Rou Reynolds, lead vocalist and keyboardist with British rock band, Enter Shikari, chats with Kevin Cooper about his impression of Rock City, their latest 2024 album A Kiss For The Whole World, being approached by Jeff Wayne to play The Artilleryman in The War Of The Worlds and his preparation for the role.
Rou Reynolds is the lead singer and keyboardist with British rock band, Enter Shikari, a band he formed in 1999 with bassist Chris Batten and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003 guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current line up.
After they released their debut album, Take To The Skies, they became only the second unsigned band to ever sell out the London Astoria. They have since released six further albums, their latest being A Kiss For The Whole World in 2023.
He has also produced music as part of a side project under the name Rout, which has helped develop his penchant for electronics. His most recent EP, released for ActionAid features samples from ActionAid’s project work in Ghana. He has also set up his own clothing company, Step Up Clothing.
Earlier this year he was contacted by Jeff Wayne who proposed that Reynolds play the part of The Artilleryman in his production of The War Of The Worlds, which will tour the UK in 2025.
Whilst busy preparing for the role, he took some time out to have a chat with Kevin Cooper and this is what he had to say.
Rou good morning, how are you?
I’m very well thank you Kevin, how are you?
All is good thank you and before we move on, let me firstly thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.
No problem, thanks for having me.
The last time that you and I spoke was way back in 2017.
Really, oh wow (laughter),
We were talking about the release of The Spark.
Right, that was a long time ago now.
Yes, it was, and I suspect that we have both moved on a wee bit since then (laughter).
That feels like ancient history now doesn’t it (laughter).
It does, it really does. Coming right up to date we really must talk about your forthcoming tour with The War Of The Worlds when you will be playing the part of The Artilleryman which has, in the past been played by some fantastic actors.
Yes, it has, you are quite right when you say that.
You will most probably remember Jason Donovan much better than I will, whilst I will most probably remember David Essex far better than you will. Have you looked into how previous actors have approached the part or are you doing it entirely your own way?
What can I say, I have seen the odd clip of everyone from David Essex to Jason Donovan and I have spoken at length to Jeff (Wayne) about it, and I think that is where I have got my insight into the various approaches the previous actors have had. I was very encouraged to learn that Ricky Wilson, when he played the part, was scared about taking the role of The Artilleryman as he had never done any acting before. I have to be totally honest with you and say that was my initial reaction. In fact I was terrified by the prospect (laughter). To learn that he had successfully come through that with the guidance and expertise of Jeff and his team means that I am now really looking forward to overcoming those anxieties (laughter).
I think that for me you can have a reading of the character where he will come across as being two-dimensional, but I feel that there is a lot of our own insecurities in The Artilleryman. On the face of it he is just a dreamer, but he is also a bit egotistical, plus he is also a bit of a coward (laughter). You have all of these things which I am sure that we all have had in our lives and we have been in our lives, so what I would say is that I am open to the prospect of being able to channel what I have learnt and experienced throughout my life and bring that into the character. However, until I don the uniform, so to speak, and get a feel for it, that’s when it will come to light just what I can bring to the character.
It’s hard on you because when you watch the previous actors who have played the part, they have all put their heart and soul into it but now it is down to you to make the part your own.
To be totally honest with you, there is only a certain amount that you can do because the part is very regimented within the show’s script. But in terms of how I act, how I move about on stage, I am hoping to inject a lot of energy into the role. People would expect that from me after seeing my performances within Enter Shikari (laughter). Jeff is quite infused by the idea of me playing the trumpet as well. I personally feel that would suit the character. In the early 19th Century military, there is usually a bugle in there somewhere (laughter). I think that could be an interesting addition. However, that all depends on if I can feel comfortable doing it as I’m certainly not a virtuoso trumpeter, like the magicians that Jeff is used to working with, but I am sure that we can put something together (laughter).
I have to ask, have you acted before?
(Laughter) no, but having said that we have had our music videos where I have done a fair range of acting parts, but they have all been small productions with small parts, and certainly there were no lines or anything like that. So, being totally honest with you, it really does feel like quite a leap, and it really is anxiety inducing (laughter). Having said that, I am really looking forward to the challenge.
How did you feel when you received the call?
