Digital Rock Vision was a French music magazine that, as well as releasing the printed word, also put out accompanying DVD compilations featuring various bands. To coincide with the December release of issue 15 in 2006, Editors were included as part of the assembled alternative artists of the day. It's definitely of its time, giving you an accurate representation of some of the bigger names in guitar pop at that moment (Bloc Party, White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand etc) as well as some elder statesmen in the form of Killing Joke and The Buzzcocks. I believe that the publication only ran for around 5 years in total, making this another instance of the band having outlasted their host.
Editors' contribution to the collection was the promo clip for Bullets, but Tom was interviewed by Natalie V by way of some bonus material and that's what's being shared here. Quality isn't stellar but its place in the band's history justifies its inclusion. There's footage of the band soundchecking parts of Blood, Munich and Fall to an empty venue, but it's mostly chat with Mr Smith who has a very endearing chip on his shoulder. It's at its most noticeable when he discusses the suggestions of there being an influence from Joy Division, and refuting the dark and miserable tag they're often saddled with. Touché, sir. We also learn just how and when he discovered what the alternate meaning for "The Back Room" is in gay culture, which must have been a little awkward.
Considering that this was still the Back Room campaign and An End Has A Start hadn't even been recorded, there's a strangely prophetic statement from Tom:-
"I think our sound...it works in arenas. We're not scared of making big music."
And that's exactly what they did after this with songs like Weight of the World, Papillon and Nothing, which saw them frequently acquiring temporary residence in some scarily big European venues later on down the line. Enjoy the chat ;)
stream it here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
