As an Englishman in LA, what do you like about living here?
GR: I like the mountains and the sea, and that infinite expanse of desert when you drive to Las Vegas or Joshua Tree. To be connected to all of these separate extremes is exciting.
Do you have any favorite local music venues?
GR: My dream is to play either the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre or the Greek Theatre. And when I wasn’t in Bush, I always thought, That’s it, I’m screwed; I’ll never get to play those places. Now that I’m in Bush [again], it’s fifty-fifty. It could happen if anybody likes the record and remembers the band. But I don’t take that for granted or think it’s owed to me. I don’t think anything is owed to me.
Who are you listening to you on your iPod right now?
GR: Zola Jesus. I can’t stop playing [her new record]. I really like Interpol. I’ve got Verdi, Buddy Guy, Fauré’s “Requiem,” Albert King and Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem.” I’m just obsessed with requiems—they’re so mournful, but I like that. Gwen thinks my choice in music is really depressing.
Speaking of your wife, do you two help each other creatively when it comes to music?
GR: No. What you get is the understanding of the demands and scheduling, you know, so that’s what I don’t have to explain. The rest of it is healthily separate.
Are your kids showing any inclination toward music?
GR: Yes, but we’re not trying to force it on them. You leave all the avenues open—creative, physical, artistic—and let them go down the path they want. So it’s just about making sure the guitars and drum kits in the house are small enough. Let the noise begin!
