25th April 1999
Back to index
I'm planning on getting a tattoo done. I've
got the design sorted, but I haven't found an artist whose work I like that
much. I was just wondering where you got that arm band on your left arm done -
the one halfway up that looks like something from the Lindisfarne gospel (or
whatever it's called - where did the design come from?). Secondly, have you
gone down to Mexico yet, being as close as you are? If not, get down to Baja
asap. You'll have a class time - ace people, good booze and food. Cheap
too! Can you get a bottle of dog OK in LA (you can get it on tap in
SF)?
Neil
The tattoo you were asking about was done by Bugsy of Camden. But his waiting list is months long, so you may want to find out when there is a tattoo convention near you. Check out some new talent as artwork has really come on in the last few years, and don't be in too much of a hurry as that shit is staying on you. You're right about the Lindisfarne origin of the design - well spotted.
No, I ain't been to Mexico since I came out here. Last time I was there was about eight years ago, and I had the best time of my life. Mexico works for me on every level, and as soon as I get some time I'm back there pronto. (Dog tastes like shit over here, and 'on tap'??? Newcastle don't make brown ale on tap so God knows what that shit you've been drinking is.)
What was the original lyric going to be in 29 x The
Pain before you heard that Kurt Cobain had died?
Rich Payne
I'm afraid I really don't remember. I do remember that we were in a very intense period of our time together, and when he died the new line fitted a lot better than whatever the old one was.
I've just got hold of the April 17 issue of
your favourite magazine, Kerrang! Inside the hallowed pages are the 100
greatest rock tracks ever. Surprise, surprise! Smells Like Teen Spirit is at
number one. I don't know about you, but I'm fed up of having Nirvana
rammed down my throat every five minutes. I was 15 in 1991 and, although I
thought Nirvana were OK, they sure as hell never changed my life. If history
records them as the band of my generation, then we have a travesty on our
hands. Faith No More and the Manics were putting out much better stuff at that
time. Anyway, sorry to go on but I just couldn't believe it when I saw the
top 100. There was one Wildhearts song, Suckerpunch at 99. I mean, is the whole
world taking the piss or what? Seems like it's a case of 'out of sight,
out of mind' for the Kerrang! readers... Come back soon, mate, it's
hell out here!
Anon
Maybe if I'd have blown my head off we'd be a bit further up the list. I mean who really cares, eh? When I get a new album out, I'm sure I'll be back in the top 10, and I'll care just as much as I do now. Only time tells if something is truly good or not, so the survey should have read 'most popular songs this week'. But that's not very dramatic and therefore not a very metal thing. I mean come on, buy the bloody mag by all means but don't take it seriously. Come back soon? Why do you think I left in the first place?
Just a short one to say that I noticed how it has
been observed people did not like the covers... well, I did! As a result, I
purchased the first Cheap Trick album... Are there any covers left to come out?
I recall there was one called Sputnik Baby or similar, due to be on Anthem
somewhere. Was New Rose ever recorded? The people who whinged about the
Mushroom singles formats... every other band on the planet does it. Marilyn
Manson does it with ALBUM tracks as the B-sides, and do people moan at
him?
Cwej
Thank you for the ONLY positive response to the 'cover version controversy'. I guess you just can't please some people. The song you mentioned was called Sputnik Kiss by the Revillos (a massively underrated late Seventies / early Eighties band from Scotland). It will probably turn up on some Japanese bootleg someday. I'd love to hear it again. And we never had any intention to record New Rose.
I guess because Marilyn Manson never went out of his way to treat his fans special they don't mind being ripped off. Sometimes people get greedy for extra special quality when they get bored with plain old quality. There's a line in a song by the Rainmakers called Drinking On The Job that goes: "Give a man free food, and he'll figure out a way to steal more than he can eat 'cos he doesn't have to pay." C'est la vie.
Just read in Kerrang! that you were getting this
web site stuff sorted out so thought I'd join the party. It was always a
drag being a Wildhearts fan, as all my mates thought you were shit. But I'm
hoping the new stuff is just as 'bad'. Anyhow, keep up the good work
and get back to the UK ASAP. Out of interest, who do you prefer, The
Hellacopters or Backyard Babies?
Lee
Scott
I prefer the first Hellacopters album. Do your friends talk personally to their favorite bands on the Net?
I was wondering - when you finish your recording
work and decide to tour (the US, please), will you be trying to book your own
shows or using a booking agent? I was thinking I could do some legwork for ya
in the Colorado Springs / Denver area clubs and theatres - not to mention
having a crazy idea of raising the money myself to hire you and your band to
play. If we knew well ahead of time it'd give Ginger / Wildhearts fans from
all over the chance to all get together at a show (previously not an option for
us Yanks).
