Negative, Rockoon 3/2009
“I’m some sort of ohoho when it comes to that.
We call it indoor-homo.”
After the concert in Frankfurt am Main we reported on in our last issue it was a pleasure to meet NGT’s figurehead Jonne Aaron again for an entertaining tête-à-tête and to talk with him about God, the world and about juicy details about the five Finnish glam rockers’ life.
And the now revealed secrets even make the bravest fan throw their hands up in horror…
Rockoon: Okay, straight to the first question: What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2008?
Jonne Aaron: The year was quite hectic, but I already thought about what 2008 brought a little time ago. I think that the best thing was that so much happened about Negative. We separated from our old guitarist and put an end to the whole shit around that, we did release the new record Karma Killer despite all the delay because of the new record deal…It wasn’t much of a problem in Scandinavia and Japan, but we really had to work hard for the release in Europe. But hey, in the end it’s out here as well and everything went fine. Yeah, and now we’re here and from my point of view it’s never been so great to be here. All in all it was more than just hectic regarding the fact that all of this happened in one year… and we also had to do a lot in our private lives. I moved for example and now I have a new apartment, I was really excited about the decoration (grins). I’m some sort of “ohoho” when it comes to that (rises his pinkie finger and flutters his eyelashes). We call it “indoor-homo” (laughs). But that’s okay, I like it. Every time we go somewhere I buy souvenirs for my flat. When I’ve been to Mexico some time ago I bought these really great masks and they’re hanging in my corridor now. It’s those small things that save the day. Hm, but when looking at today… the show already started quite early, before 8 pm already… to be honest we were all a little nervous today, lots of people asked us lately why Gary isn’t in the Band anymore… he never was an official member of the band, and it didn’t feel like Negative with him. But now only the five of us again, that fits. It feels somehow right on stage… I don’t know what it feels like for the audience, but we got lots of positive feedback. It’s more real when there’s only one instrument of each sort… I’m talking too much, or not? (laughs)
R: A little bit, but it doesn’t matter. The next question is about what was essential to get Negative to where they’re now.
JA: Essential… I’d say there are a lot of things. Things that I lost, things that I sacrificed for the band?
R: Yes, like that.
JA: When our debut record came out I saw my friends in Finland only very seldom for two…or even more years. Back then I locked myself from the world outside a lot and just focused on the band… actually I still do that today, in a way. I’m 25 years old now… still young, actually, but I feel like I was in the business ever since the Scorpions started. (laughs)
When we founded the NGT I was about 14, that’s quite a long time ago, and the first record came out when I had just turned 18. It feels like I have been around as a musician forever.
Now almost all of my friends begin starting families, they get married and so on… when I’m going out with them I almost get a little embarrassed when I get to hear things like: ‘when will you finally settle down, build a nice house, get a few children - well we have three already…?’ It makes me feel so pressed. I’m in a band, I live for my band, and I don’t think about such a ‘normal’ life yet. My friends don’t understand it, because the band doesn’t have to do anything with the normal life. Of course you also have a private life when you’re in a band: I eat, go to the toilet just like everybody else. But the whole system is just a different one. You never know what’s approved or where you are in two or three years. But that’s what I want - I’ll never stop pushing Negative and I’ll never give up on my dreams. It makes me feel that I’m alive. I believe that there’s some sort of mission from above, for the band, the guys, and for myself, and when we do not complete the mission, we’re going to hell. But we want to be the next dinosaurs of Rock’n’roll - but who, playing in a band, wouldn’t?
R: There often are the weirdest rumours about musicians. What’s the strangest one about you?
JA: I’ve heard so many… But I think it’s just funny, and I personally actually have a good sense of humour. That’s very important for life and I try not to take anything too serious. There are lawyers, doctors, all these serious people, und then musicians are the opposite, they even have to bring along the humour for the others. One would surely go crazy when taking oneself too serious! I love musicians like Freddie Mercury and Robbie Williams, and even though they had and have their own special sense of humour, they are and were really passionate about their music, and that’s the key to it all. (thinking for a moment) Sorry… what was the question again?
R: What’s the strangest rumour about you?
JA: Oh, yes! There are a lot. For example that I had something with Avril Lavigne.
R: Yeah, I read that as well.
JA: From what I know she’s engaged?
R: She’s even married by now.
