Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (2024)

Life may be quiet in the Foo Fighters' camp while they take a break, but not for guitarist Chris Shiflett. With Blackpool punk explosion Strange Bones invited into his yard, things got pretty damn loud.

Strange Bones are the first British band to be asked to record at the Foos' legendary 606 studio in LA, and it's not hard to see why. This week, they release the God Save The Teen EP - a fearless rush of filth and fury that pulls no punches. If they continue with this much spirit, then nothing will stop them.

But don't take our word for it, hear it from Foos' guitarist and the EP's producer Chris Shiflett, as he tells us why they're so special, why he loves production, what else he's been into these days and what the future holds for Foo Fighters after they so awesomely put down those split rumours...

How did you first come to hear of Strange Bones?

"I met them through a friend of mine, Richard Connell, who manages them. We've worked together for years over in the UK and taken in a bunch of Arsenal games - he's a nutty Arsenal fan. I guess some time last year he mentioned that he was working with them and that they were looking to record. They sounded really good so then I met them when we were over to play Milton Keynes. We had a little chat and then a few months later they showed up at our studio in the Valley and we banged out a few songs."

What was it that you heard in them that made you want to make the step to work with them?

"It's hard to put your finger on - they just sound like a good rock n' roll band. They were excited and wanted to work. I've never produced another band before, so it was cool to not have to pick up a guitar during a session."

How was it being on the other side of the desk?

"I enjoyed it man, it was fun. They were exactly what you want - a bunch of young dudes, really tight and they knew what they were doing. They'd rehearsed the shit out of those songs so it was just about capturing a good take and making a few tweaks."

What do you think you brought to their sound?

"I don't want to take credit for anything - they're the band, these are their songs and this is their sound. I just wanted to capture it."

Do you feel as if you've picked up any good or bad habits from producers you've worked with in the past?

"Definitely. One of the things I've noticed about good producers is that they keep the mood light in the studio and keep it positive. I know from my experience that it can make you really insecure and you start second-guessing yourself, then you get lost in it. That just doesn't help at all. One of my favourite producers that I've worked with is Nick Raskulinecz who worked on the first two records I did with Foo Fighters (One By One, In Your Honour). You get through a take with him and he'd go 'THAT WAS GREAT, THAT WAS SO GOOD...let's do one more!' That made you feel good."

How would you describe the spirit and feel of the EP?

"We didn't have time to second-guess anything. We spent all day, every day banging through the tunes. It's pretty raw and just sound like them. That's how they sound in a room."

How did these Blackpool punks react of being out in LA to work on the EP?

"They were totally cool. We had a good rapport and there was no weirdness. They weren't wowed by the moment, they just had a good time."

Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (1)

What would you say about their potential that sets them apart from other bands?

"I hear the potential for them to take over the world - we'll be opening for THEM in a couple of years, you watch. They're young and have a long road ahead of them, but they're going to evolve and who knows where that's going to go? I don't really absorb a lot of new music, which is what was nice about working with these guys because I didn't have a lot of reference points."

What kind of satisfaction do you get out of producing bands that you don't get from other pursuits?

"Your role is so different - you're the organiser. You're the one with the clipboard, you're the manager and the cheerleader - keeping the momentum moving forward. When you're in the band, you do your thing then go in the back and check your email"

What else are you working on at the moment?

"I'm working on songs for a new Dead Peasants record, but since we got off the road with Foos, I've really been working hard on this podcast thing and trying to figure it out. We've done tonnes of interviews to relaunch it and get it out there. Ultimately my focus this year is a new Dead Peasants record and do some shows with them. I'm not very good at just sitting around."

Foo Fighters are on a bit of a break at the moment, but do you find yourself writing material for them or does that kind of thing need to happen when you're all in a room together?

"Foo Fighters is Dave's band so he writes all the stuff, not me. He's always writing and I'm sure he's got stacks of new songs sitting on his iPhone right now."

What was it like being on the other side of the fence when all of split rumours and solo bullshit was circulating?

