And They're Going to The blokes from Grand Theft Audio do a good job of not taking themselves too seriously. Chatting with them while the crew sets up to make the video for "Stoopid Ass", which is featured on the "Dude, Where's My Car" soundtrack, it's obvious that these guys are just having fun, enjoying the ride, and letting the whole thing move as it will. "We’re work whores," proclaims singer Jay Butler proudly, "We’ll do anything for money, just anything." He's only half kidding. The members of GTA have been around the
industry long enough to know how it all works and what to expect. What better way to
counter the down side of the music business than to just say "fuck you" and It's quite early on a Sunday morning, and the GTA guys are already poking fun at themselves, the video making process and anything else around. Butler and his mates know that if they let it all get them down, it will. Vocalist Butler, guitarist Chris McCormack, bassist/keyboardist Ralph Jezzard, and drummer Ritch Battersby have been through this all before. These Londoners banded together from the remains of former bands -- McCormack emerged from 3 Colours Red while Jezzard and Battersby worked together in The Wildhearts, though Jezzard may best be known as the writer and producer of EMF's world-wide hit "Unbelievable." Together, they make their combination of punk and electronica work and work well. While the crew mingles about, the extras get situated and everyone
hunts for that elusive morning coffee, the GTA members are already in full form. They have
the rock star feel without the attitude. Their English humor is infectious, and it's hard
to imagine them not having fun. Even when the VOX cameras are off, they're cracking jokes.
What's the plan today? "We get to look at loads Butler may minimize it in conversation, but once filming begins, GTA shows what they can do. If their video performance is any indication of what their live show is like, they should be great. What's also impressive is that even though everyone has heard "Stoopid Ass" replayed about 50 times before noon, no one is yet tired of it. Like the rest of Blame Everyone, Grand Theft Audio's London/Sire debut, the song rocks and everyone at the shoot is into it. It's a good omen for the day. While the stage crew was putting things together and the extras were getting ready, VOX sat Butler and McCormack down for a few minutes on the set to discuss massive wankers and the like. Check it out… |
Grand Theft
Audio
make it
all a party? There is no getting these guys down.
of great
looking women all day," muses Butler, "And in between that we’ve got to
move around a bit."