The following interview was made of a bunch e-mail letters. So, it's a bit chaotic...
I'm pretty sure that our readers will be glad to read the interview.
Ha ha! Maybe they won't be..
How are you?
Fine thanks - just got back from a few days in the desert.
BTW, Russians has released a bootleg CD with almost every LUSTMORD album in MP3 format.
Damn. This kind of thing (and mp3 downloading in particular) is starting to make things very difficult for us underground music types who are trying to make a living with this :( I should at least get a copy dam it !
Well, you will be surprised or even pissed off, but almost full LUSTMORD's catalogue is sold for 1,5-2 dollars :)
Ha ha! It doesn't surprise me at all, I know my worth :) I'm honored someone would pay ANYTHING for it.
Well, I do not think that those guys download your music, as a rule they convert original albums in MP3 format. It's kinda big business - tons of compilation CDs on our market, and you can find almost everything from Britney to black metal or even AUBE! Yes, they has released all albums by AUBE on 3 CDs :) So, you are not the first and not the last, unfortunately.
I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I DO see the attraction of getting music at a very cheap price (always a good thing) and also for free, and in many ways it makes perfect sense. The problem is when you're trying to make a living making music. It's one thing for those major label bastards to complain, but us little guys are getting hit really badly I'm afraid, as just a small amount of lost sales makes big difference, and of course the loss in sales isn't small unfortunately, it's quite significant. Oh well... Also, I hate the sound "quality" of mp3, wouldn't be bad if people heard my stuff at decent quality dam it ! :) Hmmm... it also makes me wonder if there's any point doing an interview for a Russian speaking audience if they only buy bootlegs of the music ;)
I can try to find a copy for you if you want. I can't promise, cuz I haven't seen it by myself...
Hey, if you come across one, let me know, but I understand. Would be "interesting" to have one for my archives is all.
How is life in the States? It's raining in Belarus, and I guess we are gonna suffer from all that water for the whole summer.
Rain? That's the wet stuff right ? i think I remember it. Here it's at least 35C every day and nice :)
I haven't found the bootleg MP3 CD of Lustmord so far, but I'm working on it :)
Don't worry about it. I've heard all the tracks before anyway :) Still in the middle of a lot of recording and remixing here, so again apologies for the delay and the brevity.
OK. I'll send you more questions later. I hope you'll have more free time then.
Things should ease up in 10-14 days. Then unless anything else comes up I'll just be working on a new collaboration.
New collaboration? With who?
Adam from Tool.
Cool. I've heard their debut album. A couple of songs are great, but the whole thing isn't in my taste... well, their clips were nice and depressive. Frankly, I hardly imagine product of your cooperation with him... or he is writing industrial music too?
Industrial ? That died many years ago :) He is a nice guy and lives nearby. He approached me about doing an album together and we've started to hang out together. Mainly just having fun at the moment but should get working properly on an album soon. In which style we have no idea. we're just going to do it and see what happens.
Why do you think so? Or, may be I should ask you what do you call "industrial"?
Industrial was what Throbbing Gristle were doing in 76-81. What they call "industrial" these days just sounds like yet more rock music too me. It has nothing to do with that original attitude.
Most our readers have very general knowledge about TG and even SPK, and they think that the stuff they listen to is 100% clear industrial. Could you tell them a bit about that mysterious "original attitude" of TG and friends?
Mysterious ? It's all on record and well documented. It was all about experimentation and trying out new ideas and exploring new avenues (and not just musically but also lifestyle).
What about you? Do you consider yourself a part of that "generation"?
I am part of that generation. I was at punk gigs in 77, and I was there when a lot of the "industrial" things started. It's nothing to be ashamed of :)
And why do you think that attitude of Genocide Organ or Bad Sector (for example) is not "true".
Well, the simple fact that they copy rather than lead says it all. Industrial like punk was never a fashion, both become fashion latter when they were simply mimicked. To my ears at least, acts like early Aphex Twin, Autechre, and some fringes of Drum and Bass and Techno seem to keep the spirit of exploration going while the so-called "industrial" acts repeat the same old cliches.
