19th June 1999
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I read that you were at a Marilyn Manson concert
and it was not because you like their music. So why does the Wildhearts reunion
happen at their festival? Is it just because the promoter offered it, or just
for kicking their butts?
Kai
I went to see MM because I got a free ticket and some friends were going. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, but all I saw was a little guy trying to look angry... and failing. I'm going to enjoy playing with them in Japan and kicking their phony arses all over Tokyo. We are his biggest nightmare and we are going to make his life as miserable as he seems to want everyone else's to be. The only person who hates him more than me is Danny. This is going to be FUN!!!
What do Danny, Jef and Ritch think about playing
Japan again as The Wildhearts?
Tsuyoshi
Nagi
The rest of the band are happy to come over to Japan because, A) we love Japan, and B) we are getting paid a fortune.
I really want to ask you about the new album. You
see, I (like many other people) know you have a good ear for a melody and was
wondering if it was true that the album is going to be acoustic.
David Gilmore
The new album is a collection of melody laden classics complete with beats and vocal experiments all wrapped up in a humorous hug.
What inspired you to cover the Partridge
Family's I Think I Love You? I remember when I was a kid I used to watch
the reruns waiting for the episode when they sang it. I'm sure your version
will be interesting.
Anon
The cover tune was Alex's idea, but I figured if I could remember it then most people could.
What exactly is Clam Abuse and can you be arrested
for it?
Martyn Brown
Clam Abuse is what it is... and what it is is just that. Hope that clears things up.
Are you willing to let us in on how you plan to
perform new songs with only two people on the Clam Abuse Tour? 'Cos
we're all going to the Glasgow gig here, and we are expecting something
completely nuts!
Gaar
Sheepdug
Did you used to get told what you were getting for Xmas or something? It's a secret for chrissakes. You'll like it. Just don't come expecting The Wildhearts and you'll go away happy.
I'm looking forward to seeing you play again
here in Southend. Will you play any old Wildhearts stuff, or are you doing
completely your own thing now? It would be great if you could play some old
songs.
Michael Ward
I'm really not going to tell any of you what we are going to do. Really. Honest. So stop asking.
When you come to Manchester, is there any chance
that I could get a couple of piccies or questions for my fanzine?
Lauren
Why not come down to the 'in store' that we will no doubt be doing and conduct the interview there? In fact, why don't all you fanzine writers do that? It would make our lives a bit more interesting... if that is humanly possible.
Have you seen the Stones lately? Do you want to be
like them, prancing around on a stage when you are approaching 60? Or d'you
reckon you'll do a Van Morrison - popping out for occasional gigs, and
confining most of your work to the studio?
James Smythe
I love the Stones, but I don't wanna be them. I imagine I'll still be making music and pissing people off, but I can't see too much leopard skin and leather when I'm 60. A nice bit of tweed maybe, and probably some incontinence pants. And I'll smell of biscuits and fall over when it's windy. And I'll go on about how good it was when I was young compared to now. And I'll forget everything and blame it all on senility. And everyone will ignore me and people will beep their horns when I try to cross a zebra crossing. And I'll be out of my fucking head. I'll be so high they'll have to pick my dead bones off the ceiling.
Come on then, own up. Where did you get the word
'schizophonic' from? I was in a cack record shop the other day and
found an album of that name by some guy called Robben Ford from 1976, and then
one by Combustible Edison, also of the same name. Needless to say, both were a
pile of wank.
Nelly
As far as I was aware I'd invented the word. I would have gone on a lie detector test. So maybe Geri and Nuno didn't actually rip it off The Wildhearts. (Yeah!!! Of course they didn't.)
The Yo-Yo's' Rumble(d) - better than
anything this year so far? Backyard Babies' Total 13 - best album since
Earth Vs The Wildhearts?
Adam
Brown
The Yo-Yo's are the best new band in the UK, but I can't really 'get' Rumble(d). I don't like songs sung in cockney accents and their other stuff such as 1000 Miles From Me, Home From Home and Too Lazy To Bleed are miles ahead of it. I'm a quality junkie.
Total 13 is great but there have been shit-loads of great records since 1994. You gotta expand your collection, starting with Supershitty To The Max by The Hellacopters.
