swans interviews

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\ D\ \ S t, o+7 I?/ /, ,@ ^% wk /o Volume 30 February 1995 BONUS ! DNDJEBS 7O'SINGLE ALICE DONUT ALTERNATIVE TV COPSHOOTCOP DOME SI^IANS rdooL DEVO THE DICKIES

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Page 1: Swans Interviews

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V o l u m e 3 0F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 5

BONUS !

DNDJEBS7 O ' S I N G L E

ALICE DONUTALTERNATIVE TV

COPSHOOTCOPDOME

SI^IANSrdooLDEVO

THE DICKIES

Page 2: Swans Interviews

Thursday . . . l r e l l r I r n up f o r an i n te r v i eL , r . r i t hL l . S \ , r a n s . S , , j s l i L , 1 L o o o d ' - I , . x . , . ] L , L n Cd a - m n I f a c a j s i n L h F n i ; d l . o f n o r h ^ r : l ' I h J ' v 'establ ished tbenselves in rented acconnadationsonevhere up in Highgatermiles fron lhe tubes ta t i ons ,even n i l es (a11 u lh i l l ) f r on ' ! he busrou tes . . . I an no t i r n l r essed r . I f i na l l y a rack ' Lhe l l

d o \ * n . a n o . ' n o o F d ! ' . l i ^ h ; f u i r a a n d J a c l o . r eb o r - n ' o c r i - c L l y i r ' a r r n i . n g r l , u t T s L ' 1 | l h i n t - L h .l o c a t i ^ n , o l r r o ' v c b " t s l g h L l y j r o " - a l p " o l - ' a L c

\ 6 , " i 2 t o r ( y i c h a - f s r n - a L o b : r -v a L i ( n i l E D r - r n o r s t l ^ . o n l ! c o J n L r v n L a ,rvorld r, 'here lou only get 4beers in i sixpackl ')and I r n ca ln enougb to n roceed .F i r s -L l h i ns rLh i sl a l ' s L o i r r - i r p r r T b - G - a t A n n i h l l a t o r r , b " r . n rlh.. f i rst 6i" 'ans refease since 1992.\"/hy ha-. t f .erebeen sucb a l . r n l gap ?I ' i ichael ; l , lerd released ai leasl an album and. c i r o l o ^ r 1 1 . . , . n \ , , r \ ' w F e , a ^ r l F n w o . ' . c : c , . , , I l

es the i ' Ior ld of Skin albuns and various l iveal-buns,SorI just thought i l r ;as t irne to tal(e ab reah ,bo th f o r ou r au i i ence and us . ! l € j us t Look5 or 8 mcnths . loin! nothlng excepi r+ri t inrrbe-for-" ve beg:.n to geL involved r ' / i l ,h 'uhe neira - 5 u r , r a J d L l n r ' . ' i s o p o L i n l , o l v . o : n L a l k : r gL o m a j o r l a b l s ! z , n . i L l 1 L a l . o L o o k u o a f o t o :L i n - . . . b u t L h a L t i a s a . r a s L c f L i n . . r o l \ j ' I ' rc a n e o f i t . . . s o l h e n r a i i e r x e r d d € c i d e d n o l t ouse a na jo r r l . r e had t o f i n i a ne \ ' l abe f . I t j us i- Look up a l c l o i l ime rbu 'L a l so gave us no re f r eeL i rne t o do o ' l hc r l h i nEs . r

T a l k i n g a b o i . n a j o c l a b l . , l o u - t i J . , . r ' L ' .l . :CA d id ! r t see rn i o be pa r ' ' r i cu la f l y success lu l ,but in 6aJ1y uays you dlC tesl the grourrd forfuture ralternativer bands Nho dici have successon rna jo r f abe l s . . .l i ichael ;