Jeff Hall
Thanx for offering your assistance, but it's a little too early to be arranging gigs. It's probably a good idea to have an album to promote first! But, in answer to your question, I would imagine that I will definitely be using a booking agent to arrange the shows.
I just wanted to say a few things to you. Firstly,
I wanted to say that I am from Holland and I am a real big Wildhearts fan. I
wanted to know whether The Wildhearts will ever get back together, and if
they'll ever release any new material. I also regret that you and your band
never did a gig in the Netherlands. Still, The Wildhearts are probably the best
band in the world. Ever.
Robbert
Thank you for your kind words. I must admit that when we started this web site I expected a lot more insulting letters... c'mon you lot, get pissed off about something. Or were we THAT good to you?
Anyway, the whole point to doing this was to be brutally honest, and more direct than any magazine interview. So to say that I don't miss the guys like hell and wouldn't love to get back together with them would be a lie. We went through a hell of a lot together, and doing it all again with my new thing seems a little boring. But times have changed, Ritch is doing his own thing and loving it, and Danny has The Yo-Yo's and he's happier than I've seen him in years. So whatever I think doesn't really matter because we aren't getting back together.
I'm in a band in the Aberdeen (Scotland) area,
and having never had the chance or finances to see The Wildhearts play live, I
bought Anarchic Airwaves - sorry, Ginger. The album was, however, a fucking
immense inspiration. It truly showed how bands should play live. Do you forgive
the people who bought it?
Kris
Robertson
Hey, Kris, it's got nothing to do with me what you spend your money on. But if you want to hear how The Wildhearts SHOULD sound on a live album, check out Tokyo Suits Me and then tell me what you think of the other bootleg releases.
Is there any news of collaborations with Dev
Townsend? I heard Christeen and thought it was great, and the two of you
working together is very exciting. You working with Backyard Babies and Alice
Cooper is also very exciting. Have you buried the hatchet with Mark Keds yet? I
was pissed with him after Phoenix '95, but I love Jolt, so I sort of
forgive him.
Brett
Callwood
Maybe me and Devin will get pressured by enough people that we'll HAVE to work together. Of course I forgive Mark Keds. All he did was decide to do his own thing and that should be applauded.
Will the early demo album you're mixing feature
Church Of The Broken Hearted?
Brett
Callwood
The early demos I'm working on will not feature ANY songs that you have heard of.
What are Snake and Duncan doing now?
Brett Callwood
I don't know what Snake or Duncan are doing at the moment, but if anyone has any news on their whereabouts I'd love to know.
I remember reading in Kerrang! (or RAW, I'm not
sure) years back, that you saw a UFO one day when you were in America. I was
wondering if Sky Babies was inspired by this event, and also what did the UFO
look like? I'm a great believer in UFOs myself and am interested to know
what your thoughts are.
Sean
Burke
I've seen before and since other odd things in the sky. I've had some very strange experiences as far as UFOs go, and that is what sort of inspired Sky Babies. I don't envy your life as a believer in this stuff, even since the popularity of The X-Files, etc. People are still going to think that you are either a raincoat wearing trainspotter, or some sort of weirdo new age hippy. Good luck!
I went to see The Jellys on their last tour and I
was also fortunate enough to meet the band. I'm a really big fan of theirs
now after seeing them play live. What do you think of their album? Stidi
mentioned a song called She's A Talker that you and he recorded about 15
years ago when, as he said, you "had a terrible poodle perm." Have
you got any plans to release this? And, don't you think it would be a good
idea for you to write an autobiography? I'm sure you've got just a few
stories.
Mike Sachs
I was fortunate to be one of the first people to hear the Jellys album, and I love it. They're great. She's A Talker is a really old demo that will never see the light of day. It was the first time I ever sang and it shows... I'm glad Stidi was kind about it. And the poodle perm? Hey, everyone interesting experiments and the girls loved it!!! As far as an autobiography goes, I'd love to do one someday, but I've got to do something worthwhile first.
I've only been into The Wildhearts for about
six months, but have so far heard quite a lot of material and I've just got
to say how amazing it is. I am in a young punk/rock band called Leeroy and this
year we have played our first two local gigs. Since we played these gigs our
bassist tragically died and we have just started playing again. The bassist,
Steve, was a massive Wildhearts fan and it was him who got me into The
Wildhearts' music, and since his death we (the band) are so much more
determined to get playing more gigs and hopefully get some record label
interest. Do you have any advice/tips on how to get label interest?
Kris
First of all, you have my full respect for carrying on after this tragic event. I think you already show more balls than most bands, and if your music reflects this courage then I can't see a problem with it doing well. Stay strong and the labels will hear of you. Don't worry, you can't keep a positive vibe a secret. People will talk and record companies will hear. Just concentrate on your music and the rest will happen.
