ...Perhaps, I’m more aware because of all the shit around me. But I always have my gorillas with me so I don’t have to be that asshole to everybody (grinning).But I’ve never been in trouble because of band or my publicity, you know. I have my places, certain places I like to go to, to have some free time or whatever. It’s not so hectic here in Finland, thank God! Otherwise I would be insane or something. I knew the risks when we started a band. But in my dream the positive side was much more heavier than negative. And I don’t think about that kind of negative things at all (grinning at fresh-made play of words).

Looking back at your first album from your current position, would you change anything musically?

Musically?... I can’t, even in these days, I can’t listen to the "War of Love". That’s the truth. It is always, when you have done something, created something, you feel that “It is the best thing I have ever done”. But in a few years you hear it and hear everything in a totally different way. So... I mean there are good moments in "War of Love", always when I’m listening to the music, I always hear all worst things that I would like to change. I’m that kind of person...It depends on day: what I feel like. Today I feel it’s the best song and tomorrow I feel different. But that is only humanistic.

What foreign audience do you like the best? Which country do you like the best for touring?

We’ve been blessed as a band to be able to make shows in many different countries. It feels like especially Russia is one those great countries to make tour. But also...Germany... Anywhere in Europe. I can’t name which one is better and which one is worse. All live shows abroad have been great. And I only remember the latest one. That’s how I feel. The band is as good as our latest show was. I’m concentrating on what is now and what future has to give to me.

Have you ever forgotten your lyrics on stage?

Of course! And today my microphone went off - it didn’t work during the first song. During a live show anything can happen and that is the salt of touring. Every show is always different.

Are the forgotten lyrics your most embarrassing stage experience?

I’ve dropped my microphone many times. Once... (face shows heavy doubts “to tell or not to tell”) Yeah, I need to to tell you about that ... About tits. We were in Germany ... I can’t remember the name of a city. They have that kind of tradition, and in Sweden there was the latest case of that too. To show their boobs to the band. And that’s the good way to make me forget the lyrics. The song we were doing was some really sensitive ballad and then I saw those gorgeous... amazing tits. I mean I love tits since my childhood. I have some kind of obsession for tits.

Aren’t you afraid that after this interview all the girls in audience will be showing you tits trying to make you happier?

(laughing) I’m gonna blissfully die of happiness. But in Sweden when it happened, the point was that I forgot the lyrics totally! I went totally red, like a little boy. You won’t get used to it, you know. I am easily confused. And all other guys were looking at me like: “What the f*** are you doing? Why aren’t you singing your part” and I just pointed at the audience:”Check that out!” And that kind of little things can make your show to be, you know, unforgettable. It’s really nice.

"Karma Killer" was the first album recorded without Sir Kristus. At what point did you decide that you will be going different ways?

Actually it was a long time. It was quite natural. I think everyone of us, we sensed his direction during long period, you know. In life generally our ways sometimes go together and sometimes there is a crossroads. We came to that point that we can’t go on with this group. There were two options: to break the whole band or telling him that he needed to change himself. And actually I felt like he didn’t want to change himself and don’t want to force anyone. I mean we should live as we like to live because it is quite short time that we are over here. So we should enjoy our time.

Is it true that once during the tour Kristus just disappeared somewhere for some time?

Yeah, in China. A “little accident” happened. But that’s life, that’s rock’n’roll and anything can happen... But not such kind of thing. Being in this band, after 3 albums, you should know that you have responsibility for the band. We were really worried if we can handle a sh

ow. Anybody didn’t know where he is. He was somewhere for 8 or 10 hours, it’s quite long time. These kind of things they suck your energy. I want to concentrate for the show. But he is doing his own things and i wish him all the good things, only good things for the future.

I heard that recently you were poisoned in the bar. What do you think- was it someone’s stupid joke or do you have enemies?

I don’t know... I have a lot of friends, but I think I have a lot of enemies also...You can’t please everybody. But that’s like... Shit happens. Thank God, nothing serious happened to me..I don’t know... I’m still alive. I think it was cocaine. The most f***ed-up part was that I didn’t know what it was. So everybody, I wanna tell you – it is a good example, so beware and watch your drinks in a bar!

Once I heard you threw a TV out of the hotel room. Was it a bad program on TV or you are just trying to lead as rock’n’roll life as possible?

(smiling) It was actually a bad program. They were showing some hip hop thing. I have a really wide taste in music, but it doesn’t include hip hop. There is a few exceptions: Paleface, from Finland, he is really good. Eminem and actually 2Pac. I love music that has really strong melody, not if it’s like “tup-tup-tup-tup”. But I like R’n’B. I like to shake my ass.

Hah, speaking about shaking your ass: do you do any sports or is stage appearance quite a good workout itself?

I run. But when we are doing many shows in a row, I don’t run, because when you are on stage it is quite exhausting and that’s enough. But in my free time i like to do running. It is also good for my lungs. I have really bad lungs since my childhood. I was almost this close to die when I was about 8 years old. But now it’s getting better: it is easier to sing and everything. I get a lot of energy from it. You don’t have to think about anything. That’s good! You just run. I like running in the forest, to do running in the middle of nature. I love to hear the singing of the birds, you know...Feel the grass...Everything... (with a shy smile) I’m really boring; I know it sounds really boring.

Oh, no. You sound very romantic actually. And at the end of the interview - some facts about you which appeared in different media. Could you “Yes/No” comment on them? The first one is that your favourite Finnish band is “TikTak" (Finnish analogue of "Spice Girls" - auth.).

Yes, it’s true. They finished their touring and actually they don’t exist anymore. Still I like some of their songs. It was kinda cute – six girls in a band and they were doing really good But it’s true. At some point it was one of my favourite bands.

Is it true that you worked at a kindergarten?

Yeah, it’s true. I was there one and a half year. Actually i was in two different places and it was really nice.

So I guess all these kiddies there, nowadays they are the biggest fans of the Negative?

(laughing) I don’t know. Maybe.

And the last one: is it true that you were crying watching “Titanic”?

Yes. And I was alone when I went to the movie theatre. I went there alone and most of the people in the room were girls, I was surrounded by girls. And at some point, when Jack was drowning, I realised that I was crying. And I watched around and all the girls were staring at me: “What is he doing?” I was a big fan of that song "My Heart Will Go On". Cause there are a lot great memories about it. My first love... She was a big fan of Lenoardo Di Caprio. And I lost my virginity, you know, during the song ...So to say my ship also arrived at the port.

"My ship arrived at the port", - we finished our conversation on this intimately ambiguous or ambiguously intimate point. Let’s hope that Jonne and “Negative”’s ship will also arrive to our port in the nearest future and we will be able to hear guys playing live the new songs from "Karma Killer" in Russia.

Interview by Victoria Maksimovich

We would like to thank Taija Holm (ProPromotion), Minna Rinne(HyperProductions), Tiina Vuorinen(LiveNation) for their help arranging the interview.
21 июн 2008 the End


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