' !Je Er"e 1,/ i th I jCA from 1?89 to 199O,andit -"ras a disasicr! Cu: vhofe career has been ac j s : l s ' " ' I . . f l : . . S f i r . a r c j , 1 l - U . _ - . o r \ . . . jn L a n , \ , . r d a i L ' . . . j - l n L d t o a s b . i i . : , ' o ii iCA vhich ras sLrtDosedll . staffed bj ' peol ic morein-l ine 1.dth al ler-nai ive Jrusic, anci l .re \ ' ;ere sulr-posed to be 'uh. nair i 'Lirust cf t ,ai subsrdiar ' l ' .But r i6ht alter. r . ie signed,l . lCA r;eni t l tr-u a bigshahe-ulr,ano .. ' i r tuaify everyone 1.e hai bean e;-pectlng i ,c i ior l , \ ' i ' ,h eitner got f i ieo o1 1]1.! jN.Jor'-una'uefj . , aa:cl_ cn-. albun ve r.rere abl: tcl : :r t confanjr: ari i , .rarc t |en ln ?. fosi: ic|

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s+ "a l t r Jouna : ; i r r e , : c r r i s . . . so rN i i h i i i ; r - eco rd ,, , : , . ' ! r i ed i i r e r a i o i l abe , r s aga i r r becaus . i l r i e;nyone,ve ccLi l i l acl iainly stand to have e. Jagu-fa r ' i ncone rbu ! ) iDne o i t hen see rnec t o 8 r3 : !r, 'hat The Slia]:s real l :r is,or hov to lrarl ,ei us,..Bu i r c€ r ta i n l y ,b i . . . k i n 39 r I have t o adn i t r l he -dno idea ho_.,/ _"o ccn'urol thiagsrso 1 just Bcisuc ] ! ed -1 t ' u l . t r r . . D : ' c cess .Pa r : t i cu la r - y i 1 t Leg ta tes , I r vas ac t i ng as ny o lm marage i rand ass r . r ^ 1 . I r r a s f - - ^ L i c " l l y r e t d . . . t o , 1 j u ! L c a n ' L -b . 1 n ' , _ L i s L a n o d l \ r : L h L t r o s e , a ) - . ^ a - L ' , l tbecause l hey r re a : : sh re \ {d as He l l . I I ' a s man ipu -fated and sirer. 'ed arounrl qui 'Le a blL.. .Nhat l ' -asthe \ " r o r s t exp€ r i ence f r ve eve r ha4 r1 pe rsona l l yan s i i l - L i n deb ' ! f r on t ha t r ecc rd . . .T s t i f f o l r e1av ' r e r s . I s t i l l o l r e accoun tan t s . I have neve r"e"b.re.6d froin i t , f inanc ia1fy. Anci as lar as' . h . I L ^ o r d i L . . 1 f 8 o e s , r . s o o j , l c h r e r r j : 1 . a 1a -Lbum -h1n any o f ou r o l h . r r . co rds rb l caJsel { C A j u s t d r . o p J c d i L s L r a i [ \ i " , v . i L L r a s j : s La t o ta l . u t t e r ' . desp i cab le d i sas !e r . . . I

certainly,€he I Burning Worfdr 1,? doesnrtseern to have'been your nosl successft l l c.reativ-i 1v . e i l l l e r . , .- i l

v a s h a o p v L / j L h D a r L s o j L . l i o n ' L l j \ "uy vo .a f s on i t aN a l i . 1 r h i r k . L i : - l n ' l vo - . j 'b 'ecause rve uere l iorking r"r i 'uh an ouiside prodrjce! '-althor I ihink Bi l I l ,asveff has done soneg r r a L s l u f f j n h i s o r , T l - j g h r r b L : . : r . u s L o j o n r Lv o r t ' - u s ' - o b c l f o d L , c e o b y s o . l o o r L l : c " -j u s L . r a n l F d - u t r r v o : a l l y r a n d 1 1 . " 1 ' s o n j ! i ' :' . j e o u . . . . T r l . i n k J a r b o c s o l ' n c : g r . 3 t o n L ) l r _ -reco rd rand I t h i nk t he songs {e re good rbu tover.r l l i t iust i .rasnrt produced in ahe correclr , r ay f o i s ans . . . i ' u cou ld r ve been a S rea ! r eco rdbu ' " i t a f i r " en t r v rong . . . I mean r l can r t denouncej L Lo r , l l l l . , oecausc a l o l o f Jeo l '