"Oh I'm used to it. Every couple of years we get those rumours. Ever since I've been in the band, there's been word that we're about to break up. After a while, you're just like 'oh, the tours over, here come the break-up rumours'. The next one has to be 'the reunion tour..."

How'd you come to the decision to respond in such an awesome 'kick in the face' kind of way as the brilliant rebuttal video you made?

"It's funny. I hadn't even heard the rumour when I got the text from Dave saying he wanted to make the video that night. These things happen so fast now, man."

Butch Vig said Dave was working on something away from Foos - is there anything you can tell us about that?

"I have no idea, he usually does. Dave's always got a bunch of things going on, whether he's making a movie or a TV show or whatever - he stays busy. He always has."

Are you guys still planning on doing doing Sonic Highways series two, or do you plan to make a more traditional album?

"I have no idea, no clue."

And beyond Strange Bones and your own stuff, what have you been listening to lately?

"There's a singer-songwriter dude from Texas called Jack Ingram who's got a new album coming out called Midnight Motel, and that's great. The Beach Slang record, that's great. I've also been listening to a lot of Merle Haggard records in the last few weeks since he passed away. The new Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson records are unbelievable too."

What would you say are the classic records you always return to?

For me, it's a lot of the stuff that I grew up listening to. You know who I go back to more than anyone else? Which is funny, because I didn't listen to them a lot back then. But I listen to the first couple of Rainbow records a lot. Thin Lizzy - I listen to them a lot too. The stuff that made me get into music was the obvious stuff like The Beatles, The Stones, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest - those kind of things."

Is there anything cool you've been reading lately?

"I've just re-read Fever Pitch, while I was over in London to go to an Arsenal game over Spring break. It just reminded me how much I love that book. I understood it so much more this time around, I got the references so much having been to so many more games over the last 20 years. The one book that I can't recommend enough is the new NOFX book, The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories. It's basically their version of The Dirt."

God Save The Teen by Strange Bones is out now. Their upcoming tour dates are below.

April
23 – Preston, Ferret
25 – Coventry, Kasbah
30 – Leeds, Live At Leeds Festival
May
1 – Hull, Welly Club
20 – Brighton, Great Escape
June
10 – Donington, Download Festival

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    Nimmo: Incorporating the neon-lit, synth stylings of La Roux with the global scope of Jungle, Nimmo's sound belies the fact that there was never a training period for this five piece. It's doubtful that there are any cracked demo tapes that sound anything less than fleshed out and polished - it's well rounded and frequently sought after dance music.

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    Astrid S: She may have come fifth in the Norwegian version of Pop Idol, but the truth is that her FKA Twigs-esque brand of artful pop-noir set her leagues apart from anything you'd expect to see churned out by any kind of cynical hit machine. A true individual, who carves a world of her very own.

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    Emma Blackery: This young Essex sensation found fame by becoming a Youtube star - dabbling in comedy, reading and vlogging as well as amazing music. She's pretty awesome, having risen to a star on her own terms. Now, expect her to take 2016 with more new music too - totally by surprise.

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    Bright Young People: Having supported The Offspring at Brixton Academy, Bright Young People have already proved they can hack it at the top stages. They released their first proper singles this year through Gary Powell of The Libertines’ label 25 Hour Convenience Store. If you like your rock to be pure, hard and heavy, then get yourself some Bright Young People.

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    Black Foxxes: For fans of Biffy Clyro and Arcane Roots, Black Foxxes are a band who play like they feel every single chord. A cliche-free journey of cliche-free hard-rock driven ever-skyward by melodramatic and dynamic vocals, expect their next releases to find them a fame that matches their much-deserved critical acclaim.

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    Dead!: After a year of heavy touring and destroying any festival they step foot in, Dead!'s blend of emo poetry, heartfelt sincerity and arena-ready choruses mean that they can't really fail. They've a sound of their own, but here's hoping they can fill that My Chemical Romance-shaped hole.

