Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat

09/02/1999 11:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Lyndsey Parker

When Brian Vander Ark, lead singer for the Verve Pipe, stopped by LAUNCH's New York headquarters to do a live online chat with LAUNCH.com on Sept. 1, his band's devoted fans had plenty of thought-provoking questions to ask him--questions on everything from the downside of fame, the difficulty of trying to get radio play, and being tagged a "one-hit wonder" to the sudden popularity of boy bands, the Verve Pipe's relationship with their fans, and the existence of any "sibling rivalry" between Brian and his brother/ bandmate, Brad Vander Ark. One chatter even dared to ask which Verve Pipe member would be the first to get eaten, Donner Party-style, should the band be lost at sea and starving, and of course, no LAUNCH.com chat would be complete without the burning question, "Boxers or briefs?"

Brian's answers to these queries were just as thought-provoking. Find out what he had to say by reading this full-length transcript of the chat:

launch_mac: Okay, we've got Brian Vander Ark from the Verve Pipe here, and he's ready to take your questions, so let's get going!

laurendc76: Since this CD is so personal in terms of lyrics, was there a point when you, Brian, had to stop singing because the emotions were too raw?

launch_verve_pipe: Um...I don't think there was ever a point where actually had to stop singing. I had to stop and figure out how to say exactly what I wanted to say. During the recording of some of the demos there was a song called "1229 Sheffield" on the Clay Pigeons soundtrack. I had to take a moment there, because it was a personal story from a child at a young age...and I wanted to be honest with my lyric...that's something I was definitely striving for on this record.

Spiffy415: What are the words to the chorus of "Hero"? I can't understand them when I hear the song

launch_verve_pipe: I've always written too many words. That's one thing I've been working on. I have a lot of things to say and I try to cram it all into a monster chorus. "It burns like a cancer/ When the answer did occur to me/ Creep from the cradle, but a hero's what I want to be." That's just the chorus. Check out website for a complete listing of all the lyrics: www.thevervepipe.com.

girly17_2000: Is there ever any sibling rivalry between Brian and Brad during the tours, recording etc? Or do you get along really well?

launch_verve_pipe: Considering the fact that we're brothers confined to a bus with a lot of other guys, I consider that we get along very well. We joke around a lot, sometimes too much....I think we had one giant argument....Brad didn't want to do an encore and I did it. I gave him a good lashing for that. We drove 17 hours from Vancouver to Las Vegas...and he never left his bunk. I think that was his way of showing remorse.

girly17_2000: I sing your songs in the shower...who do you sing?

launch_verve_pipe: I sing me in the shower too! Honestly, a lot of ideas come while cleansing your body. It's a creative place to come up with melody ideas because your voice resonates so well in the shower...that's why people sometimes record in a bathroom. I work out a lot of melodies in the shower.

girly17_2000: Is it true that you had almost 10 versions of the single "the freshmen" before it become popular? what do you think made this version catch on?

launch_verve_pipe: We had many versions of the freshman. Not quite 10...maybe 5 or 6. The lowest common denominator is to have a song with a good melody and good lyric...you can adapt any style of music to enhance that song. I think the current version became a hit because sonically it fit into what was going on with radio at that time. I think if the song were released today, I doubt very highly that it would make the top 10.

richesgrl03: Hey my name is Tricia...does it ever have a down side of being famous?!

launch_verve_pipe: The downside to fame is for me the fact that you put yourself out there and open for criticism...personal criticism from people on the street that say, "Hey, I don't like your band." On a more earthly scale, I think the music can suffer with celebrity, when you become a bigger celebrity than a musician, the music definitely suffers. Unfortunately, our society is obsessed with celebrity at this point and I think the music suffers.

vervechick: Is there a story behind "half a mind" did it happen to somebody you guys know? It is a beautiful and sad song, and it seems so personal.

