Simon Rushworth
Royal Republic are roaring back on to the rock scene this year with new album Save The Nation set to seal the band’s reputation as one of the must-see acts of 2012.
With the follow-up to 2010’s We Are The Royal due for a September release and a full UK tour to follow these are exciting times for the Swedish quartet.
Save The Nation was recorded at Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios. It was here where David Bowie was inspired by the view from the roof of a kissing couple to write his song Heroes. Depeche Mode penned Construction Time Again in the same space and U2 used the studios to create their masterpiece Achtung Baby a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Now, Royal Republic have tracked their latest release in the same iconic venue with producer Michael Ilbert at the helm.
Frontman Adam Grahn said: “The vibe for me was let’s try everything that comes out before we say no because you might find something there. We wanted to expand, not change who we are or the sound, but just widen it a little bit.
“I don’t know if it came out in the lyrics but when the last tour ended we had been on the road for two years. For me, when I got home, during that period, a lot of things had happened in the lives of those back home.
“People had been getting sick, dying, moving, changing careers, having kids. You either didn’t know about it or you didn’t have time to feel sad that some people were gone – because I was always on the road and doing this happy face and playing the show.
“So that was weird. I don’t know if it’s in the lyrics. But songwriting keeps us happy, it keeps everyone level. That’s the reason why we started this band.”
Save The Nation is out on September 24 and new single Addictive is available digitally now. Catch the band on tour across the UK at the following venues:
Tue 13th Nov – BRISTOL Thekla
Wed 14th Nov – WOLVERHAMPTON Slade Rooms
Thu 15th Nov – MANCHESTER Academy 3
Sat 17th Nov – NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Sun 18th Nov – GLASGOW King Tuts
Mon 19th Nov – NEWCASTLE O2 Academy 2
Tue 20th Nov – LEEDS Cockpit
Thu 22nd Nov – NORWICH Waterfront
Fri 23rd Nov – LONDON Garage
Sat 24th Nov – BRIGHTON The Haunt
Tickets are on sale now, priced between £8.50/£9.50 regionally and £11.00 in London, from all usual agents and online at www.livenation.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.