Interpol’s Paul banks: ‘I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of walking out to a mind-numbing crowd, and being in a situation where they could kill us with 10 steps forward’

Interpol frontman Paul Banks discusses the noughties NYC rock scene, wild partying, U2 , David Lynch, RZA – and, of course, that seminal album. New York indie heroes Interpol perform in full their dark masterpiece Antics in Dublin recently, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It’s particularly apposite for me to be catching up over Zoom with the band’s singer, Paul Banks, whom I met previously once before – when I interviewed him in Dublin 20 years ago on the original Antics tour, no less.

Would he have imagined then that he’d be playing the anniversary tour for the album? ‘I never would have imagined it,’ admits the softly spoken Banks. ‘Not that I thought we wouldn’t be around – I just didn’t conceive of the concept! It’s crazy how time passes, it doesn’t feel like 20 years. You hear people say that kind of thing all the time, but it’s true.

It doesn’t quite feel like yesterday, but it doesn’t feel like 20 years either.’ Comprised of Banks, guitarist Daniel Kessler, bassist Carlos Dengler (who eventually departed in 2010) and drummer Sam Fogarino, Interpol first made a splash with 2002’s Turn On The Bright Lights, a classic debut that drew on post-punk influences – most notably Joy Division – whilst retaining the band’s own unique personality. There was huge anticipation for the follow-up, Antics, which duly delivered the goods.

With the album enjoying almost universal critical acclaim, it became an international smash, hitti.