Placebo — (from left) Stefan Olsdal, Brian Molko and Steve Hewitt — is on the Projekt Revolution tour, which makes its last stop on Labor Day outside Denver.

More Music

• Cowboy Junkies revisit, re-record 'The Trinity Session'
• Review: 3D effects flesh out U2
• CD reviews: Jet Lag Gemini; RTX; Metro Station; We the Kings

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Even before releasing its fifth studio album, "Meds," in April 2006, the members of the British trio Placebo — Brian Molko on vocals and guitar, bassist Stefan Olsdal and drummer Steve Hewitt — had been out on the road. And since the record came out, they've put a heavy concentration on the Americas.

The band has been trying to break in the United States since forming 10 years ago. It gained a foothold with 2003's "Sleeping With Ghosts." For "Meds," the band ditched the synths and went with the basics — guitar, bass, drums. But its brand of Euro-rock 'n' roll didn't lose any of its passion or bombast.

And hewing to that fine U.S. marketing tradition, the band's label, Virgin Records, re-released "Meds" in December with three "bonus" tracks, including a cover version of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."

All this set Placebo up for its biggest U.S. show to date — Sunday night at the Coachella Music Fest, where an incendiary performance enhanced its reputation while garnering beaucoup fans.

The group is on Linkin Park's "Projekt Revolution 2007" tour — 29 shows in 40 days — which comes to an end Labor Day at a shed outside Denver.

Molko, 34, called The Tribune from Sacramento during a day off from the tour. He comes across as soft-spoken, with a not-too-thick British accent. In fact, he says he has a hard time understanding my accent more then once.

Tribune: Hey, Brian, how's it going? Enjoying your day off?

Molko: It's an off day (laughs), but I have three interviews today. You're my second.

Tribune: My son told me to be sure to catch your show at Coachella. I'm glad I did; it was great.

Molko: We had a great time at Coachella. It was our first American festival ever. What a way to start, huh? We had a fantastic time.

Tribune: What kind of fan base do you have in America?

Molko: We've toured the U.S. extensively during the past 10 years, but we're not quite above a cult following here. Which is perfectly fine with me.

Tribune: Do you like coming to the U.S.?

Molko: We have a tendency, as a band, to go anywhere to play for any number of people. We've toured Eastern Europe extensively and gone to places other bands wouldn't even think of.

For us, it isn't so much . . . or always about the money; the music comes first. We're taking our music to the people.

Tribune: Why do you think you haven't broken in the States?

Molko: I think it's because we have a very European sensibility, really; we've spent all our lives there, grew up there.

Sure we've been influenced by the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Jane's Addiction . . . to name a few. But we've no constant presence in the U.S. We're not readily identifiable in America.

We didn't grow up here; we weren't listening to Journey on the radio growing up. I think it's just a question of geography, really.

Tribune: How would you describe your music?

Molko: That's a difficult question. When I started the band more than a decade ago, I had this idea of it being a cross between Sonic Youth and P.J. Harvey. So there, you have some idea of where I'm coming from.

But I don't think about it, really; the music is what it is. I'm not settled on a specific identification, (because) that leads to self-censorship. Like I can't pick up a tuba for our next album 'cause we're a "rock" band?

Tribune: Do you have any new music coming out anytime soon?

Molko: It's going to be a little while before we put out another record (laughs). We've been on the road over 18 months now. I think we've had too much exposure to our own music (laughs).

Tribune: Virgin sent me a copy of the "Extended Play '07" EP. (The eight-song disc features tunes from each of the band's five studio albums, including three previously unreleased live tracks.) Is that just a stopgap?

Molko: It's just a little something for our fans . . . for the time being.

Tribune: Do you guys write on the road?

Molko: We used to during sound check. But we've been doing mainly festivals lately, so we don't do many sound checks now. We have a great crew who know what to do to make us sound great live. We do have more "daily time," though (laughs).

Tribune: Which do you prefer: festivals or your own gigs?

Molko: I like things about our own (tours) more — artistically and on a more satisfying level. At our shows, we're preaching to the converted. Festival shows are fast; they can be like being on a converter (sic) belt.

But it's a great thing, a day in the park. We get to spend lots of time with interesting people — musicians — people you admire. I know some people are going to think I'm crazy, but I'm serious; I really am. We get to make friends with other bands.

Tribune: Why did Placebo agree to be on the Projekt Revolution tour?

Molko: I think of it as a way for us to gain some new fans, absolutely. If we turn just one person on to our music and they share it with their friends, that's good for us; we've done our job.

Tribune: What's been the reception, so far? (Placebo is second on the main stage, between Julien-K and H.I.M.)

Molko: The Linkin Park crowd is a hard bunch (nervous laughter). They're there to see Linkin Park. We have to convince them, bring them to our side. But it's a good thing; it makes us a better band.

Tribune: Any regrets for going on this tour?

Molko: There have been some tough crowds. Like I said, they're not really there to see us. We just have to try to win them over.

But backstage is really cool. There's no problems; there's no egos. It's a really, really positive vibe.

Tribune: What's your favorite song to to do live?

Molko: When we do our own shows, we do a more experimental rock encore, more "space rock." I mean there actually are some "songs" in all that noise (laughs). But at the moment, there's "Twenty Years" and "Running Up That Hill."

Tribune: What's next after this, your own tour?

Molko: Nothing at the end of this tour (laughs). We've been going on two years on the road. I think it's time to go home.