GenQ - For the not so straight individual

This interview was a bit of a reverse for me, as I have never seen 30 Seconds to Mars live before. Clearly I know their music; I have their CDs, and I have seen them live on Internet video, but as Matt Wachter (bassist) says, ?After seeing him play tonight, that's going to answer your question,? with regards to Shannon Leto playing a drum solo.

To be quite honest, I didn't know what to expect. From all the press and media, info on the web and television, and the music buzz, I was looking to see four guys that would have a bit of a comedic side to them, or perhaps from some interviews I've read to have a joke or two. It was April Fools Day after all. But alas, I got to see a side of Shannon and Matt that happily surprised me ? deep, exceptionally gifted musicians, extremely proud of their craft; concerned about the world and the environment, brothers-in-arms when it comes to protecting themselves and each other, and willing to go the distance to ensure each band member's satisfaction and needs and wants of their fans. I also found it quite funny and sweet that when bands connect in a way that 30STM has, they tend to finish each other's sentences. This was Matt and Shannon. What would happen if I was interviewing Jared and Shannon? Perhaps another time, as I was a happy girl sitting across from what I felt were my most interesting, up close interviewees to date.

I will admit an inside tidbit. I was supposed to meet two of the band members; I didn't really care which ones. You see, I have this affinity for getting to the heart of every person I interview, and I was perhaps hoping I would get a bit of inside track on what 30STM is all about, where they wanted to go, and what surprises, bumps they have discovered along the way. What I saw during the interview, at the show and at the end of it was quite amazing! A sold out concert of 1,500 fans screaming at the top of their lungs to everything 30STM; men, women and yes myself, holding fists up in the air chatting, ?I will Attack? as I was getting lightly (I might add) slammed by a few, shall we say, ecstatic, sweat drenched fans all who by the way were extremely sweet to me, as it was clear I was a newbie in the live area. I even had a few fans look at me as if they were trying to figure out if I knew the songs. Well you can rest assured, I was rocking with the best of them as Jared Leto - lead singer of the band - screamed from my favorite tracks, Battle of One. One fan screamed to me, ?30STM just kicks ass. I fucking love them!!? One Echelon member, Tonya, said that there were about 65 die-hard fans there at Metro, apart from the band's street teams around the world. They said they have an even deeper connection, as they travel from city to city and town to town, to be in the presence of 30STM.

But let's flashback to before the concert, as we get an exclusive look at Matt Wachter and Shannon Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars. They speak about the experiences of traveling on the road, brotherhood (in some cases literally), the fans, working consecutive days and how their lives have grown and changed for the better.

[Just a bit of background, I was chatting with Matt about fans from around the world and living in Japan, and it just so happens Matt knows a little Japanese so there was a bonding moment, and I mistakenly confessed I was a bit nervous....ahhh can you feel the love? Let's listen in....]

--
30STM (Matt Wachter): I was interviewed by a girl in the 8th grade last week...and she was so nervous she couldn't even start the interview. She was just constantly...and her mom was with her. [Her] mom said, ?Just relax, he's ok, just relax.?

qp: I know...

30STM (Shannon Leto): Exactly, her mom was great!

qp: I notice that when I'm nervous I talk fast, so if I talk fast just ssllooww me down. So, queerplanet just did a review of your CD. We've been talking to Virgin Records...

30STM (both): Julie?

qp: Julie, yeah and we have 4 portals. We feature bands, movies, actors...they sent some things through to our media.

30STM (MW): SL: Yeah.

qp: And then we post things up on queerplanet.us. So anything that's...general, global, queer or queer friendly that's what we put up on our site.

30STM (MW): Cool

qp: My friend actually got me hooked on your music a few months ago and I thought it was extremely well produced. Tell me about the tour? (Shannon was curious about my recorder) it's a Japanese thing, so actually, I was in Japan... It picks up everything..

30STM (MW): Oh great.

30STM (SL): Very nice.

qp: So, the tour here. You guys have been selling out, literally...

30STM (MW): Yeah

30STM (SL): Every show!

qp: (astonished voice) Every show?! When I first got my ticket my friend was supposed to come in from New York and she got the flu so she couldn't make it. She was really upset. But I came here (Metro) and asked them how many tickets were sold, and I think it's was 1,500 I believe...

30TM (SL): Yeah, yeah.

qp: What does that feel like? You are the headliner now, every show is selling out...how are you feeling about it?

30STM (SL): It feels amazing in that people want to share that experience that we have to offer. It's great to play shows that the reception is just, overwhelming. It makes for an amazing show for me. There's so much energy!

qp: Right...

