In this episode, Pipeman sits down with Ed and Riley Breckenridge of Thrice at the Louder Than Life festival. They discuss the festival experience, their musical origins, band dynamics, creative freedom, and upcoming tours. The conversation is candid, filled with stories about their musical upbringing, sustaining a band for nearly three decades, and reflections on what it means to be authentic as artists.Main Topics Covered
- Experiences at Louder Than Life and other Wimmer festivals
- Musical influences and childhood memories
- The path to forming Thrice and maintaining the original lineup
- Navigating creative direction and compromises within the band
- Thoughts on genre compartmentalization in rock and metal
- Cherishing experimentation and personal expression in making music
- The importance of supportive fans
- Upcoming tour with Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day
Key Discussions & StoriesFestival Talk
- The size and atmosphere of Louder Than Life were discussed, with comparisons to other major festivals (00:28, 01:49).
- Ed Breckenridge expressed excitement to see Gojira and shared past experiences watching them in Belgium (02:11, 02:22).
- A story was shared about Gojira outdrawing Metallica at Hellfest and the band’s involvement in the Olympics opening ceremony (02:36, 03:02).
Origins and Influences
- Ed and Riley described their childhood exposure to jazz, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Stevie Wonder through their father (03:54, 04:07).
- The brothers reminisced about picking albums based on covers and discovering music ranging from Led Zeppelin to Cat Stevens (04:32).
- Metallica was mentioned as the band that opened the doors to heavier music, leading them to Sepultura, Pantera, and Iron Maiden, whose guitar harmonies and bass lines influenced Thrice’s sound (04:57, 05:11).
Forming and Sustaining Thrice
- Riley Breckenridge recounted how the band formed organically with both brothers and friends, eventually finding their lineup and collaborative songwriting approach (05:36).
- The band’s longevity—27 years with the same lineup—was highlighted, with reflections on navigating differences and finding balance (06:23, 06:54).
Creative Freedom and Authenticity
- Ed Breckenridge emphasized the band's shared goal to push artistic boundaries rather than chase fame or commercial success (08:02).
- Supporting one another’s varying commitment levels and personal choices was discussed as key for band survival (07:16).
- The group celebrated having fans that support their evolving sound (08:57), and Pipeman encouraged artists to create true to themselves (08:34, 09:15).
On Genres and Experimentation
- There was pushback against the trend of hyper-compartmentalizing genres in rock and metal (09:57), with praise for bands that retain distinctive sounds (10:18).
- The conversation covered how experimentation and mistakes often lead to iconic riffs and lasting originality (10:47, 11:11), referencing Tony Iommi’s innovation.
Upcoming Tours and Memorable Shows
- The band announced the start of their US tour with Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day, with festival stops and a return to the full tour soon (11:47).
- Discussion of memorable festival moments, including missed opportunities to see “Captain Kirk’s” new metal band due to rain at Riot Fest and the rarity of a daytime Tool show (12:39, 13:02).
- Reflections on passion for live music at any age, and the camaraderie found in mosh pits (13:39, 13:54).
Notable Quotes
- “We all share the same goal with this project, which is to be creative and to push ourselves as artists.” — Ed Breckenridge 08:02
- “Make your music for you, and then you'll attract your tribe.” — Pipeman 08:53
- “Having the freedom to explore what you want to is really nice, and not, not being worried about, um, not fitting into the box that people want to put you in. It’s very freeing.” — Ed Breckenridge 09:37
- “We’ve been the same lineup for 27 years.” — Riley Breckenridge 06:23
- “There's so many things that have to line up, like everybody's commitment level, life choices, finances...and like, I feel really lucky to be with other people that are willing to be as committed.” — Riley Breckenridge 07:16
Resources & Links Mentioned
- Thrice (Band): Official Website
- Touring with: Taking Back Sunday, Saves the Day (US Tour, upcoming dates mentioned 11:57)
- Festivals Referenced:
- Louder Than Life
- Welcome to Rockville
- Aftershock
- Sonic Temple
- Riot Fest
- Hellfest
- Pukkelpop (Belgium)
- Bands & Artists Mentioned:
- Gojira
- Mastodon
- Metallica
- Sepultura
- Pantera
- Iron Maiden
- Cat Stevens
- Led Zeppelin
- Stevie Wonder
- The Beatles
- Tool
Pipeman in the Pit is a music, festival, and interview segment of The Adventures of Pipeman Radio Show (#pipemanradio) and from The King of All Festivals while on The Pipeman Radio Tour.
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