From what I've read, it looks like
(Replacements bassist) Tommy Stinson is available. What a coup that would be
(for Silver Ginger). Your thoughts?
Blake
Johnstone
Tommy Stinson? Last I heard he was in the latest Guns N' Roses line up. Anyway, I want Nikki Sixx to play bass. He's the first choice.
What's your favourite Wildhearts song ever?
Mine was definitely 29 X The Pain. And I am looking for some great bands. Have
you got any good suggestions for me?
Robbert
My favourite song changes every day. The strange thing about The Wildhearts is that we actually LIKED our songs! There are so many bands that don't listen to their own stuff which I find very strange. So today my favourite Wildhearts song is Do Anything, because that is exactly what I'm doing these days! Great bands? Have you heard Puffy? They are two girls from Japan who play pop / rock and sing in Japanese. If you can get a hold of anything I'd recommend their second album, Jet CD. It's all I play these days. It makes you feel so happy. They are the cutest duo since Abbott and Costello.
Do many of your songs end up totally different from
their original versions? (Case in question: Love U Til I Don't.) And do
your songs always end up sounding like they do in your head when you first
imagine them?
Andrew Wren
Sometimes songs sound exactly like they do in your head, even string parts, etc. But lately I've been trusting my ability and letting the songs write themselves in the studio. And when that comes together, it beats having any amount of great planning.
How scary is the Geri Halliwell connection gonna
get? Firstly, her album's called Schizophonic and her nickname's
Ginger. Then there's you writing a song about her, dedicating Clam Abuse to
her and proposing to her via Kerrang!. And to top it off, when I tried to book
tickets to see you at York Fibbers they thought I wanted to go see Geri and
gave me the number for a different venue!
Andrew Wren
The Geri story is gonna run and run... watch the smoke. Nice to see everyone getting in the spirit.
At the end of Thunderfuck, there's voices
amongst the feedback which sound as if they're saying 'goodbye..
sayonara... see you round', etc. Sid you know at that point that the end of
The Wildhearts was imminent? Were you giving us a subtle hint? Or am I just
talking bollocks because it's pure coincidence?
Ben Wright
The voices are me and our then soundman Tom Abrahams. We wanted to make the end of such a noisy album quite emotional. We felt like something was wrong, but not to the extent of how it ended up. The Wildhearts always had a knack of predicting the future. There was a song recorded before the first EP called Truth on which we wrote about everything that happened to us for the next five years. As they say, be careful what you wish for.
I'm forever trying to find out what's being
said behind the music as Caprice plays out. No matter how loud I play the song
it still sounds like incoherent whisperings. Is something actually being
said?
Greasy Brummy
No, it is in fact incoherent whispering.
Who the hell are the Toy Dolls? Ben Wright
The Toy Dolls are a band from the north east featuring a mental little nutter called Olga. They play speed-pop rock 'n' punk, and sound quite unlike anyone you've ever heard before. Check out their first album, Dig That Groove Baby. Classic.
Did you ever think that the original If Life Is Like A Love Bank video would ever really be allowed on TV? Simon Lee
We knew full well there was no chance in the world that the TV companies would show a hardcore porn video. We were at war with the record company and were against making expensive / boring / arse-kissingly corporate promo videos. It worked.
Do you ever get an itch on stage when you are in
the middle of a song? Do you try and put off scratching it until the end of the
song, or do you try and subtly scratch it using the microphone / a fellow band
member / some other implement?
Simon
Lee
No, I can't ever remember feeling anything on stage except exhaustion and severe adrenalin.
I've just heard Sonic Shake and I absolutely
love it - congratulations on another brilliant song! Will it be on the Silver
Ginger album? What are the Silver Ginger songs like compared to this one? Who
did the drums on Sonic Shake?
Richard
Steckles
Yes, Sonic Shake will appear on the Silver Ginger album. (That's me playing the drums.) The rest of the album sounds like it's related to that tune but not twins. If you like it, I can guarantee you are going to have a new love in your life when the album comes out. It's fuckin' jam packed with riffs to steal your heart and melodies to steal your girl.
What's Sonic Shake all about? 'Cos it
rawks!
