Atlantica - 01.03.2002, Page 10

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8 A T L A N T I C A
whole”. And if that doesn’t
reek enough of sugar and
spice and all things nice,
The Strokes have no end of
bold, beautiful and famous
followers. They are, howev-
er, suitably unimpressed by
their star-studded fan base.
“Fuck pop stars,” they tell
Atlantica, although they give no advice
on how to contact the press when that’s
done, so you’re on your own again there.
A couple of brawls and an overdose of
Guy Ritchie movies could well be behind
their assertion that the most obvious dif-
ference between the Brits and the
Americans is that, “Brits love to fight
more”. Those desperate to strike up a
conversation with the person in the next
seat could pitch that one as an opener.
No transatlantic fisticuffs though, please.
Speaking for himself as a whole, music-
trivia champion of the world (and bank office
trainer by day) John Pullen told Atlantica that
The Strokes are “a lovely if slightly contrived
bunch... remind me a lot of late-70s support
bands on dodgy bills at the Marquee Club.
Good times, trudging through a lager floor
and brushing up against sweaty walls to see
non-entities who, at the time, seemed like the
greatest bands ever!”
The Strokes reckon the closest place on earth
to heaven is “onstage”. They’ll be on that
pseudo-celestial setting at Reykjavík’s Gaukur
á Stöng on 2 April. If you lock up your daugh-
ters, they may never forgive you. JMcC
It is widely believed that The Strokes
have resuscitated a New York rock
scene that has lain spluttering and
blue in the face since the Velvet
Underground and Sonic Youth exit-
ed stage right. Their debut album, Is
This It, was voted album of the year
by just about every music mag and
style supplement out there. And, if
you believe their press, they are the
spirit of everyone’s rock ‘n’ roll wet
dream incarnate. Catch a drop of
their live-set sweat in your mouth
and you’re immortal. Now, that may
be a bit much for some to swallow,
but surely things are looking up
when people put more faith in the
healing power of rock excretions
than they do in echinacea tonic?
Since they signed to UK label Rough
Trade Records, The Strokes have
toured on both sides of the Atlantic.
They’re the best of friends, we’re
told, and it must be true because
when we sent them questions, they
were returned “from the band as a
Sweat Dreams
Icelandair is the official airline for an exciting new animated movie
from 20th Century Fox: Ice Age, coming to cinemas worldwide in
March. Icelandair was delighted to be a part of the movie’s team
due to the natural synergy involved. While Iceland is now recog-
nised as a land of green fields and volcanic landscapes, many of
the scenes in Ice Age, although digitally animated, could have
come straight from Iceland’s many glaciers. A hilarious and engag-
ing adventure, Ice Age is sure to be a huge success. Set against the
onslaught of the Ice Age, a world filled with wonder and danger,
the story revolves around three characters: Manny, an acerbic
woolly mammoth (Ray Romano); Sid, an irreverent giant sloth
(John Leguizamo); and Diego, a scheming sabre-toothed tiger
(Denis Leary). Together this group of mismatched characters take
on the quest of bringing a human baby back to his home.
Icelandair is now offering special Ice Age kiddie packs to their
younger passengers, each including a special Ice Age watch, a jig-
saw and a scribble pack. Newly themed family packages (so-called
‘Ice Age packages’) have also been designed with the needs and
interests of children in mind. Trips to the Blue Lagoon, where chil-
dren can enjoy the warm bathing waters, are offered, as are
Golden Circle tours, where kids can marvel at the Gullfoss water-
fall or wonder at the boiling columns of water at Geysir. AMB
www.iceagemovie.co.uk
Back in Time
THE STROKES
ICELANDAIR
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