1:00 AM 23rd January 2025
arts
Interview
In conversation with Mogwai's Barry Burns
Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton joined Mogwai in the studio as they recorded their upcoming album, The Bad Fire, in Lanarkshire. A Scottish colloquialism for Hell, The Bad Fire draws inspiration from a series of tough personal moments that the band found themselves in following on from their chart-topping tenth album, 2021’s As The Love Continues.
The band continued to work through this, leading to the creation of The Bad Fire: a collection of songs that forego nostalgia and easy victories, once again finding Mogwai pushing forward with some of the most beautiful and explosive songs of their career. In support of the record, Mogwai will embark on a world tour throughout 2025. To learn more, we caught up with the band's Barry Burns.
![Mogwai
Photo: Steve Gullick]()
Mogwai
Photo: Steve Gullick
Hi, how are you?
Very well, if a little bit stressed about getting the new (and old) songs ready to be played live this year.
We are very excited about The Bad Fire. Tell us more about the writing and recording process…
The writing was hampered by serious illness in the family, but things were looking a lot better by the time we got around to recording the album. John Congleton (our producer) was ultra-rapid, and we managed to get everything done in under two weeks. It helped that he was hilarious because it’s no fun doing this with a bore in a studio.
What one thing would you like this album to achieve that your prior albums have not?
Honestly, I don’t think about that stuff. To have anyone listening to us in decent numbers is all we need.
We want to get to know a little more about your musical taste… Tell us a song that makes you:
Smile
52 Girls by The B52s
Cry
Everything Flows by Teenage Fanclub
Laugh
The Four Horsemen by Aphrodite’s Child
Feel nostalgic
Baby Love by The Supremes
Dance in the kitchen
Your Love by Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principle
Sing in the shower
Beginning To See The Light by The Velvet Underground
Message a friend immediately
Cosmic Slop by Funkadelic
What was the best gig you have ever been to?
Beak>> in Hamburg a few years ago.
What is the best show you have ever done?
Probably one of the Primavera slots or one at Fuji Rock—both long ago, so I can’t remember exactly when, and it’s a toss-up between the two.
What stage have you not performed on that you dream of?
Quite fancy... Carnegie Hall, I've heard it’s nice. Please sort that out for me.
Lastly, you can achieve one thing by the end of the year; what is it?
An end to waking up tired with a sore back, but the chances of that happening to a 49-year-old man on a moving tour bus are dangerously slim.
Tour Dates:
22 February Leeds 02 Academy
23 February Edinburgh Usher Hall (SOLD OUT)
17 May Glasgow Barrowlands (SOLD OUT)
18 May Glasgow Barrowlands
24 July Galway International Arts Festival
25 July Limerick – The Big Top
27 July Dublin Vicar Street