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The last time we spoke to these boys was only four months ago and they were ending 2007 on a high, having just lived some of the best moments of their lives. Today, we sit here with all five of You Me At Six, as they are mere metres away from one of their long-time idols, Tom Delonge. Oh, and they're about to support his band on one of the biggest tours they've had the chance to play so far. Tonight is opening night, and down below the dressing room we talk in, that very same hero is sound checking in the huge Manchester Academy; a daunting thought for the very bravest of us. So, we figured it'd be the perfect opportunity to have a quick (okay, a not so quick) catch-up chat before they move onto bigger and better things, such as playing to ten thousand people next month, maybe...

OS: It's been four months since we last spoke to you and in that time, you've managed to tour with bands such as theAUDITION and New Found Glory, as well as get places playing alongside Mayday Parade and All Time Low on Give It A Name. How does that feel?
Matt Barnes [Bass]: Well, pretty cool... to have my dream.
Dan Flint [Drums]: He's like, "yeah, whatever."
Josh Franceschi [Vocals]: Yeah, you only met your heroes.
Matt: No, no! It was incredible just seeing them, because I've been to their shows my whole life, but I'd never really met them. So, it was weird going up to them and being like, "Hey, what's up!", like, chatting. It would just be like "...shit."

OS: How did you find the tour with New Found Glory?
Josh: It was mixed, I think it would be fair to say.
Max Helyer [Guitar]: Some nights had people who didn't like us, but some nights had people who did like us. It swung both ways.
Josh: Nottingham and Oxford were brilliant.
Dan: Nottingham was really good. Portsmouth was cool, except for right at the start... Like, New Found Glory fans are quite hardcore fans, who hate everything else besides New Found Glory.
Josh: Also, one show was reviewed by that website Punktastic? We used to get quite a lot of praise from there, and then, as soon as things started going well for us, it was all like, "Oh, we hate you." But, I think they're more of a fan of the underdog, and we stopped being an underdog. So, now they don't like us, and that's fair enough. It's quite sad, for them. Not for me.
Max: I think it was good that we got mixed reactions though; it just gave me a bit more energy live. Because of all the people who didn't like us, that were quite rude, it would just make us go a little bit more nuts at the show.
Dan: Where were we where it was really ghetto?!
Josh: Coventry!
Dan: Then, right at the end, someone threw a bottle and it smacked me on the head. But, I kept on playing, but I was like, "That fucking hurt so much."
Josh: That show was good.
Dan: Yeah, it was a really good show. Then, right at the end, I just felt a smack on my head.
Max: Dude, that whole bottle of water lobbed at you!

OS: How does it feel to have such a huge variation of fans? For example, we saw one security guard singing along to 'You've Made Your Bed' at your last Newcastle show...
Dan: Oh, really?
Josh: Maybe it was because, you know the bit before the chorus? It's pretty simple, so maybe he learnt it really quickly.
OS: Oh no, he knew all the words!
Josh: Really? [laughter] That's cool, but a bit weird.
Max: He's so glad he's got his lipstick on.

OS: Has there been a point yet, where you've just had the chance to sit back and think about everything you've achieved so far?
Josh: Yeah, I think it happens every time we come off a tour. We'll be like, "...woah."
Dan: To be fair, it happened today. We turned up at this venue and looked at the size of this room and just went, "shitttt."
Josh: I mean, I dunno. I don't think we're 'there'. The thing is for us, we don't want to sit back and think we've 'made it' or whatever., because we never wanna do that.
Dan: We clearly haven't made it.
Josh: We haven't, in no way. But, we just want to keep breaking new boundaries, not as a whole, but boundaries for our band. But like, I never ever thought we'd play the Astoria, but we're gonna play two nights, so you know...
Max: Dream come true!
Dan: We've said it on interviews before, when people ask where we'd want to play, we'd always say the Astoria, before it gets knocked down.
Matt:... And the O2 Arena.
Chris Miller [Guitar]: You can play there on your own.
Max: I wanna play the Graduate again, in Cambridge.
Josh: Dude, that venue sucked. The kids who live in Cambridge have got it bad. That venue sucks.
Max: Yeah, it was the sweatiest dirt box we've ever played.
Dan: The one with the pole in the middle?
Max: We were literally dripping.
Dan: I nearly got electrocuted, there was so much water in there.
Chris: The Freebutt was worse.
Josh: The Freebutt was amazing!
Chris: No, like, heat-wise.
Max: Yeah, the hotness. I nearly collapsed at the end. Ugh!
Dan: We need some industrial fans.
Matt: And be Iron Maiden.
Dan: We can grow our hair really long, and get some wind machines.
Max: There's nothing wrong with long hair!

