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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
 Posted - 10/28/2002 : 23:46:13
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http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2002/10/2812.cfm
Frank Black: … On What's Wrong With The Industry
Monday October 28, 2002 @ 06:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff
by Keith Carman
Eight questions with Frank Black. Not 10… eight. That’s about all you can get in during a 20-minute conversation in which he rants about the state of the music industry. Then again, he’s allowed to. After being heralded by the press for his early years in the Pixies and then panned for not creating the same album again and again as a solo artist, he’s allowed a few grudges. However, with the simultaneous release of two albums, Black Letter Days and Devil’s Workshop (Sonic Unyon), we find a happier, mellower Frank Black who’s obviously taking the time to enjoy his efforts.
ChartAttack: What made you decide to release two separate albums at the same time?
Frank Black: What else do I have to do? I can fix my porch, but I’m bad at that stuff. I’m working on this escape-proof dog kennel, but my dog has proven it’s not escape-proof. I could do that stuff, but all I’ve got is makin’ records, so I do it!
Was there any point where you really considered releasing them as a double album instead of two separate releases?
Everyone from the outside is probably going "What’s the fuckin’ deal? Why not throw out these or those songs and make one album?" We could have, but it’s something for us. They were two different sessions, two different line-ups, two different producers. Out of deference to those configurations… keep ‘em separate. It’s respect to these people and their hard efforts. Now, we’re doing an album with a totally different vibe though: a piecemeal record done over several sessions where these albums were one session each.
Black Letter Days and Devil’s Workshop were recorded within two months of each other. How do you think that will be perceived? Some people might think the songs weren’t given time to develop or whatever.
Well, it may be a bit cocky perhaps. Some people see it that way. My critics will probably think I’m a little self-indulgent, but the bands I hold in super-high esteem generally made their records in the ‘60s and a lot of those bands used to just crank ‘em out back then. The market could support acts putting out a record every six months. Do you run the risk of having questionable or dated material? Sure, listen to His Satanic Majesty’s Request. Or you could say, "On Goat’s Head Soup there’s three great songs and the rest suck." Hey, there are three great songs! Putting out a lot of material isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Do you really think that people will get all fussy about, ‘"Why didn’t he just pare it down?"
Putting out a record has become such a serious business. [Affects serious tone] "Here’s my statement to the world." It’s just music, y’know? There are lots of questionable records being released, so fuck it. What am I gonna do? Weed through them and put out [that serious tone again] "the best possible album I could?" Yeah, but does that mean the rest aren’t gonna get released one day? No, someone a couple of years from now will want to put ‘em out. If I think it’s interesting or good on some level, not the greatest thing that ever happened, but good on some level, I’m gonna put it on my record.
Yeah, it seems like eventually songs end up on some B-sides collection or single anyway, but can something like this backfire on you down the road?
Occasionally you end up putting something out you wished you hadn’t released a couple of years later. "I write better than that, why would I release that?" Whatever. It’s only music.
You give the fact that these album were recorded live to tape a lot of attention. Why?
It’s a personal thing. I’m not a mega-star, but I have the satisfaction of… me and my band… yeah, we played that. We didn’t assemble a facsimile of a performance with 10,000 edits. The recording process is pretty anal now. It has been for a long time, but now it’s really easy to be super-anal. With computers, people are using modern technology to be creative, but everyone’s really playing it safe. It’s about getting on the radio when only 10 guys get play on the radio. Everyone’s a nervous Nelly… too serious, too much of a high-stakes money game. I get satisfaction out of saying "I played the damn thing. You and your little band of lame-ass haircut beautiful boys, you didn’t play shit on your record." I’m being cynical…
It must be frustrating to be a part of an industry where talent isn’t necessarily the deciding factor for success?
I’ve talked to producers about their less-wonderful projects they’ve worked on. A lot of them are complaining that there’s a group of people that can’t do anything. They can’t play, they can’t perform, they can’t be creative. They want to be famous, they want to have record contract, they want to have a career and they have a few contacts, but in regards to pulling it off, it’s a shame. The stuff that really gets held in high esteem in super-mainstream are these vocalists that can do all these gymnastic things with their voice. "Oh listen to her! Isn’t she beautiful? She can sing!" It’s like a dance contest! All these people making this incredibly soulless music and all these audience people go "Ooooh, this is so great!" It’s so grating! It’s awful!
