Page 19 - Classic Rock (February 2020)

“We want to make

rock’n’roll dangerous again.”

The Last

Internationale

Tom Morello loves them; Pete Townshend shouldn’t even be in society, they should be behind bars. We were always
fighting to get our voices heard. So when these people scattered like
doesn’t. But no one can ignore the NY firebrands. roaches, we had to re-find ourselves.”

While grubby alt.soul thumpers like Mind Ain’t Free feel like a catharsis,
Rock bottom is underrated. After all, reasons Edgey Pires, when you’ve it’s the Soul On Fire lyric sheet that kicks hardest, finding the pair sharpening
got nothing, there’s nothing to lose. “Soul On Fire was written during a low their claws on social ills from climate change to misogyny. “Fifth World is
point,” reflects The Last Internationale guitarist of their garage-bluesy about the Earth taking back its power and washing away all that we’ve
second album. “But that’s when we discovered who we really are.” done,” says Paz. “Modern Man is about abuse in different ways. Abuse of the
“We went through Pledge,” says singer Delila Paz, “but when the earth, personal abuse, abuse of indigenous women…”
album was supposed to come out, Pledge disbanded…” FOR FANS OF... “But we’re not about slogans for the sake of it,” Pires stresses.
“Everybody got fucked,” continues Pires, the angrier of the New “There’s too much posturing and bullshit. Every single rock lyric
York band’s frontline. “The hardest part was, how do you bounce that I’m reading, it doesn’t reflect working-class life. Hip-hop does.
back financially from that? But we didn’t come this far to stop over Country does. Rock is in a bubble, they’re afraid to say anything.
some dollars and cents.” You’re telling me that nobody – not one band, in all of rock – has
It’s hard to imagine anything killing the momentum of The been evicted from their apartment, has had something tragic
Last Internationale: a band who have run on righteous fury since happen to a friend, knows somebody that got shot by a cop?”
Pires and Paz hooked up in 2008. Their socially charged music has “When I hear the bands The pair’s proactive approach goes far beyond posturing. As
attracted A-list fans – Tom Morello has long been in their corner from the sixties or on-the-ground campaigners, you’re as likely to find them door-
seventies – Neil Young,
– but they’ve ruffled feathers, too. “We almost got kicked off the Bob Marley, Queen, Jimi knocking to promote worthy causes as in the studio. And yet, the
Who tour,” says Pires. “I stepped all over Pete’s pedalboard, and it Hendrix – I always prefer best place to gauge just how much The Last Internationale mean it
was malfunctioning from the moment he got on stage. Their tour the live versions over is their ferocious live show. “I play every gig like it’s my last,” nods
the studio records,”
manager was yelling: ‘If it happens again you’re out!’” says Pires. “So although Pires. “That’s why I break my guitar strings most nights. We want
Soul On Fire makes no apology, palpably upping their game Soul On Fire is a studio to make rock’n’roll dangerous again.” HY
from 2014’s hit-and-miss debut, We Will Reign. “It was a bit record, a huge influence
polished,” admits Pires. “We were surrounded by people who would be a lot of live Soul On Fire is out now. TLI tour the UK in March 2020.
records. I really love
Creedence Clearwater
Revival’s Live In Europe.
It sounds incredible.” CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM 19