As we criss cross Germany this week, we’ve gotten to know the alternately amazing and frustrating highway system here, known as the Autobahn. I always thought it was one particular road - a mythical place where you drive as fast as possible as a sort of national imperative, ideally in a very nice German sports car.
That’s almost right, except that it’s not just one road - it’s ALL OF THEM. They are beautifully maintained roads with great rest stops (except that you have to Pay to Pee which I don’t appreciate). And it’s true - you can drive as fast as you’d like on 90% of it. A lot of our Deutsch brothers and sisters do just that. I don’t carry a radar gun with me on tour, but some of these blokes must be going 140 miles an hour.
Thanks to Editors and their fantastic crew, we’ve been able to put most of our equipment on their giant Editortruck, leaving us to haul around Europe in a Vauxhall Zafira (or Opel Zafira if you are outside the UK).
It’s the kind of car that sensible Euro moms buy when they have twins and - who knows? - might need room in the future for round two. I sincerely doubt that the Zafira’s designers were expecting it to be pushed like a race car, but we’ve given it a go nonetheless. Here’s Captain Ryan Pardey holding on for dear life as we kiss 110 miles per hour (180 kilometers).
The downside of the German highways is that there is that there is always road work (the well-maintained roads apparently require a lot of maintenance) and the weather is weirdly unpredictable. A couple days ago we were driving along in the sunshine at a good 95 - and within seconds we were in the middle of a severe ice storm and traffic stopped more or less completely for a good hour. Then we came out of it and it was like it never happened. We’ve run into this weird ‘mob weather’ most days this week.
All in all, though, it’s refreshing to visit a country where driving really fast (and for the most part, it seems, safely) is celebrated in its own peculiar way. AndwWe will definitely miss going 110 on the 15 hour drive between Rimini and Barcelona.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Yes, the weather in Germany is really weird. At home you celebrate Easter but outside it’s Christmas Time
In the media/radio they even said the Autobahn was blocked. But fortunately we arrived in Darmstadt in time.
Your performance in Darmstadt was great, I was in the first row, the girl with black hair and glasses
Don’t care about the little mishap with the sampler, it made you even more likeable 
Hope to see you again but in your own concert.
Aileen
March 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hey there,
good that you enjoy Germany and it´s traffic jams…
I saw you yesterday in Stuttgart and it was nice that I could talk to you after the show at the merch table. But as Tom from Krefeld said, it was strange that most of the people were just standing there and didn´t do anything. I liked your sound anyway and although I don´t know any german festival promoters I hope you come back soon and get to know our rainy and could summers =)
I´ll download your EP soon, thanks a lot for that!
Sabine.
March 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
btw:
The Zafira is a very nice car also for Euro kids who need a lot of space for their tents and beer cans =)
But I still prefer Volkswagen…
March 25th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Dont know what is more terrorifying…. drive at 110mph or being behind the wheel of a Zafira lol
Not to worry though guys, I am sure on the 15hr drive, you’s can take turns about in getting lost in your own Computer World thanks to your laptop and that the miles will race by like Numbers on a stop watch. Or you could each guess how far the next sigh will say to your destination as It’s More Fun To Compute than be told
Gary
March 26th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Hi,
it’s funny to see this picture of the Autobahn, because that’s the part of it I’m seeing every morning when driving to work. I saw you in Neu-Isenburg and really enjoyed it. I liked how you use the electronic stuff in combination with real drums, guitars, bass and voices (God bless them).
Have fun & success!
Matteo
March 26th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I can’t wait to see you play next tuesday in my hometown(Madrid). I know the show is gonna be great and hopefully I’ll be at the front row.
Enjoy your stay in Spain
Oh! and don’t even try to drive fast on spanish highways.There’s lots of radars and traffic police cars hidden in the most strange places, just waiting to catch you if you exceed the speed limit.
The good thing is that we’ve got loads of rest areas in wich you don’t have to pay to pee.
See ya soon!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
‘Heaven’ was one of my favourite CD’s last year and now i finally saw you live supporting the Editors last night and i was really really great. But hey… you did leave out ‘Control’ Why?? So… You have to come back to Switzerland soon and play it for us!
March 29th, 2008 at 6:14 am
hey guys,
could you please please please put your lyrics online?
March 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Hi guys!
I’m seeing on tuesday in Madrid.Hopefully I’ll be enjoying your show in the front row.
Hope you enjoy your stay in Spain.
take care
Sara
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 am
Nice concert in Madrid…also, loking at your website, nice pictures…
regards iboff
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
Hi guys
First of all I have to say that yesterday’s show in Madrid was really great,it was too short and you didn’t play Control but I loved it anyway.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Oh! by the way! I’m one of the two “wine girls”.
It was a little present for you and Ryan.
If you enjoyed it, next time you come here, it’ll be more.
Come back soon guys!
Stay safe!
Sara
April 5th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Oh yes, i always taught so…i’ll discover next month, i’m going to brandeburgo( i don’t know how to say) and i think that’s not so quick going from milan to germany, mmm i’ll fill my ipod of simpsons, scrubs and every kind of music cause not always talking with my friends is much interesting…
ok guys, W ROAD FOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!