launch_verve_pipe: "Half A Mind" came about...after some fact-seeker told me a story...that fish have a very short-term memory...the reason you can keep goldfish in a fish bowl is, by the time they swim around the whole bowl, they forget they were there. I think it applies to a relationship with a girl...because I could make up stories with a girl with a short-term relationship and tell her something like every day was her birthday...and it would work...everything I did would be enough. Short-term memory, not relationship, that is!

vervepiper: As the main song writer of TVP what comes first in the writing process, music or lyrics

launch_verve_pipe: Lyrics never come first...I find the music is much more important to me. I don't consider myself a poet. I could never sit down and think...how does this fit poetically, romantically with the music. Someone asked Sammy Cahn once...what comes first, the music or the lyrics? And he said, "The check."

chris_collins11: do you ever feel as though you guys are considered one hit wonders in pop mainstream?

launch_verve_pipe: The band has a newfound understanding of what one-hit wonder means...Spin magazine had a list of one-hit wonder bands. Everclear and Radiohead were included... and it really celebrated those hits....The idea of being a one-hit wonder is sometimes a negative term, but if you can have a hit that affects so many people, it's hard to have another that means so much. I feel like we said a lot with "The Freshman," and I don't know that we need to escape one-hit wonderdom...I think we have enough of a fanbase to escape being a one-hit wonder.

loungefly25: If you guys were lost at sea and starving who would eat first and why?

launch_verve_pipe: No doubt in my mind...the first person would be Brad...mostly because it's lean meat, and I've eliminated the whole sibling problem.

vervepiper: I saw TVP on there small club tour. You played only 2 songs from Pop Smear, and non from ISAHI. Are you trying to shed your old sound??

launch_verve_pipe: I don't think it's really true we're trying to shed the old sound. We're fascinated by each other's playing on this record and feel strongly about playing the new material like most bands do. We play a 16-17 song set. We want to play 3 or 4 or 5 off of Villains...and I don't think it's unreasonable to play 2 songs off of Pop Smear because it didn't sell as much. And as for Head Injury, it's a style of music we're not comfortable with anymore...we want to go get new fans without alienating old fans, and I hope whoever wrote this question doesn't feel alienated. On our website you can request one song...put your name with your request...and we pick one song that we dedicate to the person who requested it...and if you pick something from Head Injury, we'll do that... and we recently did.

girly_13_69: BOXERS OR BRIEFS

launch_verve_pipe: No underwear...too hard to get laundry done on the road... underwear is one less thing to think about.

aram66: Have you ever dated any of your fans?

launch_verve_pipe: No, I've never dated any of my fans...I think that would be irresponsible...we have too much of an impact. Why this band isn't known for groupies...we have a responsibility to our fans and that muddies the boundaries. I think all the girlfriends I've had have become fans, but when I pick someone I'd like to see, I want to make sure they're not going out with me for that reason. I touch on that in the song "Reverend Girl" off of Villains. If you listen to that, I think you'll see what I'm talking about.

tvpgrrrl: I really appreciate the beautiful lyrics of "Kiss Me Idle." What was your inspiration.

launch_verve_pipe: I am on a quest to write the perfect love song...I think I have come close with "Kiss Me Idle." That's one area I haven't been as prolific as I'd like to be...writing of love...and I don't know if I've ever found true love...

keviner: Okay, i heard you say "HERO" somehow spawned from K's Choice "Addict" But how come everytime i hear it, i cant help but think of "lenny in love"?

launch_verve_pipe: I know who you are. You're the only person I ever said that to about listing K's Choice addict for "Hero." I wanted a song that had that fun drive, dance beat to it...which is why I chose that wonderfully written song...I lift all the time. I think most musicians do...every song has been written by Bach and the Beatles. We are just rearranging our influence to create new music...I think it's a very common thing...

vervepiper: Many of these chats don't have the real artist. To prove it is you who and at what age is the boy on the cover of I've Suffered a Head Injury.

launch_verve_pipe: His current age is 16. The age that he was during the photo session for Head Injury was 8.

vervepipe_rocks_gr: How do you feel when fans come up and ask for your autograph? Jennel and Summer from GR Mi.

