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asktherejectsau · 2 years

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💥🔪Exclusive interview with actor, temporary Gorillaz band member, and current bassist for the Rejects — Ace D. Copular🔪💥

Ace: Ayeee!

Interviewer: Oh! Hello there, Mr. Copular. [shakes his hand]

A: Ah, no need to call me ”Mister.” [sits down promptly] Just call me Ace, man.

I: Alright then, Ace. Before we get to talking about The Rejects, I think everyone wants to know, what was it like being the temporary bassist for Gorillaz?

A: I still can’t believe half the stuff I went through was even real… It all feels like I’ve been stuck in a dream and haven’t woken up since. [laughs] Seriously though, it was really fun! Everybody was super nice and welcoming and gettin’ to perform with ‘em was whole ’nother thing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life.

I: How did you first meet Gorillaz?

A: Well, me and Murdoc go way back, since the start of film production for the Powerpuff Girls movie. I knew he had a band but, to tell ya the truth, I had no idea about Gorillaz. Didn’t even realize they made Clint Eastwood and I love that song. But when he called me from prison, telling me I should try and audition to be his replacement for his band, I took it in a heartbeat. Once I got accepted, I had to fly from California to Kentucky in order to meet ‘em at the Derby and… yeah! The rest is history.

I: Now where do you know Murdoc from?

A: Uhh… I’m not gonna go too deep into that as there’s some personal stuff in there, and I’d expect Murdoc wouldn’t want me blabbin’ on about it. But what I will say is that we’ve known each other for a long time. About 18 years now, I’d say. We have a good rapport, y’know? We can relate to a lot of things. We both have screwed up childhoods and we managed to make the best of it through our stardom. We used to write letters to one another but we kinda lost connection back in ’06. I mean, he got back to me eventually. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have helped his band out while he was in prison, amirite? [chuckles awkwardly]

I: Hmm… alright. How did you first get into music? A: It was a little after I finished working on the Powerpuff Girls movie. I was supposed to get more screen time on there, but I got injured during filmin’ so neither me or the Gang could continue bein’ on set. I don’t blame ‘em though. I mean, ya can’t have the Gangreen Gang without Ace, right? So while I was in the hospital for recovery, I started playin’ guitar but I didn’t start playin’ bass until Mudz waltzed into my life. I only started taking music seriously because of him actually. [chuckles to himself, bouncing his leg] Ooo boy, that’s embarrassing to admit, saying that out loud… I probably sound like some hyper fan or somethin’. I: Oh, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I think it’s rather sweet! It sounds like he meant a lot to you. A: Yeah… he did. [rubs the back of his neck, deep in thought] I: Now, how did your friends and family react when they found out you got into the band?

A: [perks up] I don’t got much family anymore but the Gangreen Gang? They’re the only family I’ve ever known aside from ol Muddy Duddy. When I got the email from Gorillaz’s business manager, Jamie Hewlett (real nice fella by the way) that I was in the band, I showed it to the boys and they all freaked when they saw it. Jumping up and down, screaming and yelling with all of us in a group hug. We hadn’t hung out together in a really long time since we all moved on and had our own lives after the OG Powerpuff Girls ended. I mean, the only other times was for filming in the reboot but that was just work, y’know? Although, when I got back to Townsville, it was surprising to see the amount of people who came to congratulate me. I guess kinda became a local legend since I joined the band. Even the Powerpuff Girls came by to say how proud they were. The OG girls not the reboot ones, they were still busy filming. I: What’s it like filming for the 2016 reboot anyway? A: I don’t wanna talk about it. I: I see, you can’t talk about it due to an NDA? A: Um, sure. Yeah, let’s call it that.

I: Oh, uh, okay… Umm, how have you been since leaving Gorillaz?

A: Thanks to them, I’ve been able to actually live a life for once. Like, since I left… I’ve been to Mexico with fellow bassist, Seye Adelekan, I got to write some memoirs, performed many-a-gig since then, and have even been able to get my own place aside from living in a shitty studio apartment. Not rent it, but actually buy it. I not only could afford a new place for me, but I had enough cash to buy places for the rest of the Gang too! Gorillaz has forever changed my life for the better and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I: Speaking of the Gangreen Gang, what are they up to these days?