OS: There were a few rumours about you playing this year's Bamboozle in the States. Can you shed any light?
Josh: Well, this is the thing. We were offered it, and we were going to do it, but... Well, there's also loads of rumours that we're a signed band and that we're lying about it, because it's cool. But, we're not signed and we've got no money. So, we got offered to do Bamboozle and we were like, "fuck yeah!", because that was a, go to American and b, play with all those sick bands. Then, our manager turned around to us and said, "I'm not being funny, but unless you've got ten grand, you can't do it." We don't have that kind of money.
Dan: And, we'd have nothing to promote out there. We haven't got an album out, so there wasn't really that much point in doing it yet. As much as we all want to go to American to play some shows, it's a bit early.
Josh: We'd like to think that we'll hopefully be there next year, if things go right.

OS: The idea alone that you got offered it is amazing though, right?
Josh: Yeah. That was a big enough deal for us. It just made us take a step back. I think too, we were on the headline tour, when we played York, when we found out that we weren't gonna do it. I was really bummed out, and then we played that show in York. Now, while I didn't really think that show was that good, in comparison to other shows on that tour, crowd-wise, but, I think you actually said to me that those kind of shows don't happen in York, so that crowds don't go that wild.
Max: ...I read your review of that show: it was really nice!
Josh: Yes, thank you!
Chris: The only thing I said in our interview was "He is a diva".
Max: "Josh is such a diva!"

OS: This year you're playing both Give It A Name and Slam Dunk Festival. Which are you most looking forward to?
All: Oooooh!
Dan: Well, it's Earl's Court! But to be honest, I think I prefer the line-up at Slam Dunk. It's just like, all of my favourite bands
Max: I can't choose because Give It A Name has Glassjaw, and I never thought I'd be playing with Glassjaw. So, that's a big thing for me.
Dan: Then, obviously Earl's Court is like...
Max: It's massive.

OS: Are you scared?
Josh: Yeah, yeah. Well, we're scared about tonight, so...
Max: ...I think Tom Delonge just walked past.
[silence]

OS: Have you met him yet?
Dan: I said, "Hello" to him earlier.
Josh: Well, we met him at the Kerrang! awards.
Dan: Yeah, we met him at the Kerrang! awards but I don't think he really remembered us.

OS: We actually just came across an article about Max at the Kerrang Awards meandering through traffic...
Dan: Yeah, Max had a little bit too much to drink.
Matt: One of his best moments.
Max: I could say it was one of my best moments, but than again, I could say it was one of my worst.
Dan: I phoned him up and he was like, "yeah, I'm just outside having a cigarette." Then, I phoned him up again two hours later; "I'm still outside." "No, you're not." So, I went outside and he's got his head in a bucket in the paramedics room.
Max: I've never been so drunk before ten o'clock in my life.
Matt: I don't even remember the Kerrang! awards; I just remember them going, "And this award goes to Gallows" and us going, "Oh, fuck it."
Josh: Yes! "The Jager!"
Max: Haha, "Gallows!", then us with the Jager all around the table.
Josh: Yes, and I remember - I don't know why - but we were all kinda linking up together..
Dan: I think for a split second we were like, "We're actually gonna win it!" Stupidly...

