Interviews - Old Interviews - Webchat with Kelli 1997

Kelli from Sneaker Pimps says: Hello, everyone out there. I'm looking forward to all the questions. The whole band is! We're having a great time out here!
From nancy: Will you guys be doing any work with bands like GARBAGE!, Underworld, the Chemical Brothers?
The Sneaker Pimps say: That's an interesting question. We tend to move in circles that people would expect us to move in. While it would be terrific to work with someone like Garbage, it would be more likely that we would do work with someone a little less well known. We always like to work with people that we like, but who knows.
From gothic-depression: would the girl go our on a date with me? write me mail at ruiner@
The Sneaker Pimps say: I haven't got much time these days...
From gottaknow: how did you come up with your band's name?
The Sneaker Pimps say: It actually comes from a Beastie Boys interview. They have this friend who isn't particularly good at music, but they like to put their friends on their payroll. They sent him out looking for a pair of old school trainers for them to wear, and they called him a sneaker pimp. And now it's become a huge thing, you can make a lot of money looking for old Nikes and sending them to Japanese tourists.
From Drachgon: What's the weirdest experience you ever had with a fan and what's the weirdest thing a fan's ever sent you in the mail?
The Sneaker Pimps say:I don't actually get that much in the mail. The weirdest experience with fan...one girl wanted to kiss me on the lips for her birthday, she said it was a dream...it was kind of weird, but also kind of nice that someone is thinking of you like that that you have never met. So I was happy to do that. But other than that, the really creepy stuff hasn't happened.
From jarnold3: Sneaker Pimps-- i have been searching everywhere for a cd from you but i have only found one song of yours on the saint soundtrack--do you have any other albums released?? if so --why can't i find them???
The Sneaker Pimps say: You should be able to find the album, "Becoming X", and also a couple of singles, including "6 Underground", the one from the Saint soundtrack. You should be able to go to any good record store and find it. It's definitely out there.
From mac: Who are your influences?
The Sneaker Pimps say: We as a band have many influences, mine are PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, and Chris really likes David Silvian, and Liam really likes Kraftwerk and like that. But we all cross over.
From boot pimp: Hey how's it goin?
The Sneaker Pimps say: It's going good..thanks. We're really excited, with everything. We've had a brilliant tour in America, and we just feel really optimistic about our future.
From astrokick: where did you do your first show?
The Sneaker Pimps say: The Blue Nose in London, a really cool little club.
From boot pimp: Are you guys really pimps?
The Sneaker Pimps say: In our spare time....
From Tmblweed16: Hi..I was wondering if Liam found his way back to the hotel after leaving the KROQ studios?
The Sneaker Pimps say: He did, in fact. It was a very typical Sneaker Pimp night.
From Rhi: How do you guys categorize your band? Like is it alternative, rock...etc...etc...?
The Sneaker Pimps say: We tend not to do that, simply because we use so many instruments and have so many influences...from long before electronica..from pop to punk. We like to have people use their imagination.
From Destiny: I have to be honest...I don't believe I've ever heard your music, but my sister absolutely loves you guys. What's the best part about your new-found fame?
The Sneaker Pimps say: To tell you the truth, it's been a nice slow progression, so it doesn't feel to us like it's exploded. We still like taking our music to people. I think the best thing is that we get to travel to all these different places and play for people we otherwise might not. You should grab your sister's CD and have a listen.
From astrokick: Are all the original band members still with the band?
The Sneaker Pimps say: Yes, we've only been together two years, so that's a bit premature.
From christy: what is the song 6 underground about?
The Sneaker Pimps say: It's about claustrophobia in a small town, about growing up having your activities stifled. It's also about being six feet under, like that feeling you get when you think no one understands you, feeling alone. But we also like to say to people that whatever they think is cool.
From astrokick: Does the band have and idol or someone they look up to?
The Sneaker Pimps say: I know mine is my mum. I really look up to her, she is so calm and so strong. There are so many amazing things about her, and I know that all my life I will look to her as an influence.
From chad: what are you doing for memorial day? wanna party with me?
The Sneaker Pimps say: I'd be happy to...I'll probably be in London somewhere...
From nick@att.com: what is the tattoo on your arm? do you have any more?
The Sneaker Pimps say: Yeah, I have got two tatoos. On one arm I've got a panther, and on the other arm I have "vive la rock n' roll", and I have a new tattoo that I got yesterday in Phoenix and it's a star on my leg. I've never thought to count them before, I have five altogether. One on my chest...
From lala: where did you get your "big break" into the business? did someone see you at a show?
The Sneaker Pimps say: We did things back to front really. Liam had a deal on the label we're on now, so we didn't have that big showcase thing that most bands have. I suppose that signing to Virgin America was really the big thing, they were really there from the beginning. It's been a really steady progress. I suppose everything you do counts, we have been willing to work with so many people, and you make all those connections. I think we've been really lucky, and have been really dependent on lots of A&R guys.