' - I ac ' , u1 - - l 'l i 1 . . . . I l j k c " b a c i u a l s o n " s r t r t I r c r l l :do rhinl! that n) ' . /ocals suclted! 1 realf l ' got soup t i 3h t , 1 cou l i n r t cope \ , ' i i ) : t s i 1 i Lasue f l s i t -L i n C L r i r h e j u s L s . c m r ' : L o i ' - a L - n ' . o n l . : s i . nL o \ ' / i r d s t L c v o c a l s . . . l . o u f o i t l u o r : . l : t _ L l a Ebecause I j us t cou ldn r t r e l ax . l i l o i i ha t l r nblanlng biro. . .but i t vas the labef r" 'ho r,roLrldnrl ,f e t us t r oduce ou l se f ves .even i ho i \ r ( : r d p roducedeveryihi,ng ! 'erd done u!t6 that point.. . thei '

. ̂ s t , i - r 1 / o J . i n r L l e t u s d o i t . r\ f To b rg -n i r l t h ,Su . rn . r as o r : g i na l y D ' r c ' i v -d

as a l band l , bu i ove r i he yea rs i ! ha . c l ea r " l y

I ' i i chae l ; Yes r tha i r s ho l r i t i s . . . obv ious l y r lc o l l a b o " b L - v . J g L r o n l : / \ r i L \ . J c r b o r b u L

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r o | p i r . v L - r . u c h n y l - o . : . L , i l t i - . j r l , s i , .do€s o t l l - . r l r o j ec t s . . . r . r l l h Swans , f r n i i r e ! r c -d - r ' c r , 1 r n c o r , h a l d h a l N o r I n . " n r s l ' n : j , 1 . LL h . , . o 1 1 . I , L , L L o g e L r " r , j L r s ' o L i , r 1 n . . T L r sd - 1 6 r . n L , l i l e r n a v i n g p . b a n o i . . - ' ! " f o r L o -" r r . , ! . . , - r - h . , . . . - t ! / i i r " , " n L L L n . . . i ! r :k i r . L ; : { : 1 . v " J J j n i h ' r r ' ' F t l . o r . . r ' l ' \ o ' ' r

r 1 y - ' r J . r b o - d o e . c ' n L r i l r L - y - i r ' r l l .

;u: yoLr do hav-o an afbum due tc be ref€aseri int l- te n€ai fu'uure j !rst as r l .1lcha-.1 Gi13r . . . \ ' i rJr didyou f , : . . f i he naed to sepe ra - ,e t l r l s f l ' c r1 rS , , ans rr r r a t e r i a l . . .I i ichaei ; l ie- l1, e.. /en '"hor ihe Sl ians is nJi tr1'o-. ; . i , : L ' : . o L . - s t r l j j . l , a . C - r r r l ' tb L r i l l i l r u s i 4 , c . a L " f j I r i . J ' . . 1 . . - o nthe rccor'cr loLi l . ,novrnake the 1,/rol c ai/cnt ha:r l--en.! , he ieas on i h i s so lo a l bun r i t l s r no rc cen i redcn r l ]y t . 'oi Lls anri l iy songsrt\e lyr ics and rryvo i cc . I r l cn ' ' , t h i nk I cou ld t ve ( l one i r t . . " . , , r i L l , i nt he co r l e : i t c f s r l ans r i t \ ou f (1 r : . . b . co r€ : oo

le r sonna l , and I ' " r y no t t o do t l l a l v l i l i nSwans , . . t h i s a fbu r i i s i a r more l e l so l l na l - r r no reto do w i t h rne : r s r . f e l ' son r i t r s ve ry eno t i ona i .

