TOTP Webchat (18/9/00)

Hailey asks: "I work with the under twos and I just thought you would like to know that whenever we play them 'Parachutes' they get all excited and mini mosh around. How does it feel to be more popular than Britney Spears and S Club 7 with this young age range? I also have to say they have very cool nursery nurses to inspire them and of course it helps that 'Parachutes' is a class album!!"

Will says: "Under 2s was a market we were hoping to corner, so I think we've succeeded. They're quite receptive to our brand of unique guitar pop. But it's nice to know that our music is being appreciated by people who work with young children and stuff - it's great!"

Guy says: "It was a discarded name of one of our friend's bands, now called the Bettina Motive. We stole it off them because they didn't want it anymore. We had a rubbish name before which we can't tell you!"

Megan Addy asks: "Are you disappointed that you didn't win the Mercury Music Prize and do you think it's strange that I had a dream that you didn't win it?"

Will says: "We're not disappointed. We really loved Badly Drawn Boy's album. It's good you're having dreams about us!"

Deadleg asks: "Are you more happy when your playing live or in the recording studio?"

Guy says: "We like them equally. They are two separate things, but we're most happiest doing either."

Frances Hopkins asks: "Where was everyone in the band heading before they got a record deal. Were they just gigging for fun, or looking for that record deal and manager?"

Will says: "Phil, who has since become our manager, helped us out loads in the beginning. I think we knew when we four got together we knew we wanted to do it properly. But if we hadn't had the record contract so early, we'd still be playing now, because it what we really wanted to do."

Helen Reeves asks: "Did you used to have different members in your band when you started out or are you the original members?"

Richard Stanforth asks: "Do you enjoy making videos, and are you embarrassed by the video promo for 'Yellow'?"

Will says: "No! Why, are you? We quite like videos, but it's difficult because you're working with someone whose interpretation of the song is different to yours. But we think it's a good video actually."

Will says: "Because one of the names of the songs on the album called 'Parachutes'. It's a metaphor for the message behind the album."

Will says: "We don't really feel like stars because no-one knows who the band members are, even though people know the songs. We don't get recognised in the street or anything, so that's quite cool."

James Turnbull asks: "What was it like performing in front of so many people at Glastonbury?"

Guy says: "It was good. It was really exciting for us. We hadn't played to that many people before, and the weather was lovely, so it was amazing. We were pleasantly surprised that so many people turned up to watch us."

Will says: "We're not really bothered by it. If people want to use Napster they should perhaps subscribe to it, and that could pay the record companies. As long as its well looked after it's okay. I don't think it'll ever take over from people buying records, because when I go and buy a record I like to have it in my hand rather than on my computer's hard disk."

Guy says: "It's a very hard question to answer, because between the four of us we listen to pretty much everything. It ranges from folk and traditional to modern, electronic music and everything in-between."

Suzanne Robinson asks: "You made such a sudden jump from not being well known to being famous and playing festivals. Is that a bit weird?"

Will says: "We don't really feel famous. We love playing live and we love recording. It's not really the fame that's important. It's just nice that people are listening and coming to see us. We love it when people come and watch."

Guy says: "We recorded a three track EP which we paid for ourselves called 'Safety', and it just got into the hands of someone at Parlophone who liked it, and it just moved on from there."

Will says: "We just got off the plane and it was there! It was mad, very exciting - clean and polite."

Laura asks: "You seem to have been adopted as the "NME darlings" - Do you think it will last or are you just flavour of the month?"

Will says: "I'm sure that next month there'll be another one. The press are very fickle. They get behind you somedays and the next day they aren't. We've learnt not to believe everything we read. So listen for yourselves and make your own mind up."

Rosalind Smith asks: "What was the best experience for you so far, what have you enjoyed the most?"

Guy says: "For me, it was T in the Park in Scotland. We got an overwhelming reaction that really frightened us!"

Katherine Warrington asks: "Are you planning on doing any gigs in Exeter for all your old friends?"

Guy says: "A fantastic idea which I think we should look into. But at the moment we've got a tight schedule until the end of the year and beyond. Nothing's definite at this point in time."

Will says: "We've all had some pretty skanky jobs at some point. I worked as a bar manager. Jonny and Chris worked as cleaners in a students' hall of residence."

Catherine Wilson asks: "If you could do a concert anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

Will says: "Underwater! Somewhere in an underwater city. Or on a Caribbean island!"

Will says: "I think the best thing for a young band is to not bother listening to critics and stuff. You have to be confident in your own music, and people out there will listen to it. Always be constructive. Don't slag people off in the press, because it gets you nowhere!"

Nina wanted to say: "Thanks for keeping me awake at V2000. I was working in the car park singing 'Shiver' 12 hours a day for 3 days!"

Will says: "It would be different for all of us probably. I'd like to work with either Tom Waits, or Shane MacGowan from the Pogues.

Stacy Goodenough and Sam Payton ask: "If you were trapped on a desert island with anyone famous, who would it be and why?"

Becky asks: "There is a lot of dance music in the charts at the moment. Do you think indie music could make a comeback?"

Will says: "I think indie music is making a comeback. Talented guitar bands are getting back into the charts, which is great"

Chris Morse asks: "In your opinion who are the best bands around at the moment? and who are the most underrated?"

Guy says: "I'd like to mention the Doves. Although they're getting a lot of exposure, I think that they're still very underrated as a band."

Gareth Martindale asks: "What do u think of Radiohead saying electric guitar music is dead?"

Guy says: "It's obviously not dead, because there are a lot of people out there still doing it."

Richard Carnes asks: "Will you be playing 'Brothers and Sisters' in your October tour, since you have practised it and re-recorded it as a B-Side for 'Trouble'?"

Michael Sharp asks: "On 'We Never Change' Why is it that "if you live in a wooden house, making more friends would be easy". Its been puzzling me!"

Will says: "People interpret lyrics differently. One would be that you're not concerned with materialism, and you're less tainted by consumerism, if you live in a wooden house. But that's just my opinion."

Will says: "We don't want to answer that question - it would be embarrassing!"

Guy says: "Rubbish! That's the hardest question you could ask a band. We can't describe it - we just play it, we play what comes naturally to us. Other people can try and describe it!"

Will says: "I detested every single one of them, along with a billion other people on the planet!"

D Schleihauf asks: "If you were an X-Men character, which one would you be, and why? "

Will says: "Probably Professor X. I'd get to sit around all day and use my big brain!"

Guy says: "Getting to do what we love doing every day and getting paid for it. And doing web chats!"

Will says: "We'll record it when we feel we've improved sufficiently, and we feel all our songs are ready. Or when we run out of money (!)"