← Back to Maximum Pop!

INTERVIEW: Jack from All Time Low talks touring, 5SOS and how to be hot


Prior to All Time Low’s upcoming UK Back To The Future Hearts Tour, we got the chance to interview their most inappropriate member: lead guitarist, Jack Barakat – and even ask a few of your Twitter questions, too.

So we’ve seen you in concert a few times now, but could you tell me what is going to make the Back To The Future Hearts tour different? I think that these aren’t shows that anyone has ever seen All Time Low do before. Y’know, we’ve never headlined venues like this, and I think we have the most time we’ve ever had on stage to play whatever we want. It’s just going to be a very special evening. We’re not going to let anyone down.

Obviously you’ve been touring a lot over the past ten years – does it feel different now than when you first went on the road? Yeah, when we first started our parents were driving us around and we were too young to even drive. Our parents would get us in their cars and we’d put everything in the back, and they’d drive us to the show, so it’s definitely become a very different process. I think we’ve got it down to a well-oiled machine now, so it makes touring 300 days of the year so much easier.

Have the fans got crazier? Yes, absolutely. When we first used to play shows, it was just our friends from high school coming out and being supportive and having a good time. But, y’know, they weren’t necessarily fans of the band; they were just friends. So, over the years, after every single album cycle, I think the fans get a little crazier and a little more hyped up. It’s definitely a blessing, and not many bands have that opportunity so it’s not something we take for granted.

What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done? Uh
that’s hard to answer, because every day someone does some crazy shit. I know once that a girl camped out in Alex’s bushes outside his house, but to be honest, our fans are really respectful. It’s kind of like, they can do crazy shit, but they can be really respectful. It’s actually kind of surprising.

We’d love to ask about 5 Seconds of Summer as well. Obviously, they look up to you as musical inspiration, but is it strange for you to transition from looking up to bands like Blink 182 and Fall Out Boy, to having new bands feel like that about you now? Yeah, to be honest, it’s just a weird feeling and it’s something you never expect, and you never think about. Whenever we were touring with Good Charlotte, and we really looked up to them, they’d say “One day you’re going to be that band that people are looking up to”, and I was like “yeah, whatever, I don’t believe that.”

The whole thing about bands like 5 Seconds and The Vamps and the younger generation of pop rockery stuff is that they’re just so excited to be around bands that they grew up listening. They’re so fun and they’re not jaded, and I’m not saying that we are, but it’s refreshing to be around bands that are so young and successful. It makes us feel more energetic and breathes new life into us.

Do you think you’ll be collaborating with 5SOS anytime soon? I don’t see why not. We’re close friends and we play similar types of music, but we have not set plans to.

We asked our followers earlier if they had any questions they’d like to ask you, and here are a few:

I probably shouldn’t give advice on this because I always overthink, but when it comes down to it, you just gotta go with your gut and your initial instinct, and hope you’re right. Life’s all about making mistakes and learning from them. No need to overthink – if you make a mistake, just don’t do it again, y’know?

What song can’t you stop listening to right now? Fireproof, by One Direction.

Ooh, I saw them last night live
Currently, ‘LA Devotee’. I just think it’s really catchy.

https://twitter.com/EmilyNotMe/status/689790646845054977

Hm, I don’t think I have any talents. I’m a terrible cook
hmm
I’m pretty good at dancing. I don’t think many people know that. I’m actually a very talented dancer
in my own head.

https://twitter.com/leedsvinyl/status/689784616622891009

What’s your top tip on being hot? Yeah, make sure you have your daily cheeseburger, and that’s it, really. You know it’s good for the body, good for a really fit body. Really healthy.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to your fans before they come see you live? I can’t to come and perform for you guys! If you don’t come, I’ll probably never love you again, and neither will your friends or family, so you basically have to come to this tour. Or your life will fall apart.

We’d like to say a big thank you to Jack for taking the time to speak with us! You can catch him and the rest of All Time Low on their Back To The Future Hearts Tour this February. Check out your closest venue below: