http://www.interpolny.com/

If it’s true that the shoes make the man, could they help make the band too (or at least indicate good taste in tunes)? Well, in Interpol’s case both may be valid assumptions.

It all began in New York City, as that is where most cool people live and play their cool music. Guitarist and vocalist, Daniel Kessler could easily be considered the founding member, as he primarily united the other members. On the New York University campus he met drummer, Greg, and they began playing together in their spare time. During a class, Daniel noticed a pair of original Doc Martens without the yellow stitching. Attached to those boots was "retired" guitar player, Carlos Dengler. Kessler struck up a friendship with Carlos, talked him out of retirement and he later took up bass and keyboards. Daniel ran into Paul Banks, a friend from a school summer session in France, around the same time. Paul listened to songs the three band mates had done and accepted the invitation to become the fourth and final member of Interpol. The year was 1998.

The group rehearsed in a number of spaces, playing gigs in every East Side dive they could find. Performances with bands like Mogwai, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Six By Seven got the attention of New York’s downtown concert-goers.

In the spring of 2000, Greg amicably parted ways with Interpol and joined the band "She’s Hit!". He was later replaced with Samuel Fogarino who (surprise) Daniel had known for years beforehand. After solidifying their lineup, Interpol released their debut EP Precipitate which fast became a favorite by word of mouth. They continued playing out in the New York club scene, and after the release of the second EP, Fukd I.D. #3, the band was quickly noticed by Matador records.

The group decided to ditch the Big Apple when they recorded the debut album in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The studio was tucked away in a Victorian mansion that had at one time been an asylum for emotionally disturbed youth (perhaps an inspiration for the LP’s title Turn On The Bright Lights). Escaping the big city busyness and chaos, the charming and quaint New England town provided a stable, yet eerie environment to hone the group’s creative juices.

Many have dubbed Interpol’s sound reminiscent of Joy Division and Wire. In a recent interview with Pop Culture Press, Kessler said, "I haven’t listened to enough Joy Division, and now I kind of steer away from it just so nothing seeps in through the subconscious. I think our song directions are different than theirs, they were a lot darker than we are ... I wouldn’t say those bands are any more of an influence than bands from a year ago or ten years ago."

Well, whatever it is that has given the boys of Interpol their sound, it’s working. It’s quite apparent that Daniel Kessler had the gift of spotting and recruiting the right musicians and the right shoes! A recent appearance in Gear magazine had them sporting thousands of dollars worth of the latest designer threads, and as such they are rarely seen without up-to-the-minute fashionable attire. New York University must’ve really schooled these students in good taste, and damn, it paid off!

-Julie Smith