OS: So, how are you going to prepare to play such huge events, like Give It A Name?
Josh: Thing is, we've never...
Dan: How do you prepare for that?
Max: When it comes to the day, I'm just gonna make sure I'm not gonna have a problem with my gear, so I won't break a string onstage. You literally go through everything, like, "What have I gotta go? What have I gotta do?" You rush everything, when you look over everything like that, so it's like, "I need to chill out, because if I prang now, I'll prang onstage" and it'll come out in the performance. If I take it easy and chill out; just make sure that all of my equipment is sorted, then I'll be fine.
Matt: I think Max prangs out, Chewwie clutches, Josh runs around and me and Dan just joke about it the whole time.
Dan: But, that's how we get through it! We just make fun out of everything.
Josh: Thing is, for us as well, straight after this tour, we're in the studio. So, We're literally in the studio up until, Give It A Name's on the Saturday and Sunday - we're in the studio up until Thursday. So, we've got one day to practice, then Give It A Name, then on the Monday we go back in to record again. So, we won't actually have that much time to practice. But, I think that might be better...
Dan: Because we won't have time to think about it.
Josh: Yeah, it'll just be album, album, album. Then we'll go, "Fuck, Give It A Name" and we'll just roll with it!
Dan: We're recording the album, then we wake up. "Oh shit, we're onstage in front of ten thousand people. It's fine."
Max: Literally, your bed's onstage! You just wake up and it's there. .. That'd be sweet.
Matt: ...Yeah.

[Thus follows some awesomely subtle insults between Matt and Max... exactly. It's something noodle-related, that's for sure.]
Chris: Ding ding! .. That was rubbish. I apologise.
Dan: It's like the Jerry Springer show.
Josh: "I wantchu outside!"
Max: Ding! Ding! Ohhh-ooooh!
Chris: Questions, Max.
Max: Yeah, we're talking about Jerry Springer...

OS: You've toured with a lot of different bands recently, so, do you have a favourite?
Josh: I think we'll all have different ones, so why don't we start with Matt and go around?
Matt: ...Pft. Pft. Well, that's a fucking stupid question really!
Josh: That means New Found Glory. Max Helyer!
Max: Bands we've toured with... I dunno. I still really like The Sleeping. They had such a mega possy attitude and stuff, they could just jump on anything and slam stuff with their hands [this is complete with actions] and they don't care. They just get back up again and rock out and play hard.
Dan: Dude, they just put their guitars down and everything! [Dan and Josh then mock his actions and laugh ...a lot] I just want to verify, The Sleeping don't do that!

Max Helyer is a diva, and proceeds to walk out of the dressing room.
Max: Oi! Adios!
Max: Give him five seconds from now.
Dan: I was gonna say The Sleeping, but! New Found Glory, as well, because they turned me into a fan. A hardcore fan.

Then, Max returns.
Matt: Eight seconds!
Chris: That was rubbish.
Josh: Anyway, I think I'll go with theAUDITION. Not so much because they've been the best band to tour with, live. But, towards the end it was more like watching our friends play. I went on that tour and I loved theAUDITION, and was excited to watch them every night, but then it became like watching our friends play. So, I guess as well, bands like We Are The Ocean and All Forgotten - our friends' bands that we just toured with - they were really cool too.
Chris: Same with me actually. It was just cool having our best mates out, because it just teaches you how to party, I guess.
Josh: Yeah, we love touring with our friends. Like, we love meeting new people and touring with new bands, but there's nothing better than seeing one of your friends' bands get really well reciprocated at a show, far from home.

OS: Is it true that Josh almost killed theAUDITION's bassist, Joe Lussa, this latest tour?
Josh: I did! Do you know the story?
OS: Some of it, but not all.
Max: I tell you now, this is the best story of your life.
Josh: Okay, so let me set the scene. It was at Islington Academy, and fucking, we're getting pretty drunk; me and Joe. And we were kind of, dancing outside, to no music. Then, I was just like, "Dude, just get in the trolley and I'll push you around for a bit."
Dan: Oh shit, that was bad!
Josh: So, he was like, "Okay, dude, cool. Cool." He got in the trolley and I was pushing him against this curb for a bit, then I turned my head for a second, and I pushed him. I pushed real hard, because I was just trying to shake him. So, I pushed real hard, turned away, looked back around and he was going into the underground car park. He just went speeding down this ramp. Then, I just saw then merch guy run, like, sprinting down. At first, I was like, "Oh cool, he'll just keep going down to the bottom then stop", but he was picking up so much speed. ..
Dan: He was going so fast.
Josh: .. So, it [the trolley] was tilting and was going to fall over. So, he just fucking jumped out and landed on his arm, that he has to play bass with. I just remember for like, an hour and a half, no one was being like, "Josh, you fucking prick." But, I just felt like I had killed... the Pope or something. Plus, they were going on tour a week after, so I felt real shitty. At first, he was all like, "It's cool, it's cool", then for the rest of the night he was all, "Ohhh, my arm!".
Max: He was wrapped up in blankets and couldn't come out with us!
Josh: But, at the end of the tour, that's what made me appreciate how close we had become with them. I think if that had been another band, and I did that on the last night of the tour, before they had to go back to the States, they'd be like, "Dude, you're an arsehole. Grow up." But, they loved it.
Matt: But, to be honest, you wouldn't be pushing some random guy in a trolley, that you weren't good friends with anyway! Like, "Hey! What's up, man? My name's Josh. Do you wanna get in this trolley and I'll fucking push you around?"
Dan: You could always push Tom Delonge around here.
Josh: No, I don't see it happening.
Dan: We'll ask him! He might want to.

