COUP DE MAIN: This will be the last Big Day Out ever in New Zealand. Having played on this tour here twice now, how do you think BDO compares to other music festivals that you've played?
FRANK IERO: That's so sad.
RAY TORO: Well, one thing is...
FRANK: More days off! We get more days off because we travel so much. Unfortunately this is my first one, because I was sick the first time, but I really like it. It's really hot and really beautiful, we get to see a lot of amazing sights. I think probably, it's sort of like every stop is 'the most beautiful stop on the Warped Tour' kinda thing. <laughs> That's the way it feels.
RAY: Also, the people are really great. I remember last time we played, the crowds are just... no matter how hot it gets, everybody's just there for a good time, the vibe and energy out there is really positive, which is not always the case with festivals.
CDM: Have you witnessed any changes in the economics of touring internationally and/or how music festivals operate during the last ten years of your career?
RAY: As far as I know, I think everything just seems to cost more. So, I know that some bands are having a lot of trouble especially internationally, because not everyone... once gas goes up, the flights go up, travel, shipping equipment, everything. Unfortunately, it costs a lot more money nowadays for bands to tour now than it used to - that's a shame. But everyone, you still make do with what you can, you've always got to go where the show is.
FRANK: At least it's not twenty years ago! We can actually have phones and the Internet exists, it's nice.
CDM: Better Living Industries describes itself as "the Zone's #1 outlet for information and commerce" - do you think it's dangerous or irresponsible when information and commerce are consolidated together?
FRANK: Hmmm...
GERARD WAY: I don't know if commerce can every truly be information. I think that's just commerce, that's just selling you something. I always question the information given to us, that's attached to commerce. So I guess, the answer would be yes, it is dangerous.
FRANK: Absolutely.
CDM: If Dr. Death Defying were to give My Chemical Romance fans a piece of advice, what do you think it would be and why?
GERARD: I think all the advice he freely gives on the album, I don't know that he has any more advice. I tried to make a lot of things that he had said as simple as possible in that regard, like there's almost nothing more to say for him. AndSteve [Montano], had come up with some really interesting things too, to put on the album.
CDM: Gerard, what was running through your mind when you wrote the lyrics "you only hear the music when your heart begins to break" from 'The Kids From Yesterday'?
GERARD: That's probably one of my favourites... my favourite lyrics are probably in that song and in 'DESTROYA' maybe, on the album. I don't know... I felt like it was something that had never been said, slightly obtuse but absolutely true, so it needed to be said.
CDM: Also, when will the Killjoys comic finally be released?!