30 Seconds To Mars Interview
October 25, 2002

Infamous Souls

Welcome to the universe. Exploding with atmosphere, power and melody, their songs are at once apocalyptic and uplifting, filled with characters who battle with alienation, paranoia and dark obsessions, while envisioning their own escape from this world.

30 Seconds To Mars is a captivating, imaginative new band from Southern California. They co-produced their self-titled Immortal/Virgin album with the legendary Bob Ezrin and newcomer Brian Virtue (Jane’s Addiction). They sought out Ezrin because they grew up listening to his groundbreaking work with Pink Floyd, KISS and Alice Cooper and they felt he was the only one who could help them capture the size and scope of what they wanted to accomplish on their debut recording. The band’s widescreen sound is adrenalized and nuanced, balancing huge guitars with anthemic vocal lines and organic synthesizers with electronic underpinnings.

On a cold and wet night, 30 Seconds To Mars blew threw Detroit Rock City hard , and Infamous Souls was there to drink some beers and chat with Shannon Leto. Check out 30 Second To Mars' self-titled major-label debut record (Immortal/Virgin). You can buy it right here.

30 Seconds To Mars are Jared Leto (vocals, guitars), Solon Bixler (guitar), Matt Wachter (bass) and Shannon Leto (drums)

Infamous Souls – Let's talk about the history of 30 Seconds To Mars. How did this all come about?

Shannon Leto, "It started with my brother and I. He's the singer. We started when we were kids; playing instruments, and doing all sorts of artistic things. We met up with the guys, Matt and Solon years later. We all had the same goals, so we decided to form the band. We actually got started in our garage."

 IS – What's the meaning behind 30 Seconds To Mars? Does it represent anything specific?
 

SL, "It represents alot of things. This professor had a thesis. It was talking about where technology was going; the evolution of man and how that plays a role. A sub-category was 30 Seconds To Mars. It was like the expediential growth of humans. We are literally 30 seconds away from Mars. Everything is right here and right now; everything is just so crazy and fast."

 IS – There seems to be a relationship to space that comes through in the lyrics. How do explain this?
 

SL, "They're just metaphors. They're just metaphors for real human emotions and experiences. That's all they are, just metaphors."

IS – Does the lyrical content relate to real like experiences?
 

SL, "Yeah, they are all from personal experiences; from all different sorts of situations throughout our lives."

 IS – What would you consider influences in your music?
 

 SL, "Musically we were influenced by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Iron Maiden. Mostly big conceptional bands; bands that had depth; bands that were dynamic."

 IS – What is the writing process that the band goes through when writing a song?
 

SL, "It could start with a guitar. It could start with a melody. It could start with a drum beat. There's not really a formula for how it's done."

IS – Do you feel that Jared's status as a celebrity has helped or hurt the band?
 

SL. "We aren't paying attention to that. We're trying to let the music speak for itself, and it does. The only people who seem to have a problem with it are the press and radio. The fans don't have that problem; they come out to see us. At the end of the day, I think people can tell if something is real or not. My brother is an artist, and he does many things besides act. It's just a shame that our society puts people in a corner. We're not really concerned with that. We're just doing what we do, and giving it our all."

 IS – You had the opportunity to open for some very high profile bands with Puddle Of Mudd and Incubus. What was that like?
 

SL, "Opening up for Puddle Of Mudd, we weren't really sure of what was going to happen. We are two very different animals. We were really just excited if nothing else. And then, from the very first show through the last we got and overwhelming response.  And then opening up for Incubus was really amazing! An audience of 10-20,000 people that were really receptive. We're having the time of our lives."

IS – What is one thing you hope the audience takes home with them after seeing 30STM perform live?
 

SL, "I want them to interpret it for themselves, whatever they take is what they take."

IS – What should we look forward to next for 30STM?

SL, "More tours man, just more touring, another song on the radio, more videos.  Just whatever comes; more of us, more of the band."

 IS – Any Final Thoughts for Detroit.

SL, "I just want people to keep having an open mind, just be open to new ideas, new ways of thinking, writing and expressing themselves. I think in this day and age too many people are being force fed or spoon fed. I want people to just slow down, listen, expand your mind and think a little bit."