D o y u f l t 1 l j r s L l r o k i n o n 0 1 r . -. " L - s r "b r s Su3 r .5 - s . l oL no I :l , ' l lchael I I feel I do h.rve to do t l ' lose ol, lreri l : i ngs r l ' have l o kecp 1 ' ' o r k i n i . , . ve d id l heSkin Inaierial beci iuse ,re fe.Li, ai that t iselh : r t 1 ,1 1 {511n4 to vo l k - Loge ihe l rou t s i de o lSvans , t c c r ca te a d i i f e ren t a ' u rnosphe re . . . bu lthen ive r.rere able to incorporate those idcasint o S\.jans as \,',.f1. . .

Sr,/ans has ah,-ays haci a relLrtat ion of belngmusicafly very !o'",erfulrbu'u i t seerns lhat re')cen t l y r you r use o f r ! o e r r n l L l l i n you r r nus i c hasbecone nuch mc re sub t l e . . .M i chae l ; I hope so . . . I nean t t c ne rBob Dy lansineine lGates of Edenr is I i iuch.nucir nore l ]olLar_fu l " l h i n }1e ta lL i ca . . . 1 suwose i t a l f d . : l endson whai r 'ou ihlnj i of as rpor"-erfulr.bul I afwaysthink of- thinss in terns

-ci ihe st iength ul lrh

' r h i ch t l - ! ey r r e -p resen l

ed . . . f l ke r i o me , j us thearing John Cale alcne on *" lre piano isi nc red ib f y ! ove r i u1 . . .

Iour nori r .-c€n_u albuns have been qui ieL . n s L l - v . b u L a l - o _ . J ! r - c i s f : . ' o n s L r u c l i . . .I : i c i i , " l ' ; : c s , i o l l ' r i v r v l b : ' 3 . b ' , r ' r 1donr-! go into a sLudic jus_L ic Iecoad ho\,- aband sounds . . . I i J ; nL i o c rea te a l r hc le exDc i -i ence r ' ha t na . kes i t i a r Eo r€ i t l ' , e res t i ng . . 'The albums ihat ha.i€ b€en i1_e biSJes'" inf luel lceso n ] l c , - h i : l , s - . f : I ' { , - ' l : : j i c ' r " \ ' s L _ tl o r r r ' o : ' I h . ; l n . . - i J u m t r l ' ! ^ l l i , y s l i ( L a j La p r i o a c n L o r , / a ) ' o s n i . l : ' 1 8 ' - n l - u m . . . t o f l e r L l 1 ' r s,"rhar rnade thel i ] :reat.I l ike alburrs lo be morel i ke a f i lm ex l€ ! ' i ence r ra ihe r i han i us -u a co l i c c- t i on o t son i s . I nean t l su l f ose some bandgccu ld be i n t€ r€s i i ng t o r a vh l1e i f you i us ' urecorded then playing theif , songs in a roomr orl it o r oe , t ha t r s t l , e r nos t un in ' u€ res l i ng r l h i ng i nthe r"rdr1d.1 rnuch lrefer ' :o 'uake lhe sound-sources,mani?ulat;: 'Lher to l ief1r and mal{e 'Lhen

in to some th in i e l se .Do you f lnd i t r4ore convenient to be able

to conitruc'u an afbun vlth t ire cD fonnal i i lnino,ra'uher l \an having ' io structure lhe ausacin l i ne r . / i t h d i f f e r cn_ ' r eco rd s i des , . .

i I certainly donrt \ tor i i \ , / i ih vinyl ln :nincanv r , r o ro . I \ r o : k \ ' . i L ' ; n i nuLes i r r \ ' . n . r . . . T t r ', : l ' . l y 1 I c a s i I L , ) r ; \ \ , : 1 1 C l s r p r s o n ; l J i ' r nno t f e l l sh i s t i c abou t l , i l r y l . . . I r ea l l y can ' !t e l t t he d i f i e re r ce be l v€ �en r ' ' , e cwo fo r i r a i s . . .r f laybe vinyl ls sorla tarmerrbut I i r inda f lkethe ha rde r sound l . oD c3n 6e1 - cn CD. . . I 1 i l i cCts because i l { :nables you tor 'rotk tc1,.ards acon t i nuos D iece . . .

