Having shot The Gaslight Anthem on their tour of Australia, we caught up with bassist Alex Levine for a quick chat. Here’s how it went down:

I remember back in 2008 you guys played a show at The Annandale Hotel in Sydney. A band named Like… Alaska opened. Do you remember that show?

Yeah, yeah! I actually love that band a lot.

Since then you guys have gone on to play the biggest venues in the world. Your fanbase has really grown from the punk rock scene and into rock fans generally – how have you responded to the success? Who are your biggest influences?

We just got to stay humble. It sounds cliché, but you have to remember your roots and who you are and move with your success. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that. All of us are still good friends, we just want to make music and have fun… I love anybody from The Clash to David Bowie to The Cure to The Ramones. Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, The Who, the list goes on and on. I love rock n roll, I love punk rock. It’s in my blood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_TI14Z5NNQ

We hear you’re quite the wrestling fans. What are your thoughts on Brock Lesnar holding the title?

I like it, man. People have mixed reviews about it. The only thing I think they could do a bit better is bring him on TV a little bit more. But besides that, I think it’s great for business. They’re booking him as one of the strongest characters ever in professional wrestling – the guy’s a monster.

Does the World Heavyweight title even mean anything anymore?

I think no because Brock Lesnar has it, it has way more prestige than it has in a long time. You got to remember a lot of times, the title changes so often it loses it’s lustre. I think now it has it back, it has a bit of meaning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oST77VRHXt0

Is there anyone better on the microphone than Paul Heyman?

No, man. There hasn’t been anyone better since Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan.

What’s on the cards for yourself and The Gaslight Anthem for the rest of 2015?

A lot of touring, that’s about it so far.