By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
May 16, 2003
When the group first toured the United States, Ash’s Tim Wheeler was the ripe old age of 19. Now 26, the Irish frontman phoned just days after his visit to the hospital (more on that later). Calling from Manchester, England, Wheeler chatted about touring, aging and how a “Dawson’s Creek” star surprised him.
Why Ash has been away from the States for so long: We’ve been dying to come back. We got stuck between changing record labels and that kind of stuff.
Touring now and touring back when: We bounced back from our mistakes ’cause we started out so young. It gave our career longevity.
Secret to still looking like kids: Our manager sticks us in preservatives.
New songs, old album: Our record [“Free All Angels”] came out three years ago in the U.K. We’re gonna debut four new songs on the U.S. tour.
Next album: It’ll be out very early next year.
Last good movie you saw: “The Rules of Attraction” was great. It was great seeing Dawson [James Van Der Beek] being twisted and brilliant.
Book vs. film: I didn’t read the book so I didn’t go in with any preconceptions. I was nervous, though, it was going to be a bad American
college movie.
Book you’re recommending: Shane McGowan’s [auto]biography.
Shots: I spent [a night last week] at the hospital being injected with penicillin. I had hurt my elbow and couldn’t move it.
Your motto: I’d do anything for rock ‘n’ roll.
CD you’re listening to these days: The new Cardigans record. It bombed in the U.K.
The Chicago Irish: We did an in-store signing in Chicago and pretty much everyone asking for autographs had an Irish accent. It was like being in
Dublin.
On being mistaken for an Englishman: Nothing against the English, but I hate being mistaken for one. Sometimes Americans think we’re all the same.
Best thing about being you: I love that I can do things on my own time and not have to work in an office.
On turning 30 eventually: As long as I do some good things before then, I don’t care. I’d like to make two more really good albums by then. I’m not
too worried.
American bands: They have great work ethics. Touring with them made me play better.
Famous or anonymous: It’s good for us to play to people who’ve never heard of us. That makes us better, too.
Intimidation: Some people might be intimidated playing to hostile audiences, but we make the best of them. We’re not quitters.
Best souvenirs: I like to get fridge magnets. They’re small and portable and everybody likes them.
The last word on Chicago: It’s very Irish.