30STM (SL): ...so much...just amazing attitude is flying everywhere and I get to meet so many different people. I love it. To do signings after every show?

qp: Oh, OK...

30STM (SL): Every show we do signings and I take pictures of the fans that make stuff, you know?

qp: Cool

30STM (SL): ... 30 Seconds to Mars pictures..

qp: I'm gonna take pictures too before I leave. (laugh)

30STM(SL): Yeah! (laugh)

qp: I got my camera. (laugh)

30STM(SL): Yeah, yeah it's all good...

qp: Great!

30STM (SL): And it's cool. It's [the] Forever Night Never Day Tour. It's just another part, another extension ...30 Seconds to Mars is growing, you know?

30STM (MW): It's really nice because we have actually been an opening band for the past four or five years...

qp: Yeah, right.

30STM (MW): We played in Chicago countless times, and it's nice to come back and be a headliner and actually sell out, where before we were an opening band, that played for 20 minutes...

30STM (SL): It's just nice to see it grow like that and it's going to continue to grow.

qp: I understand that. I was telling Matt that I lived in Japan for 2 years and I actually sang a little bit. I did my first show - ONE show. I'm not a professional or anything - but I sang for 75 people so I can understand when you are first starting out, versus these massive concert arena style shows. Why did you pick the Metro?

30STM(SL): It has a lot of history.

30STM (MW): (together) Lot of history.

qp: I thought you guys would pick the House of Blues. I didn't think about Metro. I know it has a lot of history towards rock and everything as far as how people start off. They go to the Metro first then they get huge, right?

30STM (SL): Yes, It was fitting.

30STM (MW): Yeah, it was just a really...I mean we just loved this area...

qp: I love Chicago (laugh)

30STM (MW): It's great.

30STM (SL): Chicago's the coolest.

qp: Have you traveled and seen Chicago?

30STM: Have we gone around Chicago?

qp: Yeah, have you walked around a little bit?

30STM (SL): A little bit.

30STM (MW): We're usually really busy whenever we roll in...there's really not a lot of time to go and sight see and hangout.

qp: I know, why 11:30PM show? That's really late?

30STM(SL): There's actually a show happening earlier before us.

30STM (MW): Yeah, they double booked it.

30STM (SL): Yeah, there's two shows going on.

qp: See, I knew it because I called Metro and asked, ?Isn't 30STM playing on this date?? They had another band there. I think it was an issue there.

30STM (SL): Yes, there was a thing there. We just came to play.

qp: So, I always ask the drummer this...because you have, the guitar. The guitarist is the man or woman who's leading the band in a way and so with the drums. I think it's hard to be front man. Do you have a solo act or do you just play? Sometimes bands have solo acts like the guitarist gets a little love.

30STM (SL): Yeah, I understand the question. [Turns to Matt] You can answer that. Do I need one? Maybe? I don't know?

qp: I don't know.

30STM (MW): You haven't seen us play before?

qp: This is my first time, I've only seen live shows on video.

30STM(MW): After seeing him play tonight, that's going to answer your question.

qp: mm hmm

30STM (SL): No solo act required.

qp: I have your music and I've heard the CDs. I've heard the live show, but it's on the Internet. You don't know...you can't feel it.

30STM (MW): We're definitely'I think that in that sense, we are a band. The unit could not go on without all four of us.

30STM (SL): Yeah...

30STM (MW): ...and what we contribute. We're a real band.

qp: So no egos?

30STM (SL): No, there's no egos.

30STM (MW): Right.

qp: That is part of my question because usually sometimes when bands don't connect [there's this sense of] ?I want my part. I want my part.? If you have a collaboration it's something special.

30STM (MW): I think any time there's a collaboration there's always going to be times when you butt heads. We all share a common vision and a common goal.

30STM (SL): Yeah, at the end of the day that's the most important thing.

30STM (MW): Yeah, so we put our petty little differences aside and just, we work it out...put the gloves on.

30STM (SL): You know...

qp: (laugh) That's good. I always ask this question when you are on the road. How is it on the road, on the bus tour? I guess that is probably a weird question.

30STM (SL): Yeah, yeah, touring on the bus is great. We actually started in cars, my brother [Jared Leto] and I and we graduated to vans, then it was an RV and now it's a bus. So you kind of learn through that whole time to give each other space, and where to kind of'when to separate.

qp: That's a good way to put it.

30STM (SL): Yeah.

30STM (MW): There's nothing than physical space to really give us more , so it's more about setting mental boundaries.