launch_verve_pipe: Hello Grand Rapids...I miss you. I genuinely like people and I know I have some sort of celebrity attached to me...and I know that at the moment that someone asks me for an autograph that's an important moment in their lives. So I try to take as much time as I can for every fan. I love discussing songs, music, and religion, and I love getting my picture taken with fans...I think the entire band has always been that way. Fans are the reason we do what we do, and I know that's a cliche, and it's unfortunate it is a cliche.

chris_18_senior: Are you going to perform in this year's MTV Video Music Awards?

launch_verve_pipe: No, we haven't been invited yet to play. I don't think our band has that celebrity cache...and we understand why we haven't been invited, though we would love to do it...mostly as an opportunity to meet a lot of the bands we love and respect.

rifesk: Do you get mad because all the boy bands kinda took over music this year

launch_verve_pipe: Great question. It was bound to happen...music is shifting now...you have to be very heavy or very light. Any music that inspires someone to pick up a guitar or create music on their own, to become an entertainer in the future, that's the important thing. It's cyclical....the late '80s were the boy bands too...it will go away, but it won't go away as quickly as it did last time. I embrace all styles of music, mostly because I want young people to be inspired to create music for the future.

pulling69: Is there going to be another promo album like 85 on 31, or even a b-sides album?

launch_verve_pipe: The concentration has been on getting this album out...and until it has been offered and accepted by the fans, we're going to hold off to put anything else out. I like 85 On 31 very much. I think we are good live band and the fans deserve live performance...we have been discussing putting out an album of 4 or 5 cover tunes for fun, but the concentration now is promoting the new record.

austinmusician01: Have ever thought of going solo?

launch_verve_pipe: Going solo has never been a consideration up to this point...realistically when the Verve Pipe has nothing to offer as a band, when we all feel that way, I will still want to create music...write and perform it on my own. But I can't see that happening within the next 10 years. I think what makes me an artist is my band and the support of my band. They make me better...and I have to become better to become a solo artist.

cali_chick_08: I heard that You loved Britney Spears

launch_verve_pipe: Who doesn't?

chocolate_fireball: Heard you were going to have Andy Partridge of XTC produce but it didn't work out. What happened? Will you work with him in the future?

launch_verve_pipe: I think that was a rumor...never any talk of him producing a project with me. Writing music with him has been the greatest thrill I've had as of yet...and I can sustain that memory for the rest of my life...though I'd really like to go back and take those 14 songs and work with Andy and the Verve Pipe to rework those songs.. but I don't think the band or Andy has the time to consider that.

bash_n_trash: One of the things I've learned since I started a band is that sometimes the songs you expect to do good are the ones that don't. Have you ever expected one thing from a song and gotten the opposite?

launch_verve_pipe: Another great question. You never really know as a band...you come too close to the songs to know which will do well and be hits...and you can't concentrate on that. If you do, the music suffers. If you're writing specifically for radio, it's too derivative. For this record, I've tried to write songs that appeal to the band, the core fans, and I've left the rest up to the record labels. Today I decided that they will decide the next single...how can I not trust that they will pick the right song, because I think all the songs are worthy of radio play. I was burned on Villains...the band thought "Cup Of Tea" was a great follow-up to "Photograph," and it wasn't...these experiences makes us that much more wise.

vervechick: Do you define sucess as having tons of fans like the backstreet boys, or having a few really loving fans who will never forget you?

launch_verve_pipe: I don't think success is the amount of fans. It's being able to sustain in the music industry...to do what I want to do for as long as possible...I think we have a lot of fans for Villains because of "The Freshman"...what I thought were fans that would go out and buy the new record...and they don't and you have to realize that the core fans are the ones that will grow up with us. I know a lot of people that were fans of Villains or "The Freshman" have bought the new album and I'm hoping they're enjoying it because it's very different from Villains, but similar to Pop Smear. It's more important for the live shows, I'd rather play in front of 200 people hanging on your every chord, rather than 2000 who are waiting to throw each other into each other in what I call...hide assault disguised as dancing.

