IDLES singer Joe Talbot said Interpol was one of the primary reasons he decided to start a band [1].
The admission highlights the cross-genre influences that shaped the sound of the British post-punk outfit. By acknowledging the impact of the New York-based group, Talbot provides insight into the artistic lineage of IDLES' aggressive and rhythmic approach to music.
Talbot said this on Saturday, July 11, 2026, while performing on the main stage at Bilbao BBK Live in Spain [1]. The comment occurred midway through the group's set, where the singer paused to address the crowd about his musical origins.
"Interpol were one of the main reasons I’m in a band," Talbot said [1].
While IDLES is known for its distinct sonic identity and socio-political lyricism, the influence of Interpol suggests a deeper connection to the atmospheric and structured post-punk revival of the early 2000s. The performance in Bilbao served as a venue for Talbot to bridge his current professional success with the formative inspirations of his youth.
This public acknowledgment comes as IDLES continues to tour internationally, maintaining a presence in the global festival circuit. The band's appearance at Bilbao BBK Live underscores their ongoing reach within the European market and their willingness to credit the predecessors who paved the way for their specific brand of noise-rock.
“"Interpol were one of the main reasons I’m in a band"”
This revelation contextualizes IDLES within the broader post-punk tradition, linking their modern sound to the aesthetic and structural influences of early 2000s indie rock. It demonstrates how contemporary artists often synthesize disparate influences to create new genres, reinforcing the cyclical nature of musical evolution where revivalist sounds inform future innovations.
