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Millionaire: I find comfort in songwriting

He was a member of the Evil Superstars when he was a teenager, he played with dEUS while they were touring, and is now becoming famous with his new band Millionaire, in which he is singer, guitarist, and songwriter. KindaMuzik talks on the phone with Tim Vanhamel, who has just returned from Japan with his band and will be supporting the Queens of the Stone Age in the near future.

Tekst: Rob van Leeuwen

Publicatiedatum: 07 november 2002

You've just came back from Japan with Millionaire. What have you been doing there, and was it a good experience?
"Japan was a really good experience, and definitely something special. I'm a big fan of Japanese music and culture, so it was good to be there. We played at the Summer Sonic Festival, which is a mega alternative festival in Tokyo and Osaka. We opened on the second stage at ten o'clock in the morning, and there were already 5,000 people in front of the stage. We've already done some interviews there, and our clips have been showed, and the reactions we got were good. In January we will be going back, and then we are going to play in clubs. We are also going to America, although nothing is final. The record is going to be released there, and maybe we are going to tour there."

Black Francis of the Pixies once said: "I am the Pixies." Are you Millionaire?
"Well, you can say so. But I am more Millionaire then Black Francis was the Pixies. I make everything, and I'm busy with it the whole time. Every member of Millionaire can be missed, except for me. I take all the decisions. This doesn't mean that the other band members have got nothing to say. My vote counts, but I'm open for everything. If they have a song or an idea that's good, then it's just good, and we'll use it."

Millionaire will be the support act for Queens the Stone Age. QOTSA are big fans of Millionaire. Is it important for you to get recognition from them, or is it just as important to hear it from somebody else? And is being a support act an extra challenge for you?
"It's not more important, although it's something precious, and nice to hear. I always like to hear from somebody [that] they like our music. I think the Queens of the Stone Age are the best rock band at the moment, and this is going to be our best tour yet. It's the first time I think, 'Goddammit, this is it!' It absolutely is an extra challenge to be support act. With the Evil Superstars, we've supported Placebo, but we didn't belong there — we were completely different. I think the Queens' public will like us: They are a broad-minded audience. There is no better band to play with at the moment for us. It will be a big mess on tour, and I think we will become big friends."

Burning or Buying?
"Well, that's a difficult question. It's good to have the word spread, but I hope that in the end people are going to buy if they like it. We've sold 28,000 records up until now. In the end, it's the music that counts, and to make this, you need money. Buying or burning will forever be the question, and it's a difficult one."

You've been a member of the Evil Superstars and played on tour with dEUS. Is is frustrating for you, or are you proud of your past?
"I'm definitely proud of it, am not ashamed or so about it. Now I'm more famous than I was with the Evil Superstars, and dEUS is only famous in a few countries. Recently, I saw Tommy (Barman, of dEUS) again, and he thinks it's great what I do with Millionaire. I don't think I will be doing something with dEUS again — I simply haven't got time for it. And if I have to choose, I choose Millionaire."

In the English magazine Q, your record got two of the five stars. How do you feel about that?
"I hate the English press, I hate England. If I had the opportunity to choose, I would never go back there again. The English press is so over-the-top. I feel bad about myself if I read these things. The woman who reviewed our record quoted a line from the song Petty Thug, and said it was teen angst! She simply didn't understand it. I don't care about some bitch of the press, who doesn't understand a thing about it. At the moment, if you are a band with the word "The" in front of your name, you are fantastic. It's all just hype. In a few years, maybe they will like us, but I don't care."

Could you write an album about 9-11, like Bruce Springsteen did?
"No I couldn't. I write a lot about personal stuff, and I experiment a lot with songwriting. The song Petty Thug, for instance, is about a one night stand. I write about things we experience in life, sometimes heavy stuff, but not ironic . . . I find comfort in songwriting. I need it."

What are you ambitions for the future?
"At the moment, we are really busy with touring; we've got a lot to do. I want to make another album with Millionaire, but we haven't got time for it now. It's great to tour, I enjoy doing it, but once in a while you have to release some new songs. I haven't written new songs yet. I've tried, but it's difficult to empty my head for it."

What does everybody have to know about Millionaire?
"That we are one of the best . . . well, I wouldn't know actually. I'm not a good promoter of myself. I think people have to come and see us live, before they form their opinion about us. If they like surprises, then they have to come and see us."

http://www.kindamuzik.net/q_and_a/article.shtml?id=2023
Meer Millionaire op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/millionaire