Justin: Let me guess the theme of this interview - 'Heaven and Hell'?
TOTP: Well, 'Hell and Back', but pretty close! Do you want to guess the questions then?
Justin: "What is your idea of hell?" (laughs)

TOTP: Nope! Hurrah, we must have thought of a few original ones then! Was the new album heaven or hell to make?
Dan: It was heaven once it was finished...
Justin: No it wasn't - that's when the hell starts! That's when we have to do all the work. It was heaven making it, but when it's finished, that's when... actually, it's not that bad. It's more like heaven and earth.

TOTP: Eh?
Justin: Heaven is making it, but then earth is when you have to listen to everyone's criticisms of it. You end up having to justify it all, but the most important thing is the music, because that's the fun part to do. [Hippy voice] It's all about the music, man!
Dan: Generally, it's heaven though - especially after you've been on a tour bus for two or three years. It's a very drawn-out reminder of why we do what we do.

TOTP: Out of all of you, who's the most likely to go to hell - and why?
Justin: You'd have to hope that there are four rooms [for us] there, really. Full board and lodging, or suites.
Ed: A sea view...
Richie: The river of Hades.

TOTP: Is there anything you'd sell your soul to the devil for?
Ed: A million pounds.
Justin: One hundred million pounds, definitely.

Ed: Not a million, but a hundred million, definitely.

TOTP: And some time to spend it...
Justin: It doesn't work like that though, does it? The Devil only claims your soul when you've committed the seven sins - it's the Faustian legend. So the thing is that you sell your soul and get whatever it is you want in abundance. The minute you leave the house you think, 'I wish a bus would turn up', then a bus is there. So everything you want is there; then it's all about avoiding greed and lust and all those other things that make you a sinner. Then your soul goes. Nothing is worth eliminating the opportunity to commit greed, because the difference is everyone commits those sins but they don't lose their soul until they've sold out. You've lost your chance to turn around and say "Sorry God!" at the point of judgement if you don't sell your soul. But 100 million pounds would do it, no problem. Which is greed already, isn't it? So that's one down!

TOTP: If you could get a one-way ticket to anywhere, where would it be?
Justin: The Bahamas, probably.
Dan: Home.
Ed: Norwich.
Dan: Actually, Norwich is close enough. You could get a taxi home from there.

TOTP: What's so appealing about Norwich, then?
Justin: The cobbled streets with pedestrianised area is wonderful.
Dan: They've recently upgraded the famous Norwich market, so rather than being a scary place where you'd get your wallet nicked, it's actually a wonderful place to shop. And it still retains the natural organic market place vibe.
Justin: Although it is advisable to wear a bum bag!
Ed: It's small enough to walk around in. It's not like London, where you need to get a taxi to get somewhere.
Dan: There are many, many arts and crafts shops - it's quite a spiritual place. And the University of East Anglia is a very good place to study.

TOTP: Who would you expect to meet if you went to rock heaven or rock hell?
Richie: In rock heaven I'd hope to meet Freddie Mercury, and in rock hell I'd hope to meet Bon Scott. [He was in AC/DC, rock newbies]

Ed: Jimi Hendrix.
Justin: In heaven?
Justin: Paul Kossoff in hell?
Richie: Do you reckon he's in hell?
Justin: I think he must be.
Dan: Bruce Lee.
Justin: Bruce Lee?!!! The famous rocker...

TOTP: Does the Devil have all the best tunes, or do you?
Justin: The devil's not a songwriter in his own right although he's done a lot of covers in his time. And he's been the source of inspiration for a lot of folk. In my opinion he does have the best tunes, like 'Highway To Hell' - he's got most of the AC/DC catalogue.
Dan: Does the devil have any hymns? It's maybe just that you don't hear them?
Justin: Well, the thing about the devil's songs is that they rejoice in hellish nature, and they're better songs. Hymns are dull as Hull really. They're based on the dorian mode [ask your music teacher], they're outdated, and nobody actually enjoys going to church and singing them! If you went to church and sang 'Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be' [by AC/DC], there'd be a great turnout and everyone would have a great time.
Dan: Is 'Michael Row Your Boat Ashore' a hymn? That was rubbish. 'If I Had A Hammer'?
Justin: 'Kumbaya, My Lord'! What's that all about?
Richie: Chris Rea's 'Don't Pay The Ferryman' is about the journey to hell, isn't it? You get the ferry down the river Hades to hell, and if you pay the ferryman before you get to your destination, he pushes you over the side and you're damned for all eternity in the pits of Hades. So you don't pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side.
Justin: And he also did 'Road to Hell'.

TOTP: What, the ferryman?
Justin: Chris De Burgh did 'Don't Pay The Ferryman'. You're getting your Chris's mixed up.
Justin: I did hear Chris Rhea had joined Dire Straits.
Dan: They're now called Dire Rea... [howls of laughter].

TOTP: Does the sitar solo on your single mean you've gone all 'Eastern mysticism' on us, and do you have your own spiritual guru like the Beatles?

Justin: Yes, his name's Jim. [More howls of laughter at a private joke about Jim]. No, not exactly. There's a sitar solo on the first track on the album, but it's only because they sent us a sitar to fiddle around with and it sounded really funny so we put it on there.
Justin: There's no yogic flying involved.

TOTP: Tantric sex?
Justin: Maybe...