Theon: Alright so, I usually start our gigs by saying that weīre a German dance group called "Liebe X" but thatīs my own secure word. You probably know that weīre called Lovex and we describe our own music as "superrock". We take everything to the extreme and everything is big and everything is loud and everything comes straight from the heart.
finnbands: About the roles in the band: who is responsible for the songwriting? Is there any boss in the band or are you democratic?
Theon: Well, I have to say Vivian is a kind of our boss - but in a good way. Like he organizes most of our stuff - I think other band members are too lazy or something like that.
Vivian: But musically weīre really democratic.
Theon: Yeah, and we all write our songs together, or I rather say that everybody writes songs. Some songs are written by him (points at Vivian) and some by me - in that way.
Vivian: Almost every lyrics are written by Theon (points at Theon).
Theon Mainly by me.
finnbands: Did you ever expect Lovex and especially your record would become so successful?
Vivian: Actually yes.. *smiles*
finnbands: Why?
Vivian: Don't know.
finnbands: Do you think you are so great?
Vivian: *smiles* Yeah we like our band very much and we have always dreamt about become a very big band like GunsīnīRoses or something like that..
finnbands: For how long have you been together as a band?
Vivian: * thinks a looong time and looks to Theon*
Theon: Well, the band was formed in 2001/2002 somewhere there. I joined the band in 2004 and since then weīre like this band. "full" I have to say.
finnbands: And how does it feel like?
Theon: What?
finnbands: That the record became so successful?
Theon: Well, of course itīs a wonderful thing. I wouldn't call myself very ambitious if this would be enough. We have many countries and many records to conquer and to make. So this is only the beginning.
Vivian: And weīre coming to Germany!
finnbands: Really?
Vivian: Yeah..
finnbands: When?
Vivian: I couldnīt say when yet but weīre coming!
finnbands: Next year?
Vivian: Weīre coming but we canīt say yet when but weīre coming *smiles*
finnbands: Do you want to come or will you come? Because thereīs a difference!
Vivian: We want and we will!
finnbands: A few days ago your new video "Bullet for the Pain" had world premiere but we didnīt see it yet - so tell us about it! And why are you all wearing the same clothes?
Theon: We wanted to look like united so we decided to have a look that shows we belong together. And the music video is probably seen on emi's website soon, maybe next week.
Vivian: It will go on mtv rotation next week.
finnbands: Yeah, but whatīs happening in the video? Like, are you just performing or is there a story?
Theon: Thereīs a story and thereīs performing. The story is about suicide, especially young people suiciding because it is so common in Finland and weīre getting more and more popular - so weīre trying to bring our message that weīre totally against it.
finnbands: Why did you choose "Yours" to become a b-side of Bleeding only? Most people agree that Yours is on a much higher level than some of your other songs. Didnīt you see the song has a potential or why did you "waste" it for a b-side?
Theon *smiles* Well, thatīs a difficult question. Some people thought it should be on the album but it was a democratic decision it shouldnīt be there.
Vivian: from the recordcompany..
finnbands: Is the recordcompany telling you what to do or can you make your own decisions?
Theon: Sometimes they tell us what to do and we canīt say yes or no ...
Vivian: But we can always say our own opinion but .. sometimes..
finnbands: Like in the new video when youīre dressing up all the same was it your own idea or was it the idea of the recordcompany?
Vivian: It was our own idea.
finnbands: You played the cover "Runaway" from Bon Jovi. Are there any plans for recording a new cover in the future? Which songs would be cover songs for Lovex?
Theon: Well, well - we havenīt talked much about covers because everyone has quite a different taste in music so itīs difficult to find songs everyone likes. Runaway has always been a song we all like. It has filled us all in the same.
finnbands: Will you play it tonight?
Theon: Yes, we will.
finnbands: Would you ever consider of playing a song in Finnish?
Theon: No, I donīt think.
finnbands: Why not?
Theon: Iīve always been a fan of English music and English lyrics. I donīt know, but Finnish doesnīt fit in my world. *big smile*
finnbands: How do you think about fanfictions? Have you ever read one? Or do you know fanfictions?
Theon: No...
finnbands: That are some stories fans wrote about you ...