J_BOUTWELL: what were your thoughts on the Blair Witch Project ?

launch_verve_pipe: That movie gave me the creeps...a lot of my friends didn't like it because of the hype. I went by myself one afternoon in a small theater and it really moved me... and I'm really big on the low-budget indie film industry. And that's low-budget indie film at its finest.

TrailsideHiker: Are you planning on acting in any more films?

launch_verve_pipe: I definitely plan on doing more acting, I enjoy it very much...it's great to step outside of yourself and become another character, as I have done in writing. Definitely hope to pursue more of the acting on an independent level.

vervechick: Do you ever read pipeings e-mail?

launch_verve_pipe: We read all the email that comes in...good and bad...we only comment on the ones we feel really really strongly about...negative and positive comments, we love them all. This is a great site, a great club to belong to, these are really hardcore fans. If you join up for the Verve Pipeing...some people know more about the band than yourself, but don't be intimidated by that...it really is THE fanclub of the band at this point.

lookatbeckyshesflyin: Whats with the frog on the new albums cover? it's kewl but why a frog?

launch_verve_pipe: The frog was taken from an old biology book that I think most of my generation grew up with. I don't think they have those frogs in the biology books anymore because I think the PETA people considered it to be unethical, I'm unsure. It's really a dissection of the band...we wanted to strip ourselves down and show our insides...and that's what we tried to do with this record. Love it or leave it, that was the intention.

keviner: Okay, at your last Pontiac show, AJ's guitar had some problems. Will any of you do a solo this time if it happens again?

launch_verve_pipe: AJ is the only one qualified to do solos...it's funny, I treat guitar solos when I have the opportunity to do them like I'm in a combat situation...like, "Cover me, I'm going in for a solo"...and then AJ picks up the slack if I start ruining the music.

acid_tripp_99: Have you ever had any problems dealing with radio djs or record promotors?

launch_verve_pipe: I wouldn't say we've had problems with them. I think radio really jumped on "The Freshman"...a great thing for us...unfortunately, a band usually gets exposed after a song that big...we created a lot of relationships because we like to be on the radio and play live...and it helped us a lot. Some consider our band not to have enough celebrity to play on the radio. While we enjoy success on some radio stations, they might just have to wait for Brad Pitt to put out a record.

Three_the_magic_number: Why does Photograph have such a differant sound than your other songs?

launch_verve_pipe: "Photograph" was an experimentation with Doug Corella and myself. I had what I thought would be a good pop song...we were never big on keyboards before this record and I wanted to but his stamp on something and the opening keyboard is very catchy...and it marries so well to that hook. It sounds different because our band has always strived to have one or two songs that don't fit or pigeonhole the band into this post-grunge corner that we have been pigeonholed into.

captain_splendid: what was your first concert?

launch_verve_pipe: I did a talent show in 9th grade....or 8th grade...in Middleville, Michigan. I went up and I played "Taxi" by Harry Chapin, with a blue spotlight on me...and it had that last lyric about getting stoned, which my classmates went crazy for...however, I did come in 3rd place.

J_BOUTWELL: What do you think about the people in high school that might have made fun of you ? And now you are famous and they are just nothing ?

launch_verve_pipe: High school is indicative of groups...and I think it's a shame people feel a need to get into cliques, but it's natural selection...one clique makes fun of another person is a tragedy and that's what happens in situations in Littleton. I was never picked on so brutally that I'd want revenge or harm on these people. "Bullies On Vacation" on Pop Smear deals with that issue of someone relentlessly picked on that meets that person on a cruise, and deals with how he deals with those feelings as they are brought back...and I think that's how I would feel.

launch_verve_pipe: One last thing before I have to go--I want everyone to go to LAUNCH.com and enter the Verve Pipe platinum record giveaway.

launch_mac: Okay, that's it. Thanks for all your questions. Check out the transcript of the chat on LAUNCH.com.