Live shows have been on the back burner of late for The Living End, but with their seventh album almost in the can, frontman Chris Cheney took time out ahead of Decades Festival, where the band will play alongside Something For Kate and Cold Chisel.
The Decades Festival will celebrate the very best in popular culture and entertainment from the 1950s through to the 1990s. Is the retro theme one of the factors that attracted you to Decades Festival?
To be honest I didn't know Decades Fest had a retro theme. We're gonna fit right in then. We might have to pull out a few oldies from our early days! We've been working on a new record so our shows have been few and far between.
Decades Festival will not be the first time that The Living End has shared a stage with Jimmy Barnes, having joined Jimmy as special guests on the 2014 A Day On The Green tour, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of Jimmy’s career and coincided with the release of his '30:30 Hindsight' album. The Living End featured on the first single, a cracking version of ‘Lay Down Your Guns’. It must have been an honour to not only be asked to collaborate but to feature on the first single. Why that song?
I suggested that song because I felt we could bring something to it and put our stamp on it. Jimmy’s songs are so well known and I didn't want to tackle anything I thought we couldn't handle. It's also one of my favs [sic]of his so it was a no brainer.
The Living End and Cold Chisel were fellow nominees in the same ARIA Awards categories – Highest Selling Album (1999) and Best Australian Live Act (2012). How did it feel in those moments to be nominated alongside the 1993 Hall of Fame inductees and how do you feel now as you prepare to support them at Decades Festival?
Surreal. You grow up in this country aware of the status and influence of [Cold] Chisel, so to be nominated alongside them and to be at an awards night in general isn't something we ever factored into our career.
Another Decades Festival act, Something For Kate supported The Living End of their 2012 national tour. How do the two bands complement each other?
I'm a fan of those guys for sure. They're a brilliant band on so many levels. They've got some beautifully written tunes, and live they really lay it down. We've not played a lot of shows together over the years so I'm looking forward to seeing them.
The Living End has played at numerous open-air festivals in Queensland over the last couple of years. Does playing outdoors in the Sunshine State bring a different energy to your shows?
It brings a little more sweat I think! Queensland was the first place we ever played outside of Victoria and we've always had a great following there. Even back as far as playing Wintersun Fest and tiny club shows, there's been great support.
Jimmy Barnes has been quoted as saying The Living End are ‘…just so bloody good. They’re so ferocious as a band.’ How would you define the essence of your band from suburban Melbourne who have won five ARIA Awards and whose EP, 'Second Solution/ Prisoner Of Society', ranks as the biggest selling, Australian-made single of the 1990s?
Driven. We are never completely satisfied with anything we do. That's part of being an artist you know, never really settling for ok. Striving to be better. We want to be great, exciting, brilliant. When we do a show, if we're not completely spent by the end of it then something went wrong! We also still just love playing together and making music. When it all comes together onstage it's a special thing.
As a band you experienced a staggering level of success early on. Many artists have crumbled under the scrutiny, pressure and expectation to do one better. 'The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating' album was won the 2011 Best Rock Album ARIA Award – The Living End’s second win in this category. Was the critical acclaim a relief?
The critical acclaim is not a relief, it's a nice bonus. We make sure WE are happy with what we do and then if it's accepted by a bunch more people then we feel vindicated in a way. It's easy to lose sight of why you started in the first place, but we always try to be aware how blessed we are to play music for a living and to still be doing it. I think our new record is gonna be the best album we've had since 'Roll On'. It's been a longer journey than expected but it's gonna be so worth it.
[The album is] almost in the can. It feels fresh and exciting and raw. The songs are really strong. We approached the writing from a completely different way by basically recording a whole lot of music and then trying to mould the ideas into songs. We started with energy and then inserted the hooks! It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but we've definitely gotten a better record out of the unusual process.
With an extensive back catalogue, what is the decision making process when compiling a set list for a gig? Are some songs non-negotiable?
There's always the favs that we'd get lynched for if we didn't play, but I do like to mix it up a bit. Few album tracks or covers now and then. I never like it to feel too safe. It gets boring then.
What can the Decades Festival audience expect from The Living End set?
Maximum energy, big sing-alongs and hopefully a full pelt, rock & roll gig. What more do ya want!?
The Living End play Decades Festival at Pine Rivers Park 31 October. They'll be joined by Cold Chisel and Something For Kate.