NME
You're practically a resident here...
"It's ridiculous.. I've been here too many
times! This might have to be the last time
we play Reading!"
You don't mean that.
"Well, shit! The only person that was here before me was Bruce Dickinson - but he was
here in Samson in 1961 or something."
From the stage you were giving Reading a
lot of love. What's so special about it?
"Reading to me seems like the
quintessential rock festival. Not necessarily
like a Donington or like a Glastonbury, but
to me it just seems like the cool festival, the
one where you can have everyone from Iggy
Pop to Sonic Youth to Prodigy."
What's it like standing onstage headlining
Carling Weekend: Reading Festival?
"It's insane. I don't really get nervous
for this gig. I've been nervous before for
other festivals, but coming to Reading is
like playing your home town. Which is
ridiculous 'cos it's fucking 6,000 miles away
from where I'm from! But there's something
about it - it seems like being at Reading
is just meant to be. I don't get nervous
because I feel like I'm completely at home."
How does headlining with the Foos
compare with playing here with Nirvana?
"Well, Nirvana only played here twice and
Foo Fighters have played here five times...
But I tell you, getting up and playing drums
tonight, and singing backups for our song 'Cold Day In The Sun' did give me the
beautiful sense of deja vu, in that I haven't
been in that position for 13 or 14 years."
Your next UK appearance will be with
Oasis at the end of year. Last week you
covered 'Lyla' and then made a disparaging
comment about the lyrics. Are you still
looking forward to that show?
"I'm sure Noel's fine! I love the Oasis guys
- they're hilarious. Whenever I bump into
them they're either showing me pictures
of their kids or they're talking about music
in general. I don't expect those guys to like
my band..."