Gaar Sheepdug
Sonic Shake is all about when you receive a revelation that everything you used to believe is quite shite and you are REALLY onto something this time. That is, until next time.
You said when you were working with Devin that
he's more of a solo worker and you're a team player when it comes to
writing music. Are the Silver Ginger songs written as part of a team - ie, does
everyone in the band have a say - or do you have all the ideas and write for
all the instruments yourself?
Richard
Steckles
They are all my songs but I want to get a core band to play, and feature some guests. More on that later. But I can always write all of the parts for all of the instruments, it's just that if someone puts their own ideas down the result is always more personal and therefore more fun to listen to. Being the boss is boring.
Twix or Bounty? Discuss!
Big Dan
Twix. Are you kidding? Two great slabs of chocolate toffee biscuit versus a couple of half-arsed coconut thumbs? Wise up, biggun.
Revels or Skittles? Which of these sphere
shaped confectionery items do you prefer?
Big Dan
Revels? Too much coffee and orange and not enough toffee (when are they going to start labelling those things?). And Skittles are a weak imitation of Tootie Frooties without the style.
Who was Turning American written about?
Kev
Turning American was not written about anyone in particular. I remember I was walking toward Hampstead train station and it just came into my head. A lot of songs do that for me, so I just go with it and hope they explain themselves later. Usually they do but none have been more controversial than that one. Initially it was about sticking to your roots (in my case Newcastle, hence the decision to play Geordie in Wonderland on Top Of The Pops), but the more I've suffered from racist slurs that it's some kind of anti-American song, the more I've steadfastly stuck to my guns.
Now, nearly 10 years later, people are sometimes surprised that I've matured, seen a lot of the world and had my awareness expanded. It's just another Wildhearts song, and not even one of the best. I dare say that in another 10 years and 1000 songs' time someone will remember that song and will have unfortunately met very few new people, changed partners or moved house. We all change and we all have to grow up. This doesn't mean that we have to turn into boring arseholes. Some people are just born arseholes. Me? I'm that arsehole you see running ahead, collecting speed. See you there.
I know you've probably been asked this a
million times, and probably won't want to answer it, but just who is
Turning American about? Is it Ozzy? Also, how do you rate Glasgow Barrowlands
as a concert venue as compared to others around the country? I've been to a
few but I've yet to find one that matches the Barras for
atmosphere.
Bobby Elliott
I'm not going to answer that question again... I just decided. As far as I'm concerned, anywhere in Glasgow is alright by me. Scottish people are just Geordies with their brains kicked out. But I'm sure they'd say the same.
The Wildhearts covered Heroine, so what´s your
favourite Dogs D'Amour song and album and how do you like Tyla´s solo
stuff? I always thought you might have written Turning American about David
Coverdale and his late Eighties sell out. True ? Do you like LA
Guns?
Alex
I'll give you one guess which is my favourite Dogs song... no, I'll give you no guesses, it's that easy. I'm not that familiar with Tyla's solo stuff. I think LA Guns are awful, and Turning American blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...
Harmonicas in rock 'n' roll - what's your view? And who do you prefer, Tony Bennett or Dean Martin? Gavin Beckers
Harmonicas? They sort of rock in a little piano way. OK with yer guitars but you wouldn't want an album full of it. And Dean Martin... obviously.
Will you be playing Belfast sometime
soon?
Harry Beers
We can't play Belfast due to some major political rally going on at the time we could have showed. But don't worry, I've had a brilliant time every time I've been to Belfast so there's no way I wouldn't repeat the experience. I'll be back.
I've always wondered how you hooked up with
Mick Ronson for Earth Vs The Wildhearts. I saw Mr Ronson when the Hunter /
Ronson Band came through Texas a couple of years before he died, and it was
like watching God play a gig. His rig consisted of a just a Fender twin and a
couple of stomp-boxes, but the tone was incredible. Did he record with this
same rig?
Blake Johnston
We met Mick when he was due to produce our first album. Due to health problems he ended up only playing on it, but the experience couldn't have been richer. He had nothing with him but a battered old blue Telecaster which he didn't even play, opting instead to share our one Gibson that we had at the time. And he made us look like the amateurs that we were.