Well, I think that it's not correct to compare punk and industrial music.
I wasn't comparing them artistically, or for that matter not directly, I was comparing how both became fashions that other simply adopted and copied the uniform (as it were) completely missing the point of either. Guess you had to be there for the birth of both :)
I've heard that TG had a gig in London not long ago...
No, next May there will be a one-of gig.
What do you think about Coil?
They're fine and quite interesting. As you probably know, John Balance was on the very first Lustmord album.
And have you finished those remixes for Mortiis?
They were released (on the UK CD) months ago. I've recorded a few projects (including anther album) since then.
OK. I had no idea. It was a bit strange for me - you make remixes for him. Was it your own idea or they have offered it for you? I'm not a big fan of Mortiis, but we did a couple of interview with him some time ago.
He approached me through a mutual friend. I'm not a fan of Mortiis either, but again, he;s a nice guy (more important too me) and he's very funny too. He has a very healthy sense of humor.
... do you listen to black metal?
I don't listen to any metal. I just don't get it.
Do you like living in the States? Englishman in Hollywood?
Actually I'm Welsh, but close enough.
Well, I didn't know that it's a big difference. So, what is the difference between Englishmen and Welsh?
Completely different origins. The English derived from Anglo-Saxon roots, Welsh are Celtic.
I know that in past you used to have different language.
Er.. still do. With completely different. My first language is Welsh.
People still use the language at home?
Of course. Why shouldn't they ? I speak English here, since it IS the main language :) With my family it's Welsh, I went to a Welsh school and spoke Welsh when I lived and worked in Wales.
You are not kidding? In Belarus most people use Russian language and Belarussian language is disappearing quite fast, unfortunately.
There's plenty of Welsh programming on TV and that seems to help keep it alive, and of course the fact that it's the main language taught at schools over there.
So, do you feel comfortable in California?
Absolutely, it's a very relaxed and positive atmosphere here.
And do you miss England?
No, and haven't been back since we left 10 years ago.
Don't you feel a barrier between Americans and yourself?
I feel a barrier between everyone and myself, it's normal :)
Well, I thought 10 years made you an American :) So, you are not going to become a Yankee?
Being born in America makes you an American. And it's not my culture because I didn't create it. "Yankee" is specific to the North East of the US by the way.
Are you going to stay in the States or you plan to move back to UK someday?
No plans to return to the UK, if we were ever to move from the US it would be to somewhere else. There's a big world out there and plenty of other places to explore.
I wanted to ask you about one of your albums - cooperation with Robert Rich. You have dedicated it to Stalker, movie by A. Tarkovsky. Why did you choose the movie for such tribute?
Because we both really like the mood of the movie and it was the kind of mood that we wanted to capture.
Do you like Tarkovsky's movies?
Yes, very much so. I have them all on DVd (some I bought direct from Russia). Stalker is one of my favorites films.
Actually, I can hardly imagine how can you understand his works because he is a Russian, and his movies are very Russian.
Great cinema/art transcends language.
One of the most touching moments of Stalker (movie) is that when a guy (stalker) declaim a poem, written by another Tarkovsky - father of the director.
Yes, I was aware that the poem was by his father.
It's pretty the same when we watch American movies - we just don't get all cuz we do not "feel" your culture.
It's not "my" culture. And besides, current American movies are pretty much all shit, so don't even waste your time trying to understand them, they're meaningless. I mostly watch old movies and current Asian movies these days.
BTW, do you know that the movie is based on novel by Strugatsky's brothers. Fantastic novel!
Yes, I have the English translation.
Wow! I haven't know that they were translated in English. They are the best Russian SF writers. Do you read much?
I'm always reading something.
What about Ivan Rublev? Do you like that one? Many believe that it's one of his best.
I like them all. Stalker and Solaris are the top two for me.