JA: Married… well there you go… (laughs) Actually it was quite funny. Another rumour is that some fans thought I was Michael Monroe’s (Singer of Hanoi Rocks - editor’s note) son. I did an interview for a Japanese rock magazine and was asked, “Hey, how’s your father?” And I just went: “Fine, fine…” So they wanted to know if he’s still doing music, and I had no idea and answered: “Yeah every now and then, but he actually hasn’t done any music for four years…” I got a few confused looks and then they asked if I wasn’t Michael Monroe’s son… Not that I knew of it! (laughs) But it might be a possibility; my mother is very pretty and attractive.
R: Did your way of listening to music change since becoming an artist yourself?
JA: Definitely. That’s the case for the whole band. You always have the choice what you like and for it’s always the case that I have music for all sorts of moods. When I’m at home and heating up my sauna I like drinking a little red wine and listen to very melodic music, acoustic for example. There’s a Finnish musician and actor, Vesa-Matti Loiri, his music is like Johnny Cash’s, the same concept. I like to listen to that. Or Finnish classical music or shit like that. Well, it’s not shit but… you know what I mean (laughs). When I get into party-mood I put Queen or something like that to the player. Regarding music I’m old-fashioned; I like old pop-songs. My friends don’t understand me and always say “Eww, go away with that stuff!” I don’t know, I like it. But I also like to know what’s going on in the music scene I love the radio for example. Sometimes you just have to get rid of your brains and just listen to something like that. I like Katy Perry for example (starts singing) “I kissed a girl and I liked it…” I think it’s a great song… for a special mood. But then again the song is truly annoying. (laughs) But Queen is great of course, and Muse… Guns N’ Roses… the newest record, I love Chinese Democracy. What else… Aerosmith… the Foo Fighters. Jay, our drummer, is the biggest Foo Fighters fan ever. I think he would lick their faces if he ever met them one day. (laughs) I can’t stand Slipknot for example, but Jay and Antti love stuff like that, especially that band… I can’t do anything with it. I want my private backstage area for the next tour (laughs) I don’t have to listen to that stuff them, I admit that they’re a really good band if you need to get rid of aggressions, but I simply don’t understand the sense in pissing on each others masks or shitting on ones band mates. (laughs) Maybe I’m too old school…
In our next issue, Jonne informs us about his secret ideas for merchandising, vividly proves his talent for improvising and…. You’ll see!
(SB)
www.negative.fi
Original interview by: SB
Published in: Rockoon 3/2009
We call it indoor-homo.”
After the concert in Frankfurt am Main we reported on in our last issue it was a pleasure to meet NGT’s figurehead Jonne Aaron again for an entertaining tête-à-tête and to talk with him about God, the world and about juicy details about the five Finnish glam rockers’ life.
And the now revealed secrets even make the bravest fan throw their hands up in horror…
Rockoon: Okay, straight to the first question: What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2008?
Jonne Aaron: The year was quite hectic, but I already thought about what 2008 brought a little time ago. I think that the best thing was that so much happened about Negative. We separated from our old guitarist and put an end to the whole shit around that, we did release the new record Karma Killer despite all the delay because of the new record deal…It wasn’t much of a problem in Scandinavia and Japan, but we really had to work hard for the release in Europe. But hey, in the end it’s out here as well and everything went fine. Yeah, and now we’re here and from my point of view it’s never been so great to be here. All in all it was more than just hectic regarding the fact that all of this happened in one year… and we also had to do a lot in our private lives. I moved for example and now I have a new apartment, I was really excited about the decoration (grins). I’m some sort of “ohoho” when it comes to that (rises his pinkie finger and flutters his eyelashes). We call it “indoor-homo” (laughs). But that’s okay, I like it. Every time we go somewhere I buy souvenirs for my flat. When I’ve been to Mexico some time ago I bought these really great masks and they’re hanging in my corridor now. It’s those small things that save the day. Hm, but when looking at today… the show already started quite early, before 8 pm already… to be honest we were all a little nervous today, lots of people asked us lately why Gary isn’t in the Band anymore… he never was an official member of the band, and it didn’t feel like Negative with him. But now only the five of us again, that fits. It feels somehow right on stage… I don’t know what it feels like for the audience, but we got lots of positive feedback. It’s more real when there’s only one instrument of each sort… I’m talking too much, or not? (laughs)
R: A little bit, but it doesn’t matter. The next question is about what was essential to get Negative to where they’re now.
JA: Essential… I’d say there are a lot of things. Things that I lost, things that I sacrificed for the band?
R: Yes, like that.
