We Are Scientists reveal Nickelback cover

By Natalie Jamieson
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

We Are Scientists dropped into the Live Lounge for a cover of Nickelback's Rockstar. Newsbeat spoke to singer Keith Murray and bassist Chris Cain about the song just moments before they went on air. There weren't many serious answers.

Will you be sending Nickelback the delights of your version of Rockstar?

Chris: "I actually studied with (singer) Chad Kroeger to develop today's version. We worked on the lyrics together because there were some added lyrics and I wanted those to be totally approved and if possible collaborated with Chad. I was able to get on the phone with him yesterday and we went through some of my ideas, some of his ideas."

There's a a dog ever present in your video for single After Hours. How difficult was it working with that dog, and I'm not talking about your bandmates?

Keith: "Well the dog was a nightmare, we had to put it down right after the shoot for bad behaviour."

Chris: "It is not uncommon when you work with animals that you have to put them down because they get excited and there really is no other way to calm them down short of lethal injection. So that's what we did with old Presley. May he rest in peace."

What else inspired you on your new album Brain Thrust Mastery, apart from dogs and ex-girlfriends?

Chris: "We were inspired largely by money on this album, just the idea of having a lot more money was really exciting to us so we wrote with that in mind."

Kaith: "Last time we got a little taste for money and this time we were greedy for it."

Do people in America find you as funny as we do over here?

Chris: "They find us much funnier than you do."

Keith: "Yes much, much, much better reception with the comedy."

Chris: "I think we do it over here in a more knee jerk habitual sort of way."

Keith: "I've started to think of it more in terms of a cultural exchange. While I'm here why not try and massage that dry American irony into the tough beef of British humour."

Chris: "It's like when French people come to America and only speak French. It doesn't work very well but they're getting some of their culture across."