Fall Frenzy Gavin Rossdale

Gavin Rossdale

Friday, September 18th
6:00PM - 6:55PM

On your website, you ask people to heed President Obama's 'United We Serve' message, which includes volunteering to improve the community. How are you taking part?

I play music for communities across America, and use my voice to talk about those improvements.

Did Obama's election have an effect on your songwriting or the general direction of your music?

It has been an interesting thing for me. My kids are American, my wife is American, I have been based in LA for a number of years. My manager and record label is American. So my connection and love for America is complete. The country has been through some dark times recently, with 9/11 and big business corruption; it was good to see the mood of the country change when someone with his ability and eloquence and aesthetic took over. But no, it didn't really affect my songwriting. I need to rail against things for my writing. Adversity makes better subject matter for songs. For me, being creative doesn't really rely on a political axis.

Some of the songs off your latest album, WANDERlust, refer to the inability to change the past and the desire to control the future. What do you wish had happened differently that you could have controlled, and what do want to make sure happens in the future?

There is a varying degree of conscience. Everyone wishes they could've done stuff better, but hindsight is misleading. I guess I would have liked to play more in France because the food is so good there. With Bush (his former band), it was a difficult start, then everyone got pissed off at us for being successful. I would have liked to change the timing of the demise of that band. You wouldn't believe how many messages I get on Myspace saying, "When is Bush getting back together?" It's almost like breaking up with a girl. "When are you guys getting back together? Did you know she's seeing someone else?" It's like, "Great, thanks for that." As far as the future goes, I want to stay productive and keep putting records out. Major labels today go too slowly; they don't feel the urgency of the artists. I've done all the demos for the next album and I want to keep playing regularly, keeping it up. The way everything has changed, artists can be more self sufficient. I'm working hard to not waste time.

Fill in the blanks:

As a tennis player, Gavin Rossdale will beat you with his _______.

Tactics.

As a performer, he will entertain you with his _______.

Energy.

As a person, he will charm you with his _______.

Candor.

As a father, the most important lesson he has taught his children is ______.

To choose their 'no's'.

As a husband (to Gwen Stefani), he keeps his marriage exciting by ______.

Travelling regularly.

Take a break from performing for a minute and be a promoter/manager. What is your all-time five piece band dream line up?

Singer- Marvin Gaye.

Guitar- Jimi Hendrix is the obvious choice, but I'm going with Robert Fritz.

Bass- Jaco Pastorius.

Drums- Manu Katché.

Wild card instrument- Ravi Shankar's tabla player.

Is there anything that you'd like to say to Phoenix fans before you take the stage for Arizona Fall Frenzy?

Be sure to arrive early! It's difficult because these sites are addicting. People spend too much time on them, and when your friends are on the computer, there is no actual face to face interaction. The idea of friendship has changed, so I don't like them in that sense. But it's also an amazing thing, because you can connect to people around the world, fall in love, and obviously it can be a career booster. Social networking is how the world is evolving, and you gotta just go with it.