(Credit: Timothy Norris)
“I think we’re a great band,” Pritchard, 23, continues. “And I don’t see why we can’t do well” in the States.
He has reason to be cocky. The Kooks’ sophomore album, “Konk” (named after the Ray Davies–owned studio where it was recorded), is loaded with the kind of colorful guitar lines, sparkling pop hooks and cut-the-crap lyrics (“do you wanna make love to me?” Pritchard chants repeatedly on one track) that could break the accent barrier. It’s a sound that’s earned the band huge sales at home and comparisons to classic British bands like Blur, the Smiths and even the Beatles—but also barbs from some critics and fellow bands, who are quick to dismiss the group’s catchy sound as fluff.
From a park somewhere in France, where he was relaxing between gigs on a European tour (“I’m by some cathedral, in the sun—it’s good”), Pritchard addressed his band’s lightweight reputation, the departure of original bassist Max Rafferty (who quit in January to drug problems) and the many meanings of the word “Konk.”
In your bio, it mentions that you guys listened to James Brown’s “I’ll Go Crazy” every day while you were working on “Konk.” Did you in fact go crazy while working on this record?
[Laughs] Well, yeah. Being in a band, sometimes you do feel like you’re going fuckin’ nuts. Sometimes you feel like pulling your hair out. But that’s all part of being in a band, you know? It’s a fuckin’ weird lifestyle, man.
Another British band, Kasabian, said you guys make “music for girls.” Do you take that as an insult or a compliment?
Loads of interviewers have said that quote to me and said, “What do you think of that?” First of all, that’s [Kasabian’s] kind of sense of humor, I think. And it’s weird to me, because I’ve met their singer and he’s real cool about our band. He seems to be quite into our music. But like you say, I would see it as a compliment, really. Lots of girls do listen to our music. We want to be the Beatles, you know what I mean? That idea of screaming girls—who fuckin’ wouldn’t like that? [Laughs] Just ‘cause they make music for sweaty old men doesn’t mean we have to.
You’ve said about music in general and the Kooks’ music in particular that if it doesn’t make you feel good, then what’s the point?
Right, sure. Our music’s fresh and upbeat—most of the time. Some of the lyrics aren’t exactly real pretty; some of them are dark. I think it’s also being young, man. You know, Kasabian’s quite a lot older than us—they’re pushing 30 or whatever. I don’t actually know if that’s true, but they seem to be older. Even if we were the same age [as them], we’re younger at heart, really. We just want to make people have fun. That’s what our music’s about. It’s about picking up a guitar, having a jam [and] playing a tune that everyone can sing along to.
Does “Konk” mean the same thing in British slang that it means in American slang? In America, it’s kind of a sound effect for getting hit on the head.
It’s like an abbreviation for “knockout.” So getting hit on the head—yeah.
I know the album is named after the studio where you recorded it, but I guess it’s fitting that way, too.
Yeah…trying to blow people’s heads off and all that. And we like that it’s a one-syllable word; we wanted to make a really concise record, and it really seemed to fit. Most of our decisions are kind of spontaneous; I think it was the first name that anyone came up with. Hugh [Harris, lead guitarist] just said, “Why don’t we call it ‘Konk’?” And we went, “Yeah.”
Are you looking forward to conquering America the old-fashioned way: on the tour bus, driving from town to town?
Yeah. As far as I know, there’s no short cuts. And the thing is, we’ve always been a touring band. Last year, we did 200 gigs in a year. I don’t think any other band in the world probably did that. So we’re ready to come over there and play. We love it. I find it so weird, these bands who whine about touring. I mean, yeah, like I said, sometimes it [makes you] feel like you’re crazy, but man—it’s brilliant.
Do you still ever catch yourself looking over your shoulder and going, “Wait, where’s Max?”
I have a real love-hate relationship with Max. You know, he’s like a brother. He’s this totally magnetic person and you know, I love him—but equally, I kind of hate being around him sometimes. So it was really difficult…and yeah, of course you get the moments where you miss the guy and moments where you think, “Is this the right decision?” But to be honest, man, we’re playing really well. All that kind of bullshit—the hard drugs and all that—is all gone. There was a lot of darkness, towards the end. But I still love him, like I said. I still keep in touch with him; I spoke to him the other day, and he’s alright. I think for him, it was the best move, as well. [Laughs] I could talk about this for hours, mate. I sound like I need counseling or something.
OK, subject change. What’s an appropriate setting for asking a girl, “Do you wanna make love to me?”
[Laughs] Onstage.
