RockNess Music Festival 2010

Pendulum's Gareth McGrillen Speaks to RockNess

Friday 26 March 2010

Pendulum's Gareth McGrillen took some time out of his busy schedule to speak to us ahead of their headline slot at RockNess 2010!

What can we expect from your set at RockNess 2010?

EXTREEM PAIN, seriously though, we're going to be playing a whole host of stuff from the new record, plus mainstays from the last two records. Go nuts or I'll jump down into the pit and make you (not that I need to ask Scottish crowds – Scotland always has our most mental audiences).

You are renowned for putting on a high energy show, how do you sustain the high level when you are doing so many shows?

Unfortunately when it comes to the live show we're not very rock n roll, we don't get drunk and f****d up before the shows or even after the shows. If we have gigs coming up, it’s all about fitness, we get up there and basically let the music rip us and the audience to shreds. I know it sounds like a cliche but anyone who has survived one of our moshpits understands. It’s hard to explain what I mean but when we come off stage we look and feel like we just did three rounds with Tyson!

How does the new album differ from the last one?

The new album has evolved and developed elements of the previous two, the metal is heavier and the synth elements are synthetic... well not all in the same tune of course... A lot of people who have heard the previews of the new stuff are saying there are many echos of ‘Hold Your Colour’ our first record, but that’s not to say that the heavy rock elements of ‘In Silico’ aren’t there either. We've not unleashed all the tunes to the world yet so we'll have to wait and see.

What is the best thing about performing at a festival rather than a venue?

I've said it many times before that there is a slight disadvantage at a festival because people aren't there to see you necessarily so if you can blow a festival apart when you're not the headline band then you've done an amazing thing. If you are the headline band and blow the place apart then you've also done an amazing thing because there’s pressure and expectation for you to finish the night for everyone after they've no doubt been standing around getting their ears blasted for a whole afternoon and are tired, drunk, mostly likely wet and muddy!

Do you know what was number 1 when you were born? If you don't check it out and let us know: http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

I was born in Australia and the Australian number one was ‘Endless Love’ - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie :-(

I’m not exactly happy about this so I’m going to have to go with the UK number one of the same day "It’s My Party" by Dave Stuart and Barbara Gaskin. Epic synths and Barbara looks quite fit! I think this tune suits me more even though I'd totally not cry at my own party, only at other peoples...

Using the letters below write down the words that describe you best:

R eally tired from working on this album but when its finished I feel it will be our best work yet

O ver tired, did I mention that?

C onstantly at Heathrow Terminal 5 almost every weekend the valet people have me on a first name basis now

K now a little bit about everything and not a lot about one thing

N eed to sort out better sleeping patterns because its killing me

E xcitable at the worst possible times

S o playful (private joke)

S cottish if you trace my name back a 10000000000.39483 generations through Northern Ireland back to the main land :-D