Twenty Questions with – Phillip Jenkins, Kids In Glass Houses

Shane | 12 August 2014 | Reply

Twenty Questions with – Phillip Jenkins, Kids In Glass Houses

Welsh alt-rockers KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES shortly embark on their farewell tour of Australia, which was as good a reason as any to fire twenty quick questions at drummer Phillip Jenkins.

1. What will you be playing on the upcoming tour?

As it’s our farewell tour we shall playing a smorgasbord of our tunes, old & new. We’re really excited that we have the opportunity to play for an Australian audience one last time, and really want to make it as much fun as possible. We’ve basically got a huge set list prepared, so perhaps we’ll let the crowd pick and choose.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realised you wanted to be a musician?

My older brother had a big influence in getting me into music. I used to borrow all of his Nirvana, Green Day, Silverchair & Pearl Jam tapes as a youngster. When I listened to Basket Case by Green Day, that intro drum fill was the moment I realised I wanted to be a drummer.

3. Who are your main five musical influences?

Collectively – Prince, The Police, Michael Jackson, The Killers & Glassjaw

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

A collective & unanimous PRINCE. He’s hands down the greatest pop star & musician to exist – a big influence on us. An absolute living legend.

5. Who would be your dream band, living or dead?

The 27 Club, the band – Jimi Hendrix on lead guitar, Amy Winehouse lead vocals, Kurt Cobain as well. John Bonham (not 27, [but] on drums just for the LOLs.)

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

A rock band playing pop songs. Quite simple really.

7. What’s the coolest thing that a fan has ever done for you?

This one fan got Ronnie Vannucci (who’s one of my favourite drummers) from The Killers to do a personalised drawing for me, which was pretty awesome. Last time I was in Australia this lovely fan knitted me a scarf, but the weather was too hot. Nice thought though.

8. Any tips on how to keep in shape on the road?

I’m probably the last person to be giving health & fitness advice. I’m a slave to pizza. & it’s so easy to over indulge while on the road. We tend to get over excited on tour and get ahead of ourselves, particularly when it comes to boozing, but our guitarist Joel manages to keep on top of his fitness.
9. What’s the best thing about being a muso?

Not sure about being a muso, but being able to play music for a living to me is a dream come true.

10. What’s the worst part of touring?

Aside from performing, travelling is one of the main perks of touring. Unfortunately, some times you can end up not have much time in each city, and that can be quite frustrating.

11. Who was the last legitimate rock star you met in person?

Last legit rock star I met was Brian May of Queen and he was a true gentlemen.

12. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Iain is a great cook, and drinker, and guitarist, so he pretty much encapsulates all of those qualities.

13. Which act would you like to just give up and go away?

I’m not one for bitching out other bands. If a band doesn’t interest me, that’s fine. They can still exist, just not on my radar.

14. If you could make one band reform, who would you pick?

Nirvana. They had such a big impact on me growing up. One band I truly would have loved to have seen live.

15. If your band had a superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation to save us hours and hours of sitting in a van on the road.

16. For the tech-heads, what equipment do you use?

I play Gretsch drums (USA Custom), Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth drum sticks, Remo drum heads & Roland electronics.

17. If you weren’t a muso, what would be your dream job?

This is a dream job. If not for doing this, I’d be quite content taking photographs & making videos for a living.

18. If you were made ruler of the world, what would your first orders be?

World pizza. Pizza for everyone.

19. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

To sit in on Michael Jackson’s Bad. I drive around to this record every time it turns to summer, and I have a early memory of listening to this album at a young age. It’s one of those CDs that I’ll always go back to.

20. What, for you, is The Meaning Of Life??

To capture Pikachu.
Kids In Glass Houses Australian Tour Dates, August 2014

Friday, 22nd August – BlackMarket @ Light Hotel, Adelaide (18+)
Saturday, 23rd August – Bang! @ Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
Sunday, 24th August – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (All Ages)
Wednesday, 27th August – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
Thursday, 28th August – Factory Theatre, Sydney (Lic All Ages)
Saturday, 30th August – The Brightside, Brisbane (18+)
Sunday, 31st August – The Lab, Brisbane (All Ages)