l iould yau salr t l :at cot-rs'"uci ing an aibun iorCD.as one uho le l - . i c ce . i s no re l i l i e cons t ruc l i nSa i i ve pe r fo | rnan ;e r i n ' l ha t t ) . ou t re l u t i i ne i oge -the r mus i c t c be hea r ' o as a 1 "ho1e p iece ?l l ichael i W€ll , the aibunt isnFu a \tofe !e"i .Jr-nance , i t i s huno recs o f 1 l t t l e l € r f o ta tanc€s Du ttoge the r . . . i t r s ce r ' , a j n1y no l pe r fo l i i r e . r . l i v c i r .l , he s tud io ,o r an : i t l i l r 1 I . . . 1 -11 -hough -Lhc , , ' ay i - l i a tyou ge l i o hea r i t r as a con t i nuous p iece r i sn ^ - o i l . h . a . i n . F

- " , . , - f o r ' t n . - . . . - l t v 'a l l ' c a c i y s a i d r i l r s l r o r e f i h e a n o v i e t o m e . . .a n d , o f c o u r s e r l i v e p e r f o r r a n c e N i i f a I l i a y s b enuch more innrediaLe and spontanecLrs.

I bef ieve you have a book ready fo l ' lubl i -c a t i o n s c o n ?l " i j c ) r a e I ; Y e s r i t r s c a l l e C r T h e C o n s u f l e r r a ! ( i

Page 3: Swans Interviews

' . . d . i { - ' q-otner stories' .and i-urs ir. l,.,g'purii.f,.o-iry

'1 n r l L r L l i r h " d b y/ . i . 1 - . u l t . I l ' qRol l - in st l )ubl is l t ing comlan:r t

. ^ - 1 r . . i i 6 n ^ f q h . r ' 1 - q t o . i €r c o 1 l : o ' : l - : . o : j t : d : ' o v n l

1 ras o r i g i na l f y t ubL i shed r l r o - . t l . y l n | he1 r a s o T . l g a n a l | l | y | u D ! 1 s n e o , I I I o - q ! r . J r l r ! r ' e

l i l zh t i es .bu l t i , : r es t o f \ . r h i ch has becnvrl iren i iDl inr cbe I ?-s'L vea: ' . I tve al1.ra)rL'r j i ien i iLr l ing c l te I ?-s 'L yeaI . I r . /e a l1.ra) 'sb e e n i n t e r e s l e d i n 1 " . r 1 t i n 8 r b u t ' L k j . n d astoDted b.-ck 1I) l l re la i le Eighl- i { :s ius 'u becaus-"I r ; a l f v r , , a n i e d i o c o n c e n l r a t e o n m u 3 i c . B u tonce \ . je nc. / - . , j out of l le1r lork C1!J/r I lounalthat I he( i enough l ix i ' . to lnork on i 'L oncea g a i n . . .

I o u l 1 ' e m c n t i o n e dc c n - . l { i e r ' ) r c u r r r u s i ch3vc any as-ni la i :L,Jn5iha-, nediurn, !erhap s

se\ 'cra1 l i rnes tr lai J/cuj n i i i n i c - l e f i i s . . . d o y o u

tc r, /ork rroaa. closc1)' \ ' r1_,lr!r :o(iucing sol in. i t rack3 or

o o o , , : . / ^ - : b i . a r ' - o r u , i r - ' ' r ,; t . . r ' : . i u i ; L - , r . . o n J . . 1 a 1 ] t ' t

. : . r b , t , o r ' : . r ' . J a ' _ r r i n ' . - r ' r s l r a n s' l i L m . r l l . i : . r ' y a n s l ' o p ] _ c " '

s o . r . r e i l f h a v e a f o t o f s ' u u i i c o r n i n f . u ! .

