Let me just say this: It’s a busy year. And that’s why I am travelling back home from Nuremberg – Rock im Park – on Monday just to go to work again on Tuesday and also meet Bones UK on this night. I’m doing my research or homework (if you will) on the train and it’s just too much. These two have nearly done everything! Amazing stuff and stories, but where to begin?! No need to worry, as we finally sit down with the band at the Sporthalle, it all seems to fall in the right place.
The Grammy nominated women are very kind, we just have one problem: Time is pretty short on this (late) afternoon. So I won’t say anymore and just begin with the interview – enjoy!
You just told me that you flew in yesterday.
Like Mainland Europe or already Germany?
Rosie: We flew into London, we had one show there and we shot a music video. Then we had two days off and flew to Hamburg yesterday. All of Carmens guitars and pedals went missing on the flight. We found them…
Carmen: This morning…
Rosie This morning! And so we were all a bit like: Aaah! I’ve got a trapped nerve in my arm – but we’re here.
Bones UK. Shot by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
In the past days I read a lot of stuff about you and all I saw and recognized was just passion. Moving to LA, being a match from the first moment on…
But did you ever think – fuck it, we’re not going to make it!?
Rosie: Yeah, all the time, still do. It”s really interesting, I mean: It’s tough! You have to try not to base your career on affirmations or good things happen to make you feel worthy. But you know we got nominated for a Grammy, that definitely was a moment when we were like ‘Ooh – we are doing something good!’ But for a lot of the time you’re like ‘Is it good. Do people like it?’ You have highs, doubts, it’s hard.
Carmen: Like a rollercoaster: Ups and downs.
Carmen Vandenberg photographed by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
Rosie: It’s really tough being an artist. But then you get up on stage and you remember why you love what you’re doing and it’s fun again. But seeing fans, in a sense it’s really fucking clichee, but it is people coming up to you after shows telling you that what you have been doing has affected them positively. That is why you sort of go ‘Oh okay we’re doing something cool’. Any little girl, or boy or neither who comes up and says ‘Your music gave me the confidence to be myself’ or ‘It got me out of a tough time’, that’s what it’s about. ‘Cause you get these accolades and it means something for a minute, but they don’t mean really much and then the doubt comes again. Affecting humans that’s the best gift.
This fills your songs even more with life than a Grammy does…
Both: Yeah – definitely!
Let’s ride
Source: YouTube, Sumerian Records
Was there something specific on your mind when you wrote Ride?
Or is it more like a general feeling, like bigger, stronger, faster?
Did you maybe think about a specific person?
Rosie (laughs): We live in America. So in America there’s definitely like a bro culture. It’s not just men, it’s women as well. There’s a comparison culture of you gotta have the best and you gotta have the biggest thing! And that’s really toxic. ‘Cause if you don’t have the best or biggest thing then you feel lesser then. It’s about toxic masculinity. But also women can have toxic masculinity as well, right? You know it’s like: Biggest tits!
Rosie Bones photographed by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
Carmen: Bigger is always better is the concept. Everything is based on how much you have or how big it is. We don’t really believe in that.
Rosie: There’s a line in it which is: You can’t buy cool. And it’s this mentality that people have – if they have money, they can buy cool, they can buy rock ‘n’ roll, you can buy the leather jacket and look cool and be ‘Yeah’! But it’s like rock ‘n’ roll and punk is a state of mind, it’s not you can buy it. It’s not your shoes. You can buy the shoes, but they gonna wear you if you don’t wear them, you know? So it’s about that. It’s about punk is in your heart, it’s not you can buy it.
You did a cover of I’m Afraid of Americans.
Just a year before, in 2017, you moved to America. After already seven years – have you found what you were looking for?
Rosie: Uuh!
Carmen: I think we just wanted to change. We’ve been in London for a while and it was time to change. I think we’ll always gonna that, we always gonna keep on changing.
So you’ll move somewhere else?