How come you hardly ever played any of your early
songs from Don't Be Happy... Just Worry after Earth Vs The Wildhearts came
out?
Nicholas Wignall
It was mostly boredom from playing them for too long, and because we were excited about playing our newer stuff. I personally, as a writer, would always rather play new stuff, as it's more to do with where I am at the time. (Some songs you just grow out of I'm afraid.)
I've always sort of viewed 3 Colours Red as the
heirs to the Wildhearts' punk pop throne, as I know many others do.
However, since their new album I've lost faith in them completely, and I
wonder what your true opinion of the band is. It always sounded to me like
Sunny In England and Hateslick were Wildhearts rip-offs anyway.
Smegg
Well, apart from the family tie, I'm not much of a fan. I was always a little disappointed that they didn't own up to being big Wildhearts fans. The same happened with Honeycrack and looked what happened to them. I've always been a strong believer in letting your influences be known. And unless 3CR were listening to the same obscure American bands that I ripped off when I was younger then they must have been listening to us!!!
As a former member of The Wildhearts, do you think
that the rock media was responsible for the band's demise in any
way?
Wez McCullough
No, Maybe responsible for the band not getting more (or more honest) exposure, but if a magazine could split up a band then it ain't much of a band.
How distrustful were you of the rock
media?
Wez McCullough
I gave them one chance to be cool or talk shit. The trust was up to them and whether they wanted it. They usually did, unless a bigger band impressed them. Journalists act the desperate way around big groups - the same way as junkies do around drugs.
With a lot of years in the public eye of rock fans,
how do you feel you will cope as a solo artist?
Wez McCullough
I can't see myself being a solo artist. I'll always find a way of being a 'team player' in whatever I do. It's more fun.
Do you think that the rock media can break a band
or boost their career?
Wez
McCullough
Only if the band are crap! Otherwise it's a case of the media jumping onto a happening before they look like they are 'not with it'!
What advice would you give to young bands on how to
handle journalists?
Wez
McCullough
Don't take them seriously. Unless they get personal and then get personal back.
Do you feel that you were at times stitched up by
the rock media?
Wez
McCullough
The rock media needs certain types or styles of stars, and if you don't fit they will make you fit. I think all the free tickets / albums go to their heads and they make the mistake of thinking they've got a real job. I prefer fanzines.
I got hold of a copy of the new live album, and it's bloody good. Any chance of an official UK release? James Brown
I hope the live album gets an official UK release, as it will save the fans a lot of money. I'm in talks at the moment about it, but I don't run a record company so I can't promise anything. In the meantime, chip in with a load of mates to buy an import copy, then look in your local paper for CD recording services and each get a copy (photocopy the cover while you're at it). Home taping is helping domestic music if it can't get a domestic release.
According to some people on the Wildhearts List, in
an interview a while ago you said that you and the producer (Simon Efemey)
spent all night trying to get the guitar on Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong
to sound like a squid. What did you mean by this?
Astra
To me, a squid sounds like 'splurnge, splurnge, splurnge'. It seems obvious now that for a squid to make this noise, it would in fact have to be jumping, which is just not practical. So with hindsight, the noise in question was more like a large pig with very small legs trying to run in a small paddling pool full of quicksand. Sorry for the confusion.
How soon do you think it will be before we hear any
of the old stuff remixed or remastered? Any titles we should look out
for?
Gaar
The remixed stuff should be ready within a month. It's not as easy as it seems as it is all on DAT, so I've got to separate frequencies and all that shit. Due to this it will never be 'master tape standard', but the songs are all unheard and rare. Anyway, I was excited when I heard them and I NEVER get excited about bootlegs.
What do you think of MP3 files?
Gaar
It's a long and boring process and to tell you the truth I like making people shop for my stuff. You don't know what's going to happen on the way to or from the shops, and it's a lot more of a social occasion than sitting in front of a screen. Computers are good for quite a few things, and terrible for others... meeting people is one of those things. I'll make really rare stuff available on the Net only because record companies wouldn't be interested.
Where were you born?
Gaar
South Shields, Tyne & Wear. I say Newcastle because it's still Geordieland and people have heard of Newcastle.
I recently interviewed Backyard Babies in
Manchester, and asked what was going on with Super Shit 666. Johan claimed that
recordings were being mixed at the mo, and should see the light of day in April
or June. I s'pose Dregen would have known more but he'd buggered off
somewhere. So, what is going on? Should we expect any releases? Oh, and I also
had the great fortune of speaking to Danny and The Yo-Yo's but had a bit of
trouble talking. As I've always admired him, talking to him was a bit
trippy. Anyway, he was a great bloke, and I hope he's getting better now. I
would say that to him but I'm not sure how to get messages to the
band.
