Since the fiery days of Million dead came to an end. Frank Turner has been making a name for himself as a soloist. With 3 albums, 4 EPs and a Wembley appearance to add to his name, Turner definitely has ‘Reasons not to be an idiot’.
Brought up Meonstoke, just outside Winchester, educated alongside Prince William, a grandson of a former chairman of BHS, and an attendee at the London School of economics, you’d of thought Turner would of led to life of a Snobby upper class Business man, listening to the Pet Shop Boys and Huey Lewis, whilst sipping fine champagne. In fact he’s the opposite. “I grew up with punk, hardcore, and metal and I still think a lot of that shines through in what I do,”
“I try to make my solo shows a celebration where everyone is involved, whereas with MD it was more about attacking the stage,” whilst interviewing Turner, there is a sense of maturity, change, and control from his time as a mad, hardcore punk artist. Asked if he would ever go back to them days, he cool, calm and effortlessly replied “nope”.
And why would he? He’s even bigger now he’s a soloist then he ever was at MD. A new EP released for his December tour, and plans for a fourth album to be brought out in spring, Turner seems to be enjoying the quieter, softer side of being a punk/folk musician, however there are always question marks over what quieter side he actually plays “ that’s an argument I’m going to let people have. I think of what I do as Rock ‘n’ roll, the new EP is kinda hard to describe. I guess it’s a little more folky than the last record I did,”
His music spreading from Punk, to folk highlights his originality and his love for different types of music, “Springsteen, Dylan and Neil Young have been big influences on me, as has Loudon Wainwright III. I like a lot of different music.” After saying this I thought it would be appropriate, to ask him on his opinions of the Television Phenomenal the X Factor, and whether it had a positive or negative impact on artists like Turner “I'm not sure they're hugely different from TV talent shows in earlier decades. I don't really care that much, with the internet being what it is people have access to other music. I have other things to think about!”
Anyone who a names a song “Thatcher Fucked the kids,” and “Once we were anarchists,” obviously doesn’t just get his lyrics from off backs of cereal boxes “I get my ideas around the place, things that happen, I have written political songs in my time, and no doubt will again,” but although it seems sometimes that Turners songs are trying to change the views and beliefs of other, It’s something he strongly denies “I’m not pushing any particular agenda. I believe Music on occasion is an interesting commentary, but not a catalyst in the change of society. I guess my personal philosophy on how to live comes through, but like I say, I have no grand ambitions to change anyone else’s life.”
Arguably, the gig that saw his solo career really take off was the Reading and Leeds Festival in 2008. A growing fan-base of Turners crammed into the sweaty atmosphere of the Lock up Stage, jumping, shouting, and throwing themselves to one another, as they listened to the sweet, hard yet unfamiliar sound of punk, folk rock. Passersby admired and joined in the wild congregation. A set up which the soloist seems to enjoy “I like shows where the atmosphere is such that the barrier is between crowd and the stage is broken, now I’m a soloist, I’m a lot more comfortable on stage than I used to be”
Despite his success, Turner finds it’s hard to pick out a highlight of his music career. “The fact of me having a career, of being able to travel the world and entertain is a highlight in itself,” his modesty has to be admired. Out of his 11 UK shows he is playing this December, 8 of those are sell outs, a highly anticipated EP now available, and a headline show at the Brixton Academy at the end of his tour to look forward too. Despite all of this however, his feet are firmly on the ground, and isn’t getting carried away, “I’ve met and played with a lot of people I consider my musical idols, which is an amazing honour and privilege, and something I’m immensely grateful for,”
One highlight that must stay in Turners mind, is playing in front of thousands at Wembley “Playing at Wembley was one hell of an experience, but I have too many favourite gigs to choose from. “We played an awesome show just the other week in Baltimore. It's hard to pick any individual one,”
So what’s next for the man born in Bahrain? “To get the new album right and to make a record I’m proud of, and then take it out on the road. I’d also like to try and finish this book I’m working on that is taking me a lifetime to write. I think I’d play in a band again sometimes, as a side project or something, but I’m really enjoying what I’m doing right now and I still have a lot of songs coming as a soloist, so for the foreseeable future, this is what I want to do,” so in the word’s of the man in himself. Frank Turner is living fast, and dying old.
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