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    Broken Hands: There's no one quite like these guys at the moment. Their single 'Meteor’ is catchy and 'real' enough to make Noel Gallagher approve the songwriting, but feral enough to capture the imagination of even the hardest rock fans.

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    Cold Ocean Lies: It’s very early days for this Birmingham four-piece and they haven’t publicly revealed too much about the industry support they’ve got so based on the sound alone, which has brilliant balance of catchy choruses and heavy guitar - it’s easy to tell that Cold Ocean Lies will be a much more prominent name next year.

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    Tigercub: After breaking through into the music industry's consciousness in 2014 thanks to a support tour with Royal Blood, Tigercub have had a brilliant 2015. The release of their EP Repressed Semantics has buoyed them out of the confines of being predominantly a support band and a ‘Brighton band’. Last month they set out on a full UK tour and sold out the Barfly in Camden. Hopefully 2016 will also see the release of their debut album that’ll be the start of even bigger things - we certain think so.

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    Jack Garratt: With the BRITs critic choice award under his belt, this Buckinghamshire producer-songwriting is destined to be massive; with or without The 'Sound Of' title. His songs are what Ed Sheeran's would sound like produced by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack Steadman, if you haven't already heard Garratt on record.

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    Billie Marten: To say that Marten has been making waves wouldn't fit the case, it's a far too forceful cliche to assign her. Barely 17 but her voice has been transfused with a history of mature and affecting vocals. Citing Nick Drake has one of her main influences, we could believe it - the simplicity and conviction of Marten's songwriting is timeless.

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    Frances: The flowing red hair of Frances will soon be considered the trademark aesthetic for her beautiful piano ballads. Finding a fireside home on Communion records, 21 year old Frances' honest and soulful songwriting deserves all the love it can be afforded.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (63)

    Izzy Bizu: Possibly the most photogenic human on the planet, Bizu is also one of the leading young voices in the UK. A self-proclaimed fan of "jazz-fusion mixes and a lover of squat parties and warehouse raves", the 21 year old has already supported the likes of Foxes, Rudimental and previous Sound Of winner, Sam Smith.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (64)

    J Hus: A genuine hustler, when J Hus is spitting rhymes about acquiring wealth he's digging into the disappointing realism of navigating the self-involved nature of 2015 relationships. Cooking up some controversy after throwing gang signs following his stabbing. For all his talent, it'd be fair to say it's going to be a few years until we see J Hus jump on a Frances track.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (65)

    Section Boyz: The most notorious artists on the longlist, for sure, this South London group are the real deal, full-body essence of UK hip-hop. Section Boyz are on a six man crusade to convince the world that 'Trappin' Ain't Dead' - whatever 'trappin' actually is.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (66)

    Mabel: Having Neneh Cherry has a mum can't hurt your chances of getting into music, but what Mabel possesses surpasses commercial connections - her voice is an unique instrument. Blowing away the cobwebs of a neo-soul framework that has lurked the charts for far too long, Mabel is bringing hard-hitting production and a Lauryn Hill essence back to pop.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (67)

    Barns Courtney: Aching, genuine, and human - piano-led soul for fans of Hozier, George Ezra and Benjamin Clementine.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (68)

    Bonkaz: Rhythm and poetry in equal measure - a shining light in a new generation of grime.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (69)

    Trampolene: Earthy rock n' roll met with Pete Doherty approved John Cooper Clarke-esque poetry about the pitfalls of rock n' roll and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Indie has a new poster boy.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (70)

    Pretty Vicious: A fitting name for a rising act with the choral anthemics and adrenaline rush of early Oasis, albeit with a much more razor sharp edge and acid tongue.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (71)

    SG Lewis: You may have heard 'Warm' on HBO's Ballers, but expect his sound to reach the wider world next year. It's like the pure pop pleasure of Years & Years but with the sensual subtlety of James Blake. Lovely stuff.

  • Foo Fighters' Chris Shiflett on the band's future + producing Strange Bones (2024)
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