Counting Crows – Interview

We ask what the fans want to know of Counting Crows’ David Immerglück!

One fan said they are living one of the songs, “Anna Begins”, is it weird that individuals are so into the songs that it becomes a part of their life?

“Anna Begins”, huh? Yeah, that one seems a little strange to be “living”, but I do understand the concept. I mean, I try to live Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life” every day, but it still is bizarre to stop and think that people actually revere you the same way you revere other artists. I reckon we’re best served not tripping on it too much, though…

How does it feel when a fan tells you your songs have helped them?

The boundless curative properties of music never cease to amaze me. I was just talking on the phone to an old friend from Berkeley who happens now to be living outside Dublin, and she was telling me how lonely and homesick she was. Suddenly she heard us on the radio and that spontaneous dose of home immediately cheered her up. I thought how cool that was and also how out of our hands it really all is. We’re just putting stuff out into the air, and if it actually reaches a person, that’s great. But we can’t control how it affects people. All we can do is make records, play shows, and hope for the best!

Fans of CC seem obsessed, almost like a culture. They wonder what you think about such devotion. (ed. we wonder if it can get weird)

Hey, what can I say? Flattered and bemused!

Fans seem to wonder why they never get a chance to meet band members. Thoughts?

This question absolutely baffles me! Everyone knows we hang out by the busses after our shows and enjoy communing with the fans. I think we’re way more accessible than most bands and we really don’t take on too much of the star attitude. C’mon people, back me up here!

Fans seem upset about the co-headling with John Mayer. We aren’t even sure if they dislike him, or if it is the fact that they see the Counting Crows as being around longer and honestly better and deserve more. What do you think? They also wonder why, and how the tour came about (ed. some fans have suggested to other CC fans to leave when he goes onstage – what’s up with that)?

I appreciate the “emotional” solidarity some fans seem to be showing regarding this upcoming tour, but frankly, we’re looking forward to touring with John. I think we’re going to touch a lot of people who normally wouldn’t come to see us! Look, this isn’t “All Star Wrestling”! The fans telling each other to leave when Mayer hits the stage is the most asinine thing I’ve heard in a long time…can’t we all just get along, ferchrissakes? It’s only rock n’ roll after all!

Working on tracks are you ever surprised by how good they become? Favorite tracks?

Hey, recording is always a surprising process. Things often come out radically different than what you originally conceived, but that’s a big chunk of the fun. The best is when a track comes up out of nowhere and just sort of spontaneously happens (“Carriage “for instance). “Good Time” is certainly one of my favorite tracks, as is “Long December”. “The Big Dipper” by Cracker, and “Walk On” by John Hiatt are also a couple of particularly magical tracks I’ve had the good fortune to participate in…

Why can’t Adam sleep? Every song seems about him not being able to sleep. Why doesn’t he get some professional help?

I’ve known Adam now for coming up on 19 years, and he was pretty much a mad insomniac the day I met him. It just seems to be part of his make up. Obviously, Adam is an honest lyricist, so it’s bound to turn up in his songs. Thanks for your concern, but I’m pretty sure Adam’s explored every possible avenue of treatment, although if we ever make it to Japan, a couple of evenings in the Geisha Bath Houses may have some positive effect.

If you could take one characteristic from each member in the band, who and what would it be? What do you think the others in the band would say they’d want to take from you?

From Dan I’d take his ability to sleep in any position at any time of day under any kind of conditions; from Charlie I’d take his science fiction sense of humor and of course his fabulous hair; from Bryson I’d take his undeserved good luck at the backgammon table; from Matt I’d have to take his black Fender Electric 12 String; from Adam I’d take his natural generosity and of course his way with a song; and from Jim-Dog I’d have to take his fountain of positive energy and his unrelenting fire… I think they’d all unanimously want to get a piece of my inimitable and extremely loud laugh, although Adam might go for my record collection, clever bugger that he is…

If you could have joined one band for one day (you can go back in time) what band would it be?

Ahhh, it’s hard to pick just one moment! Sly and the Family Stone at Woodstock? Otis Redding with Booker T.and the MGs at the Monterey Pop Festival? The Beatles the day they played their first show in America? The Stooges for some random gig in Detroit? Oh, who am I kidding? Everybody knows I’m a hopeless Led Zeppelin freak …I’ll join Led Zeppelin the day of the infamous “mudshark” incident!

Okay.. I know you are working on touring on Hard Candy, but everyone throws in the question ‘when will we get a new album?’

Sorry folks, but the baby comes when the baby comes (I know, “cop out”)…

+ Charlie Craine