Interviews/Internet » Alloy Interviews Matt
By: Alloy.com ♣ January 2008
It's been a little over nine months since Matt Wachter joined Angels and Airwaves. So how's the former 30 Seconds To Mars bassist doing in his new gig? We caught up with Matt right before he and AVA set off on tour with The Color Fred, Ace Enders, and former Alloy bloggers Meg and Dia, and he told us what's up with the AVA movie, what it's like playing an under appreciated instrument, and why he would never egg Jared Leto's house.
So what are you guys up to these days?
Today we're starting rehearsals for the February tour. Just kind of preparing for that. And keeping busy with our website, which is launching this new platform to keep more of an interaction between us and the fans. The full version of that is launching this spring, so what's out now is kind of a soft release. We're just going really well. Keeping [ourselves] busy.
What made you jump from 30 Seconds to Mars to Angels and Airwaves?
It's funny because it wasn't actually a "jump" from one band to the other. I quit 30 Seconds to Mars last year with really no plan. I thought it was time for a change, so I quit the band and really I had no idea what I was gonna do. It was scary. I was like, "Shoot. I'm gonna work at Home Depot." I really didn't know. All the contacts you think you had all of the sudden aren’t really there anymore. Tom was one of the people I still kept in contact with on a pretty regular basis, so he called me up one night and he was like, "What are you doing?" And my calendar's pretty wide open. So he said, "We need a bass player." Well, I needed to do something. I needed a job. It ended up being much more than a job. It was definitely a life-changing move.
How does being AVA differ from being 30 Seconds to Mars?
With these guys, I've known them for a relatively short period of time, but yet I feel like I've known them my whole life. We all come from very similar musical backgrounds, so instantly we kind of all spoke the same language. We become really, really, really good friends really quickly. It's just really nice. I literally feel like I grew up with these guys, even though we grew up on opposite coasts.
How are Tom DeLonge and Jared Leto alike?
They're both workaholics. Absolute workaholics. Their wheels absolutely do not stop spinning; there's always something cooking. That's kind of the type of people I seem to gravitate towards because I have the same kind of mentality. I'm not necessarily an "idea guy," but I can get it done. If there is an idea that comes up, I'm usually the kind of the "go-to guy" -- I can figure out someway to make it happen.
Is there any bad blood between you and 30 Seconds To Mars?
No, no. We're grown ups. Of course initially it's gonna be weird when you join a new band. It's a small industry -- inevitably, you're gonna run into each other. We have, and it's been fine. It's like we're adult now, and there's no bad blood.
No egging each others' houses or anything?
No, no egging or T.P.-ing houses or anything like that. It would be kind of funny. I feel like inevitably people want to hear dirty stories, but there's really nothing to tell. I'm really proud of what we did together in that band, and they're still one of the hardest working bands. But for me, it was time for a change, and it was just the right thing for me to do at the time.
What are you listening to right now?
I'm listening to the new Sigur Ros; I'm listening to Muse on a regular basis -- they're a band that I think definitely captures that big epic rock sound as well. The new Radiohead -- I love it. They can do no wrong. Ever.
Was In Rainbows your favorite album from last year?
Yeah, I'd say so. And the way they approached it was pretty revolutionary. Granted, most bands can't do what they did just say, "Hey! Our record's for free. Donate whatever you feel like you want to." They were in a position to do that. But I think it's a good indicator kind of where the industry is headed as a whole. Kids are gonna get music whether they pay for it or not. Record labels and executives need to understand that and embrace it and figure out new ways of getting music to people.
Do you think you guys will try something in that vein?
Yeah, this new company Modlife that Tom has started -- what we're trying to do is provide an alternative for bands that are starting out. It's an opportunity to still make money and make a living because at the end of the day, if you're not making money, you really can't support yourself to do it anymore. I don't care who it is and how indie you are -- if you're not making money, if there's no money coming in, you're not gonna be able to do what you're doing for long. It costs money to make records; it costs a lot of money to tour. It's not about buying a huge mansion or the latest sports car -- it's about making a living; doing this and being able to continue to do it.
What's the deal with the AVA movie -- is it still on?
Yeah, yeah -- it's still in the works. It's projected to be released next fall. We're a little more than halfway through it. That's just kind of another one of those big undertakings. Tom said, "I want to do a movie," so then we also have a documentary about that's just about to be wrapped up. I think they're submitting that to South by Southwest this year, so that should be out later this year as well.
Do you guys all appear in the movie?
The documentary yes, but so far the movie doesn’t have anything with the band. We have characters and actors in it right now. I'm not sure if we're gonna be involved actually in the movie. As of right now though, there aren't any of us in it, which is a very good thing. I don't really consider myself to be that much of an actor. Some people can pull it off, but not me. I don't think so.
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