A: Well, they certainly ain’t kids no more. [laughs] Big Billy owns his own tattoo parlor while his wife is a vet tech. Heard they’re expecting their first kid soon, in which whoof! God, I feel old. I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see my friends have kids. Grubber went on to be a lawyer. Dunno what kind, I wanna say he works civil suits? Arturo is working 9 to 5 at a Seven Eleven up in Townsville City Square with Snake but he’s trying to start up a music career on Soundcloud. Snake, aside from working with Lil Arturo at the gas station, also is an entertainer at a nightclub downtown that goes by the stage name, Ivy. I’ve been to a couple of their shows actually, real top notch stuff! They told me they’re trying to save money to go to art school so they can become a stop motion animator. I have high hopes for them, I just know they’ll make it far someday. I have high hopes for the whole gang actually. I just hope they know how much I still think about ’em. If they’re reading this though, I miss you guys!

(Picture of Ace and the Gangreen Gang after he was accepted into Gorillaz. April 20th, 2018 from Lil Arturo’s Snapchat)

I: Have you been in contact with any of the other Gorillaz members?

A: A little bit, mostly to Noodle though. Haven’t heard much from Russ but we’ve said hello once or twice while I was on the phone with her. Strangely enough, Murdoc’s been calling me a lot more than normal. Mainly to ask about 2-D. I dunno if it’s some midlife crisis thing, just to make up for lost time, or what but I don’t mind it. I like talkin’ to him! Always comes with lot of stories. Although sometimes when he calls me I can’t help but worry about him. I dunno why, but sometimes I get this gut feelin’ like he’s not tellin’ me something or that something’s wrong. But that might be me worrying too much about it. I mean, he just got outta prison and the band’s all on their own separate vacations right now, much like how 2-D is. They deserve the break anyways with all the tourin’ they’ve been doin’. Yeah, it’s probably just me bein’ too wound up.

I: I heard from Gorillaz lead singer and now the Rejects’ co-producer, 2-D that you two were in a relationship. How’s that working out for the both of you?

A: W-Wait, he said that? To you?

I: Yes… Is something wrong with what I said?

A: [starts to get flustered] Oh no, no! Not at all. There’s nothin’ wrong. I-I’m just happy he’s finally mentionin’ that publicly, that’s all. [covers his face with his hands] Sorry. Ahh! I’m blushing so bad… [giggles] I probably look ridiculous right about now. [laughs loudly]

I: Oh, it’s okay! Is this your first time in a relationship like this?

A: Not my first time with a guy, if that’s what you’re askin’. Now first time with a celebrity? Yes. And lemme tell you, it is amazing so far. I’ve had many different partners in my lifetime but him? He’s somethin’ else. He’s the only one who’s managed to capture my attention immediately. I thought that whole ”love at first sight” thing was nothin’ but a hoax but then he came around and changed my whole worldview. Now, it was a bit rocky at first but we managed to patch things up. [sighs] I’m so glad that he said that we’re dating. Oh, I feel like I’m 16 again with how happy he makes me!

I: What do you mean by that? “Patch things up?”

A: Well, back in September last year when Murdoc came back and I left to take the subway back to the airport, Stu had um… given me something to take on the way home. At first, I thought maybe it was just some European thing but nah, he… he kissed me. Like really kissed me. I think some kid captured it on camera too but me and ’D just told ‘em to keep it outta the press and that was that. The problem was he didn’t talk to me for two whole months later when we ended up bumping into each other in Townsville. I was just… I dunno, confused? Like, I couldn’t tell if he liked me or not and I was too embarrassed to ask, which was kinda stupid the more I think about it. But by the time ‘D came to Townsville and we hung out at my place, he said he wanted to maybe start somethin’ with me. Not fully dating just yet but umm… y’know… [clears throat, blushing] “experimenting.” I was really excited cuz like ”holy shit, a singer from a Grammy nominated band is in love with me” but then he was actin’ so distant. Like, he’s more open with me now but before he used to be so nervous about us doing anything normal things couples tend to do, like kissing or holding hands. He even flinched whenever I’d touch him like he thought I was gonna hit him, which really hurt me cuz I didn’t know why he was seemed so afraid of me. I thought, “Why does this guy wanna be in a relationship with me if he doesn’t even want me near him?” But after we talked about it, he finally admitted to me that he had some pretty bad relationships in the past. One cheated on him, the other left him, and his last one was a douchebag who not only beat him for years but told him to stay in the closet for “the sake of his career.” Now that pissed me off cuz I’ve been told that by other agents before when I was tryin’ to come out as bi. That last one really stuck with him though and he became so afraid that our relationship could possibly turn something like that, that he thought maybe keepin’ some distance between us was the better option. Needless to say, I completely understood what he was goin’ through and I know now he wasn’t tryin’ to hurt me by doin’ that. I love him and I wanna make sure he knows that. So we went slow, felt the waters for a bit, and here we are. I know I’m not gonna fix him overnight but I swear, if I ever find that fucker who hurt him, I’m gonna make sure he’s in for a world of pain when I’m done with him. People who hurt their partners like that deserve to be thrown under the jail.

