Funeral for a Friend have had a string of hits, albums and a career that is nearing the decade mark. This year they released their fifth studio album Welcome Home Armageddon and EP See you all in Hell and embarked on a UK tour.
With a couple of new faces and a new sound Purple Revolver caught up with the bassist of the band Rich Boucher to ask him about life on the road, their new music and rock career longevity.
PR – How’s the tour been so far?
RB – The tour’s been brilliant so far, many good nights so far. The difference with this tour to the others is that we’ve been playing new material off the new album, for the first time ever live. We’ve had the new EP and we’ve played old tracks that we haven’t played for many years so it’s completely different stuff but it’s going really well.
PR – Funeral For a Friend have been around for just over 10 years now, how does the energy of now compare to when you first played live in a band?
RB – I joined the band recently but obviously I’ve played in other bands; Honda McClean for five years. It’s still fresh and we still have heavy nights. We still have that energy and that buzz we all want to play and be there every night.
PR – A decade as band is quite a feat, what’s the secret to Funeral for a friend’s longevity?
RB – I think that no matter how heavy, or how crazy the music gets I think Funeral will always have this amazing ability to have a strong sense of melody. Obviously a lot of things that like lyrics and content and I think it just comes down to the sense of melody that the band have.
PR – You’ve just released the new album how has that been received?
RB – The new album has been great and received really well by critics and fans. A lof of people have said that it’s the natural progression from the album Hours (the band’s second album), which I have to agree with. It’s about not giving a shit, doing what we want and just playing music that we want to play and have fun doing it. Yes it’s been received really well and we have all had fun doing it. I’m really proud of the record and happy about it.
PR – The band have churned out quite a lot of material in a short space of time, how have you managed this without compromising on quality?
RB – I don’t know really, I think we just really like making music. Obviously we put the EP, out because we wanted to end the year on a big high and make a big statement. We’re really proud of it. We’ve finished the album title, played venues and another EP See you all in Hell. The reason behind that we put this out is because we didn’t want to do another edition of the album, we wanted the EP to stand alone. And basically we wanted to a get a new song out it’s called High Castles.
PR – Both names of your recent releases spell an untimely death, See you all in Hell and Welcome Home Armageddon – are you trying to tell us something?
RB – I think it’s Matt’s way of playing on words. Sounds quite depressing really doesn’t it- Funeral For a Friend – See you All in Hell ( laughs). Nothing clarifying there, we’ll definitely coming back with a new record. We’re already in the process of writing it. Not sure why they sound so final, but I suppose that’s a question for Matt (Matt Davies lead singer).
PR – You’ve played in another band for five years then moved across to this one how was the transition?
RB – It’s been really easy actually because obviously Ryan was the original drummer in the band Honda McClean so I know Ryan and we have a little side project going, so me and Ryan (Richards, Drummer) have worked together quite a lot. Gavin (guitarist in the band) was the original guitarist in Honda McClean as well. We’re all very good friends anyway, we used to write the music and play music together. It wasn’t awkward at all it felt very natural to be honest. I’m very lucky.
PR – When you’re an old man and if Funeral for a Friend aren’t planning to be the next Rolling Stones and tour well into their 70s, what will you look back on and take from being in the band?
RB – I’ve travelled the world, seen so many things that I might not have had the opportunity if I hadn’t been in the band. When you travel you get to see alot and grow up alot and yeah it’s just taken me to some amazing places. I’ve met so many amazing people as well I will definitely look back with some very fond memories.
PR – Being famous and recognised comes as part and parcel of being in a band, how do you cope with it?
RB – It doesn’t really bother me I just embrace it, it’s just part of being in a band people are interested in what you do. If somebody loves your music and they want to talk to you about it that’s cool. I tend not to get recognised anyway so i’m all right ( laughs).
PR – What will you and the band bring to Manchester Academy tonight?
RB – Usually lots of energy, I made a little promise on Facebook tonight that I’m going to do a solo circle pit because there’s lots of space on the stage and around the drums. So you’ll probably see me doing a solo circle pit around the entire stage. Energy, antics and probably agression, I’m quite aggressive on stage sometimes.
Words – Cat Marr
Picture – © Lloyd Williams