30STM (SL): Yeah, learning how to block out.

30STM (MW): ...because even though it is a bus and we're really grateful to be on it, it's still really tight quarters when you have twelve people on a bus.

30STM(SL): Yeah.

qp: Oh, all the roadies and everyone, the techs.

30STM (SL): Yeah, we're sharing space with everybody. It's great though. It sleeps twelve.

qp: Do you guys each have your own technical person?

30STM (SL): Jared, Matt and Tomo have a guitar tech. I have a drum tech who does monitors as well for everybody.

30STM (both): We have lighting guy, a tour manager?.

30STM(SL): Two merchandising guys/video guy.

qp: I like to ask the behind the scene questions, I don't know why.

30STM (SL): We might not answer it, but go ahead.

qp: It's ah...(all laugh)

30STM (MW): We can't let you too far behind the curtain. (all still laughing)

qp: No, because I know a lot of musicians, that is why I ask those questions, so it's fine. As far as the fans, what kind of fans do you have? I've heard the stories but, I always want to make sure from you guys. Is it all positive?

30STM (SL): We have dedicated fans. We have fans that, uh....amazing fans. We have fans that come over from Japan, rent a car and travel to each show with us.

qp: They love you.

30STM (SL): Yeah...

qp: They don't have it in Japan.

30STM (SL): No, Mexico as well. We had Argentineans a couple of days ago I think and Italy was the last nine months.

30STM (MW): Yeah

30STM (SL): All over the country really, and they're really an important part of 30 Seconds to Mars. They're a part of the pie, 30 Seconds to Mars pie. We collaborate. It's kind of a collaboration in a way.

30STM (MW): They are our extended family. I look outside [the tour bus] right now and I recognize a lot of faces. We see a lot of people. A lot of the hardcore fan bases as well as a lot of new faces, which is nice. It means that it is growing, the community.

30STM (SL): What's cool about our fan base is it's a variety of different kinds of people.

30STM (MW): Different backgrounds.

30STM (SL): Different backgrounds, nationalities.

qp: So we can find a six foot tall black woman walking into the place (laugh).

30STM (SL): We have all that. We have gay, straight, pink, purple. We have everything and I think that's a direct result of the way we write'what is inside the music.

30STM (MW): I think it is...

30STM (SL): Accessible.

30STM (MW): Accessible to everyone I think. No matter what your background.

[This is called band jelling, see how they finish each others sentences :-)]

30STM (SL): We don't really live in this narrow world that a lot of people live in.

30STM (MW): ...the bubble...

30STM (SL): Yeah, we don't live in that. My brother and I, we never lived in that and we've been subjected to different cultures all our lives and that just reflects the music.

qp: Well in Chicago, with the history of segregation the whole thing was very difficult. But I think music puts people together.

30STM (both): Yeah, it does.

qp: It bonds. I don't care, blues, rock, jazz, whatever, it's it's a .... Hello?

[Enters Jared Leto] ?Hi? [door closes]

qp: It's a musical thing. So besides listening to rock, do you have other genres that you listen to?

30STM(both): Oh, yeah.

qp: What's your favorite?

30STM (MW): That's hard. That's like saying, ?What's your favorite album?? It varies.

30STM (SL): Yeah, I grew up - just to give you a little taste - I grew up listening to KISS, then Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Sade, Janis Joplin, a lot of women because I grew up with a single mom. So I listened to a lot of her albums and of women singers, and I got into Michael Jackson. I listened to everything, jazz, blues you know, opera, everything.

30STM (MW): I think it is really important. I was in a lot of different bands growing up and I think going through that, [I] was introduced to a lot of different styles of music. I went to school in Boston and learned a lot about jazz and it was primarily a jazz music school so I learned a lot about that, and that really opened my eyes to how much I really sucked (all laugh) and, um...and it was just a great learning experience and you can kind of use all that knowledge into what we do which is a great thing.

30STM (SL): Music is a language, you know. It's learning different languages. I've been fortunate enough to pick up on different music around the world and incorporate that into my playing. It is what it is. I just did that. I didn't study it; I just did it. Learning jazz, like you said, I remember I went into part of this jazz workshop and I didn't know how to read music or anything like that, so the second season was coming around and I went up to this community center for auditions. I had to audition again and that was a little confusing, because I was already in it the summer before, and so I go up and there is this sheet of music right in front, you know, so I tried, I couldn't do it.

qp: I did a little piano.

30STM(SL): Yeah.

qp: It's been a long time.