I: Where did you two first meet?

A: We actually met at the Kentucky Derby. I’m not too big on fancy shmancy events like that plus I couldn’t drink at the bar due to my contract, so I walked around the venue for a bit. We bumped into each other, I fell to the floor, didn’t know who he was so I was gonna yell at him to watch where he was goin’ but then I met his eyes. And just… wow. What an image. For a second I thought I must’ve stumbled onto Olympus cuz there was no way this guy wasn’t some sort of god with how pretty he was. As fans swarmed around him like bees to honey, he just took me by the hand, ran with me to a secret spot outside the venue, and we talked. As we were waiting for the race to end, I realized that he was just a normal guy. Well, as normal as a singer in a famous band would be. Sure he was a bit… off but he was sweet and kind and clearly passionate. He’d get excitable whenever he talked about his favorite horror movies and it was fun to be with someone so… I dunno, filled with life, I guess. We ended up talking that entire day. He even gave me a handful of several month old Lucky Charm marshmallows he found from his pocket when he led me to my hotel room. [sighs] He was so adorable… Still is too.

(Picture of 2-D and Ace at the London Underground on Sept. 25th, 2018)

I: Aww, how sweet. How would you describe 2-D as a partner?

A: Since we’ve started dating, he’s grown to be pretty affectionate. He’s not as physically affectionate as I am, but he always makes sure to tell me that he loves me. He’s still getting used to saying it out loud, but every time he does, he gets real stoked about it. It’s almost like when a little kid starts learning a new word and gets all happy when they say it right. He’ll say it at the most random times too. Like, he’ll look at me while I’m working and just go. “Did I tell you I love you today? No? Well, I do. I love you. I love you a whole lot.” and I… oh, it just makes me melt, man…Sometimes, he forgets that he already asked me so then he asks me multiple times a day if he said that he loved me or not and it just makes me so giddy every time he does it. He also likes to tell me he loves me in his own unique way too. Like, he’ll make me a cup of coffee or he’ll sit down to watch me work while he spitballs song ideas. Then, he’ll just give me knick knacks he found from some store he was shopping at. He used to do in order to celebrate some small milestone in our relationship but now he just does it to say he loves me in the corniest ways possible. One time, he slapped down a pack of blunt shaped birthday candles on the table and straight up asked me, “Are you made of weed? Cuz I think I’m getting high off you.” It wasn’t even my birthday. Like, how the hell am I supposed to respond to that? How can I not smooch the guy all day long? I mean, c’mon! That’s just too much for one guy to handle. I swear to god, at this rate, Stuart’s gonna end up givin’ me both diabetes and a coronary with how sweet he fuckin’ is. Ugh… I can’t stand it!

I: Well, it seems like the two of you are very happy together.

A: [hums happily] Never been happier with anyone else…

I: Now, onto talking about the band you’re currently in. How did you come across the Rejects?