Jeff’s people got in touch and basically invited me round and let me tell you, you don’t say anything other than yes immediately when Jeff Wayne’s people invite you around. It was fascinating for me to go over to his studio and to see his place which isn’t that far from me here in North London. It was a wonderful experience for me just to meet him, and I have to say that I was shocked to learn that he had been following Enter Shikari for years. He was really impressed with what we do, and he wanted to offer me the part. As you can imagine I was blown away but also overjoyed.
Did you accept Jeff’s offer immediately or did you need time to consider it?
Not at all, I most definitely needed time to think about it. All of your demons start raising their heads don’t they; imposter syndrome and the anxiety of it all (laughter). I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to do it, but as I said earlier, Jeff sat me down and spoke about all of the various insecurities of the previous actors who had played the part. Let’s not forget, it’s not West End, it is very much a musical production and we are going to be going into venues that I have played multiple times so, for me, it doesn’t feel like a completely new world to me, it feels like I have some standing in these venues together with some history, and I think that there is a lot that I can bring to the part. I have just got to make sure that I remind myself of just what it is that I do. There are many parallels; however I do appreciate that it is going to take a lot of discipline, it is going to take a lot of focus, stamina and all these things, but yes, I think that hopefully it is going to be a really interesting experience.
Once you accepted the part, who was the first person that you told?
(Laughter) I would be interested to see what I said actually but I have a family WhatsApp group, and I think that I just gushed on there straight away saying something like “okay this is a strange one, but I think that Jeff Wayne has just contacted me and invited me over to his studio” (laughter). My uncle and my dad are both huge fans of Jeff’s original album, back in the day, so they were both like ‘wow’ and they were both super proud even at the fact that I was going to meet him. They really were super excited.
Are you already in rehearsals or will that come later?
To be honest with you rehearsals will be starting early in the New Year. Having said that, I will certainly be going through the script early in order to feel that I have got my footing I suppose.
How is your headspace coping with all of the demands?
The more that I get to grips with the script, making it seem familiar again, the better I feel. I have come back to the album throughout my life, at various different points, but I have to be totally honest with you and say that I hadn’t listened to it for years. So, I think that it is a case of first of all reminding myself of the music, of the story, the drams, and just feeling a bit more familiar with it all. That will help to ease the anxiety because I have got nothing to hide, because part of me is absolutely terrified (laughter). However, having said all of that, there is a part of me that is absolutely relishing the challenge (laughter).
So, I think that the more I read through it, the more familiar I will be with the dialogue. I am happy with the music, I’m confident that I can give that a really good shot and fulfil people’s expectations there. But for me it is just the amount of dialogue which is something that is completely new to me. So, the more that I just keep on reading the script, the more at home I will feel the part, I think.
Whilst I was doing my research for our chat today, it suddenly dawned on me that you were actually born some eight years after the release of Jeff’s original album (laughter).
Oh gosh (laughter). That really is crazy isn’t it (laughter).
Who was it that first introduced you to the album?
I would have to give credit to my dad and my uncle. It was the two of them who initially introduced me to Jeff’s original album. Obviously, I knew of the book, and I knew of H.G. Wells, but it was Rob Rolfe our drummer in Enter Shikari who just so happens to be a huge Wells fan. His dad was a literature professor, and I have to say that Rob has actually got a tattoo of H.G. Wells’ face on his leg (laughter). Rob really is a huge fan, so I think that it was most probably Rob who introduced me to the book. However, since I accepted the offer to play the Artilleryman, I have become more interested in not only The War Of The Worlds but also much more of H.G. Wells’ writing.
He really was an amazing character, with such a breadth in his knowledge, and I think that was on show really within The War Of The Worlds with his science background together with the way that he prophesised many tools and weapons, for example The Heat-Ray, is now the way that we cut jeans for example (laughter). I know that it hasn’t, as yet, become a standard grade military weapon, but I feel that is because bullets are still a lot cheaper (laughter). It really is an incredible tool which has allowed all sorts of progress within industry. It is just a wealth of knowledge that I have been diving into whilst reading other fiction and non-fiction works by Wells. They are always interesting to read.
Whenever I think of The War Of The Worlds I think of the 1938 Halloween episode of the radio series The Mercury Theatre which was narrated by Orson Welles. This was the broadcast which was guilty of inciting a panic by convincing some members of the listening audience that a Martian invasion was actually taking place. It seems humorous now but back then it must have been terrifying.
