Eddie Argos has fronted London-based five piece Art Brut for 4 years, and the band have found friends across the world – most notably the US music press lauding debut album Bang Bang Rock and Roll. Now they tour the UK in support of follow-up album It’s Kind of Complicated.

The Americans seem to love you, but you’ve been touring the world, so what’s your favourite place?
I have to say England because I live there… no, wait, I’d better say Scotland! My mum’s side of the family are all from Leith.
I really like Berlin, the people are having so much fun, drink’s cheap. And I like Moscow, I got this great big glam fur coat, which I can wear there.

You’ve picked up a bunch of celebrity fans like Graham Coxon, The Libertines, and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
I remember reading that a while ago, I think (Radcliffe) just likes all guitar bands. People keep saying Madonna likes us. And David Johansen from the New York Dolls, which is kinda cool.

Your lifelong ambition was to appear on Top of the Pops – what is there left now that’s gone?
It’s rubbish, isn’t it? Pop music isn’t popular any more. Our plan is now to being back Top of the Pops, and write the theme tune.
There was a petition to get us on TotP, 7000 people signed it – now, if they’d just bought the single in the first place…!

Your new album is entitled It’s A Bit Complicated – how hard could it be?
Our first album was just all our songs at that time, and we couldn’t all go into the studio at the same time because we all had jobs – this album we had to sit down and write! Plus we could get there together and say: “What that needs is a trumpet and backing vocals.” So it’s more like a pop album.

You have a unique ‘franchise’ system where ‘other’ Art Bruts spring up across the world – e.g. We Are Scientists are Art Brut # 47. What on earth is that about?
Art Brut’s a good name, we felt guilty about having exclusive use of it. Though there must be hundreds of them now – people show up: “Hi, I’m Art Brut 17,” and give me a CD. I’m like a proud father, but I’m glad they’ve all left home!

Stuart McHugh

(More at www.artbrut.org.uk)