Blondie
The Super Shit stuff has been threatening to come out for ages, so I'm not going to get into any promises on that one. It started out as fun and that's as seriously as I'm going to take it. The Yo-Yo's have a web site. You could get messages to them through that.
When you go on tour, is it going to be under the
name Ginger, or are you hoping to get a permanent new band together? 'Cos
if its just you, won't you suffer the same 'can I write enough decent
songs' quandary that you mentioned earlier?
AP Martyn
Don't worry about me being able to write enough decent songs, it hasn't been a problem yet. I've got over 30 songs to record for the new album, and they are the best stuff I've ever written. I'm a writer, it's what I do! As for touring, I will have a brand new 'touring' band together. But I don't think I could be bothered to do a full time band for a while. The last one was enough.The new thing will probably go under the name Silver Ginger. Watch this space.
Having just read that The Exorcist is your fave
film, I was just wondering if you have any religious leanings or thoughts about
'higher powers', as it were.
Nik
I have indeed a great belief in higher powers. I've never had any religious ideas forced upon me by my family, so all of my faith has come directly from source. I believe that one day we are all introduced to our inner faith, after all, that's where we come from and where we are going.
I've finally allowed myself to admit that music
is where I wanna be and what I wanna do, but you don't really get too many
people prepared to give you glossy leaflets about career structures and
opportunities in the music business, so I was wondering if I could pick your
brains on what you've found out along the way. I'm already doing quite
a bit of work on the 'roadie-ing' side of things, and I should be
getting some more experience through working various festivals and uni gigs
this summer, but all this is fairly occasional and sporadic, and I'm
looking for a way to make it more permanent. Do you know any way of finding
anyone who's looking for a free set of hands to help out with stuff, in
return for me being able to look at all that goes on and do the whole
networking thing or whatever? Would you reckon this is the right approach in
the first place? I mean, my ideal, of course, is to be in a band properly, but
I figure if I go this way alongside doing my own band, then if the band gets
good, I'll know people who can get it somewhere, and if it doesn't,
I'll still be able to get work where I want to.
Gez Smith
Sounds like you're wasting a lot of time. If you want to be in a band then get in front of the gear, and if you want to be a roadie then do as many festivals and big gigs as you can, get some cool cards done (hologram?) and network your arse off. If you want to do both there will always be someone more dedicated than you and they'll get the gig.
Really stupid question here, but I met Jef outside
Marks and Spencers in Ealing Broadway just before the Jap tour last year, and
he said that you used to live near there. Where did you live? And, more
importantly, did you like it?
James
Smythe
I've lived in most areas of London at some time or other, but to try to remember them would pretty difficult (and deadly boring), so if you don't mind me just saying yes and moving to the next question then great...
Just now, my life is going through a bit of a
(very) rough patch - you know, the whole 'work sucks, need somewhere to
live, women' kinda thing, and I'm using the music of The Wildhearts and
many other bands to try and find answers to my questions and to numb some of
the pain. One song in particular really stands out and sums up so much of what
is happening in my head just now. That song is Jonesing For Jones. In my past I
have found many other songs that match exactly how I feel. Do you find that
there is a song that always matches the problems / joys in your
life?
Chris Pickens
Don't worry, Chris, life is all about ups and downs, but stick in there and the day always comes when you ask yourself 'what WAS the problem again?'. Music is always a great help when things aren't going too well, usually because the writers themselves are going through some emotional upheaval that inspires them to write. The song that always works for me is a song by Steve Earle called My Old Friend The Blues, on an album called Guitar Town. The Proclaimers did an ace cover of it on their album Sunshine On Leith (another great overlooked record). You should be able to find both of them in a secondhand record store.
What's your favourite breed of
guitar?
Chris Pickens
My favourite breed of guitar is my trusty old Gibson Les Paul. But I love the tacky shapes or BC Rich.
I can play Everlone note perfect up until the last
minute after the 'dreamy bit' when it gets heavy again, and I've
got a rough idea of the tune. But do you play it on one string or with
three-string chords?
Andrew
Wren
The final part of Everlone (G, F#, G, A, B, E) is a two-guitar part. One plays chords and one plays single notes.
I've been trying to get the right band together
for years now (ever since I heard The Wildhearts). I'm writing songs and I
play guitar but I can't find other musicians on the same wavelength as me.
How did you find the other guys in the Wildhearts? Cheers for the
inspiration.
Jim Gilchrist
You may never find people already on the same wavelength as you. This is usually a product of spending time together as a band. Don't be too demanding, just find people who are cool to hang out with and the rest will eventually come.
