Frank Iero is well know for being the rhythm guitarist of iconic band My Chemical Romance. We caught up with Frank to talk about his new project  Frnk Iero And the Cellabration.

 

SCENEzine
Firstly just want to say we’ve been fans of yours for many years and Stomachaches was one of our favourite albums of 2014. Were you happy with how it turned out?

 

Frank Iero
Thank you so much. That’s so nice I appreciate that. Yeah here’s the thing when I sat down and started to write these songs it was very much a selfish project. I wanted nothing more than to make an audio snapshot basically of this time in my life. So I did my best to channel these songs through me. I wanted it to sound like you were listening in on me basically playing these songs in my basement. I didn’t expect anyone else to ever hear it. Now that it has been out there and people have been listening to it the response has been fantastic. It’s beyond my dreams of what I wanted.

 

SCENEzine
I’m guessing your a strong believer that music and art go hand in hand. Can you tell us a bit about the cover art for the album?

 

Frank Iero
Yeah absolutely. I’m glad you asked about that. It is a photo that Heather Gabel took. The second I saw it I knew immediately that it was what I needed. I was looking for a while for something that represented the record. Striking and frailty.

 

Things that scare us and are beautiful at the same time. It’s kind of something that you may pass by hundreds of times in your lifetime but never think twice and this photo represents all of that to me. She’s a phenomenal artist.

 

We worked hand in hand with the layout and the centre piece was her photo.

 

Stomachaches

 

SCENEzine
While listening to the album I hear influences of both The Cure and Nirvana. I could be off the mark but are those dark fuzzy sounds something you were inspired by?

 

Frank Iero
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a fan of both of those bands. I think going into writing the songs there were sounds that I heard in my head that were heavily influenced by nineties alternative bands. That’s really what I cut my teeth on and homed my creative likes and dislikes. I grew up in that era. I wanted something that was strong and fragile.
Broken in all the right ways. It’s cool that you heard those influences in there.

 

SCENEzine
A song that struck me straight away was “Joyriding”. Did that song come easily during songwriting? And was the video as fun to make as it looked?

 

Frank Iero
Well the song first off actually started out as an exercise for me. I had a long conversation with a journalist the night before writing that song. We talked about the immediacy of releasing music. How long an artist can hold onto something before they release it without ruining it. It’s in all of us to go through the thing that we create and just pick at it. The more you sit with it in your possession and no one else has it the more your apt to know end. Like as an artist are you ever truly done with something or do you just get to the point where you relinquish it. So through that conversation I decided I was going to write a song that night and when it was done put it online. So that’s what I did and “Joyriding” was that song. That song was probably the only reason I played the songs I was making to my friend Matt Kelly which ended  turning into a record deal. I had never had any intention of making a record to put out. But the reaction I got from putting that song up was such a confidence boost. It was exactly what I needed to take that next step. Ultimately that song is responsible for anyone hearing the whole record.

 

As for the video that was one of those things where the label wanted “Weighted” to be the first single and do a video for that. The amount of money they wanted to spend on the video was less than the amount I needed for a short film I wanted to make. So I was like I have this other idea for a video but it would have to be for “Joyriding”. So they agreed to give me a little bit more money so I could make two videos. I ended up building a room in my backyard and we filmed the “Joyriding” video the night before we filmed the video for “Weighted”. It was fun but also the hardest day in my entire life. We literally built an entire room, filmed the video then destroyed the room. Then we had to get hosed down like a pulp fiction kind of moment. Then wake up at 5am the next day to film the “Weighted” video.

SCENEzine
Was the “Weighted” video always intended to be in black and white?

Frank Iero
Yes it was. Later on it was a secondary thought to colourise the pin in the video. Good questions man I like those.

SCENEzine
There’s a deeply personal moment on the album in the form of the track “Stage 4: Fear of Trying”. Is it hard to be that vulnerable on a track?

 

Frank Iero
That’s a song that I’ve got to say I was scared to do for a long time. It took until this tour to be able to play that song every night. I remember recording that song and I was very unsure of putting it on the record. But ultimately I felt the scariest option is usually the right one. So that’s how that came about.

