As I spoke to Aaran and Sav from While She Sleeps, they were dishevelled, jet lagged and had just returned from Warped Tour. Focus now set on preparing to play their biggest stage yet; the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festival. “Me, Sav and Loz used to work at the main stage bar at Leeds” says bassist Aaran “although this time we’ll be facing the other way”.

“My favourite shows are the small fucking ratty ones” says drummer Sav reflecting on the past in comparison to the stature of the band right now. “Everyone’s sweaty and on top each other and having a laugh. The bigger shows aren’t always the best”.

Despite being a full-time touring band for the past five years, they’ve recently only been able to make the band sustainable with their rock star lives and constant touring appearing as an almost dishevelled facade. “You’ve got to stock up on cans so you can eat on tour” says Aaran. “Beans and stuff like that”. “You gotta take shit from your home to survive on tour” Sav adds.

So they could tour full time, Sleeps quit their jobs, signed on the dole and received as much support and backing from their families as possible. In fact they still live with their parents. “It’s cushty man, I like it” muses Sav. “If the financial situation was a little better then we’d probably move out. But not at the minute, we can live comfortably whilst living at our parents” says Aaran.

“We had no money from the start, we were on the dole, getting paid £90 every two weeks, we were getting paid literally nothing at all for shows” recalls Aaran. “There was no plan B, it was just Plan A”. Fortunately Plan A worked and While She Sleeps are even able to wage themselves, something which they thank their current label and management for. “We’re
not Chad Kroeger yet though” adds Aaran.

So there you have it. If you want to play on the main stage of a major festival; work at the bar there, go on the dole for a bit and collect canned foods. Good luck.