Theon: Ok, no I havenīt read those.
finnbands: Most of them deal about, like you and you being a homosexual couple. What do you think about these stories?
Theon: They say only the truth .. *everybody laughs*
finnbands: When you think about your first concert ever, how did you feel before?
Theon: Well, of course I was very excited and I don't think there was anything particular. A lot of tension in the air, a lot of energy in the air, a lot of erotic.
finnbands: Please describe each other, something about your characters.
Theon: Do I have to describe myself, or?
finnbands: You should describe Vivian!
Theon: Heīs a godlike masculine figure with superior playing skills and beautiful looks *smiles*
Vivian: Yeah, Theon is... he has this nickname "turbolover" *laughs* that says a lot!
finnbands: What about the other band members?
Theon:Well, what can I say?! Jason is our punisher, you know heīs a big guy. Julian is our little drummer boy trying to fit in with the big guys (everyone laughing). They are so uncolourful persons - itīs so difficult to make up something. Sammy is always late...
Vivian: Thatīs true, he was last one on bus today ..
Theon: and heīs always looking for the cheapest prices ..
Vivian: but heīs an excellent guitar player.
Theon: And Christian.. he drinks a lot ..
finnbands: And you donīt???
Theon: Nooooo, not me .. * grins*
vivan: *points to his cider* This is only water...
finnbands: About life: is anyone of you vegetarian?
Theon & Vivian: No.
Vivian: Meat is cool!
finnbands: I saw some pictures form a gig where Sammy, Theon and Julian wear some "non smoking" signs on their clothes. So do you live in a very healthy way, do you eat only healthy things, do a lot of sports and something like that?
Theon: No!
finnbands: Yeah we can see THAT!
Theon: No. Iīm speaking about myself, I do a lot of healthy things and a bit more of unhealthy things.
some guy enters the room
Theon: this is Marco *points at the guy who just entered the room* he is our tourmanager
Vivian: I havenīt eat anything but fast food about a week.
Theon: Alright, you are good
finnbands: And how is it inside the band, you are 3 smokers and 3 absolute non smokers. Do you ever fight about the topic of smoking? Are the smokers paying attention to the non smokers, donīt they smoke when the others are around?
Theon: No, we donīt fight about it ever.
finnbands: So no problem inside the band?
Theon: Iīm against it but I donīt lecture him all about the dangers and blablabla.
finnbands: Okay, and a question for the smokers .. or a question for Vivan! Is there anything you would stop for?
Vivian: Probably not, I donīt know.
finnbands: So you never thought about stopping?
Vivian: A few times, yes, but I really donīt smoke so much. I only smoke when Iīm drinking. Itīs not much. I havenīt thought about it.
finnbands: Your fans are sometimes very hysteric, have you ever been afraid of them?
Theon: No, I donīt think that we were afraid of them, sometimes a bit annoyed by them. *laughs*
finnbands: Yeah, but what do you think about the fact that theyīre standing outside now, theyīre too young to get in to this gig. What do you think about that theyīre waiting just to meet you outside? Do you think itīs crazy?
Theon: Theyīve done it like thousand times before so weīre used to it. But yeah I think theyīre a bit crazy. But in a good way.
finnbands: Your greatest fear?
Theon: Losing my balls... * laughs*
finnbands: Thatīs a good answer - everybody says this (understood "losing my voice"), every singer of course. And what about you Vivian?
Vivian: Maybe losing my family or friends.
finnbands: Could you imagine to be on tour in another country far away from Finland? How do you think it would be to be away from your families and friends for a long time?
Theon: When weīre together we are a family ....
Vivian: So that would not be a problem. When weīre together thereīs always love around...
finnbands: Yeah, you just told us youīre a couple.
Theon: But we waiting to get out of this - weīll eat the world!
finnbands: Is there any musician or band you would like to collaborate with?
Theon: About a thousand...
finnbands: But name some of them..
Theon: My own idol is Daniel Johns from Silverchair.
finnbands: If you knew the apocalypse was tomorrow, what would you do?
Vivian: Play this gig and have sex...
finnbands: How long do you need for styling?
Vivian: It depends, my hair about ...ohm, about 15 minutes.
finnbands: And your makeup?
