In House With Andrew W.K.: The 10th-Anniversary Party for 'I Get Wet'

Posted on Aug 31st 2012 11:15AM by Cameron Matthews
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Gino DePinto, AOL

Andrew W.K. is looking out the window of our office at the street below through his dark sunglasses, remarking on how he used to live nearby. When we ask that he sit down on our leather sofa for our interview, he claims he'll sweat on it too much. So we wait.

Even at 1 in the afternoon, Mr. Party himself is ready for a fiesta. W.K.'s signature stains are already holding a table for two around his arm pits, while his white denim jeans carry the grime of New York streets.

It's been 10 years since Andrew released his major-label debut, I Get Wet, which launched the long-haired, fist-pumping fiend into rock stardom. W.K. has experienced a lot over the past decade, and he's ready to celebrate it all with this special anniversary.

"I see it a bit like celebrating the invention of, uh, I don't know, the telephone. Or the invention of maybe the computer or something," W.K. says of his freshman album.

The record's opening track, "It's Time to Party," is what the singer calls "the tool that we've used to manifest the celebration that's continued for all these years." So we asked the party maven, "What does it take to throw a momentous anniversary soiree?"

Watch "It's Time to Party"

"Depending on whether it's a relationship, or an anniversary of your life -- which people call birthdays -- or an anniversary of a job or some kind of achievement much like [this] album, it's really about being glad," he says emphatically.

"Not being sad, not being mad, not being bad, just being glad and embracing and appreciating, respecting, showing gratitude, acknowledging, whatever the point of the anniversary is."

Andrew and his band have just completed their first world tour in over five years, while playing several festival dates over the summer. His enthusiasm to party onstage is unparalleled on the tour circuit, and we're sure indie rockers the world over would love to have a taste of that Kool-Aid.

"I'd like to think that the point of an anniversary party is to instill that gratitude in our minds indefinitely," he says of his undying mantra. "So my tip is to be very aware and look all around, even into the corners of rooms where there may be some dust and some grime, but just don't shut your eyes out."

W.K. didn't lie to us about the sweating. Clutching a soda, he's getting increasingly wetter on our couch, but regardless, it's impossible not to be inspired by him. Even if you don't like his music, listening to him talk can amp up any crowd.

"I've spoken now twice now at Yale, and I've never gone to college," he says. "So to be going to some place like Yale and talking about partying while there are tenured professors with their arms crossed in the front row, who brought their wives, and they're both glaring at me, that's what life's all about. That's the good stuff."

To Andrew W.K., just being alive is something to celebrate, but he's still pretty thankful for the sea splash of popularity he achieved from I Get Wet. "A lot of folks told me that when you get older you have to give up on that kind of thing or that kind of fun, liking stuff like this. So I'm here to remind us all that joy is perpetual. Whatever ways you get it, whether through music or reading, even this, hopefully. It all counts. Take it, and let it soak into your soul and then puke it back out."

Check Out Our Photos of Andrew W.K.