Stalker is my favorite. I like Solaris as well. Funny, but S. Lem was pissed off when the movie came out. He believes that it's far from the real spirit of his book :)
Yes, I had read that. Reminds me of a good quote from Philip K. Dick when a reporter visiting his home asked him what he thought about "what Hollywood has done to your books". He replied "Nothing, my books are still sitting there on the shelf unchanged" Good quote :)
Have you seen "new" Solaris?
I have no interest in seeing it. Or just about all Hollywood movies.
Actually, I know one American movie I'm itching to see. It's notorious Passions by Mel Gibson... It's not even finished but every week brings more scandals around this movie, so untypical for contemporary Hollywood.
It's not a Hollywood movie but an independent one, as are all the interesting movies being made in the US. Last I heard he was going to change it due to some of the complaints.
Let's come back to movies... When you say Asian you mean Japanese? I like Japanese movies. The last one I have seen - Dark Waters. Scary shit :)
Japanese, Korea, Hong Kong and some Thailand. i have Dark Waters on DVD. yes, it is a good one. If you like that one see also The Eye, Ju-on, Cure, Kairo etc.
What do you think about current president of the States? How do people in California react on his government?
Who cares what I think. I'm a socialist but think all modern politics is just a farce. Don't forget that a minority voted for Bush and he doesn't represent the majority of people here.
Years ago you was a part of "underground" culture.
Er... I still am. Lustmord is hardly a household name :)
Now you are part of Hollywood.
No I'm not. I've contributed to a few movies is all.
So, you know how to write music "for everybody" and music "not-for-everybody" :) Is there any difference between composing commercial music and underground music?
It depends on the person doing it. Some people do either or both for love, some for money.
Are you a religious person?
Nope. Quite the opposite.
We talked about Tarkovsky before. Once he said that Art is possibility to share your pain with others. What is music for you?
That's a very open-ended question which has many possible answers. Music can be many things (sometimes at the same time), none of which I think anyone is particularly qualified to define. Music IS interesting because of it's intrinsic ability to convey and effect emotion. It's a quality that's really unquantifiable. When creating my own music I prefer to approach it's creation from more of a "gut" level than a philosophical / intellectual one, although those do apply.
What do you like better - writing music for money or for Lustmord?
Ha ha ! There's no way to make a living with Lustmord, if I wanted to do that i guess I'd be making music that was actually commercial :) It's what I do, and I'd be doing it regardless of people buying or liking it. But I do have to eat and pay he usual boring bills, and for that I need a "day job" and for that I happen to be lucky (!) in that that also involves music. But that part is just a job like any other.
What makes you write music?
There's no simple answer, it's simply what I do.
It takes time, money, emotions... what can stop you from making music?
It would have to be something medical, as I create sound and music even if nobody liked it.
Or, what would affect you to write your final album?
If I had nothing to say, or if I felt no more reason to explore.
I have seen on TV that Hollywood in fire.
Hollywood is fine, LA is a VERY big place and as big as the fires are, they haven't gotten that far. 2,500 homes destroyed so far, but the fires should be out in about a week.
Well, we have real winter right now - snow, cold and so on.
Yes, it's getting cld here too - about 28C :)
Have you ever played live?
As Lustmord, not since 1982.
I did play quite a few gigs as a member of SPK though.
Is that true that Lustmord comes from Kurt Schwitters?
No. Where did you come across that ? First time I've heard of that one.
I know some people in my country who play industrial music, and as a rule they play live on speed or drunk. What do you think about using drugs during live performances?
In my opinion it's unacceptable. if someone is going to pay to hear/se you live, and have often traveled a fair distance to do so, the least you can do is be in control of yourself and the situation. Sure, I've been fucked-up on tour, but always AFTER the gig.
Our readers has asked me to ask you a question about a book. They say you have mentioned a book you are writing - it deals with serial killers or something like that.
No, I'm not writing a book and have no plans to do so., and I have no connection with such a book. There is a book titled 'Lustmord' that came out about three years ago though, about serial killers and written by Brian King, who as purely coincidentally, I happen to know.
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