Rosie: Yeah, definitely! I think our journey to America is kind of drawing slightly to a close. We’ve been there for eight years. And it was when we started the band the right move, ’cause the rock ‘n’ roll scene in America made more sense for us. But you know, we’ve kind of done it. We’ve done a lot of American now. It’s (a) new chapter. We want to spend more time in Europe. We haven’t been on tour in Europe for ages. Doing that again. And Donald Trump’s running for presidency again.
You think that’s going to happen?
Rosie: I wouldn’t say it’s out of the realms of possibility. I’m afraid of Americans… (laughs)
Source: YouTube, Sumerian Records
Last year your friend and mentor Jeff Beck died.
Many questions have already been asked, so I tried to think of something special: Did he give you some kind of advice?
Carmen: I just think the way he was really inspiring is that he never stops playing. He never stops trying to find a new sound or rediscovering stuff and that was really inspiring. ‘Cause every record of his sounds very different than the one before. Yeah! He taught me how to use baby powder on my hands before going on stage so you don’t slip because of the sweat.
Rosie: Ooh, it’s a good tip! And another thing that Jeff told me is that he was like the biggest… – you know he was such a genius – but he still was insecure. It’s a beautiful lesson. You see it so often, these people who – when you look at it from afar – have got it all. But that’s what made him still keep pushing and searching and working with new people, ’cause he was never like ‘I’m the king of the world!’ He was always like tryin’ to better himself or trying to – you know – doing new things. Because he was vulnerable. He was sensitive, was a sensitive soul.
Shot by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
Carmen: He cared very much. He showed you he gets nervous as well.
Rosie: He wasn’t like ‘Rock – I’m the fucking god!’ He was nervous. That’s a beautiful thing to me to remember isn’t it? He was a guy who’s been just worried about playing well.
A good example for his curiosity is when he showed up to your gig and was more like ‘Okay, let’s see what these girls are doing’.
So he came to your gig when there were like ten people?
Rosie: We just sold out that show. The same venue, the one that we played in London where Jeff came the same venue, we just sold it out. That’s so cool! It’s called The Lexington!
Carmen: It’s upstairs from a pub.
Rosie: It’s sweaty!
Speaking of rock stars like Jeff Beck. You have and met played with many brilliants artists for example Stone Temple Pilots.
Now you’re here with Queens of The Stone Age.
Is Mike Shuman going to join you on stage tonight for your team-up called Won’t Settle?
Rosie: Oh you’ll never know. But he’s not. Those things can sometimes be good and they can sometimes not be good. So we’re just cautious… We’ve done it before. You get up and play and it’s like: Uooh… (laughs).
It’s not that cool?
Rosie: Sometimes it’s cool if you’ve had a chance to rehearse. We didn’t have the time to rehearse this one with him. Michael, he’s very proud. So without rehearsals – no. But we’ll be playing the song and maybe there might be a surprise appearance?
Source: YouTube, Sumerian Records
Are there sometimes moments when you’re like:
‘Uh, wow! Is this real?’
Rosie: Yeah, sometimes.
Carmen: Just being here tonight.
Rosie: Yeah, today! You get nervous of course. You just focus on the show…
Ah come on, you’re still nervous?
Rosie: Yeah! Each night we are.
Another shot by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
Carmen: It means you care. I think if you do a show and you’re not a bit nervous before it means you don’t care enough.
Lesson from Jeff Beck?
Carmen: Yeah!
Rosie: Exactly (laughs)!
Last question:
What are your plans and wishes for the future?
Rosie: New album! Happiness! Joy, love with music.
Carmen: Fun…
Rosie: Not taking it too seriously.
Carmen: And there is gonna be touring and the new record!
Thanks to Rosie and Carmen for your time! Another big thank you goes out to the Messed! Up Magazine for the opportunity.
Shot of the shoot by: Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie
And maybe I should not forget to show you some live impressions.
Setlist 11.06.2024
Bones UK live!
Carmen, Rosie and Heavy rocking in Hamburg (from left to right)!
Carmen live!
Heavy live!
Rosie live!
All pictures by Jan Iso Jürgens – IsoluxX Fotografie (except the Polaroid picture). Thanks Iso, until the next time!
