After the pleasant listening of their debut album "The Mighty Can Fall" , we've reached the Canadian band The Rumours to submit them a bunch of questions to let all of you, dear Exploders, know this great band. The charming Just Janelle (guitar, vocals) and Lou Rumour (vocals, piano) are here ready to answer. Check it out!

Hi girls, welcome to The Rock Explosion! We are curious to know more about you and your band, The Rumours. Where did you girls meet and why did you decide to include a guy in the band?
Just Janelle: Lou and I met through a friend who was going to front the band I wanted to start when I moved to Vancouver... She mentioned that Lou was a keyboard player, so the three of us set up a time to jam… My friend bailed on the practice, but Lou and I decided to meet up, we didn't know each other that well, so it was a little awkward at first, but something just clicked, and we wrote three songs that first night. Melissa mentioned she was a bass player to Lou's tattoo artist, it got back to us, and we abducted her into jamming with us… When the three of us we're looking for a new drummer, gender wasn't an issue, we put an ad in a local music paper, Steve answered the ad, we jammed with him, and he was the best.

I had the chance to listen to your debut album "The Mighty Can Fall" and I've really appreciated it a lot! I like each song and I find your sound really cool and various. Who have been the musicians you've been mostly influenced by and have left traces in your style and music?
Just Janelle: I grew up mostly listening to punk rock and metal, so the players I looked up to as a kid were people like Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), John Christ (Danzig) and Greg Hetson (Bad Religion/Circle Jerks)... At this point in my playing, I draw on influences from all different styles of music... But Dimebag still kicks ass...
Lou Rumour: I listen to a wide variety of music, I love The Cure, Depeche Mode, Madonna, Skinny Puppy, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Delerium... the list could go on forever.

I also noticed that the arrangements you use vary a lot from song to song. I found traces of hair/glam metal sound ("Hotwire") but there's also the softer and sadder atmospheres created by the piano solo ("Another Lie"). How do you manage with such peculiar kinds of composition?
Just Janelle: When we record a song, it gives us a chance to finalize the overall tone and mood we want it to convey... Each song is like its own album, where we would want a song like "Fight" to have that in-your-face metal tone to it, "Another Lie" needs an intimate intro to clash with the heavy guitars in the chorus... I guess, in terms of the composition and arrangements, we never limit ourselves.
Lou Rumour: As a band we all have different tastes in music, we all bring something different to the table. That's what really makes the music what it is; it's the sum of its parts.

I really like "Hotwire", it's a damn hit that takes the listener's brain in prison through catchy refrains! Some guitar riffs remind me of the US Pretty Boy Floyd anthem "Set The Nite On Fire". How did this song come out? What is about and from what did you find inspiration for it?
Just Janelle: We're friends with a band from Vancouver that was called "Hotwire" (they've since changed their name to Chinatown). When we were first starting out, we always played shows with and hung out with them. I thought it would be hilarious to write a "fan" song about their band... The song was written in about 5 minutes and was really only meant to be played one time, but for some reason, it managed to stick around and find it's way onto the record...

Is there any song of yours you like the most, and if so, could you explain the reason? Which of your songs seems to work best during your live shows?
Just Janelle: My favourite songs on the record are "Another Lie" and "These Days", I'm really proud of the way they turned out... In the live set, the song that seems to go off is "I Believed" it's a simple, heavy song that you've got to rock your head to.
Lou Rumour: My two favorite songs are probably "These Days" and "Another Lie. "Another Lie" is my favorite song to play live, because it's so dynamic, but all of the songs are filled with conviction.

Can you explain to us what you mean with the title of your debut album? What's the deepest meaning hidden behind "The Mighty Can Fall"?
Lou Rumour: The Mighty Can Fall is a lyric from "These Days". Basically, it means no matter how great you are or how much you accomplish you can always fall... It reminds us to be thankful for all we have because anything gained can be lost in a moment.

I have to say that I love the elegance of the booklet and the idea to design the front-cd as thou it was vinyl. What can you tell us about that?
Lou Rumour: I love the album artwork. The graphics, photos, layout were done by talented friends of ours, with our input. We knew what it was going to look like but we were thrilled with the final outcome.

How do your songs come alive, is it a team work or only by one of you? Is there a more frequent procedure you normally use to write?
Just Janelle: We're been writing together for quite a while now, and we've definitely crafted a method of songwriting that we think brings the best work out of all of us... Lou and I will usually form the initial song skeletons with guitars and vocals, and then we bring it into the rehearsal space for everyone's interpretations…

What's in the future for The Rumours? Have you got projects or anything else? What about touring? Do you think it could be possible to see you performing in Europe soon?
Just Janelle: Our band is mainly focused around live shows, it's all about touring right now for us, at this point, I believe most of it will take place in North America for the foreseeable future... We would love to play in Europe (and in the rest of the world); it's definitely on our "to-do" list!