Jaiooe ; I ih ink i . 'e I re Solni : to be v"r ] '

b r l s y f o r t h e r e x ! l i c a r c r s o . . .

An(1 - !here i i , endedrbecause "heir busy s 'h '_d-

ule neai t thal anothei ' in teavie ' , t nal L-niJ ' r i r -

u 'ues al taJrr an. l ny busy. schedule meanl that ' I

hai !o f i id my i ray cut ta darkest Highgate,al ld

b a c k a c l o s s L o n d o n ! f o r J r e l l m o r € n u s : c " '- - l i ia vou e. ter gel t i r , t - ' fcel ing of deja. vu ?

. a h , L r _ j . . r o a - v r a r o k r o l L n i r d y L a n o t \ r

: l o v , I u ' s u l . o : P h a n l o m P r ' " n i . n c j e s g a i l " '

! . l o i . i h s . 1 . - t - t r , " i i - a L o r r L h r ' e i p . nr h r 6 e d a y s , l l r a t r s t r ' e i t v p r o f i f j . c . A n d t h e y r l e

c . L . i n r i i : 1 ; . r . : l : L r . ^ o l , - , L o ' . n L L o s .i , - . r , t . r n ' ' n o 4 i o . - J U s L d o n ' L d r L 1 , 1 - ' -

L n n , L . i j r ! O : ) ) o o v : . : . o _ ! L l . L t l F y . v o J o i

: . . . r ' ' . . U L f , i o o o . N ' x L u p , U o n c r U J l . ' ' -

L o u . . J . u : , n c ' 5 : - r y l o _ l r s o 1 ; t n o r r ' t h a m -

n , r , ' . 1 r , - a l o n L o L l c - _ J 1 ( _ r . A g a i 1 t L o t a 1

b . ! , - l o r . n l L o L I i n o i k i d ' t ' t h e p e r l e c L

) h a : r L o _ L 1 j n r n - n r t l I d s " y . . . T o u l r d i " g u s l j n " ,

i - 1 o 1 7 . 1 e n t . - n L l L j n g . . . 1 o , r r l y l Y o u c a n t L . € ' e l

b r - t v , . u c L n . . v ] a L ' l ' y l . r , L o b r ' L r F . . . L n F

r . r . " 1 i t ' : - ' H a v n y . r n l ! D - o l a b l j n a J F s ' a n

v . - , l . a . t t . b r L , - r s . , r l a i n l y n o L m y c u f . o l E o c '

I s i ' , r f , 1 ' a c e r ' s o n g s r j r r s t L o s e e b o \ l t - g o e s l

t , , , o " . l f r r . L u r ' a r ] i . A i L ' r a . l I ' l c a n s i ' i l l g e l

h o n q . i n L - m , " o - ' B a L r s f j e l I P D r . ' L \ a L ' s a r I ^ e

u a v L o 9 o . . .' - ' , " i " ' o u - " i " l u . a n i n L n c l ' b r j r v j s j L ! o t h '

U n d . r u o r ' . r - 6 c i r - ^ t r f 1 " v i 5 C u t r b u i i L e n d s u J

I J a s L n f T . 1 ' F n i n g . T r " a v j s C u : r f : _ s l o n ' i a t e t

a n o b v " o r ^ L h b : l . a . t o f L h - r ; g h l ' A g o o o -

n o i : r ' . r u n . i l L 1 , i o a n l ! n o n p o ' L h a l o l ! ! r - n e r ar o . r < i i . , n : " . I l a y b ' . T J - a v j s C L r l l " j l l P L b " ! L e r l ,

l , l ichaEl i Yeah,but that . rs l l i :e . isk lng ner ' ,noufoI havc anl ' anbi t : i on-c

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