Interview Simon Juni 2006

June 2006 by Kevin

Hier könnt ihr noch ein neueres Interview mit Simon lesen, in dem er einiges zu seinen Songs erzählt.
Veröffentlich wurde es erstmals 2006 auf der alten Mishstew Mailingliste und wurde von Kevin geführt.
Thanks Kevin!

Q: When I heard the opening track of your album, "Effigy", my response
was Jesus fucking H......Quite a stormer to open the album. There are
several tracks that seem to cross over. Was this intentional to voice
your views on theology?

A: This subject matter has, for most of my adult life, been high on my
list of things that bother me. I've gone from simply berating
organized religion as a therapeutic haven for the feeble-minded, to
absolutely condemning it as the prime obstacle to the
furtherment/development/liberation of human kind. I'm vehemently
against all forms of lies, mind control and dumbing-down, and
similarly disquieted by grand scale corruption… or any corruption
actually.

The motivation to write songs came from a period of commuting from New
Jersey to NYC. It was a period when I was in a place and situation
which seemed to encapsulate so much of what I hate about the world
today… so much of what is wrong. Looking out of that train window was
like watching a movie of mankind imploding.

I've always believed that songs, and music in general should mean
something. I'm also aware of the adage "write what you know." So,
sitting on that train, fuming with disgust and anger, and deciding to
write songs… the result is Lose The Faith.

Q: How much twelve string is actually on the album?

A: None whatsoever. I didn't even own one at that time.

Q: What guitars were used?

A: My old Zemaitis Metalfront, Dobro, Yamaha and Fender acoustics, a
Squire Strat, Fender Precision bass.

Q: Let's go back to 1985-1986...As a musician back then, what were
your musical influences? What bands did you fancy whilst growing up?
Who do you like now?

A: Musical influences come from all directions, but should not be too
obvious in your own work. I'm as influenced by the worst musicians and
music as I am by the best. When I hear something that offends my ears,
I know never to do anything like that, and when I hear something
inspired, I listen to what it is that makes it sound so inspired… not
necessarily the notes themselves, more the context.

To answer your question more directly, some of my favourite guitarists
are Hendrix, Mick Ronson, Ronnie Wood, Jimmy Page. I was also
influenced by the "new wave" ethic of my generation, which was to move
away from blues-based playing (which all of the above blokes are.) I'm
talking about the sound that started with Joy Division, and continued
through so many bands including PiL, Magazine, Killing Joke, Bunnymen,
Sisters… but I always try to do my own thing and not sound like anyone
in particular… so in the end it's broadly speaking a combination of
very different styles.

Q: What were you groovin' on in the 70's? Were you into punk?

A: Bowie and the Spiders, and The Faces mostly. I used to be around
the rock music of the seventies at bars and parties. I listened to
John McLaughlin and that jazz rock sound for a short while, and then
punk happened. Like just about everyone it made an impression on me.
Punk didn't really last more than about a year, and I quickly got
involved in the local music scene – going to gigs, and starting in my
first band aged about 19.


Q: Where do your culinary talents lie?

A: I just love cooking. I like the creative aspect of looking around
the fridge and deciding what culinary delight to concoct. Since living
in the States, I've perfected the English classics, like shepherds
pie, Cornish pasties, Yorkshire puddings etc etc… because you never
find proper wholesome food like that here. Similarly I've got better
at curries. I make a mean red chili, and can do southwestern cooking
(green chili dishes) better than most restaurants around here. But
I'll have a go at anything.

Q: What is your drink of choice during a session. If I had a case of
something tasty from the Pacific Northwest, etc, would you be able to
help me put a dent in it?

A: When I'm hanging out playing music with the guys it's mostly Tecate
(Mexican beer) and Tequila, or sometimes whiskey, or rum. Honestly, I
drink whatever's going, and have too much of a habit to be very
selective about it. If someone hands me a glass of Dom Perignon I'll
enjoy it with a suitable degree of respect… if someone hands me a
bottle of Bud I'll drink it in 3 minutes and grab another.

Q: Your top 5 films.

A: Time Bandits, Vertigo……… This is really difficult. I like classics
- especially Hitchcock, Kubrick …and Terry Gilliam. I've come to
really miss the kind of old British movies they'd show on TV on Sunday
afternoons, such as Titchfield Thunderbolt, Whiskey Galore, and the
good old WW2 ones like Reach For The Sky. I saw The 49th Parallel the
other night – great stuff!

Q: Who do you admire as a guitar player or musician?

A: I've mentioned some guitarists before, so some other people who I
rate as artists would be Tom Waits, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Jake
Thackray, Lou Reed, Eno…

Q: Have you ever met Carl McCoy or that other geezer Andrew Elderberry?

A: I met Eldritch a few times. It immediately struck me how short he
was, and what a squeaky voice he has. I could never get a conversation
out of him – he used to kind of hold court and expect everyone to
listen. I just thought he was a prat… I still like the Sisters music
though – up to F+L+A anyway.

Q: Any news on Artery or Mindfeel?

The long awaited Artery compilation I've been collaborating on is
manufactured and due for release in August. It's called "Afterwards
(Songs From 1979 to 1983)" available from www.spinneyrecords.co.uk

Mindfeel – we're trying to get a track on a compilation at the moment.
We keep talking about releasing our own CD but nobody's putting up the
cash and making it happen.

Q: I've always thought of you as a very dark character. How goth are
you? If your answer is not very, would you be interested in learning
how to be very goth by someone who is?

A: I've given this whole goth phenomenon some thought over the years,
and generally conclude that "being dark" is probably extremely
commonplace… certainly in earlier life. The goth thing – as a
movement/fashion/style gives essentially insular people a group to
identify with… if that's what they need. It's like knowing you're not
the only one in the lifeboat.

I never felt the need to attach myself to any particular movement.
Goth was a term thrust upon the Mission at the time, and because I was
in that band I was automatically associated with the term. I guess
I've been pretty "dark" much of my life, but these days I try more and
more to enjoy my own life and not dwell on all the bullshit out there…
which is considerable.