TIM ON A ROLL WITH THE STONES

You Am I, lead singer Tim Rogers was thrilled to learn last week, has been chosen to open for The Rolling Stones' concerts in Brisbane in a couple of weeks. It probably explains why Rogers kept introducing songs at the Melbourne Big Day Out as: "This one's called: 'We're fucking opening for The Rolling Stones'!"

Yes, Rogers makes no secret of the fact that he's a wee bit excited by the prospect. "That was very unexpected news and obviously it's going to be a lot of fun," says Rogers. "I think we might drop the current obscure Stones covers we're throwing in the set. And I might cut out a couple of the moves that are too reminiscent of years gone by for that act."

"I still have an admiration for a lot of things they do. I guess the point that great blues or folk or jazz artists don't give up when they hit 40 - I like that line rather then get gruff when people say: 'Oh they're too old to be doing it'. Because I'm quite sure that will be happening to us in years to come."

You Am I wrapped up another Big Day Out tour on the weekend in Perth but, inadvertently according to Rogers, the work doesn't stop there. The band shortly head off to Britain to support proteges The Vines for a handful of shows, as well as headlining their own gigs in Europe.

"We were going to take some time off to do other things but we're probably too busy to do that now - we're not really pursuing a lot but things seem to be falling in our laps."

One of the things Rogers plans to get around to one day is finally recording a solo album, as opposed to a follow-up Twin Set CD. There's a chance he might get to do that in Spain, of all places, when he and his family relocate there for up to six months while wife Rocio works on a film project.

Meanwhile, Rogers is getting used to the idea that - much like those Rolling Stones - You Am I are being viewed as patriarchal figures to a whole new generation of acts (The Vines and Jet, to name a couple). Not that Rogers minds too much.

"You kind of go from being new to not-so-new in the blink of an eye," he says. "I guess we should be grateful that the band is still a viable thing. We're very aware that the media is directed towards what's hot and new and once you get over that and petty little jealousies and anxieties, then you take the back-slaps when you can, keep your head down and keep playing and writing if that's what you want to do."

"If the young bucks keep sending their cheques every month, I'll take that. Until our glorious revival in 2007, that's something we're just going to have to live with."