You’re big stars now. Is it all celeb parties for you these days?
Mark:Oh blimey, I still do all the same things I’ve always done — you need to keep your feet on the ground. My mates are my mates, and that’s it. What I love doing is just popping down the pub, having a few drinks and talking rubbish with my buddies!
Christian:Give me the pub any day! I was down the pub last night with the boys shooting a few games of pool and our video came on MTV. Everyone in the pub just stopped what they were doing and just looked at me!
Ste:It’s a pub for me, definitely. If my mates are there, I’d pick that ~ every time! It’s harder now because people have started to recognise us more when we go out, but I’ll go out on the sauce whenever I can!
So you’re total lads then?
Ste:As much as I can be without landing myself in too much trouble! Put it this way: I don’t need a Lot of encouragement! (Tsk, tsk!)
Mark:It can go either way, really, for me. Sometimes I’ll go out and totally go for it and other days I’ll go quietly home to chill out.
Christian:I’m a total Lad. I like nothing better than being down the pub with my mates watching the football and enjoying myseLf.
When did you last pull a moonie then?
Christian:Last Saturday — so I’m told! I never know much about it at the time, but after an evening out I’lL have all these calls from my mates telling me exactly how much trouble I got myself into. And the other night the arse came out!
Ste:It was about six months ago now. Me and my mates went out, things got messy and we all ended up mooning at people for no real reason at all!
Mark: For me it was probably about five years ago. I’d been out with the lads and we pulled into an aLl-night garage to buy some
snacks. I could see this lady in there working the night shift, watching what
we were doing on this little screen. So as the camera panned round to me I thought I’d give her a treat and flashed a quick moonie at her!
Do you tone it down when you’re in the US?
Mark:We don’t have much choice cos of the amount of travelling we do — it knackers us out. Last year alone we took 175 flights, and that really takes it out of you. You get into that routine of going to bed late then having to get up really early and having to dash to the airport for a flight. The constant flying really does you in and when we weren’t flying the workload was realty heavy as well.
What do you pine for when you’re away?
Christian:All the simple things
I always take for granted. My main,
a good home-cooked meal and my
bed! We get to stay in brilliant hotels but you just can’t beat your own bed.
Do you have to be kept Informed of all the football results?
Ste:It’s really hard because TV’s rubbish in the States! Every time I phone home I make sure I quiz up on how Liverpool are getting on and who we’re playing.
Mark:I’m a Man United fan and I always try to keep up with what they’re doing. Christian and Ste are both Liverpool fans so it can cause a bit of friction! It’s unbelievably hard to keep up with it in America cos it’s baseball and basketball all the way. The only soccer they have is that Major League rubbish!
Where’s the best Stateside location for an evening of laddish behaviour?
Ste:I think it’s New York cos the vibe’s amazing there. It’s open all the time and it’s just a totally safe place to go.
Mark:New York does have a cool vibe. But my favourite is probably LA cos we spent a lot of time there finishing our album and so we got to know the best places. It’s always sunny and there are palm trees everywhere. Christian:Miami, without a doubt. Sun, sand, palm trees... But the best thing is the women wear next to nothing!
What's the first thing you do when you get home?
Ste:I check that all my guitars are ok and no one's messed with them while i was away and then I get myself sorted for a big night out with my mates.
Mark: I get home and the first thing I do is try to chill out as much as I can. I’ll get my main to make me a nice coffee and we’ll have a catch-up chat. Then after a couple of hours I’ll be on the phone to my mates to sort out going up the pub!
Christian: WelL, I just drop my bags off, get on the phone and go straight down the pub with my mates for a few games of pool and some pints! I try to get back to normal life as quick as I can.
Is there anything you bring back from the States you can’t get over here?
Ste:Well, my dad collects ties so wherever I am I’ll always try to pick him up a nice unusual one.
Mark: I don’t bring anything back with me but my tip for going away is to take Ribena! You can’t find it anywhere so these days I always pack my own!
Christian: And take loads of money cos you have to pay for everything twice — once when you actually pay for it and then again when you tip them!
OK, let’s check out a few of your lad
credentials. Curry, kebab or chips?
Ste:I’m a total chips man!
Christian: I don’t even have to think about that one. Curry wins it every time!
Mark:None of them. I can’t stand kebabs
—they’re horrible things! To be honest, I prefer a nice slice of pizza.
What is the strangest place you’ve ever woken up in on the morning after a night before?
Ste:I woke up in the back of my mate’s car once and before you ask, yes, I was on my own!
Mark:I’ve woken up in my mate’s bathroom a few times. Not the best way to start a day, I can tell you!
Christian:I found myself in my best mate’s front garden one morning. God knows how I ended up there. I suppose it’s better than another moonie!
Now that would have hit a bum note!
