I just randomly came across this interview that was done just before the show in Brooklyn. It was only posted 4 days ago, so I'm assuming that several of you probably haven't seen it yet. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=9O6iVkazHOo

I was probably peeking through the gates at around this exact time. It's a shame the brothers don't make money here. I'd love to see them again within the next couple years. I dunno if it will happen though..

They make money, it just costs a lot to bring all their equipment, crew, and what not. That doesn't really make a lot of sense though. They play all over the world, so they have to fly to other places as well. I think what he's trying to say is, If there's only 5 places they're playing in the U.S. and they cover pretty much each geographic region, then they know they'll pretty much sell out, therefore they'll make enough money to be able to do the tour. If they play too many places in the U.S. then they won't have as many people per show which in turn means less money to support the tour per show. Make sense?

I think they literally don't make money. Underworld has a similar set-up with visuals, equipment, and traveling expenses, and in an interview with Karl Hyde, he said the U.S. is the only country where the band goes into negative profit. I'd say the same thing probably happens with the Chems, because they charge the same for tickets, too.

Wow.... I wonder how this is possible? I know when the chems played at Nocturnal, that place was packed to the brim. If chems charge a certain amount of money to play the show, and it's the same amount everywhere they go, then how do they lose money? It's the promoter's job to pay for travel expences most of the time.

Thanks for finding this interview, Matt! I'm interested in hearing these mixes they were talking about.

As for touring, yes - I believe it's a financial issue and it must have been a big thing weighing on their minds for them to have brought it up in an interview. The cost is enormous, the people behind the scenes are professionals and must be paid as such. Food, lodging, travel, other accomodations, wages. I have a feeling Gillenium makes sense with parralleling Underworld's tour to the Chemical Brothers. And while that little bit Tom and Ed talked about is uhmmm... trepidatious in a sense of what the future holds as far as touring the States goes... I like to think we're lucky and blessed to have gotten what we did when we know very well what the alternative could have been.

Anyway. Here is something that Errol posted a while ago in response to some negativity regarding the (then lack of) American dates that touches on this subject:

1. 
   

   errol wrote:
   
   A few things:

   
   

   1) I am NOT this band's US booking agent. I am however doing everything in my power to asist in making as many dates as possible happen for the fans.

   
   

   2) I stopped promising information at a certain time because this has proven a complicated process wherein deciding the best venues/cities etc has taken some time.

   
   

   3) The band and all of us would obviously love to do a lot more cities. However this isn't just some lap tops and lights - this is the full chemicals experience that everyone wants and demands. As a result, venues have to be a certain size and able to handle the full production.

   
   

   4) The tour is EXPENSIVE. The band bring a Herculean amount of gear and equipment and the freight alone is a killer. So while playing a small gig in a 1500 capacity venue sounds fun, it's actually not technically possible.

   
   

   5) The band have a worldwide touring commitment and as such they have a certain amount of time for America. We plan to use that time to the utmost as far as dates - and if the tour and album go well hopefully they can return soon for more dates - if the demand and venues allow.

   
   

   As for all of the hostility directed at me personally and consistently on this forum - I'll say this and that'll be it: its not so much mystifying as downright rude. You will be hard pressed to find an individual who has devoted more of his life to the US FANS of Tom and Ed.

   
   

   LASTLY;

   
   

   Today a Brooklyn date was announced in addition to the Hammerstein NYC date. I CAN confirm here that these will be the only US east coast dates on this run. There will be two more dates announced soon in addition to LA and SF - but not on the east coast, so Id definetely snatch up those NY tix if you are planning on travelling to one of those dates - before they all go.

   
   

   Love,

   
   

   Errol

   
   

   
   

   
   

I completely agree. It's expensive as hell just for my band to go on tour. And we don't have 1 / 4th the equipment to take on the road or fly with us. That much of a production is VERY time consuming and very tedious. I am very greatful that they made it over here. So if anyone in booking or Tom and Ed read this.... THANK YOU for staying true to your US fans.

1/4 of the Chem Bros rig? Thats still probably needing a semi trailer mate. Got pics of your rig? Sounds good.

Anyway for a start i think we should chill out and recognise that was a bit of an off-hand joke in the interview, though obviously the USA is a tough grind to tour. Its big and to bus it is hard slog. Peeps probably shouldnt read too much into it. Having said that, of course its not as profitable as picking off major capitals in quick succession!

The thresholds for profitable touring for electronic music are really club, festival and the lofty heights of superstardom stadium, with the latter being the easiest to actually not make money! Not many acts exist to do it on the scale CB's do. Typically live is where you make your money, though the CB's are from what has become "the old days" where you could actually count on album sales, and toured just to support the album. Underworld is a little different, and certainly they have been awesome with the online albums being free of the label and distro red tape that can get in the way. They have worked hard to build their online community and interaction though so that worked fine. Quirky old Underworld :P You cant really compare acts though. A lot comes down to who you have working for you, so theres no golden rule that "we will lose money touring here". Its all business in the end.

My own act is a small-ish live act that can move quite quickly. Our own rig consists of two custom flightcases weighing in just under 60 kilos, with carry on at about 20 kilos (Crumpler bags for laptops etc). We worked hard to get it down to that whilst still having all the gear (MPC, synths, fx, controllers, mixers etc) as we are two performers that cant always be sure we will have our entourage with us, especially in Europe in 2008. Being Australian our domestic airlines are relatively expensive and flights are longer compared to Europe's market so you need to move light and fast to keep in the black. Having a gf work for airlines helps for staff rates and upgrades but its still hard slog. Just got back from an interstate gig and no major problems, though our VJ typically has a 80 to 90 kilo custom cased rig and had to cut down to under 30. The realities of keeping in profit really, which are important for any acts that can no longer rely on royalties and sales so much.

Good that the CB's still tour so big and bombastic though. Ive tired of acts like Trentemoller wibbling on a Microkorg whilst the set plays off laptop. Stadium electronica :)

The group I'm currently in, and how I make a living, isn't an electronica group at all. I'm in an Army Band. We have apx 40 musicians to feed, transport, and find lodging for. Then we have to transport all their instruments, speakers, mixers, racks, projector screens, laptops, etc. It's more of a logistics problem then an overwhelming amount of gear. Even with our gear, we still need a fairly large box truck, a tour bus, and a 15 Pax van minimum.

Fairly enough, the chems don't usually have to take their own stage trussing or sound system etc when they play festivals, because it's already put up ahead of time. I 'think' this was the case on most of the US tour. That saves a lot of time, weight, and space when traveling. None the less, they still have quite a bit of stuff. I would venture to say on their US tour they probably had 2 semi trucks to accomidate the stage rack gear and the lighting / media that always comes with them. They might have even been able to get away with 1 semi, 1 large box truck, and of course at least 2 coach buses for the chems and their crew. This is my best estimated guess based on my previous experiences.

excellent find Mr. Matt!

ty :)