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Class of 2008: Friendly Fires

'We are like the Sugababes, we are like LCD Soundsystem, and we are like Roxy Music.'

It's 2008; and no, we're not sure where the last twelve months went either. What we are fairly certain about, however, is that it popped up more than a couple of ace bands for us to get all excited about.

We've taken the best of the bunch that got DIY Towers buzzing and quizzed them about both themselves and what they might get up to in the next 12 months. Not universally sure fire bets for unit shifting superstardom, we're expecting good things from them all.

Someone ring the bell, then. The Class of 2008 is in.

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Friendly Fires are a band that need no introduction. So, because we're lazy, we're not going to give them much of one.

'Paris' can't have dodged the attention of many as 2007 came to a close, keeping true to the matra that Moshi Moshi rarely release anything other than brilliant singles. We caught up with the band for a typically inane chat (typical for us, not them, obviously - Ed).

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Who are you, and what do you do?
Ed Mac sings and plays synths, Edd Gibson plays guitar, Jack Savidge plays drums.

Lazily, compare yourselves to at least three well-ish-known bands in a semi-comical way.
We are like the Sugababes because there are three of us, we are like LCD Soundsystem because we like disco, and we are like Roxy Music because all bands should be like Roxy Music in some way.

What's the best thing about being in a band so far?
Getting on stage being part of your normal weekly routine.

...and what's the worst?
Travelling, cramped vans and cancelled ferries.

Why do you think 2008 is going to be a great year for Friendly Fires?
2008 is the year of the Rat, same as 1984, the year in which we were all born.

Are you making any new years' resolutions?
Get more done in the day, get less done at night.

If people were to listen to just one of your songs, which one would you hope it was and why?
'It's Over Now' - not so much a song as a massive epic soundscape. Its not very catchy, but I think it says a lot about the music we all like.

Where do you hope to be in twelve months' time?
In a massive jacuzzi, somewhere in the tropics, eating pate.

What's the worst piece of advice anyone's ever given you?
Just silly things like structures of songs, people to work with etc etc etc.

If friendly fires were to have a motto, what would it be?
'Watch out for gout'

What would be your reaction if someone were to cover one of your songs on X Factor?
Pray it wasn't Rhydian what done it. I like Same Difference; they are heroically creepy.

Do you have an album in the pipeline?
Yep, out this summer, if all goes to plan.

Who'd be your dream producer to work with?
Fatman Scoop.

Remixes are, it would seem, 'all the rage'. Who would you just love to remix one of your tracks?
Carl Craig. Justus Kohncke has one coming for us, so that's one personal hero already down.

What does it take to be a fan of Friendly Fires?
Dancing shoes and a romantic streak.

What's the weirdest thing anyone's done at one of your gigs?
Someone jumped off a bridge into the river Seine outside the venue in Paris. We were hauled off stage. Michael Buerke once came to one of our gigs too. He didn't do anything particularly weird though.

Tell us something random yet interesting about you.
I was once stung on the elbow by my friend's scorpion. It hurt like buggery.

You're part of the DIY Class of 2008 - what was your favourite subject at school?
Skiving.