6th September 2000
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As I'm Japanese, I read your original song lyrics
written in English and also the ones translated into Japanese. Sometimes when I
read the Japanese ones, I notice that some of the words or sentences are
translated into slightly different meanings to the English ones. I know it's
very difficult to translate song lyrics into a foreign language, 'cos there are
many slang words and some nuances which don't have any suitable expressions in
another language. But what do you think if your lyrics are translated and have
slightly wrong meanings? Do you think translations are always necessary with
your CD? By the way, I try to enjoy reading your English lyrics and translate
them into Japanese in my own words and expressions.
Shiho
I think that translations of the lyrics (however strange) are good for Japanese fans to get a little of the meaning. Some fans don't speak English. Some of the translations have had me laughing out loud when people have told me what they say!
Could you graciously scribble down a couple of
tasty bands doing the rounds? I stopped buying Kerrang! 'cos it's like Smash
Hits, and I'm sick of West Coast home boys keepin it real. Anything homegrown
on the up?
Juan
The Yo-Yo's and Grand Theft Audio! Groop Dogdrill. Foil. Fantomas. Chumbawamba (honest, I like 'em). Atari Teenage Riot. I hear Stomping Ground are supposed to be great too.
What do you think of Dante Bonutto's work with The
Wildhearts?
Arthur
Dante's work was usually under-appreciated, and largely by me. I used to love pissing people off and Dante got a lot of that sometimes. A&R is an often thankless task but he stood his ground and stayed faithful, and that's above and beyond the call of any man's duty. Dante has proven himself both as a friend and as a supporter.
Do you ever find that you come up with killer
melodies when you're on the shitter or pouring your milk onto your cornflakes?
What's going on there? It's as if magical melody fairies pop it in there, eh?
Also, was Girls Are Better Than Boys originally for Alice Cooper?
Porl
I figure all those melodies are hanging in the air like fly strips, and those in tune at the time pluck them down and use 'em. Kinda like being online when someone else is. That's why you should never be scared to try something new. Chances are everyone is thinking of it but don't have the balls to do it. Girls Are Better Than Boys was never for Alice Cooper. He's far too mean and industrial for me.
Do you have a name picked out for the baby
yet?
Lynda
Yeah, we're gonna call him Jake!
Did you feel like twats on that truck making the I
Wanna Go Where The People Go video? I would've felt a complete tool. How much
of a priority were making videos? Oh, and Beautiful Thing You is the greatest
song ever in the history of music.
Si
Fillus
We were far too hammered to feel anything approaching twattishness. You've gotta do these things properly (hic) otherwise the embarrassment can fuck with you for life. Videos were always a necessary pain in the arse for The Wildhearts, but I'm really looking forward to making them with SG5.
1) What do you think of the Jon Spencer Blues
Explosion?
2) Do you like Sugar Puffs?
3) Is Tim Smith really as cool as he seems?
4) New Bomb Turks or The Humpers?
Anon
1) I think they're shit. Overrated noise with no bass or charm. A fave with
the 'destined-to-be-in-crowd', - y'know, the kind of people that actually think
Boss Hog are more than a cute girl. Guitar Wolf eat JSBE for breakfast and use
thunder as ketchup and lightning as toothpicks.
2) Apart from the aftertaste, yeah.
3) Much, much cooler... and then some. Like 'Eskimos on ice' cool.
4) I never heard The Humpers, so New Bomb Turks.
Were The Wildhearts ever influenced by No Means No,
and do you have any idea if and when the SilverGinger album will be released in
the UK?
Joel, James, Ben &
Dai
Didn't you already ask me this a while ago? Or am I having acid flashbacks?
The new tracks you're recording with Conny are
going to have to be something really special if you want to better the songs on
the album. So, are you taking a different slant or are you recording more songs
in the same vein? Also - and I know this is a little premature - are
you planing a further release for the new stuff, or are you going to do the
usual and give us all a shed-load of cracking B-Sides? And what's with the
dirty great rubber boots, eh?
Mark
Bridgman
The songs that me and Conny wrote are in a different vein to the album. More simple, less melodic and heavier. I don't know which are better but I love 'em all. There will hopefully be loads of great B-sides, but again it's too early to tell you this at the moment. The boots are to keep my feet dry. Why, whaddya use yours for?
