LMPYITP: The Random Passages

Why the World Needs a Nic Cester Solo Album

                  

By Juliet Anderson, NME Staff Writer

            It's a cool, clear evening as the water off Lake Como has chilled the temperature. But backstage at Stadio San Siro, things are heating up. The lads from Muse have just finished their set and are enjoying some well-deserved alcoholic beverages to try and beat the heat. It's after midnight but there are no plans to turn in. Not for them or their featured guest.

            He's been in a supposed self-exile for a couple years now.

            "Self-exile?" He scoffs. "Fuck off!"

            He quickly corrects me, informing me he's just been enjoying a sabbatical away from the spotlight but not the music.

            "It's been my thing since before I was even in a band." He admits. "But if I wasn't in a band, I'd be fucked."

            He proceeds to tell me about his time at St. Bede's College – a Catholic all-boys high school in Mentone, Australia. It's known for its rich sporting history, something for which he's not arsed.

            "That's why I started a band." He says.

            With fellow classmate and classic rock enthusiast, Cameron Muncey, he formed one. They changed the name a few times before finally settling on something they knew would fit.

            "We wanted it to look good on a billboard."

            Three letters. A nod to Paul McCartney.

            Jet.

            Later joined by his younger brother, Chris on the drums and Geelong native, Mark Wilson on bass, he set out to make history. His band became one of the elite of the Garage Rock Revival Movement, alongside the likes of the Strokes and others. They graced the US with their presence as part of the Aussie Invasion with fellow Ozzies, the Vines.

            But it was the use of their debut single, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" in an iPod commercial that really cemented their place as history makers.

            "It's a catchy song." He muses. "People really dig it. It still gets played on the radio sometimes all these years later."

            He's modest in discussing the song's success. He could boast a lot more than he actually does but he remains quiet and grateful for how far things have gone. His crystal blue eyes look quite pensive as he discusses how the song came to be, from demo to single.

            What sets Nic Cester apart from so many rock stars is his humbleness. With so many awards and credits under his belt, he's got a lot to be proud of but you'd never know it by talking to him.

            Since Jet's disbandment in 2012, he's led a relatively quiet life, hidden away in a villa on Lake Como in Milan, Italy and off the radar from most things celebrity-wise.

            "I still go home for Christmas." He informs me. "My mum would be quite disappointed if I didn't."

            We hang out together drowning out the partying going on around us. He's nursing a beer and a cigarette but he doesn't plan to go off his head.

            "Those days are over." He says. "The Nic Cester of yesteryear is gone."

            Maybe on the behavior side of things. But that famous flicker in his eyes is still there, along with the ability to jump up on a bass drum.

            He chuckles just a bit as he realizes we've finally reached the point of discussing tonight's gig. He joined Muse on stage partway through their set to help them with their rendition of AC/DC's "Back in Black" – he's done this before at Big Day Out and another performance at Stadio San Siro. And not much has changed.

            He jogged out to greet the crowd with a bow as usual and jumped right in when the familiar introductory riff began. One listen to his perfectly tuned screaming and you'd have thought Bon Scott was back from the grave.

            He smiles bashfully, a clear sign he doesn't want to brag. But the cheers in the crowd proved just how much bragging rights he actually had.

            So what's on the agenda for him now?

            "I'm in the studio but I'm really just playing around with it. I like having the freedom of doing what I want with no pressure of hurrying to get an album out."

            It's something that plagued the Jet recording sessions. After switching to Atlantic Records when Elektra merged, things changed. Gone was the liberty for the boys in the band to do what they wanted now they were under the authority of a bigger label.

            "It just wasn't as fun anymore."

            Add to that the struggles of getting along well enough to record a second album and you've got the recipe for disaster.

            "Us as the unit of Jet was starting to crumble." He states. "Things just weren't the same as they once were."

            Still, they pressed on. Shine On was well received globally with a world tour to promote it. Time was taken off again before starting their third and final album and in 2010, after another world tour, Jet went on an indefinite hiatus.

            "And then we just never came off."

            The end as a group came as a shock to most fans but Nic believes it was a bit of a blessing.

            "We all needed to get away from each other. For a bit anyway. We're still friends and I wouldn't say we've ruled out all possibilities."

            There were even rumors of them reuniting to support AC/DC on their last tour.

            "It would've been awesome." He says. "But it didn't work out."

            And neither did the rumor of him filling in as AC/DC's lead vocalist.

            He smiles again, clearly flattered at the idea of him even being considered for the job.

            It's obvious music still plays a major role in his life even if it's not on as big a scale as it once was.

            "I hope to return. I'd love to make a splash again."

            And his fans would definitely love it too. Especially if it means a full blown album and not just guest vocals or a track for a film. He's capable of holding his own. Giving the world some much needed and very raw guitar music that it's been lacking for quite some time. He brings a quiet edge that explodes on stage via a guitar and voice. Some artists can only give one or the other but Nic Cester is capable of giving both.

            Now it's just a matter of when he'll give them.

            "I promise I won't disappear just yet." He assures me with a grin. "There's plenty of stuff I still want to do."

            I thank him for that on behalf of his fans all over the world. He appears to be a man of his word and I have no doubt he'll pull through.