 

*Editors Note This Interview Took place before the news of Soundwave 2016 Cancellation*
SCENEzine
The exciting news for Australians is that you’ve been announced as part of Soundwave Festival 2016.
Are you excited to come back and was it always the plan to tour the album down here?

 

Frank Iero
Early on between us we were saying where should we go and tour and I was like I want to go to Australia with this.
I feel like with this project and this band it makes sense to come to Australia. It’s been a year in the making I’m sorry it took this long but when I got the call that we are going I got very excited. This is exactly the right thing to close this album on for this record cycle.

 

SCENEzine
Have you had a chance to look at the Soundwave lineup? Any other bands your keen to check out?

 

Frank Iero
Yeah I know that Moose Blood are playing I’m very excited to see those guys again. One of the best sets I have seen in my entire life was Refused at Groezrock. I think they are one of those acts that are just doing it so correct. They are just a fantastic inspiring band so those are definitely my top two.

 

SCENEzine
Do you have a favourite memory from coming to Australia in the past?

 

Frank Iero
Yes the last trip that we made we played Big Day Out. I got to see so many bands. I remember getting to see The Bronx do their set then later on do a Mariachi set. I thought to myself wow not only are these guys way more talented than they should be but pulling that double duty in the heat had me so impressed. That reaffirmed my love for that band and those guys. That was a great experience getting to watch them every night.

 

SCENEzine
You recently did an awesome acoustic cover of “Instant  Karma”. With songs like that and even songs from My chemical Romance does it amaze you how songs can live on for decades?

 

Frank Iero

Absolutely and I think that’s a testament to art. There’s certain things that are created that strike a chord and can inspire new generations. It’s not about the language or generation it’s about how music just jumps over all of that.

Like right before this tour I had a little experiment. My kids were sitting at the table having lunch and I put on “Thriller”.

 

Immediately when the song starts my daughter had never heard it before her foot starts tapping. She just couldn’t help it. Before it was done my kids started dancing and it was so natural. It moved them so much they had to dance how cool is that. That music will be forever.

 

SCENEzine
How does it make you feel knowing that for instance a song like “I’m not ok” by My Chemical Romance has touched so many lives worldwide and you were part of the creative process?

 

Frank Iero
It’s incredibly strange to imagine that. Because there is songs that I will forever be influenced by and love and they mean everything to me. So to have something that I had a part in be that for someone else is cosmic. You can’t even put it into words how that feels. You feel eternal and that’s the most amazing feeling you could have.

 

SCENEzine
Is it too soon to ask if you have new Celebration songs on the way?

 

Frank Iero
It’s too soon to ask (laughs) no look here’s the thing I feel very inspired right now. I am writing a lot. But I don’t want to get too far into that. I think I’ve found something really great and I’m excited to explore what that is.

 

SCENEzine
How do you feel when fans approach you saying that through either My Chemical Romance or Celebration that your music may be the reason why they are here today? Do you try to not think of that sort of thing too much when your writing music?

 

Frank Iero
Oh god that can never come into your head while writing. It’s an amazing feeling though when people say that.

 

People that you don’t know in countries that your not from will come and tell you about songs getting them through hard times. That’s an unreal feeling because you have a connection with that person. But as far as the writing process that can never come into your head. You write because your compelled to. I create things because there is no other life for me because I have to do this. It’s like breathing if I hold my breathe too long I’d probably pass out and die.

 

It’s the same thing if I don’t write a song for too long it’s gunna end badly. All you can do is try to create a pure account of what you hear in your head and try to be the best you that you can.

 

SCENEzine
Can you leave us with a last message for your Australian fans?

 

Frank Iero
Yeah I am beyond excited to come play for you at Soundwave. I really just can’t wait. I think it’s been a long time in the making. If your excited to see us then you can’t even imagine how excited I am. I look forward to it.

 

(interview by Christian Ross)
*Editors Note this interview took place before the news of Soundwave 2016 Cancellation*

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