Vivian: About 30 seconds (shows us how...)
finnbands: What 3 things would you take to a lonely island?
Theon: Refridgerator, a guitar and a gun.
Vivian: Maybe a guitar, amplifier and some generators.
Theon: a sexstore...
Vivian & finnbands: WHAT?
Theon: sexstore...
Vivian: yeah thatīs true...*smiles*
finnbands: How does a normal day in your life look like - when you donīt go to rehearsals or have any appointments with the band?
Vivian: Well, I only sit at home and play guitar and watch some movies and meet my friends. Just normal stuff.
Theon: Iīm trying to study at the university of Tampere but at the moment I have so many other things to do so...
Vivian: When have you been there for the last time? *laughs*
Theon: I was there on Tuesday but not for studying, just hang around.
finnbands: So will you ever finish your studies or not?
Theon: Only time will tell.
finnbands: Do you want to finish them?
Theon: Yeah, I want to finish but at the moment itīs not on my priority.
finnbands: Do you have driving licenses?
Theon: Yeah..
Vivian: Yes, everyone!
finnbands: Do you have cars?
Vivian: I do, Sammy does, Jason has a car...
Theon: Even I have a car but i havenīt use it for a year or something...
finnbands: Do you collect anything?
Theon: No.
Vivian: I am colleting my guitars.
finnbands: What do you do when you cannot sleep?
Theon: Count on sheep, some things that are * coughs*, a lot of things - a lot of things letīs say.. *smiles* big boys stuff...
finnbands: Whatīs your favourite CD at the moment?
Theon: Havenīt listen to a new CD for a while .. maybe The Ark's old album "We are The Ark"
Vivian: I don't know. Havenīt listen any new CDs at the moment....
finnbands: Or another one...
Vivian: Maybe a favourite is of course GunsīnīRoses' "Appetite for Destruction" an all time best...
Theon: Maybe you heard about a album called "Divine Insanity"... *smiles*
finnbands: Are you listening to your own music actually?
Vivian: I am actually...
finnbands: Do you like listening to your own voice? Because most people think itīs weird to listen to once own voice.
Theon: At first it was but Iīm used to it now. I havenīt listened to our album a lot of time. When we made it of course we listened to it..
finnbands: If you could be a character of a fairy tale which one would it be and why?
Theon: *considers a long time* I think Batman is the band's favourite.
finnbands: But Batman is not a fairy tale - itīs a comic...
finnbands: Like sleeping beauty! Or a princess!
Theon: I don't know, Snowhite! Finnish people are so pale.
finnbands: But your hair is not dark enough...
Theon: Yeah, itīs easy to fix. (thinks) Is Winnie the Pooh ... is he a fairy tale?
finnbands: Ohm.. yeah, a kind of ..
Theon: Thatīs more like me .. * shows us the pooh*
Vivian: I would like to be Gandalf, the wizzard.
Theon: The grey or the white?
Vivian: The white of course!
finnbands: And what would you do if you could do magic?
Vivian: Rule the world!
finnbands: You think you would be a good ruler of the world?
Vivian: Yes.
finnbands: So what would you do then?
Vivian: Make everyone buy our record!
finnbands: Whatīs your favourite ice cream flavour?
Theon: Chocolate!
Vivian: Vanilla!
finnbands: Now thatīs actually a question for Sammy, he isnīt here but do you know how bad his eyesight is?
Theon: No, I have no idea.
finnbands: Is he short sighted or.....
Theon and Vivian don't answer
finnbands: Okay so you donīt know.
Theon: What?
finnbands: Do you like Heijaste? The band you played some concerts with them!
Theon: Yeah but I havenīt heard their music that much but what I heard was okay.
Vivian: They are okay.
finnbands: Any last words? For your German fans of course! Can you say something in German?
Vivian: NEIN!
Theon: Ich liebe Deutschland! *laughs*
finnbands: Thatīs good.
Theon: What should we say? Weīre the greatest band in the universe. Just wait weīll come to Germany as well - we will rock you!
finnbands: * ironically* and buy our record....
lovex.fi
29.09.06 ~ Tampere
Interview by Cat Đ finnbands.com