With dream shows at Glastonbury, the Eden Project and Reading and Leeds over the summer and their largest headline tour to date, Editors are now poised to take supporting duties with Franz Ferdinand over 22 dates across Europe and the UK.

I spoke with Editors Bass Guitarist Russell Leetch last week on the band's reaction to supporting and coping with the limelight. "Were taking time out at the hypermarket in Lille, France, after supporting Franz Ferdinand last night".

What was the band's reaction to the news? "Their label got in touch with our management and told us Franz Ferdinand had a copy of our album and liked our music and they would like for us to support them on tour. Our reaction was we definitely want to play tour support. Even Kayne West listens to our music, his label contacted us and requested our album to be sent to him on vinyl".

So you're playing bigger venues and crowds? "We have stepped up as a band, we played London Astoria to 2,500 fans and now there's this extra leap of 7,500 fans to play to at Manchester's News Arena and Birmingham's NEC. Our Stage is bigger, we even have a lighting designer and there are no noise limits!"

So what's next? "After three dates in France with Franz Ferdinand we head out on our own headline tour to Germany and then Switzerland meeting back in the UK with Franz Ferdinand, they're great guys to hang out with on tour".

How was the Jools Holland Show? "We enjoyed playing there. Jools Holland would came over and say hi to the band. We were also aired on national TV as part of the T4 show in Nashville USA with Maximo Park and The Features to a 200 specially invited crowd flown in from the UK so we haven't played to an American audience yet. We now have ten dates for the US in early February, March and April for eight weeks along the coasts."

Any new songs planned? "It will be important to write some songs before the February tour and start recording during next summer's festivals. It's hard work for any kind of new band, you just get to do it and push it and by working hard".

It looks like rock 'n' roll is following Editors around the world and the band will be heading to Birmingham's NEC on Wednesday November 16 - be sure to catch their live show.

Matthew Rea