A: Well, it’s kinda embarrassing. About a month after I left Gorillaz, I went on this huge spending spree. [scratches his chin, laughing nervously] I admit, the popularity went to my head a lil bit. I mean, back in the ‘90s, I was a teen star from some popular reality TV show. I’d never seen that much money before in my life! Mainly cuz my ma kept it all until I turned 18 but that’s besides the point, this is about how I met the band. Thankfully I wasn’t too broke yet so I started going to all kinds of concerts that month. One day, I went to this one event Snake really wanted to go to. We went together and that’s when I met the Rejects. They were initially supposed to perform at Demon Dayz LA but I heard from somewhere their performance got cancelled due to tech issues and instead they performed at this festival to fill in an open slot. They turned out to be fuckin’ sick! I loved their punk rock, indie rock vibe and I later met up with the robot girl afterwards. She and her bandmate turned out to be pretty cool. We found out we both like the same indie musicians like Little Dragon, Jack Stauber, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, even Florence and the Machine. We partied with them all night long but as they were about to leave, I found out that they were living from their van in order to make ends meet. I felt band cuz I knew what that life was like in my 20s. Now I couldn’t exactly afford two roommates at the time with all the spendin’ I was doin’ but I knew at least by next month I would’ve been fine as long as I didn’t go overboard. So I invited them to my place as my roommates. They refused at first but after a few days they took up my offer and we’ve been roomies ever since. I: How did you end up becoming the bassist for them? A: When they were just staying at my place, I kinda became their business manager. Not on purpose, just mainly out of knowing my way around Townsville and some of the more popular spots in LA so it just kinda happened…? I don’t remember when exactly I later became their bassist officially but there was this one time I performed at Townsville Park’s open mic night and performed with my friend Archie Sutton and his band, Some Other Guys and they flipped out. Cynthia especially was freakin’ out cuz she so hyped to know that I could play bass when she struggled for years to do it. She asked me to play on a few their songs and that’s how I became their bassist. I: How would you describe your experience with the Rejects so far? A: It’s been really fun so far! I glad that I’m playing music again with the people I care about the most. I can’t wait for people to hear our stuff once the EP comes out. I: What is your favorite track from the EP by the way? A: Definitely “runaway.” Has probably one of the best bass lines I’ve ever done aside from Sorcererz on the Now Now. The track has this very ethereal sound to it that just ties the whole thing together, in my opinion. It’s eerie but soothing, y’know? Cynthia and Lenny told me that the track was inspired by the Satoshi Kon film, Perfect Blue while thematically, it’s all about finding yourself and the fear of not knowing if someone will still love you in the end of this long, hard journey. Although I feel like that message is only heightened thanks to 2-D’s synth work and all the little flairs he put into it. I think the way did it turned this song into a… horrifyingly beautiful lullaby. I’m just more amazed by how well it turned out in the end.

(runaway. Promo Cover)

I: Well we’ll certainly check it out once it’s released. Now I’ve asked this before with some of the others but how would you describe your bandmates? A: They’re cool. I: …Um, i-is that it? A: Well, I dunno what else to say other than that… they’re cool. I think… I: Right… Well if that’s all then I guess we’re— A: Actually, no. Sorry, that’s a lie. I guess, if I could go on a bit of a tangent it’d be that Cynthia kinda reminds me a lot like Buttercup. The OG one not the reboot clone. I: I’m sorry, the what-? A: I know that’s a weird thing to say but really, she does. She’s spunky, outspoken, and has absolutely no filter. We’re probably the only two band members that butt heads. It’s all in good sport though, nothin’ truly hateful or anything. Although she does smack me with a stray cable from time to time. Also, was no one gonna tell me that she was cyborg version of Noodle? Noodle? Like, how much more badass could you get? With a mouth gun, that’s how! Also, Lenny’s pretty chill. He’s kinda like Russel but instead of giving infinite words of wisdom, he’s the whole mom friend package. He makes sure we always stay on schedule, he packs us snacks occasionally during practice… He also has a pretty good sense of hearing too. It’s insane what kind of tones he’s able to pick up just from listening to me play. He’ll give me pointers on what notes would help improve the song and even encourages me to riff more which I was never confident in doin’ before. Overall, pretty swell guy. I: Okay then, I think that’s all we have for today. Is there anything else you’d like to add? A: Umm… nope. Not really but thanks for having me! [shakes interviewer’s hand, door heard opening] Hmm? Oh, hey ‘D. Ready to go? 2-D: Yep. I found a new skatepark we can go to if you wanna try out rollerblading with me. A: Eh, I’ll try. Can’t make promises that I’ll be any good though. 2-D: Oh don’t worry about that, Ace. You’re still learning! You’ll get the hang of it someday. Now let’s get going. Cuz I dunno about you, love, but I’m famished. A: [laughs] Okay, ‘D. Shouldn’t you tie your shoes first? I don’t want you trippin’ over yourself aga— Hey, wait a minute are those the new slip ons I gave you? 2-D: Yeah! You were right, they are pretty comfy. I Thank you, I like ‘em a lot. A: [gets flustered] Uhh, good! Yep! I’m glad. Mmm-hmm, that’s great. 2-D: Oh no, you’re gettin’ all pink again. Need me to get you some sunscreen? I: Tune in next time where we’ll be interviewing the forth and final member of the Rejects, “Lenny.” What are his origins, who is he really? See you soon!

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