FIGHTSTAR INTERVIEW

Fightstar Interview

Since forming Fightstar, frontman Charlie Simpson is sketching a very different path musically with his progressive metal sounding band. Fightstar draws inspiration from the darker side of rock, as drummer Omar Abidi explains: “We all share the same darkness in our influences.”

It all began in late 2003, Charlie became aware of his soon to be band members performing abilities after an unplanned jam session at a party. Not long after bassist Dan Haigh jumped on board, and as a result Fightstar was born.

Their latest album One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours follows their debut Grand Unification. Available in a rather unique format in vinyl as well as CD; Fightstar are aiming to combat struggling singles sales by offering something quite different, “It’s a bit of a gimmick really it’s never been done before. For us it’s a chance to do something different that no one has ever done before,” adds Charlie. 

Their new album differs quite dramatically from their debut in the sense that the band  have focused a lot more on the production side, Omar explains: “I think that is the great thing about this album that we got more involved. I think before we weren’t thinking in the realms beyond production - with weird sounds between the tracks and trying to develop it more,” Charlie adds: “Lyrically it’s a lot more personal too.”

Fighstar also owe a lot to producer Matt Wallace who reached legendary status after producing Faith No More’s Angel Dust, which became Kerrang magazine’s ‘Most Influential Album Of All Time.’ After flying to LA the band did a week of pre-production with Matt. Charlie explains:  “The real raw essence of why Matt Wallace is great really came out in that week because he’s really a songwriter by nature. In the first week we would literally just sit down with acoustics, he would really challenge us.”

In a lively interview with SMHTP - after recording their awesome multiplayer session – Fightstar reveal all, from song writing to inspiration and finally we ask how Charlie how he managed to survive being dunked relentlessly in a kitchen sink full of water, in the making of Deathcar video, “We persisted to shove his head into the water till he couldn’t breathe anymore and then dragged him out,” Omar adds. Watch this exclusive interview to find out more.

 

See also
Fightstar 99
Matt Wallace - Written Feature