30STM (MW): That's the beautiful thing about it. It's an international language you don't really need to know how, necessarily. Take Jimi Hendrix.

qp: All the greats, they just had it inside.

30STM(SL): Yeah. That's where I...I'm more emotional that way. For me it could be interesting to learn the theory and all that, but for me it's not about that, but about the emotional content, and the sounds that come out when I hit something or strum, so that's what's really important.

30STM (MW): One of the best, one of the greatest things I have ever been told was after I went through all of my schooling and all that for music, one of my teachers came up to me and said, ?Now, forget everything that you learned here.?

qp: That's right, you're classically trained, right?

30STM (MW): Yeah.

qp: Violinist?

30STM (both): No, that's Tomo.

qp: Ah, Tomo.

30STM (ML): That's Tomo. Well, we kinda come from a similar type of background. He was a little more hardcore into it than I was, but I come from a similar background. But, I really took that to heart and I ...you know at first it was a little confusing, what do you mean forget everything I learned? But, what he was saying was rely on the emotion of it, and not so much on the technical aspect, so that's something I kept with me.

qp: Who writes the lyrics?

30STM (both): Jared.

qp: Only Jared?

30STM (SL): Only he writes the lyrics.

qp: So how do you incorporate the lyrics, say for instance you're in a different state or something or a different country? And he creates the music?

30STM (SL): It's all based on emotion. It's all based on whatever he's saying. He picks up the guitar and strums that note to relate to what he is saying or if I'm doing a drum beat, what do you feel off that drum beat? What do you feel off the bass when he starts ... whatever you feel you know what I mean, and whatever experiences you have had in your life that brings to that moment to deliver what message you need to put out.

30STM (MW): Exactly.

qp: Do you guys play acoustic when you first learn the tunes or do you go right into it?

30STM (MW): It's different. It changes from song to song. There's really no simple formula. It definitely changes from song to song. There's some songs that started out on the acoustic, some that started, like Shannon said, a keyboard and drum idea.

30STM (SL): Keyboards or drum or bass.

30STM (MW): Pretty organic.

qp: Ok, so, what do you think this show tonight is going to be like? Because we know it's sold out. I heard about New York being this massive showing; my friend was actually there (laugh).

30STM (MW): Yeah

30STM (SL): New York was great.

[We all go to my laptop to check queerplanet's website and pictures of NY the show, and the CD review I did of 30STM]

qp: This is the website that is up already but it is offline and this is me (laugh) and this is my friend?...oh you want to read the review? [Shannon looking intently at the website]

30STM(SL): No, nah, I'm just looking.

qp: I know about the NY show'there was video footage that was already on the web, but that was kind of a mad show. Does everyone always sing the lyrics at the concerts? The whole fan base?

30STM (both): Yeah.

30STM (MW): It's sometimes almost louder than the PA itself which is a great feeling, something that you can't really describe in words. It's the ultimate connection that happens.

30STM (SL): Think about it. You pick up an instrument, you play it physically with a hand or whatever, with vocals and we record that. People latch onto that, you know what I mean? It's something that comes from your...it's very personal and you're sharing that experience and people are latching onto that and reciprocating that to you. It's just this amazing, amazing, amazing thing. It's beautiful.

qp: Yes. I'm crazy about music and I think the reason why I wanted to interview you guys was because I was heavy into alternative, then I was really into rock and then I got on a blues track. I was on the blues track for seven years and I haven't heard a band I was extremely into so much as your music. All your music is on this [iRiver Media player/recorder] forget iPod, iRiver, down with iPod.

30STM: Wow!

qp: I'm really excited about this concert and this band because I think it's saying something different that I haven't heard in a long time as far as music. Do you get a lot of that when people are saying your music touched them in certain ways that they haven't felt in a while?

30STM (MW): Yeah, I think that's the ultimate compliment when again, there's that connection. You know, for me growing up, music was therapy. You're frustrated with your parents, you're frustrated with anything, you know, just growing up and music is an escape for that. We like to create an environment for escape...for kids to forget about their shitty jobs, for kids to forget about. Well let's face it...there's a lot going on in the world today.

qp: (sighs) Yeah...

30STM (MW): yeah....it's kinda depressing so this [music] is kind of an escape.

30STM (SL): Part of the escape is another way...is maybe...suggestions on how to think, you know? To open up people's minds a little bit as well.

qp: Well, I don't want to go into politics, but ...

