Exclusive Interview with Asking Alexandria’s Ben Bruce
by Michelle Oberg
Artist exposure-platform WHOOZNXT rewarded the rapidly growing online fan activity for Asking Alexandria by showcasing their talent on Jimmy Kimmel Live April 11th 2011. The U.K. metalcore band took to their role as “special guests” with the same hyped-up attitude as they would on stage for a gig like The Warped Tour (which they’ll play this summer).
Playing two tunes off their new album, Reckless and Relentless, released April 5th, pre-ticketed fans flocked to the free outdoor-stage performance. With a 4 song allotment, they opted to play “If You Can’t Ride Two Horses at Once,” Not the American Average,” “Closure,” and “Someone, Somewhere.” A question of fan recognition is notably irrelevant as the masses scream along to songs off the newly released album. The band brings forth their obvious youthfulness with exorbitant amounts of energy as they synchronically move to each number with heavy head banging, erratic movements and instrumentals to match their fierce temperament. Being a live TV production, the typical chatter that singers spew between songs was joyously absent providing an amped up set of straight music.
Mastery of screaming and singing on the same track is exceptionally achieved with Asking Alexandria, going from the soul-clenching depths of some place dark and demented to amplifying harmonies and choruses. They may look like they need a bath, and Danny (vocals) takes the aforementioned observation literally, and showers his bandmates—all H2O originating from his mouth. But that seems to be the nature of the consistently-touring, up-and-coming metal thrashers which we’ll be hearing a lot more from in 2011.
For more info, news, and tour dates check out http://www.askingalexandriaofficial.com/ and for videos from the performance see http://whooznxt.com.
(Interview)
RUKUS MAGAZINE caught up with Ben Bruce (guitars) from Asking Alexandria while they’re currently on their European tour. Here is what he had to say:
RUKUS MAGAZINE: Asking Alexandria was originally conceived under a completely different musical style, and members, why did you decide to keep the same name?
BEN BRUCE: The initial core of the band was still in tact at that point, so we decided it just made sense to continue along with the name even though we brought in different members.
RM: How did you guys get together to form AA?
BB: Danny (vocals) and I grew up together in York, England and were best buddies growing up. We had very similar musical interests and that was basically how this whole venture started. It’s the
yin-yang type of relationship we have with each other that makes ASKING ALEXANDRIA work and fuels our fire to one up ourselves with each release.
RM: I overheard you at House of Blues during The Black Veil Brides Show being challenged by I See Stars to which band is the better tequila drinker. Who won?
BB: It wasn’t even a challenge and I genuinely feel bad for anyone that is foolish enough to enter into a contest like this with us.
RM: What was your first impression of playing in the U.S.?
BB: To be honest, we feel that there is really no difference between U.S. and U.K. audiences. We treat each performance the same and give it 110% anytime whether there are 500 or 5,000 people in attendance. We started out playing very small venues in America and we knew that if we gave it everything we had each night it would pay off and get us to where we are now. Everyone starts at the same spot and we are really lucky to have such diehard support. Our fans are everything to us.
RM: Is your fan base different in the U.S. than in the U.K.?
BB: Oddly enough, we broke in North America first, but we are gradually starting to sell out bigger venues throughout Europe and the U.K. It’s all starting to come together, but honestly, the fans are equally amazing across the world.
RM: Is this your first time playing The Warped Tour? What are your expectations?
BB: Yes, this is our first time on Warped Tour. We expect brutally hot, long days with even bigger parties at night. This is a huge opportunity for us to play in front of many new faces and we plan on holding nothing back. This is going to be the definitive ASKING ALEXANDRIA experience and we hope you can all make it out to hang out with us and witness this spectacle.
RM: Do you know any of the other bands on the tour?
BB: Yeah, we know a lot of these bands and are stoked to be on tour with such great artists. This tour has something for everyone and I am really excited about it.
RM: What’s the last full album you listened to?
BB: Steel Panther’s Feel the Steel album. Absolutely phenomenal and if you haven’t picked it up, you are truly missing out on one of the best 80’s, anthemic, hard rock albums.
RM: If you could have dinner with any one person, who would it be?
BB: Bruno Mars. The guy is a true talent and someone I would really enjoy having a private conversation with.
RM: What was your first CD purchased?
BB: Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction; easily one of the best albums of all time.
RM: First Concert?
BB: Something terrible that my parents took me to. It was so bad I totally blocked it out of my memory.
RM: First Instrument?
BB: Guitar. It was what I was meant to do and I knew it as soon as I picked it up.
RM: What do you want on your tombstone?
BB: Lived fast, played hard and looked damn good doing it.
RM: Do you have any phobias?
BB: Running out of liquor during a party.
RM: What’s the most disappointing concert you have ever seen?
BB: I don’t like to talk shit on bands and I always like to find something positive to take from any live experience.
RM: What are 5 things most people don’t know about you?
BB: I love pasta, I can’t put down my new Ibanez guitars, I like shitty beer, I love fast cars and rollercoasters, and I’ve got tattoos in odd places.