From: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org (seven-seas-digest) To: seven-seas-digest@smoe.org Subject: seven-seas-digest V2 #547 Reply-To: seven-seas@smoe.org Sender: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Precedence: bulk seven-seas-digest Tuesday, July 15 2003 Volume 02 : Number 547 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 23:16:32 -0400 From: "Henry Biedenkapp" Subject: seven-seas Mac & The Doors >From: "Amy Rupp" > > Ian Astbury (The , on tour with The Doors): track tbc > >Now that's an interesting idea.... I wonder if Mac would've >taken the job of fronting a reformed Doors, given his >adulation of Jim Morrison? It's amazing to me that in at least two or three articles in the New York press in writing about "Slideling" have expressed the same question and the opinion seems to be that Mac would have been the ideal replacement for Morrison instead of the joke that Astbury seems to be. I saw the newly reformed Doors on a late night show (Letterman?) with Stuart Copeland as the drummer and it was an atrocious performance of "Light My Fire". Morrison is spinning in his Paris grave. I know because I've seen the grave. I personally feel that Mac would do a great job, but I don't believe that he "loves" the Doors as much as the press has made us believe. Sure, Bunnymen's "Soul Kitchen" is spot on. "People Are Strange" to me seems more like a novelty song for the Bunnymen rather than a true cover. In my heart of hearts, Mac is a bunnyman and not a Door, no matter how much money it would have netted him in the process, if the reformed Doors became a semi-success. Henry _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ====================================== http://www.bunnymenlist.com ====================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:33:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Andrew Ironside Subject: Re: seven-seas Mac & The Doors The least they could have done was not call it the Doors, poor Jimbo, wasn't stewart Copeland sueing them for his dismissal or something? The guy from Tea Party (Doors-like Canadian band) would have made a better choice, I think Mac would be too smart to take on something like that, unless he really needed the quid. There's been talk of a Zeppelin reunion as well. Sex pistols touring this summer as well. What CD's are people listening to these days? - --- Henry Biedenkapp wrote: > >From: "Amy Rupp" > > > > Ian Astbury (The , on tour with The Doors): > track tbc > > > >Now that's an interesting idea.... I wonder if Mac > would've > >taken the job of fronting a reformed Doors, given > his > >adulation of Jim Morrison? > > It's amazing to me that in at least two or three > articles in the New York > press > in writing about "Slideling" have expressed the same > question and the > opinion > seems to be that Mac would have been the ideal > replacement for Morrison > instead of the joke that Astbury seems to be. I saw > the newly reformed Doors > on a late night show (Letterman?) with Stuart > Copeland as the drummer > and it was an atrocious performance of "Light My > Fire". Morrison is spinning > in > his Paris grave. I know because I've seen the grave. > > I personally feel that Mac would do a great job, but > I don't believe that he > "loves" > the Doors as much as the press has made us believe. > Sure, Bunnymen's "Soul > Kitchen" > is spot on. "People Are Strange" to me seems more > like a novelty song for > the Bunnymen > rather than a true cover. In my heart of hearts, Mac > is a bunnyman and not a > Door, no matter > how much money it would have netted him in the > process, if the reformed > Doors became a > semi-success. > > Henry > > _________________________________________________________________ > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months > FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > > ====================================== > http://www.bunnymenlist.com > > ====================================== > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ====================================== http://www.bunnymenlist.com ====================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:44:29 -0500 From: "Amy Rupp" Subject: seven-seas Italian interview with Mac I can read quite a bit of Italian so I thought I'd translate the interview.... thanks to Kristin for finding it. ======= The not-so-modest leader of Echo & The Bunnymen returns with a new solo album, "Slideling"... In 1980 Echo & The Bunnymen were one of the groups at the leading edge of new English rock. In fact, the "new psychedelia" began to be heavily covered by the press. The charismatic leader and singer Ian McCulloch was notorious for not holding back during interviews: he compared the group's albums to the works of Michelangelo, and declared himself to be the only true sex symbol of English pop, saying that Bono tried to be athletic on stage but was in fact fat and reminiscent of a mountain goat. Twenty years later, McCulloch still doesn't consider modesty a virtue, but also says not to take him so seriously. Bragging aside, he has managed to produce albums with brilliant moments and to revive a career that was heading into embarrassing oblivion. Having rejoined the Bunnymen, albeit with a different lineup, he has released a new solo album called "Slideling." Interviewer: You've said the Bunnymen are fully active, yet you've resumed your solo career. Is your new album "taking a break from the group," or do you intend to continue both careers? Mac: It's not a vacation -- it's what I've created. I don't think in terms of career -- I look for ways to express myself. It's (this album) more personal than my work with the Bunnymen, which at times can be more difficult (than working solo). Writing and recording the songs is easy; the hard part is promoting (the album) and going on tour. My solo songs are more melodic than those done with the group... Interviewer: Your voice is "harder" on "Slideling"; is this a "natural" (not affected) change in your voice or have you changed your (vocal) delivery? Mac: I changed my voice during this album.... I wanted more.... In effect, I smoked heavily during the first week of recording. I don't think it's (Mac's voice) "harder," just more complex/layered. But it was only because I (have) smoked a million cigarettes and drank a lot, so I lost my voice. It eventually came back, but was still fragile. But I liked the sound. Interviewer: You deliberately smoked and drank in order to change your voice? Mac: No, it was pure chance, but I like the way it (Mac's voice) turned out. Interviewer: The first track is called "Love In