OS: Recently, Josh told Kerrang! that he'd like to start living a Cliff Richard lifestyle...
Max: That's the Weybridge attitude!
Josh: The thing is, what's going to happen is - in that Kerrang interview in which you are referring to, I said that these boys won't be able to talk to me; they'll have to go through my representatives. That's almost starting to happen: a lot of the time, they have to talk to Bobby, if they want to talk to me.
Dan: This is the bit where we turn off the camera and I break his nose.
Josh: No, I'm only playing! I only said that because that dude Cliff Richard lives in Weybridge and I live in Weybridge. I always seeing him around in his very nice Lambourgini, just chilling out. Plus, he shops in Waitrose, and anyone who shops in Waitrose buys herbal tea - it's just a fact. But, that whole interview was a joke and I guess... I'm not that funny.

OS: You're about to begin recording your album, so what can we expect?
Max: Cheesee.
Dan: Like he said, it's gonna be like Cliff Richard.
Matt: Yeah, it'll be like that Christmas song he has.
Dan: The one that goes 'Christmas timeee, mistletoe and winee'? Is that Cliff Richard?
Max: Expect.. Expect loud noises.
Josh: Dude, give a serious answer. Try giving a serious answer!
Max: A serious answer to that question? Fun happy pop-punk, with a softer side.
Dan: I've heard our songs and they're not fun happy pop punk.
Josh: They're not fun! Oh no, I've got to tell you this story. Last night, I went to my sister's show in London and there was this proper gothic band. They were awful.
Max: Was it Dimmu Borgir?
Josh: No, they were called, like, Lily Gun or something. And they had this song called 'Praying' right, but the chorus was something like, 'can't you see how happy we are?' lyrically. But they looked so.. Like, the bassist literally looked like Dennis The Menace on acid; he looked so pissed off. The whole band was just frowning, but it made me think about how do people describe their music? If you say that song was called 'Praying to be happy', but you looked that sad...
Matt: They were probably trying to be funny.
Josh: But, I dunno. I think our album's going to be a bit like all the song's we've already got, but taking all the good parts from those songs. Like a Soulja Boy album!
Dan: Yeah, we're gonna take the best song, take little ten second bits and make a whole album out of it.

OS: Finally, you've been doing a little 'Umbrella' improvisation on the end of 'The Rumour', so how did that come about?
Josh: Yeah, well, I was gonna do Akon this tour.
OS: We think you should've done Soulja Boy.
Dan: That was just in the studio, wasn't it? When we were practicing you just started singing it and we found out the words and you actually did it.
Josh: Yeah, as a joke. The thing was, it just seemed to fit. Then, loads and loads of magazines and online press things have been like, "and they close their set with 'Umbrella'." No, for fuck's sake!
Dan: Yeah, there are like, YouTube videos saying 'You Me At Six covering Umbrella'.
Josh: It's just Josh freestyling!
Dan: The kids loved it though.
Max: Some kids loved it, but some kids I saw...
Chris: The look on their face was just like, ". ..fuck."
Max: One of them was just like, screaming and going "Not Rihanna! Not Rihanna! Not Rihanna!" You were just singing and I was looking at her and I actually thought she was gonna explode.
Josh: That's why if I do Akon this tour...We'll see what happens.
Matt: Soulja Boy could be a good one though, I reckon.
Josh: I don't even know the words... [They then burst into song]
Dan: Supersoak dat hoe!

You Me At Six will be appearing at this year's Give It A Name Festival, Slam Dunk Festival and Middlesbrough Music Live. Check them out.