A tete-a-tete with Brad Hargreaves of Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind emerged at the peak of alternative-pop, but unlike other bands of its era that lost edge, Third Eye Blind stuck it through, and though they may be remembered best for the single ‘Semi-Charmed life’ and ‘Deep Inside of You’ they have a dedicated fan base like no other…

TNT’s Gail T. W. Thomas got an exclusive interview with Third Eye Blind drummer, Brad Hargreaves…

TNT: Way, way back, you were a part of the Wyatt Kildow Quartet. Tell us a little about that and your experiment with Jazz.

Brad Hargreaves: I played in a stage band in high school and that led to an interest in improv based music. Wyatt was the best young piano player around at the time and we started a group.

BH: I got an invitation to jam with them through another fellow musician. As it turned out, Stephan lived 200 yards from me at the time. One night we played in a small rehearsal studio in Oakland and everything seemed to feel very natural. They taught me Narcolepsy and we wrote Losing a Whole Year that very first night.

BH: It is very tough. At times I have wondered if it is worth the pain at especially low moments but the music has always gotten me through. We have especially goodc right now, perhaps the best ever. I am really excited about Third Eye Blind and the music we are writing.

BH: Third Eye Blind made a few attempts to get some writing done but we didn’t have any real momentum or inspiration. Our fans and the changing political climate in the US really got us reinvigorated in 2007 and we got our mojo back.

TNT: Tell us a little about Year Long Disaster and what it means to you?

BH: Year Long Disaster is like a primer gray ‘69 Chevy Camaro with a 454, basically a vintage American muscle car in restoration. It’s raw and maybe even a little scary when opened up. I am really proud of the work I have done with them. I feel like that time period was a real growth period for my playing and I have 2 records with YLD and a bunch of touring to show for it.

TNT: Tell us about ‘JustBrad’?

BH: Just Brad is my DJ/drumming, one man band. I essentially mix music and play drums at the same time. I have always been interested in collaborating with a DJ but never found one to work with. Once DJing went digital, I realized I could drum at the same time without having to deal with cumbersome

vinyl.

TNT: Any chance of Third Eye Blind performing in India?

BH: We had an offer to play in India earlier this year but it fell through. Stephan and I have talked about ‘having’ to play in India. We really have a new perspective on touring and are always looking for places to play that we are interested in traveling to and experiencing.

TNT: You have a huge fan following here in the North East. Your message to them…

BH: That is wonderful to hear. I promise we will be playing India very soon and very much look forward to meeting all of you.