Jing Jang on song

Apr 27 2008 Avril Cadden

60 Second Interview

JOE LEAN AND THE JING JANG JONG

Singer Joe loves being in a rock'n'roll band but he says he's just as happy watching Antiques Roadshow.See them at Aberdeen's Tunnels on May 8 and Glasgow's Arches on May 9.

How is your debut album doing?

We're in the process of mixing it right now. It should be out at the end of the summer. We haven't got a title yet.

Describe your music - is it to dance to, fall in love to or ponder over?

All those things. Since the birth of pop in the early 60s, songs have been released that you could dance to on a Friday night and lie in bed and cry to on a Sunday. The record will have quite a wide range on it.

There's been a lot of hype around you, how do you feel about it?

It's a bit irritating really. Most bands get to make an album, release it then have everyone judge it without any forethought about it. We hope people don't make too many pre-judgements about it and take it for what it is - a live rock'n'roll album.

Have you any role models?

People like Tom Waits but there is no icon in particular that we base anything on. We want to make something new, so being retrospective or looking up to someone else for guidance on how to behave or what to make doesn't really come into it much.

You've been compared to Razorlight, is that a compliment or not?

Anyone who said that hasn't listened to our music. It shows a lack of research. I don't see any comparison apart from we are both male bands. There's no musical similarity.

You used to be The Pipettes' drummer, was it a difficult transition to frontman?

I c****** myself before going on stage with The Pipettes and I still c*** myself. It's not much of a difference in the experience. Everyone gets nerves, it gets the adrenaline going.

Do you still see The Pipettes? What was it like being in a girl band?

They are like family and they were very good times. I wrote for the band, it never seemed like a girl band to me. It was more like a show like The Ronettes or The Supremes and all about the girls - with this straight-looking, session-musician, backing band in tank tops.

We enjoyed that element of the show.

Where did the name Jing Jang Jong come from?

It was a series of serendipitous moments that ended up with that being our name. The origins of it is not something we talk about. To come up with something tame and possibly immediately accessible did not excite us, so we tried to come up with a name that sticks out - something fun and interesting.

You are on tour in Scotland next month, will you get the chance to explore much?

Not really. We tour in a splitter van and you spend your day travelling - you never get to see the actual places you are visiting. But we've got to know the roads really well. We're really into our service stations at the moment.

What got you into music?

My father used to play a lot of records to me from when I was born. Stuff like The Beach Boys, Ramones and Prince. That got me into music. You play The Beach Boys to a three year old and you awake that in everyone.

What was the first record you bought?

It's embarrassing. I listened to a lot of music but the first one was Unbelievable by EMF.

What's your favourite way to spend a Sunday?

I like to watch the Antiques Roadshow, it's my favourite. I doubt you'll see me on it though, I'd get too nervous being around all those guys.

I'm better off home watching.

By Avril Cadden