JA: When our debut record came out I saw my friends in Finland only very seldom for two…or even more years. Back then I locked myself from the world outside a lot and just focused on the band… actually I still do that today, in a way. I’m 25 years old now… still young, actually, but I feel like I was in the business ever since the Scorpions started. (laughs)
When we founded the NGT I was about 14, that’s quite a long time ago, and the first record came out when I had just turned 18. It feels like I have been around as a musician forever.
Now almost all of my friends begin starting families, they get married and so on… when I’m going out with them I almost get a little embarrassed when I get to hear things like: ‘when will you finally settle down, build a nice house, get a few children - well we have three already…?’ It makes me feel so pressed. I’m in a band, I live for my band, and I don’t think about such a ‘normal’ life yet. My friends don’t understand it, because the band doesn’t have to do anything with the normal life. Of course you also have a private life when you’re in a band: I eat, go to the toilet just like everybody else. But the whole system is just a different one. You never know what’s approved or where you are in two or three years. But that’s what I want - I’ll never stop pushing Negative and I’ll never give up on my dreams. It makes me feel that I’m alive. I believe that there’s some sort of mission from above, for the band, the guys, and for myself, and when we do not complete the mission, we’re going to hell. But we want to be the next dinosaurs of Rock’n’roll - but who, playing in a band, wouldn’t?
R: There often are the weirdest rumours about musicians. What’s the strangest one about you?
JA: I’ve heard so many… But I think it’s just funny, and I personally actually have a good sense of humour. That’s very important for life and I try not to take anything too serious. There are lawyers, doctors, all these serious people, und then musicians are the opposite, they even have to bring along the humour for the others. One would surely go crazy when taking oneself too serious! I love musicians like Freddie Mercury and Robbie Williams, and even though they had and have their own special sense of humour, they are and were really passionate about their music, and that’s the key to it all. (thinking for a moment) Sorry… what was the question again?
R: What’s the strangest rumour about you?
JA: Oh, yes! There are a lot. For example that I had something with Avril Lavigne.
R: Yeah, I read that as well.
JA: From what I know she’s engaged?
R: She’s even married by now.
JA: Married… well there you go… (laughs) Actually it was quite funny. Another rumour is that some fans thought I was Michael Monroe’s (Singer of Hanoi Rocks - editor’s note) son. I did an interview for a Japanese rock magazine and was asked, “Hey, how’s your father?” And I just went: “Fine, fine…” So they wanted to know if he’s still doing music, and I had no idea and answered: “Yeah every now and then, but he actually hasn’t done any music for four years…” I got a few confused looks and then they asked if I wasn’t Michael Monroe’s son… Not that I knew of it! (laughs) But it might be a possibility; my mother is very pretty and attractive.
R: Did your way of listening to music change since becoming an artist yourself?
JA: Definitely. That’s the case for the whole band. You always have the choice what you like and for it’s always the case that I have music for all sorts of moods. When I’m at home and heating up my sauna I like drinking a little red wine and listen to very melodic music, acoustic for example. There’s a Finnish musician and actor, Vesa-Matti Loiri, his music is like Johnny Cash’s, the same concept. I like to listen to that. Or Finnish classical music or shit like that. Well, it’s not shit but… you know what I mean (laughs). When I get into party-mood I put Queen or something like that to the player. Regarding music I’m old-fashioned; I like old pop-songs. My friends don’t understand me and always say “Eww, go away with that stuff!” I don’t know, I like it. But I also like to know what’s going on in the music scene I love the radio for example. Sometimes you just have to get rid of your brains and just listen to something like that. I like Katy Perry for example (starts singing) “I kissed a girl and I liked it…” I think it’s a great song… for a special mood. But then again the song is truly annoying. (laughs) But Queen is great of course, and Muse… Guns N’ Roses… the newest record, I love Chinese Democracy. What else… Aerosmith… the Foo Fighters. Jay, our drummer, is the biggest Foo Fighters fan ever. I think he would lick their faces if he ever met them one day. (laughs) I can’t stand Slipknot for example, but Jay and Antti love stuff like that, especially that band… I can’t do anything with it. I want my private backstage area for the next tour (laughs) I don’t have to listen to that stuff them, I admit that they’re a really good band if you need to get rid of aggressions, but I simply don’t understand the sense in pissing on each others masks or shitting on ones band mates. (laughs) Maybe I’m too old school…
In our next issue, Jonne informs us about his secret ideas for merchandising, vividly proves his talent for improvising and…. You’ll see!
(SB)
www.negative.fi
Original interview by: SB
Published in: Rockoon 3/2009