By Jeff TerichAssistant Tempo Editor
When a band is subject to endless, dubious labels from critics,it’s often hard to live down the hype.
Such is the case for San Francisco-based Black Rebel MotorcycleClub, who can’t seem to be mentioned without being compared to TheJesus and Mary Chain.
“People are latching on to that one,” singer and guitarist PeterHayes said. “That we sound a lot like them. I don’t think we do. Thefirst time around you get a lot of this, I guess. And after the firstalbum, that’s just what happens.”
Though BRMC can’t avoid being called the second coming of Jesus,it isn’t the only hype surrounding Hayes, bassist Robert Turner anddrummer Nick Jago. BRMC are favorites of fellow musicians as well,including Johnny Marr and Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, which has beenmentioned frequently since the release of their debut, B.R.M.C. Butthe band isn’t complaining.
“I think it helps,” Hayes said. “I respect those bands too, soit’s nice to hear.”
The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will be embarking on a month-longAmerican tour with Spiritualized in April.However, because of this tour, the band will not be playingCoachella, as they had been previously scheduled.
“We’ll be in Chicago,” Hayes said. “We tried to work it out. Thedeal was we would have to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles, fly ourgear, then fly back to Detroit. We already said yes to this tour, andit’s kind of a drag, but hopefully there will be another year,another Coachella.
“We’ve already kicked our asses all year, and it’s kind of anotherass kickin’ to fly back and forth and deal with that.”
After playing their dark, psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll for Americanaudiences, BRMC will be touring Europe, where their album wasrecently released. And, according to Hayes, the initial reaction hasbeen positive.
“The press has been pretty nice so far,” Hayes said. “We’re justsort of putting our name out there, and people are coming to shows.It’s great. We had 2,000 people in London. So far, it’s a goodstart.”
In-between the seemingly endless touring, the band took a day tofilm the video for their latest single, “Spread Your Love,” which isstill in the process of being edited.
“It worked out the way we wanted it to,” Hayes said. “It wasbasically a backyard barbecue and a party, and we tried to have funwith it instead of having big business involved. I think we got awaywith it. And we have something to work with, too.”
After the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s upcoming tours, there is apossibility that they will record a follow-up to B.R.M.C., if theycan find the time.
“We’ll be bouncin’ around for a little while,” Hayes said. “Wehave a lot of it started. We’ve got the songs. We just gotta get thetime.”
Time will tell, after the release of the band’s next album, if thepress will continue spreading the word of Jesus. While the hype canput pressure on the band to dodge the sophomore slump, Hayes, Turnerand Jago are trying to look past it.
“The pressure is gonna be there,” Hayes said. “It helps, it hurts,like anything else. It’s hard to jump on it too much because we’rejust trying to continue and get another album out there. I think thesongs are strong and speak for themselves. It’s very frustrating, butthe pressure’s all part of it.
“But we have pressure of our own; we’re kickin’ our own asses.
“So f**k ’em.”