Bellybutton or Spilt Milk - which do you prefer
(we're talking Jellyfish here)? I would go with Spilt Milk because of Ghost At
Number One and Sabrina Paste & Plato.
Ash
Bellybutton. I heard it about a year before it came out and the tape I had didn't have a name on it. So I patiently waited to hear something on the radio to find out who the fuck was making this amazing pop / cabaret music. I was pretty gutted when I saw a picture of this band wearing tank tops and 'cat in the hat' head wear, and I went off them instantly. Yes, this does mean I couldn't like a band if they looked like utter cuntlets.
Do you like the Beach Boys?
Sam Weller
I like the Surf's Up album, but my girlfriend is slowly getting me into 'em. I just generally hate anything from the Sixties.
What's Willie Dowling up to?
Mark Leatham
The most talented man in the UK seems to be the most elusive as well. I would love to know where he is and what he's doing, but you know it'll be shit hot.
Have you heard the Grand Theft Audio stuff
yet?
Chris
The GTA album is the best thing you'll hear with dance beats. Like, ever.
Well, congrats on BLM and all, and I think I can
cut the praise here 'cos anyone who's heard it already knows how awesome it is!
I love the fact that you ain't afraid to use whatever will improve a song. Did
Tim Smith take the role of an Executive Producer, coming up with his own ideas
about the arrangements, or were the songs completely worked out when you
entered the studio?
Christoph
Herbert
Tim's very presence in the studio is a thing of inspiration, but the songs were pretty much worked out arrangement-wise before we started. It's a funny one to answer because, as anyone who's recorded knows, everyone gets involved in the studio. It's kinda just like that.
The BLM piccies, especially the one inside the
booklet, fit perfectly for a Japan release. You look like a Manga character.
Speaking of which, do you read Mangas? If so, have you got faves? I'm kind of
afraid to get into another looking at the money it cost me to complete my Akira
and Ghost In The Shell collection.
Christoph Herbert
I like Akira and Fist Of The North Star... anything gory, really.
I was just wondering... my hair is nearly down to
my shoulders; can you recommend anything rock 'n' roll to do with it? How did
you get yours done?
Josh
When in doubt, dye it black. It all depends on what type of hair you have. If it's thin, back comb it. If it's medium, leave it to grow. And if it's thick, have it dreaded. My hairstyle is borne from years of mistreatment and neglect.
Who's your favourite band?
Josh
My favourite band (at the moment) are Guitar Wolf from Japan.
How long did it take you to come up with and
produce the new album, and which songs do you think stand out from the
others?
Mike Martin
The album took about eight months in all to complete from rehearsal to conclusion. As far as songs that stand out go, my personal favourite is probably Anyway But Maybe, but this switches with Take It All, Why Don'tcha all the time.
I was wondering if you've got all your own shows on
tape / DAT / MD. Just curious, 'cos if you're interested, I've got a load of
Wildhearts bootlegs and videos. Maybe you want some of them. Let me know,
baby!
Pissjoy
I hate watching / listening to bootlegs of The Wildhearts. I kinda just see a band being lazier than they could have been. Maybe I'll want to get a hold of your SG5 bootlegs when we get a chance to play live and make some.
I just had to drop you a line to say that I finally
got Black Leather Mojo on import and it's fuckin' brilliant. Without a doubt my
fave record of the year.
Tim
B
Another satisfied customer! Seriously, I have never, in all my experience of making records, witnessed such a positive response to the music that I write. It feels like i just got reborn. Thanks.
Who's your favourite on Big Brother, and what do
you reckon to Nasty Nick?
Nadia
Martin
Nasty Nick was the only good reason for watching that programme, apart from running out of sleeping pills.
What's the new guitar you're pictured with in
Kerrang! (the big pointy one)? It looks fantastic! Also, where did you get the
rubbery trousers from? They look mad yet slightly uncomfortable.
Nick
Guitars by BC Rich. Leathers by Stan.
"Without music life would be a mistake" -
Nietzsche. Discuss.
John
Squires
Without music life would be very quiet, but a mistake? Surely this Nietzsche guy had a really shitty record collection or was into crack. But from the first person that banged a stick against a rock, to the first person that danced to him, music has been a human need, as opposed to old Freddie's assumption that we are somehow in control of it as a commodity. He may as well have said "without oxygen life would be very short."
