Three STEPS to Heaven

Magazine Source: Maxim

Timeframe: October 2000

Words: Graham Wray

You can’t fool us with your squeaky clean stage act. What’s been your best moment of rock’n’roll madness in a hotel? 
CLAIRE: We were in a hotel in Germany and got very much the worse for wear one night. For some reason we ended up pulling all the mattresses off the beds. I was sharing with Lisa so H [alphabetically under renowned Steps male] got one of those ash-trays that are filled with sand, and tipped it under the door all over the carpet. It was like Blackpool Beach in there. 
FAYE: I’ve had plenty of rock’n’roll nights in hotels but I always feel guilty the next morning so I end up trying to clear the mess up. You start off tamely, then things go right off the rails. I don’t break stuff on purpose, it’s just when you’ve got all your mates in your room in the early hours, things just sort of happen. Someone accidentally leans on the Corby trouser press, table legs get broken, fag ash everywhere. I’d also like to confess to once nicking a bath mat.

Come on, we bet you’ve been tempted to lob a telly from the 15th floor?
LISA: Well when I saw this old one being wheeled in for the shoot, I did get an urge to lay into it just to get some of my frustration out.
FAYE: I don’t see the point. In the morning you’d be kicking yourself because you’d have nothing to watch. I love the sound of breaking glass, but I usually get that out of my system when I go to the bottle bank.
CLAIRE: Much better than chucking a telly out of the window would be smashing up a car with a baseball bat. I’ve always wanted to do that.

Have you witnessed other bands misbehaving?
LISA: Some bands will be wandering the corridors at 6am, hammering on your door trying to rope you in on stuff. But at that time of day I wouldn’t get out of bed for anyone.
FAYE: A couple of tours ago we were in the hotel bar late at night when the singer from one of our support groups grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the entire bar, smashing tons of glasses and bottles. He was well out of it so I ended up pouring a pint over his head and taking him to the loos to sort himself out. I daren’t tell you who it is, but he’s supposedly a clean-living young man.

What bands would you love to tour with?
LISA: All Saints look like they have a lot of fun. I’m a rock chick so I wouldn’t mind being on the road with Nine Inch Nails either.
FAYE: I’d love to go on tour with Blur – travelling round with them would be really interesting. I wouldn’t fancy touring with any rock gos though – they usually end up going straight home to their wife and kids. It’s more fun watching young pop groups getting trolleyed after a gig simply because they know they’re not supposed to do it.

Are you frequent vistors to hotel porn channels?
FAYE: Oh YEAH. Anyone who says they don’t have a crafty look is lying. But I’m not paying for it.
LISA: Yeah, teh knack is to be able to flick quickly through the previews so you don’t get charged – there’s a real art to it. It’s not that I’m tight but I just don’t want any charges for porno viewing showing up on my hotel bill.

What would you want in your hotel room for the perfect dirty weekend?
CLAIRE: A four-poster bed, a massive bath and champagne on tap.
FAYE: Yeah, a four poster is a must, along with a Jacuzzi and plenty of candles. Plus a lot of creamy white fairytale-looking things. Then again, I’d probably get it all filthy really quickly.

And what would you be wearing to get yourself in the mood?
LISA: Without giving too much away, I can say that my boyfriend likes me in stockings and suspenders. But I have horny days when I feel sexy wearing nothing but a man’s shirt.
CLAIRE: I’ve got a few lacy bits and a couple of silky slips but I’d be too embarrassed to wear all that sleazy stuff. I have bought stockings and suspenders, but I’ve never worn them – yet.
FAYE: Victoria’s Secrets in America has some great naughty stuff – see-through underwear and all sorts. But I normally go for something a little bit revealing and very suggestive.

So what steps should we take to ensure things progress nicely?
CLAIRE: Paying attention to my neck always gets me. But start by spending a bit of time on the back of my knees. Just a couple of minutes there and then get on with the rest of it.
LISA: Massages always get me going so that’s a good way to start. But let the woman stay in her outfit for at least ten minutes – don’t go ripping it straight off.
FAYE: I think the woman should undress the man. And don’t fart – it’s not big and it’s not clever.
CLAIRE: And hide your hairy back. If I found a guy had one I’d probably be sick.

Finally, your new album’s called Buzz. Did that name come to you whilst spending a lonely night in a hotel room?
LISA: Oh GOD! I hadn’t even thought of that. Hopefully, none of us need to take one of those on tour. oh no! We’re going to get stick for that now aren’t we??

To see the rest of the pics from this interview, head over to the Gallery.

Read more classic STEPS interviews in our Interviews & Reports section here.