So, these albums might be considered a slap in the face of mainstream popularity, in that you refuse to take that culture to heart.
All the records I’ve been involved in and my friends have been involved in were considered part of the alternative, independent, cultish records. We’ve never been involved in mainstream music ever. Even the Pixies were not a mainstream band and they were not as successful as people like to think they were. We don’t take the recording industry that seriously. You can’t, or you’d get all wound up and uptight. If I was gonna take it seriously, the first thing I’d do is go to fat camp, get an image makeover, a producer, start listening to what’s on the radio. Some people enjoy that and find themselves most creative there. I’m sure they thrive on that icky atmosphere, but I’m not gonna bother!
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 00:15:21
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that was pretty cool. thanks Dave..
Frank was getting a little wound up there. pretty funny :)
i love the "your little band of lame-ass haircut beautiful boys" line..
classic.
did anyone else notice that the interviewer's first 4 questions are basically the same question? |
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johndietzel
= Cult of Ray =
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
464 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 01:49:06
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"If I was gonna take it seriously, the first thing I’d do is go to fat camp, get an image makeover, a producer, start listening to what’s on the radio."
Uh, yes!
Ok, question one, Frank: Um, don't you think it was bad to put out two records simultaneously?
Thanks. Now for question 2: So what do you have to say about the fact that you released two records at once?
Wonderful. Now with regard to the two records you just released together, do you think that's a good idea or a bad one, maybe?
OK. I see, I see. Now this particular question deals more with the notion of releasing enough material for two records, on two records. Is this something you regret doing yet?
And to follow up, is this something you regret doing yet? How about now?
OK. Well, it's been great--how about now? Sorry. Anyway, thanks to Mr. Frank Black, seminal ex-leader of the--how about now? A profoundly important solo artist whose influence continues to--Boo!!
**This last part totally reminded me of the "car won't start" Kids In the Hall skit. With Scott Thompson trying to psyche out the car into starting.
"Hard not to have fun when you're hitting balls halfway to the moon."
Dusty Baker |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 02:08:09
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| Great stuff from Frank. And he even got to say nervous Nelly. But I agree with the above, if you only have eight questions - can you not actually prepare eight questions and not three? |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 03:35:13
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why cant we just come up with a bunch of questions we want to ask frank together and get his ass over here and interview him. seriously, every old site gets to do it and were specifically about him so why not? someone here is a friend of a friend whose friends with frank. get him on the horn and let him know haha. well get our fearless canadian representative dave to ask the questions but well all collectively come up with like 10. i dont see why frank wouldnt go for this, he does all those bullshit interviews with other fans.
-miked |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 05:49:25
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That was a cool interview...
'We’ve never been involved in mainstream music ever. Even the Pixies were not a mainstream band and they were not as successful as people like to think they were.'
Great line, I'm glad Frank never wants to join the mainstream... so many good bands have gone that way and have ended up shite.
That would be cool if we could interview Frank with 10 questions... Maybe we should pool together questions and select the ten best on the off chance that this one days happens. Any suggestions???? |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 13:33:18
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would you encourage your kids to get into music?
what is something you always wanted to do live but never had to guts to (for example, run around naked with cuts all over yourself al la iggy pop)
do the other members of the catholics write their individual parts, do you tell them what youre looking for in the drums and bass for example?
-miked |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 15:49:20
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| what are the best Tacos in LA? |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2002 : 16:52:28
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| You've mentionned before in interviews that there is a chance that you will not stay in the music business for a long period of time (even though its been 15 years since your first band started.... no names mentionned), Does this thought still play in your mind, or can you see yourself being around in 20 years time churning out futuristic music long after the apocolypse? |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 05:06:38
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There are so many!
You have said you see yourself as a 'lifer', always writing songs, do you still intend to record to 2-track for the forseeable future?
Is the character in Ed is Dead the same person lamented in Adda Lee?
