New Model Army on Media, Reviews, and Public Perception. Interview Vienna, 15.11.2009

Interview taken for Netflix Documentary "Welcome To The Machine". Watch the complete doc here: https://projektor.com/u/andreassteink... Please subscribe for more Interviews about the music-industry ;-) #newmodelarmy #rock In this interview, New Model Army discuss their long and diverse career spanning over 30 years. They highlight the advantages of running their own independent label, emphasizing the freedom to work with people who genuinely support the band, unlike major labels which often impose global distribution regardless of local interest. The band explains why they have always puzzled the media, blending political storytelling with diverse musical styles that resist easy classification. Regarding touring, they reveal that the energy exchange between the band and the audience is unpredictable and magical, making each gig unique, and admit that nervousness is mostly absent after decades on the road. They stress the importance of live performance for young bands, encouraging them to play as much as possible for the love of music rather than fame or money. Finally, they discuss their latest album, Today’s a Good Day, noting that they care more about fans connecting with their music than about critics, drawing an analogy to hitchhiking: some will respond positively, some won’t, but it’s the connection that matters most. New Model Army are an English rock band formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1980 by lead vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Justin Sullivan, bassist Stuart Morrow and drummer Phil Tompkins. Sullivan has been the only continuous member of the band, which has seen numerous line-up changes in its four-decade history. Their music draws on influences across the musical spectrum, from punk and folk to soul, metal and classical. Sullivan's lyrics, which range from directly political through to spiritual and personal, have always been considered as a key part of the band's appeal. Whilst having their roots in punk rock, the band have always been difficult to categorise. In 1999, when asked about this, Sullivan said, "We've been labelled as punks, post-punks, Goth, metal, folk – the lot, but we've always been beyond those style confines".[2] Following a large turnover of personnel, both permanent and as touring members, as of 2024 New Model Army comprise Sullivan, Dean White (keyboards and guitar), Michael Dean (drums) and Ceri Monger (bass). The documentary „Welcome to the Machines“ will try to get to the bottom of these questions and accompanies „The New Vitamine“ on their way to make it big in the music biz. First gigs with no audience, tricks and traps of the press, the boring routine of touring, which isn’t as exciting as one had imagined it to be. And many, many questions. Questions which not only the members of The New Vitamin will be asked, but the big-shots in the business as well. At festivals and inside the workings of the labels, people who can rightfully say of themselves that they’ve made it, will be interviewed, successful bands as well as the big players pulling the strings behind the curtains: be that the boss of an established record label or an influencial music journalist, just as much as the geeky DJ of electronica or the hard-boiled roadie. „Welcome to the Machines“ will look at all possible angles of a musicians path to fame and try to determine whether it is all a question of luck or if the right amount of calculated speculation might get you there too. It will cast a glance inside the workings of the music business, without regard to genre or categorization. Whether it be folk musicians or gangsta rappers, different worlds and yet just one business. The documentary will shed light on the microcosmos Austria as well as the global music industry, be it in New York and London or in Astana and Montevideo. Not always dead serious, but most definitely pitiless - after all it’s just about this one big question: Is there one right way to Fame?