Can you imagine if you actually turned on the radio a quarter of the way through the broadcast having missed the introduction informing you that it was simply a play reading, how awful must that have been. The feeling of fear must have really been intense (laughter).
How did Rob (Rolfe), Rory (Clewlow) and Chris (Batten) react to news that you had been offered the part?
They are all really happy and have been very supportive; it has been really nice. I have to admit that I was rather sheepish, and I did speak to the three of them before I accepted the offer to feel them out and see just how it would work and I have to say that they have all been really supportive, especially Rob. I feel that he is half raging with jealousy and half absolutely over the moon for me and excited to be a part of it himself (laughter). So, what can I say, it’s all been good.
Moving away from The War Of The Worlds for a minute, is it okay to talk about your day job?
Yes, of course it is fire away.
I last saw you back in May 2022 when you performed two sell out shows here in Nottingham at Rock City. What, in your opinion, makes Rock City a must play venue?
I think that for us Rock City comes under the banner as being one of those venues that always has an energy to it. It always has an atmosphere that is electric. For me it is an historic venue similar to The Barrowlands in Glasgow or The Underworld in London. These are the places when you go there you always know that it is going to be a manic show, and you know that there is going to be such a vibe. Rock City has such a long-standing history, and is somewhere we played very early on, and I have to say that it is always a joy to go back.
I have to say that I am currently playing the latest album, A Kiss For the Whole World, everywhere, in the house, the car, the iPod and I absolutely love it.
Thank you so much. It’s always nice to hear that someone likes what you are doing, so thank you.
Were you and the boys happy with the fan’s reaction to the album?
Yes, we were, we were really happy. I think that it is probably more than any other album; it has been so clearly well embraced by our fan base. I remember when we first started playing the first few tracks, Kiss My Whole World and (Pls) Set Me On Fire before the album was released, at some shows that we did up and down the UK and I have to say that they felt like complete staples in the set. People were singing back the lyrics with the same venom that they would sing back songs that we have had out for over a decade (laughter). It really was so encouraging for us, we were so overjoyed by that, and I have to say that the album really is so special to us.
It was one that really felt like we were coming back from the dead almost. After Covid and everything, we stopped touring, and I stopped writing music. It really was an anxious time, and the band really did not exist in real terms so for us to come back with this renewed sense of excitement, with the thrill to write again, the thrill to tour again, and the thrill to play again, I think that all of that excitement really was captured with that album and with that music. It really has been great.
They do say that you should never believe your own publicity but when you are receiving comments like ‘a phenomenal group’ and ‘great songs’ that must make you feel good?
Oh yes, absolutely. For me this is a way of communicating with the world, it really is a form of human connection. It is a very instinctual, a very emotional process writing these songs, and it really does make me feel so very close to them. So, whenever people connect with them and enjoy them then yes, it means the world.
I currently have four go to songs, the title track obviously, Leap Into The Lightning, Deadwood and Goldfish. I personally feel that those four tracks are absolutely outstanding.
That’s amazing, thank you so much.
I appreciate that you have recently been back out on the road touring, plus you are putting in the groundwork for The War Of The Worlds, have you got time to be working on anything new at the moment?
Yes, I have, I am currently working on the beginnings of what I suspect will become the next Enter Shikari record. Having said that, we are not entirely sure if it should be a record in the traditional sense or what. Who knows just how people prefer to absorb music nowadays or how we as a group want to put music out. But basically, in answer to your question, I have started writing again but I feel that process won’t accelerate until The War Of The Wolds is done and dusted. I am so excited about The War Of The Worlds simply because I feel that I am going to learn so much whether it is about live production of a show, or speaking to Jeff about the way that he composes.
I really am intrigued to pick his brains on so many things. We have already hung out together a few times now and I have to say that he is really giving and really supportive so I really do feel that I am going to learn a lot on the tour which hopefully I can then feed that back into the Enter Shikari stuff. At this moment in time my foresight is that it is going to be a wonderful process, I intend enjoying it very much and I would probably be happy to go elsewhere with the production but, of course, there is also the small matter of Enter Shikari so we will see what happens (laughter).
On that note Rou let me once again thank you for taking the time to speak to me today, it really has been delightful.
It’s been an absolute pleasure Kevin, thank you for having me.
You stay safe and good luck with The War Of The Worlds. I will see you here in Nottingham.
That’s excellent, make sure that you come and say hi. Bye for now.