You said in interview that on BLD you and the band had a very different idea of what the final 12 tracks should be. (a) Could you give examples of which band member wanted which tracks included and (b)is Frank and the Catholics quite a democratic band, even if you write the songs?
Any thoughts of releasing your version of John the Revelator on a future album or b-side?
Do you think Beefheart has been and still is an influence in your music?
God, he would fall asleep after these qs |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 07:24:27
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| I've noticed Frank usually enjoys those internet chat things...he should do another one. When it's just his fans and him. He usually gets in good mood during those, although that last one with musictoday was a bit stiff, but still a blast to read. |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 16:56:37
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| I wonder how often Frank views this website... with any luck he'll agree to an interview with us guys as were less likely to give him a hard time or piss him off. Plus if he sees the questions before hand then maybe that would be better.... lets keep our fingers crossed. |
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johndietzel
= Cult of Ray =
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
464 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 17:52:50
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How about we (Dave?) move all the questions to its own new subject, like "Questions for possible FB interview."
I think if it's not in a real interview format, and the questions can be answered at his leisure, we could certainly hope for answers to more than ten questions. I could see how it could be annoying to force him to set there and answer a bunch of questions as posed by a rep from the site, but I doubt Frank would be averse to filling in the blanks to an email or something.
A good idea, then, in my opinion, would be for us to have all the questions and answers available to read, but to also have an original write-up in a feature article format done. I think we're full of writing-types here on the old FB, so we could certainly divy it up, or have one person take it on. I would be happy to create or contribute to the article.
"Hard not to have fun when you're hitting balls halfway to the moon."
Dusty Baker |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 18:02:45
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well i think itd be cooler if we came up with the best of the questions we all come up with and then just ask him in a more formal way. i mean theres no reason why he wouldnt want to do it save being busy, but hell find time eventually im sure. and then we can atleast be proud of ourselves becuase we didnt ask him lame questions like everyone else
-miked |
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holzgrafe
- FB Fan -
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 19:16:54
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| I guess many of us have noticed that so far Frank & Co. haven't responded much to direct questions here at the forum. Harris may have answered a direct query, but I'm not even sure about that. For the most part Frank's posts have come out of the blue, or at least so it seemed to me. And it seems in keeping with his personality in general, from the surprises in his music, his career, his interview responses. He remains on the offensive, calling the shots, and often keeping others off balance, in an entertaining way of course. So he may be tough to pin down on an interview format of some predetermined sort, which is not to say that he won't respond at some point. Maybe he'd compile his own "take home" questions by going through some of these threads and pick and choose, and then hit us with a set of serious, thoughtful answers. Or maybe he'd surprise by breaking character and consenting to a set, formal interview. Whatever he does, he'll be leading, not following. If this site continues to live, breathe, and evolve, Frank is likely to be a part of it for the long haul. Maybe this site will become a significant part of upcoming chapters of the Frank story. Just a few spontaneous thoughts, or at least what passes for spontaneous by my lights. - Mel |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 20:36:23
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Why don't we ask him the question... 'how should we try and get you to answer a load of serious non bullshit questions in the form of an online interview..' Then just hope that he finds the post...
I agree with Johndietzels suggestion.... get Dave (if you would be so kind) to move these ont a new subject and hope that Frank once in a while comes out and answers some of the ones he likes best. |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2002 : 23:51:54
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Wow - you people are so demanding.
Good, that means this is important to you. =)
I'll do something with this tomorrow..
- Dave |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2002 : 03:22:51
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i dont know it seems like it would scare frank away if thers all these questions for him everytime he comes rather then a one time deal with the best questions we can come up with. i dont think he feels obligated to come here and post and he probably prefers it that way
-miked |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2002 : 05:36:05
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quote:
Originally posted by mdisanto
i dont know it seems like it would scare frank away if thers all these questions for him everytime he comes rather then a one time deal with the best questions we can come up with. i dont think he feels obligated to come here and post and he probably prefers it that way
-miked
I agree - he seems to have taken part in the occasional interview on-line. Group a series of questions and try to arrange a one-off deal |
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matto
= Cult of Ray =
USA
954 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2002 : 09:56:17
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hey floop you know it's tito's don't you? sepulveda and washington
spem in alium |
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