30STM (SL): We'll leave that alone.

qp: One question I like to ask, because I know you guys have traveled a lot. You've gone all over; you went to Africa, you went all over the globe with the last tour and everything. I myself have changed, living in Japan, or my perception of things have changed. How/What you think about things, how they are and how they've been skewed a little bit? When you started to travel a lot, say you were always in the United States and you started to travel and really see different cultures, how did that affect you and how did that affect your music?

30STM (MW): I think in every way, immensely. As people, I think, for myself, it definitely made me look at a lot of things I took for granted. Being in South Africa where it's this crazy, really glaring kind of dichotomy of this absolute richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor, and I think seeing that you definitely realize the things you take for granted and the beauty of nature and the failure of mankind all together. It was definitely a life changing experience something that I will never forget.

30STM (SL): I agree with that. I remember being in Morocco and speaking musically, it opened me up a great deal. I remember being in Marrakesh, eating olives and almonds in this bag I got from one of the many stands - there were like a hundred stands, surrounding this courtyard - and there was some festival going on, some party or something going on and there were drums going, and these chants and stuff and these rhythms, clapping off beats, and for me that was amazing how people were touched. There was all this singing and this camaraderie and the drum playing and I kinda of'I think subconsciously, incorporated that into my LIVE playing. So it opened me up in just another way as opposed to not traveling to those places or just listening to the radio or something like that in Los Angeles I would have never'it would have been a lot different.

qp: You guys are touring almost every day; how is that? Is that a very hectic schedule or is it something exciting because you're seeing different people?

30STM(MW): It's hectic and exciting. At the end of the day we're beat, definitely.

30STM(SL): Yeah...but, it is exciting. We always say there's a bigger picture and ...

qp: You're trying to connect.

30STM (SL): It's work. Work's work, no matter what you do. If you want to succeed you have to work, you gotta think a little bit...you can't sit on the couch. But, it's tiring man, but I mean it's a different type of work. We're plugging it every day, we're doing interviews all the time...

30STM (MW): We're starting our video tomorrow.

30STM (SL): Yeah, that's a whole other thing.

qp: I know. Why didn't you start in Chicago? So bummed! It's Toronto right?

30STM (both): It's Toronto...

qp: I know, I was thinking about coming up there...oh well (laugh) Good city.

30STM (SL): So, we're always working.

30STM (MW): We'll sleep when we're dead.

qp: Exactly, because, you know what? I always think that right now it gets hectic and it gets crazy but then when the concert is over and you're like, ?It's over.? You've got a three month resting period before you go back into the studio and then you realize how great the experience was.

30STM (MW): Yeah, I mean, ...we definitely try to live in the moment, but it's hard when things are going so ...everything is so fast paced, it's when you really stop that everything really starts to come into focus. (laughs) We just got done touring nine months straight and we stopped, took a little break for Christmas, and that's when it really hits, ?Wow, we just went for nine months straight!? (laugh) And everything starts to [ddrrrr sound effect] slow down the machine and then we get it going again. ...

30STM (SL): Yeah.

30STM (MW): ... So, it's uh...it's weird...we're gypsies

qp: That's all right.

30STM(MW): It's great! (laugh)

qp: What kind of video is it going to be?

30STM (Both): It's a secret! Are you kidding?

qp: Come On!!

30STM (SL): It's going to be...

30STM (both): ...visually AMAZING!!

30STM (SL): It is going to be something that you'll be able to discover every time you watch...something new you'll be able to discover every time you watch it. We have a little secret director we can't tell you about, which is going to be just amazing.

qp: I wouldn't mind if we can put it on our website because we have ... we just put Korn up on our website because we have a video portal...wouldn't mind doing yours...probably talk to Virgin maybe I can get that when it comes out.

30STM (MW): Yeah, we're really excited about this one. This one is...we're actually...

30STM (SL): It's ?The Kill.?

30STM (MW): Yeah it's for ?The Kill.? The idea that we had is really coming into focus and materializing, so we're really excited about that, you know... ?Attack? was great...

qp: I love ?Attack.?

30STM (MW): It was a beautiful video, but I feel like this one is ... we really get to shine on this one. This one is really going to be exceptional.

30STM (SL): (sings) Shine!

qp: (sings) Shine! Thank you guys so much! Nice to meet you!

30STM (WM): Nice to meet you too!

Everyone, if you haven't seen this band check them on their website at: thirtysecondstomars.com to get a list of their upcoming concert dates near you. If you haven't gotten their latest CD Beautiful Lie, what are you waiting for? It's exceptional. And queerplanet will hopefully bring you the latest video, ?The Kill? as soon as the secret is out!

Also check out the busted section under Concerts/30STM