What on Earth does "all of good the boys and
girls in the world do the Channel Bop" mean?
Paco Tomas
It's a head thing. You either Channel Bop or you do not.
I may just be being dumb, but what exactly does
"Locos Tambien" mean?
Rich
Byrne
"Crazy also." It's Mexican (or should I say Spanish).
Many of your songs have a majestic sing-along
quality that is rarely matched. Bearing this in mind, would you ever consider
giving Ian Broudie a run for his money and writing an unofficial England
(assuming that we qualify) Euro 2000 anthem that would unite the whole nation?
How about calling it '(Don't Fear) The Sweeper' or
summat.
Martyn Brown
No problem, except he's got a manager to get him shit like that. Me? I just got God. And he don't watch football.
If you could assemble the ultimate band of the
Millennium, who would be in it?
Martyn
Brown
The ultimate line up would feature me, Devin Townsend, Willie Dowling and Alex Kane, with special guest appearances from Dregen and The Wildhearts.
With the move to Mushroom, what became of Round
Records? The last thing I knew was that you and Pete Winkelman were looking for
bands to sign up on the label.
NiG
Round Records still exists, but I need some serious time off to really do it justice. So we aren't signing anyone just yet.
I know that you don't like Malmsteen or Vai for their technical playing, but what do you think about Joe Satriani? When The Wildhearts were touring in Japan, did you eat a lot of sushi? Makito Kawata
Joe Satriani puts me to sleep. Sushi keeps me awake. I'll stick with the fish.
I'd like to know the words of the TV Tan
chorus. I've heard so many different versions ('so so KO', 'so
soak it up', etc). And what does 'waking up with an 8.2'
mean?
Brina Francaville
The words are 'so so KO', as in an overdose of the ordinary. '8.2' is a reference to earthquakes measured on the Richter scale, as in headaches reaching Herculean proportions.
After ploughing my way through this web site for
the first time (an excellent investment of the last couple of hours I must
say!), I find that my suspicions about Tokyo Suits Me are true. This is not the
complete set running through in its original track order. I love live albums,
and have been waiting for The Wildhearts' offering for years, but one thing
I can't stand is a live album being made up of different shows or edited
versions of one show. I always feel that the thing loses its integrity and that
the band must have something to hide. After seeing the band 13 times over eight
years I know they haven't got anything to hide. Even when they were crap
they were hilarious! So, why did you release an edited version of the gig
featured on Tokyo Suits Me?
Scotty
Ramone
What on Earth are you talking about? The live album was made up of one show. Don't doubt the authenticity of your heroes. Artistic liberties taken into account, live shows don't always sound like they look. Therefore mixing the songs into a different order is essential for your listening pleasure. You sure are hard to please. Send me your CD and I'll gladly refund. I wouldn't mind an extra copy myself. I actually like it.
Are there any Wildhearts bootlegs that you
recommend, or are they all just a waste of dosh?
John Naylor
Pretty much all of the Japanese bootlegs. They sure beat Camden.
It seems that there are some letters on the back of
your main guitar. What do the letters say?
Junji
They say something very special.
Why don't you ever play Baby Strange before
Nita Nitro or Cold Patootie Tango before Caprice during the live
shows?
Makito Kawata
Because we already did that on the record.
My question is about the excellent B-side Skychaser
High. Every time I hear this song it reminds me of Xmas. Is this because it was
written around that time or were you influenced by a classic Xmas song? Me ma
says it reminds her of John Lennon.
Matthew Batey
It was influenced by a number of songs too numerous to mention. The same ones John Lennon used to rip off! I hate Xmas.
What do you think about them wanting to close down
the Mayfair in Newcastle?
Lesley
They've been closing the Mayfair down for about 10 years. If they do, it'll be a shame but things must move on.
I shaved my hair off a couple of months ago and
have decided that I look like a total gimp without it. I was just wondering,
after you got yours chopped, whether you styled it as you went along growing it
again, or just did the good old 'don't cut it till it grows back'
routine.
A. Slaphead
I found that girls like it better short. That may change your mind. But if you do grow it back, style it as you go along otherwise you'll look like a pair of curtains.
