Today, (October 7th) IDLES guitarist Lee Kiernan divulged some exciting details regarding the rock band’s next album. Despite the recent arrival of their third album, Ultra Mono, on September 25th, IDLES are back in the studio working on their fourth album already.
Kiernan, who made an appearance on the virtual show Guitar.com Live on October 3rd, confirmed this wonderful news, declaring that “we have lots of ideas…there are 30 songs on the table.” IDLES definitely have fierce creative stamina, as Kiernan relayed that “The premise is that we like to keep moving quickly, to keep writing when we’re excited and we want to.”
IDLES’ ability to churn out smashing albums in quick succession is not a new-found talent for the mighty rock band. Kiernan meditated upon this pattern, revealing that IDLES began writing Ultra Mono almost immediately after the release of their previous project, Joy As An Act of Resistance. Kiernan stated that “nothing really came around until two months before we recorded it. That’s when the whole album solidified as its entity, with all the music together.”
Although IDLES have announced that their fourth album is in the works, Kiernan tells fans not to hold their breath when it comes to their release date. Kienan revealed that “We’re testing the waters…It’s no pressure but we want to find what this album means to us, what it’s going to be, and that takes time, that’s why we start quickly.”
As a talented guitarist, Kiernan also spoke on the importance of putting your ego aside when working closely together in a band. Kiernan divulged that “Because as players, you’re egotistical. It’s natural…You’re like, ‘I wrote this riff! Tell everyone who wrote this riff!’ Who cares who wrote the riff. It’s about the song.” Kiernan’s full interview with Guitar.com Live can be watched here.
Last week, IDLES reached a career milestone by securing their first ever UK Number 1 with Ultra Mono. Ultra Mono has also gathered the highest number of vinyl record sales, according to the Official Charts Company. Selling over 15,400 vinyl copies in its first week, Ultra Mono overtook Liam Gallagher’s recently released Why Me? Why Not for the top spot on the vinyl charts.
IDLES frontman Joe Talbot thanked fans for the overwhelmingly positive response to Ultra Mono, saying “Thank you very much for all your support in helping us get to Number One in the album charts…We’re super grateful and we want to thank all of the fans that have carried us through this weird time and have allowed us to remain a band and keep on writing and keep on working. We hope we do you proud.”
On October 5th, IDLES announced that they will play BST Hyde Park 2021, which American rock band Pearl Jam will be headlining. Sharing a snap of the promotional poster to Instagram, IDLES confirmed that “Tickets on sale Saturday the 10th of October at 10:00am”, and provided a direct link for ticket purchase.
View this post on InstagramTickets on sale Saturday 10th Oct 10 am from https://www.bst-hydepark.com/tickets/pearl-jam-2021/
IDLES fans rejoiced at this wonderful news, the post gathering over 12,000 likes. More information regarding BST Hyde Park 2021 can be found here.
Ultra Mono is out now.
