Gavin: "Really good. When we started out it was commercial suicide, the beginning of Britpop with bands like Suede stealing the limelight. But we never did it with any interest in being that successful, funnily enough. That's the truth. The audiences we have in this country are brilliant. Because we came at the same time as grunge, we had that label. But it was weird, because, personally, I've always connected with hip-hop rhythms, basslines and strong guitars. We got swept away as if what we were doing wasn't English. I guess in America we're bigger, but we still have really positive shows here."

Melody Maker: You rocked NetAid, but the crowd were a bit boring, weren't they?

Gavin: "I always think I'm confrontational and I love going for it, having a laugh. Iggy Pop's been doing it for about 50 years. Everywhere in the world, I've done that. But at NetAid everyone was terrified."

Melody Maker: "The Chemicals Between Us" is a great electro-rock comeback single, released on November 15. How did it happen?

Gavin: "In some ways, my heart was broken a bit. It's kind of how I want every song to be made by a rock band. Although, saying that, I love Underworld and I think the new Leftfield album is brilliant. In fact, I love Massive Attack as much as I do some guitar bands."

Melody Maker: So what's it about?

Gavin: "I just find that the loneliest place can be lying in bed with someone - that gulf that opens up, not saying what's on your mind. Another twisted love song in the history of Bush! People would expect me to have more luck in that particular area."

Melody Maker: You're in the papers with a famous woman again (Nicole Appleton from All Saints). Do you think you've got a reputation as a ladies' man?

Gavin:"You make me sound like LL Cool J! I don't think so. Maybe I have, I don't know. I think there are worse ways to be seen."

Melody Maker: Gwen Stefani from No Doubt appears on the track "Spacetravel" on the new album, "The Science Of Things". How did that work?

Gavin: "She definitely improves it. She sings the line: 'The future lies in space travel', but one bit is just: 'The future lies', so it was strange singing that line with your girlfriend."

Melody Maker: Are you still a couple?

Gavin: "I really don't know. We're on a holiday from that."

Melody Maker: So, are you pleased with the more thoughtful sound on "The Science Of Things"?

Gavin:"For the new album, we wanted to do something more considered, layered and make it as textured as possible. I remember after the first record thinking that I've done something of measure and no one can take that away. Now, with the remix album, it's four things."

Melody Maker: We hear you had to learn Kung Fu for the new video?

Gavin: "I'm a real Bruce Lee fan, so it was fun doing that. For 'The Chemicals Between Us'. We used Shaolin, which is the 'Don't fuck with me' one. A lot of people in the video are seriously hard fuckers. My bit is edited, though. It's over way too quick for three weeks of training."