Where do you keep your collection of vinyl records
while you are homeless?
Sachiko
Nakabayashi
I keep 'em in storage.
When we were bored in college, we were listening to
my mate's CD player and realised that the intro to Getting It sounds a lot
like the Quantum Leap theme tune. Know what I mean?
Ryan Abbott
What's Quantum Leap?
What's the best way to get a record deal? How can my band avoid getting fucked by the record companies? Sven
Give a good blowjob. There are no guarantees. Just don't be crap so that you can live with yourself if you don't get one immediately. And by the way, all record companies will fuck you. That's what they do.
How was your stay in Japan? How did you become
involved with a Japanese movie called Shogun Cop?
Junko Kusumoto
Japan was, as always, a spiritual revelation. The people from the film got in touch with me, flew me out and became friends for life. There are some very, very special people living in Japan and I'm a very lucky guy. Puffy rule.
How good a guitarist was Jef? Was CJ not the best
guitarist the Wildies ever had (apart from you, of course)? How does Alex Kane
compare?
Joseph Whibley
Jef is a fantastic guitarist. There really isn't any better player between Jef and CJ. There's enough room in the house of rock 'n roll for both of them to get beds. And Alex is the landlord.
What do you think of The Corrs? Is it possible to
be a long term fan of The Wildhearts and yet fall for the haunting sounds of
those clearly beautiful Irish lassies?
Paul Reid
I think the singer of The Corrs is so good looking that I want to puke when she comes on the telly. I can only get over the nausea by reminding myself that she has such appalling taste in men (Robbie Williams? I mean, come on, girl!).
Any chance of a killer collaboration with Norman
Cook (AKA Fatboy Slim)?
Paco
Tomas
I'd be well into getting a Fat Boy Ginger gig going on. Worlds would shift, dogs would fly, trees would jive. I think you can all dig that. Er... baby.
I live in California USA and I'm a Wildhearts
fanatic! I have never been able to get a Wildhearts T-shirt, though. Can you
help me out?
Anon
I'm trying to get a hold of some T-shirts but I'm an awfully busy man and selling stuff from the Wildhearts takes a back seat to most of the other stuff. You have my deepest sympathy for being born in California.
Was 29 x The Pain a phrase you came up with
yourself? 'Cos there's a Swedish hardcore band called 59 x The Pain and
I wondered if they'd got the name from the same source or if they're
just twice as depressed as you were?
Graham Ross
There's a Husker Du tune called 59 x The Pain. And I figured because of Husker Du, I wasn't feeling as depressed as Bob Mould. So I was only feeling 29 x The Pain. Hence the far too cryptic mentions of all the great 'relief' bands. And no, I'm not going to write down all the bands featured in the lyrics.
What would be your line-up if you could make your
own supergroup? Mine would be a bit like this: Ginger, Danny, Ritch, CJ, Willie
Dowling, Jef.
Scott
Andrews
I don't really like groups today. They are a bit too retarded for me. Bunch of baby birds waiting for someone to drop 'em a worm. The only reason record companies are so brainless is because groups let them be stupid. And greedy. Nobody gets passionate any more, it's all 'yes sir... ooh, a single sir?... Thank you sir'. So what's the big honour of getting singles out that renders bands success-hungry goons? It's only promotion for god's sake. Things should be promoted. Record companies that pat themselves on the back after a writer has made them a name should have their hands cut off...slowly.
How do you react when people call you a
genius?
Matt Woodhead
I wish they could think of something else to say.
What's V-Day about?
Matt Woodhead
The day that all of the shit makes sense. V could stand for 'vagrant' when you're down, or 'Viagra' when you're up.
When are you gonna get your arse over to Finland
and work with the best? You've probably bumped into Mike Monroe working
with Backyard Babies (where Hanoi Rocks went the rest followed). It would be
great if you two could kick out some jams.
Deano
I've never really met Mike Monroe properly. On the times I've tried to say something he always looked really nervous.
Please make a sentence, using the following three
words: monkey / toupee / aquae.
Miki
Imada
A monkey walks into a bar and asks a toupee, "What's an aquae?". And the barman says, "Is this a fuckin' joke?"
