MGMT
Andrew VanWyngarden of Brooklyn pop merchants MGMT gears up for Splendour in the Grass
By Dan Rookwood
Any non-rock'n'roll plans while you're in Australia?
I am going to take a bit of time off when I get there after the shows, hit some beaches and to learn to surf. I skateboard and I've snowboarded and I've dreamt a lot about surfing, so I feel like I should be able to at least handle a long board.
How did you and Ben Goldwasser (the other half of MGMT) meet?
We were freshmen at school – sorry, university. It was nothing too crazy at first; we just had lunch together in the cafeteria one day. We realised we were into the same music – lots of classic rock, and psychedelic stuff from the 60s that our parents had brought us up on. After a while of just listening to music, we eventually started playing with a few instruments and putting tracks down on our laptops.
Where did the name MGMT come from?
We used to be called The Management, which is just how Ben and I used to sign off emails to each other, as if we were a big corporate organisation. But then when we came to put out our first EP we were told there was already a band called The Management, so our management told us we had to change.
What's the last year been like for you?
I haven't had a moment to think and really grasp how crazy it's been. Let me think (pauses). OK, a year ago we were a really shaky, rough band playing small places in Brooklyn. And two days ago we played a sold out Hollywood Bowl in LA with Beck. So the jump has been kinda ridiculous.
What have you learned from the past year?
To be careful what I say in interviews.
Have any of the lyrics from 'Time to Pretend' come true yet? Have you married any models or bought any islands, for example?
Not yet, but we so miss our family and friends on tour. And we do have that feeling of not being in control of our lives, so yeah, some of it has come true.
I always thought the line in that song "I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and fuck with the stars" was "I'm going to parachute some heroin and fuck with the stars." If I may be so bold, I think my version is better. It suggests an even bigger high. Would you consider changing the line on the advice of a journalist you've never met?
No.
Moving on, what was your nickname at school?
Mad Cat. Just a coupla people called me that though. Actually my alter ego is Edgar Books. He's still developing but he's a mystical dude, my vampire side. He's a pretty dark fellow and I think he's going to come out pretty soon.
When did you last laugh until you cried?
The last that I can remember was back in London in March. We went a little bit crazy, got a bit overwhelmed. We were on LSD I think.
What do you hate most in life?
I hate the little clicky sound that Blackberry phones make. Hate it! In fact I really, really hate any small poppy noises like that.
You must have a lot of rage, then.
I've learned some self-control.
What's the most ridiculous piece of gossip you've ever heard about yourself?
When I was in London I picked up The Sun and read that I had stolen Kirsten Dunst from Johnny Borrell (lead singer of Razorlight). That was news to me. Every single line was made up.
What's your greatest extravagance?
Apart from our tour bus, which I feel very guilty about because of its gigantic carbon footprint? It has to be pants. I cannot stop buying pants.
Are we talking pants as in jeans or pants as in y-fronts?
All pants. Hey, I don't discriminate when it comes to pants.
If you were to make one apology, what would it be and to whom?
Hey man, that's kind of a heavy question for first thing in the morning.
It's 2.30pm.
Like I said...
How much richer are you than you were last year?
Five.
Five times richer?
No. Just five.
MGMT play at Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay, Sat 25-Sun 26 Jul
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