The group started back in the 1992. We were, and still are influenced by the people we listened to back then: Ultravox, Gary Numan, Punk and Joy Division. We started out as a typical bedroom-band, y'know the sort: one guitar with 4 strings only and no idea what to do or how to sound. All we knew was that we had to do something other than sit back and watch others. We all met after I went to college with Dave (the singer) and he was already in a dying band called EFEX with Paul. We got together and it just clicked. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it is a fact. We are all first and foremost the best of friends. I would happily lay my life down for either of them or their families. Whatever has happened or will happen to this band we will remain friends. That is the essence of Flight, that is the essence of us as people. I love the two of them as friends, as brothers, no matter what may happen. To understand this is to begin to understand Flight.

Where would you like to be musically in 1 year? 5 years?

That's the $64,000 question isn't it? Who knows where we will be, but we will still be the same people we always have been. We will still be friends. Musically - I would like people to recognize that we have a talent for what we do. I don't want (and never have wanted) pots of money, fame and the 'sickness' that goes with it. I just want Flight to be recognized and respected. I want people to buy our records - sure, to say anything else is to deny why you get involved in rock-n-roll in the first place. But I want recognition of this band as musicians and people above 'celebrity'. You can keep the 'starfucking' for people with shallow lives who need it. You can choose to believe that or not. I don't care - it is my truth. I would like people to understand what we tried to say about ourselves, and the world in general. To make people think is my goal, not to purely take people's money.

Just for my own curiosity, which is more satisfying: writing lyrics, finding the notes to go with the words, or making the track in the studio? I've often wondered what comes first, the lyrics or the music to go with the lyrics, or is it different with each song?

For Me, as a lyricist, the lyrics are more important. They usually come first actually. Certainly most of 'Thoughts Trapped Inside' was written that way. So far '5 Days In Astrakhan' has been totally about lyrics first. Moods and emotions, certainly within my private life at present, have maybe dictated this to some degree. But if a good tune comes along during the writing process we will start from that point. We have no structure in that sense. We write always as the mood and the circumstances dictate. To me, that is what makes our music real, alive and certainly 100% honest.You may not like what is in there - but you can't take it away from us or call it false. Studio wise - we have our own studio (Shabby Road) and so we have no time constraints other than what we impose on ourselves. No rules, no pressure.

There is a recent report out that says MP3 has passed by sex as the number one search word on the web. What does that say to you as a musician about the future role of the Internet in the music business? How has the Internet affected the business side of being a musician?

I do not see music as a 'business' first and foremost, so I can't comment on the business aspect to much. To me it is about conveying emotions, seeing what I see and saying what I feel. As for MP3 being typed more than 'sex' - there are some strange people out there (laughs). Seriously, MP3 has done a lot to promote unsigned bands and to push the boundaries of musical appreciation further than 90% of record companies ever will. I have respect for them. They do what they do, making some profit along the way I am sure, but they do it with their hearts in the right place.

The Internet has a big role to play in the future of music. It is a tool for worldwide communication and so it will, and should, help bands to be heard all over the globe. There are a number of Internet radio stations that are springing up - we are currently on the playlist of Pogo Radio in Denver, USA. These people are trying to break the stranglehold of wishy-washy pop music by playing more 'cutting edge' stuff. Fine, if pop music is your bag then use and enjoy conventional radio. But for those of us who like the alternative - then this may well be the way forward as commercial radio bows down ever more to the almighty dollar.

More importantly though is to use it as a vehicle for understanding different people and cultures. If through music on the Internet a greater understanding can be reached then I am 100% behind it. Record companies are now using it to scout for bands and that is good. The danger is if bands loose the art of 'playing live' through just using technology. I still believe there is nothing better than a good night out watching a great live band. We still have to keep sight of the fundamentals of rock-n-roll in the midst of this stunning revolution that's taking place.

How did Flight's web site evolve? All it takes is one look at the web site to see that there is a lot going on, and it is not just the music.

The web site was something we have thought about for a long time now. It is all the brainchild and hard work of Paul (guitarist) who has spent many a night and day in pursuit of perfection. We wanted somewhere that maybe is a 'starting point' for trying to understand what it is we are all about. We also wanted a place to let our thoughts and ideas that don't for some reason manifest themselves as songs take shape. I guess the thoughts you don't express in song are equally as valid as the thoughts you do express. It is a place for us also to show that we are not just people who play music. We are creative individuals in other areas as well. We wanted to inform and hopefully entertain at the same time. Naturally, there is the 'advertising' aspect of it all: y'know, the self promotion of our music, and hopefully people will listen and then buy the records, etc...

If there was just one single thing about Flight that you would like readers of this article to remember, what is it?

That we as a band have something to say and will say it. We are an honest band who wear our hearts on our sleeves, because you have to give in order to receive. We give of our emotions, we give of our feelings - all we ask is you give some time and listen to what we have to say. If you don't like it or don't agree - that is your prerogative. If you do like it, then that also is your prerogative - and we thank you for it (laughs). To all the people who have taken an interest, who have bought the album or helped along the way - you know who you are and we thank you all. If music is nothing without musicians - it is even less without people prepared to listen.

What questions would you have loved to answer if I'd had the wit to ask them?