Where can the European and Italian fans buy "The Mighty Can Fall", just online or is the album is distributed on our continent? Tell us about its selling trend? What about Switchblade Records and what about Universal Distribution?
Just Janelle: Switchblade Records is our own label, it's distributed through Universal Music in Canada, and we work with them quite well. At this point, the record is only distributed in Canada, but can be ordered online from anywhere… The link is on our website www.therumoursonline.com.

You're from Vancouver, and our Chief and Webmaster knows some bands from your city. Do you know for example Crystal Pistol? We did an amazing interview with them and I think that these guys really rock, do you agree?
Lou Rumour: We've played with Crystal Pistol a few times; they always put on a great show. Janelle and I used to jam in the same basement as Myk in pre Rumours/Crystal Pistol rehearsal space days. There was always lots of beer and the basement smelled like cat pee.

What do you like the most about playing live/touring? What are the positive and un-positive aspects of being a Canadian musician?
Just Janelle: We all feel our band is based around our live show, and there's nothing better than being able to take what you love to do from city to city. Being a Canadian musician has benefits; there are government funded and private sector grants available to help musicians offset the costs to do what they love.

Who rocks better: Canadians, Americans, English or Swedish? Why?
Just Janelle: I don't know, I like bands from everywhere...

What are the craziest things that have happened during a live performance? Can you tell us about these mad experiences or tell us some anecdote?
Just Janelle: We definitely have our share of "unplanned events" during live shows… Off the top of my head, at one show Lou's pants split open, and at another show my lip ring chained me to my microphone… But, it's a live show, and sometimes all you can do is laugh at the stupid things that go wrong... We try not to take ourselves too seriously...

How important is the internet in your opinion? On the web, there's the endless problem of mp3 and downloads. Which are the pros and the cons about this matter?
Just Janelle: For us the internet has been an amazing way to let people know we exist and it allows our friends stay updated on what we're doing... I don't download music very often, because I like artwork and the packaging of cds... But am I against people downloading our music? Not at all, I just want to people to hear it, and love it enough that they want to share it.

Is there something you've been forced to give up to realize your dreams as rockers?
Just Janelle: I don't think we've had to give up anything... This is what we love to do, so if we have to sacrifice certain things, so be it.

Girls, it is The Rock Explosion Death Match, elect the winners of the following matches, and tell us the reason of your choice:
Tuuli Vs The Donnas:
Lou Rumour: The Donnas!
Just Janelle: The Donnas, though we are friends with two ex-Tuuli members who are in a Vancouver called The Flairs... we played a show with the Donnas a year and a half ago, and they blew me away... I had never really listened to their music before, but they were fucking great players...
CJ Sleeze Vs Texas Terri:
Lou Rumour: Texas Terri.
Joan Jett Vs Share Pedersen (Bubble, ex-Vixen):
Lou Rumour: tie
Wendy O. Williams Vs Exene Cervenka:
Lou Rumour: Wendy O. Williams
Asia Carrera Vs Tracy Lords:
Lou Rumour: Traci Lords circa 1984 would kick serious ass but I don't think she's into cat fights anymore.

Fav movie, book and drink and your personal top 5 albums of all times:
Lou Rumour: Movie - "Amadeus", Book - "Paradise Lost" (Milton), Non-Alcohol - Coke, Alcohol - Corona. Top five albums of all time - Hawksley Workman "For Him and the Girls", The Cure "Pornography", Skinny Puppy "Rabies", Ministry "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste", Depeche Mode "Violator".
Just Janelle: Movie - "Say Anything", Book - "Breakfast Of Champions" (Kurt Vonnegut), Non-alcoholic - Diet Pepsi, Alcoholic - Gin and tonic. Albums - I'm answering mine as "Janelle's most listened to albums this year"... Danzig - "Lucifuge", Thursday - "War All The Time", AFI - "Sing The Sorrow Or Black Sails On The Sunset", Him - "Greatest Hits", Otis Redding - "Re-Masters".

The world is ending, earth is bursting: what's the last thing you think you'd do?
Just Janelle: Just kick back with some friends and let it happen...

Ok girls, the interview is over. Now you have free room to say whatever you want to our readers all over the world. Thanks a lot for your cooperation and we hope to see you soon performing also in Italy...
Lou Rumour: Listen to music you love, don't buy into hype always keep it real. Music isn't fashion, be good to it, and it will be good to you.

Intervista realizzata da Margherita Realmonte
Traduzione di Margherita Realmonte
Photos by Frank Waits.