Veins" which is a reference to "love in vain"; is that what the song speaks to? Mac: (sings the song) It talks about my desire to *do/accomplish things* - -- it's not a love song. It's about the fire of inspiration, of what I want out of life. The title comes from the loves and the desires/passions I have in my blood. Interviewer: In general, the lyrics of this album seem more autobiographical than is typical of your (past) albums. "Playgrounds And City Parks" is the most obvious example. Mac: Yes, it talks about Liverpool and of my boyhood. "Sliding" and "Seasons" talk about the past, but also refer to the future. As I said earlier, my solo work is more personal than the work I do with Echo & The Bunnymen. It's more an album from an author than a "rock" album. Interviewer: Speaking of the past, I'm curious to know if you are still in contact with Pete Wylie and Julian Cope; you began as The Critical Three, but you became famous in different groups and took (completely) different directions. Mac: I see Pete now and then because he's (still living) in Liverpool, but I don't know what he's doing. And I'm not interested in anything about Julian Cope; I don't even want to talk about him. Interviewer: Several younger musicians have publicly expressed their admiration of the Bunnymen and two of the members of Coldplay appear on your album. What do you make of this? Mac: It's been years since our debut, and I think that the younger musicians (' admiration) is the best validation (account) of the Bunnymen's importance. I'd say that we deserve it (the admiration) because we did great things. Interviewer: Every now and then someone releases a cover version of one of your songs. Pavement did a good job some years ago with "The Killing Moon." Mac: Yes, that (the Pavement cover) pleased me, even if our version is better. Courtney Love's done one, the Flaming Lips.... it's flattering when other musicians cover your work. It's a sign of their admiration. I've covered Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed, and I know Leonard is pleased with what I did. Interviewer: Was your collaboration with Coldplay born of your friendship (with the band) or more of a musical nature? Mac: We met in Liverpool and Chris asked to listen to some of my solo work. I played it for him, it sort of came together, and when it was time to start recording in the studio, he asked if he could participate. The collaboration was Chris' idea. I wouldn't have dared ask it, but he'd already done so, so obviously I accepted. Interviewer: You've always been self-confident and in the past have made some pretty big claims. Have you exaggerated? Mac: Yes, but not as a pretence. I don't regret any of it because it was meant to be ironic. And I truly believe that we are one of the all-time best groups. You think a rockstar goes over the top? Certainly! You gotta do something! Interviewer: Wayne Hussey of The Mission says the same thing and says that during the 80's there were more capable musicians to play the part of a "rockstar" than there are now. Mac: It's true. You know, Wayne is nice, but rather... washed up (laughs). Everyone expects *me* to brag during interviews, but the truth is that all Liverpudlians hype things. If you're going to play football, say you're the *best*. Interviewer: The Hives are adopting similar tactics. Mac: I like them, they're good. But they'll be replaced this year by other groups. They're okay, but they're not the Bunnymen. Interviewer: You're caught in the middle: a stage veteran, but not considered an anchor of "classic rock." Does this cause problems with the record industry? Mac: No, because Chris of Coldplay tells the world that we're *still* big. In the last three weeks, I've spoken with journalists from all over the world. That says that attention seems to be turning back to me. Interviewer: Recently a boxed set containing (previously) unreleased material was issued. What about remasters of the old albums? Mac: Next year, after the release of the new (Bunnymen?) album, Warners is going to remaster the first *five* albums (including the Grey Album?). There will be videos and previously unpublished photographs, but I don't think there will be "bonus tracks," I don't like them. I prefer that the albums remain as they are. I don't like the (new) version of "Ziggy Stardust" with the added material, I continue to prefer the original version. So we'll limit ourselves to video, photographs, notes on how the albums were recorded, commentary on the lyrics, and the like. Interviewer: Why haven't the lyrics (or commentary) been released before? I remember that it was difficult to understand the words you sang. Mac: It's difficult for *me* to remember/understand the words I sang. They asked me to write out the lyrics and while I recall the songs I don't understand parts of them. Interviewer: Really? Mac: No, it's not true, I remember them. But some of the lyrics are obscure. Interviewer: Were you deliberately obscure or was it improvisation? Mac: A little of both; it was deliberate, but I also just wanted to play with the words. Interviewer: The Bunnymen *now* are essentially you and Will. Mac: Yes, it was always that way. Interviewer: Even in the past? I'd say Pete de Freitas was a crucial part of your sound. Mac: I'd say that Pete de Freitas was the best drummer in the world and that Les is a great bassist, but Will and I wrote the songs and were the driving force behind the group. It's still that way now; later this year we'll begin work on the next Bunnymen album. Interviewer: Do you always write using the same methods? Mac: Usually Will has a riff and I sing on top of that. And we'll do it that way this time (the next album). Interviewer: After "Slideling"'s released, will you do a solo tour? Mac: I'll play in England, America, Brazil, and the rest of Europe. Probably in June, and continuing throughout the summer. In Great Britain and America I'll have a band, but in Europe there will be acoustic guitars and piano, a more intimate thing. Interviewer: Do you think you'll play Italy? Mac: Actually yes, I think so, but I don't know when or where. It'd have to be June or July. Interviewer: I have to say that the last time I saw you in concert I was disappointed and remained so. It was at V97 in Chelmsford..... Mac: That was with (during the reformation of) Echo and the Bunnymen, and I was completely out of my head. I assure you that the next time you see me, I'll be incredible. ====================================== http://www.bunnymenlist.com ====================================== ------------------------------ End of seven-seas-digest V2 #547 ********************************