The Coolness Interview: SXSW 2010

Describing their sound as "disco beats, Casio keyboards, KISS-meets-'90s rave music," the members of The Coolness bring a fusion of rock and dance music to their performances. The guys bonded over a "love of Oasis, Jimi Hendrix, dance music and the Stone Roses." Originally from Portsmouth, England, the band now resides in London, and the band's vocalist, Chaz John Ross, and drummer, Eddie Lyons, talked to Spinner before heading to SXSW.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Chaz: Disco beats, Casio keyboards, KISS-meets-'90s rave music.

Eddie: Loud guitar, four crazy guys ripping up the rock 'n' roll telephone directory.

How did your band form?

Chaz and Eddie: We originate from Portsmouth, a.k.a. Pompey, which is a small island off the south coast of England, next to the Isle Wight Festival. It was once the most densely populated city in Europe and houses the world's largest Council Estate, Leigh Park. We all met at South Downs Art College more ten years ago. We now live in Methnal Green, a trendy part of East London.
What are your musical influences?

Chaz: Guns 'n' Roses vs. the Stone Roses.

Eddie: ... but playing keytars and drum machines.

How did you come up with your band's name?

Chaz: A girl from Los Angeles called Sisely came up with it. It's an American thing.

Eddie: She used to sing and dance with us, but got snapped up by another band called Shiny Toy Guns.

What's your biggest vice?

Chaz: I have some relationship troubles. I tend to go for fiery, very violent Latin types. I'm pretty weak and too skinny to defend myself.

Eddie: Kinder Eggs ... Chocadoobie. I love sexy surprises.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Chaz: Probably my own, The Coolness, as we are the Shoreditch Spinal Tap. I also dig Coldplay, X-Factor and Britney.

Eddie: Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Level 42 or slap bass music, anything rocking, really.

Beatles or Stones?

Chaz: Beatles. I'm clean cut, and 'Imagine' was UK number one the day I was born.

Eddie: Stones.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Chaz: Our van crashed into the river Thames on the way to a gig with Hollywood girl group The Millionaires. When we finally arrived at the venue six hours late, the Millionaires had cancelled due to food poisoning. We blame Ken's Kebabs!!

Eddie: Our manager Bert was once so (drunk) that he tried to seduce a life-sized poster of Kate Moss. We have video evidence of this on YouTube. We filmed an orgy that's on YouTube, too.

If you could bring anyone onstage to perform with you, who would it be?

Chaz: Lady Gaga. I'd love her to perform on me ... all over.

Eddie: Tay Zunday. To make us appear more urban.

What would you say or do if the 'Twilight' film creators asked you to feature one of your songs on the movie's soundtrack?

Chaz: I've never seen this film as I only have a VHS player, so I'd say a big 'Yes.'

Eddie: I saw a pirate copy on Betamax. We'd be happy to work with anyone with big bucks, except Ronald McDonald.



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