🟥 This article is translated from French.

They were said to be dead, but The Vines have just released their third album. Craig Nicholls even seems to be doing very well and hopes for a tour to follow. Here’s a health update on him.

Mistreated, mocked, or even struck down by Craig Nicholls, the press quickly buried him and even crucified him as soon as his illness was discovered. However, the former new messiah of rock didn’t see it that way. Overcome with repentance and driven by an almost divine spirit, he returns from the dead and traverses the infernal valley to spread the good word of Vision Valley, the third commandment from the Australians.

ROCKMAG: Craig, how would you compare your three albums?

Craig Nicholls (vocals/guitar): Well, there was Highly Evolved, which was the first, then the second, Winning Days, and Vision Valley, which is the third...

Good point! But could you elaborate on your feelings about each of them?

Craig Nicholls: (Laughs) Okay! For the first one, it was really exciting because we really wanted to put out an album. For the second, it was also exciting because we went to a different place, to Woodstock (New York). It felt a bit more familial. For Vision Valley, we did it here in Sydney.

After working with Rob Schnapf on the previous two, you changed producers...

Craig Nicholls: We had done a few tracks with him before. We thought Wayne (Connolly, ed.) would be perfect for the job, and he was!

This album seems a bit calmer than the previous ones. Is that the style you prefer?

Craig Nicholls: This album is short and intense, with some sentimental or emotional songs. There are more pop songs, yes. I think it’s more personal. They all are, but this one particularly. However, it’s still hard to choose between the two, calm and energy. I like extremes...

At the time of the first album, you were compared to Kurt Cobain and The Vines to Nirvana... Wasn’t that a bit heavy to bear?

Craig Nicholls: Yeah, it was quite hard... (He pauses, thinks... Ryan comes to his rescue.)

Ryan Griffiths (guitar): But we were also compared to a lot of other bands...

Your second LP, Winning Days, wasn’t received as well as Highly Evolved. Do you think that album was underrated?

Craig Nicholls: Yeah, I believe so! It was strange for me to see that it didn’t do as well.

Do you think your behavior influenced the critics and the audience?

Craig Nicholls: Yeah, maybe. It was a pretty hard time for me. I wasn’t really doing well. It’s complicated to say how much my illness played a role and what else was wrong with me... But I’m fine now, thanks.

Do you remember that show in Paris where you were throwing things at Hamish (Rosser, the drummer) while he was playing and you were butchering the songs?

Craig Nicholls: (Laughs) Yeah, that was great! (Laughs) It was a game between us. Maybe some people thought we were fighting. We weren’t very serious on stage. But everything was fine with him.

On the other hand, Patrick Matthews (bass) has officially left the band?

Craig Nicholls: Yeah, yeah... He plays with his band, Youth Group. That’s great.

Ryan Griffiths: They released an album in the U.S. and toured with Coldplay. Things are going well for them!

It was during a concert in Sydney where you attacked a photographer that Patrick left you in the middle of the show and never came back...

Craig Nicholls: It was really chaotic! When Patrick left, I thought it was a shame. I was shocked, but we finished the show without him.

Ryan Griffiths: We thought he would come back, but he didn’t. We did a few TV shows afterward with Andy (Kent, ed.) who plays on the album and is in a band called You Am I. But I wouldn’t say he’s part of the band. We’re going to try to find someone else permanently.

How much time passed between the diagnosis of Craig’s illness (Asperger’s syndrome) and the beginning of the recording of the new album?

Ryan Griffiths: Our last shows were at the end of May 2005, and we got back together five months later. It wasn’t that long. Personally, I never thought the band was finished. It was just a matter of time before we all got back together.

Craig Nicholls: I also thought I would be back to music quickly.

How did the record label react after the announcement of your illness?

Craig Nicholls: There was a lot of hesitation. But they did a good job. We still have two albums with them, and we plan to make them.

Do you feel you have something to prove to those who buried you too quickly?

Craig Nicholls: Yeah, we want to prove that we can still play. And the album will allow us to get back on stage. We’re confident; we’ve started rehearsals, and it’s exciting to play the new songs. But at the same time, I don’t care too much about what people think of me because we can’t do anything about that.

It was announced that you wouldn’t be touring for this album...

Craig Nicholls: Actually, we are strongly considering going on tour. We haven’t made any plans yet, but we really hope to! It’s important for us to do shows and promote the album. It’s a logical process to play the songs live.

On the new album, the song "Dope Train" talks about your addiction. You stopped using drugs and fast food when your illness was diagnosed. What was harder to give up, weed and dope or McDonald's?

Craig Nicholls: (Laughing hard) Um... I think both were equally hard. (Laughs) But it’s true that the song "Dope Train" is about that drug addiction.

In one of the photos in the booklet, you’re seen riding a skateboard. Do you practice skateboarding?

Craig Nicholls: I do it from time to time. I used to do it more when I was younger; I started around the age of 10, so I’m pretty good at it.

What do you generally do when you’re not in the studio or on tour?

Craig Nicholls: We’re still making music... We also go see other bands, skate, and listen to music: Richard Ashcroft, Graham Coxon, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Dandy Warhols.

Do you think The Vines are definitely back with this album?

Craig Nicholls: (Confidently) Yeah, we are back!

CRAIG'S SYNDROME

In May 2004, Craig Nicholls insulted the crowd during a show in Sydney. He then physically attacked a photographer, who filed a complaint. On November 19, during the trial, his management revealed that he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that makes him particularly asocial. The pressure on his shoulders may have been a triggering factor. Today, after appropriate treatment, the singer claims to be doing better.

MORE VIDEOS

Several videos were filmed for the release of Vision Valley. The first clip is for "Gross Out," which was available for download starting March 27. Clearly shot on the fly in a rehearsal space and in color (available on www.youtube.com along with an acoustic version of Vision Valley), the "official" version has been reworked in a very stylized black and white. There’s also "Don't Listen To The Radio," which is also in black and white but shot more traditionally. The next video will be for "Anysound," the upcoming single, set to be released in May. Ryan: "It will feature motion captures of us created by Olivier Gondry, Michel’s brother. It was really nice working with him."