The 5-minute Interview: Rob Thomas, Musician
'People think I'm super-nice... I'm not so sure'
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Your support makes all the difference.In 1997, Rob Thomas founded the US pop-rock group Matchbox Twenty. They have recorded five albums, released 13 top-40 singles and won three Grammy Awards. Their new album, "Exile on Mainstream" comes out this month
If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...
I'm in LA at the moment. I'm either at the nicest crappy hotel in the world or the crappiest nice hotel. I can't decide. I've got a lot of interviews to do but I'm hoping to make it to the gym.
A common misperception of me is...
That I'm super-nice. People call me "the nicest guy in rock" just because they expect me to be a complete arsehole. I don't feel I'm all that super-nice.
I wish people would take more notice of...
Song writing.
A phrase I use far too often is...
I say "dude" too much. It started off as a joke with me and a friend and then the next thing you know I was saying it for real.I said it to Salman Rusdie the other day. At, like, the worst possible moment.
The most surprising thing that happened to me was...
I think the fact that I still have a job. We always felt that we were supposed to be a '90s band.
I am not a politician but if I were...
I would quit.
I'm good at...
I'm a good typist. Wow. I can't think of anything else. I don't have many hobbies. Maybe tennis.
I'm very bad at...
Sports.
The ideal night out is...
A nice dinner with my wife, then go to a Springsteen concert, then go home, smoke a joint while he told me he wanted me to write his next album.
In moments of weakness I...
Go with it.
You know me as a song writer but I may also have been...
It would have to be something to do with music. Maybe I'd deliver flowers, because everyone you deliver to will be happy.
The best age to be is...
23. You're old enough to go wherever you want. And you don't realise that you don't know anything at all. You have so much time left.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:
"Oh wow." That's it right there.
Alice-Azania Jarvis
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