Black
Velvet : What has been the highlight of your career so far?
JS
Clayden: Meeting Jello Biafra, selling out the Astoria, playing with
Black Sabbath, playing Reading Festival to a full crowd, going to Troma
Films offices, not having to get a real job for the last five years.
BV: If you were a contestant on Mastermind, which
subject (excluding The Life & Times Of Pitchshifter), would you
most like to answer questions on?
J:
Punk rock/jazz/art.
BV: How was your UK tour back in February? Do
any gigs stick out? Which and why?
J:
The UK tour was amazing. We sold out about five venues which was a nice
surprise. Our fans in the UK have been very patient while we have been
touring the world in '98. It was great to get back home and play to
a very appreciative crowd. The London gig was obviously awesome, as
there were 2250 nutters up for a mad night out.
BV: Which has been your favourite tour to date
and why?
J:
Personally I loved the American tour with Gravity Kills, Junkie XL and
Cold. It was summer, we had a great tour bus, the tour was 3 months
long and we all got along really well. I met a lot of really cool people
that I still correspond with over the net and it was just one of those
Summers, ya know? Japan was also amazing, but I think America had it.
BV: What would be your dream gig? Where? When?
Supported by whom?
J:
My dream gig? Dead Kennedys, Big Black, Plug, The Walking Seeds, DJ
Shadow, Sex Pistols, Jeff Mills, The Specials, Everclear, The Ruts,
Shellac and Girls Against Boys.
BV: Are you looking forward to the 'Big Day Out'?
How do you think it will be?
J:
We are all looking forward to it. The Ozzfest at the same place was
amazing and the Big Day Out will be just as cool I'm sure. I like the
fact that crowds get so see different facets of harder edged music rather
than just a day of ‘heavy metal’. We'll have to wait and see,
I guess. Hopefully I can get in the crowd again and meet the folks down
front.
BV: What do you think of Earache's re-issue of
'Infotainment?'?
J:
I think for someone who doesn't already own the release it is a great
package. And for those who already do, well you get the 3 mixes and
all the videos for free if you have a computer. Although the band had
nothing to do with the re-release it is quite tastefully done and it
looks pretty good. The CD-Rom portion is comprehensible and easy to
use.
BV: Fanzines - your thoughts on them...
J:
They get to review stuff commercial mags are too afraid to, or can't
sell. I like fanzines. Pitchshifter have always featured well in zines.
Good luck to them all!
BV: Is there such a thing as a typical Pitchshifter
fan?
J:
I don't think so. Our public is very cross-genre. I would hope that
one thing all our fans have in common is their willingness to be open-minded.
We try and give our fans every opportunity to experience new things
when we can. We take new bands on tour with us, we talk about what affects
us on our website, we get interesting remixes done etc.
BV: You're admired as a band by all sorts. Who
would you say is your most famous fan? How do you feel knowing that
you might have fans who are also into bands ranging from Bon Jovi to
3 Colours Red to Napalm Death?
J:
I was out with 3CR last night! They played Rock City and we had a party
afterwards (ouch!) (S: I know, I was there). I am always flattered
that people have even heard of the band. We never get any radio play
or major press. It's through the small indie stations and fanzines and
mags like Metal Hammer and Kerrang! and Terrorizer and our website that
people know what we are up to. Our most famous fan? The aliens that
left the crop circle in the shape of our eye logo!
BV: Since the Seagram merger/Universal Group takeover,
have you found any major changes occurring that involve Pitchshifter?
How do you think, as a band, this change will affect you?
J:
I can't discuss that element of our deal right now. I can assure you
that the new LP is on its way however.
BV: The tour diary on your web site is very interesting
and enjoyable to read. When is the release of the book and will it be
available worldwide?
J:
When I collate it and find a publisher! I am actually in the process
of writing a novel based on the first tour diary I did in 1994. It won't
be finished for some time though. I am actually far more comfortable
writing prose instead of music.
BV: Why did you start writing a tour diary in
the first place? Do you keep a regular diary? When did you first start
keeping a diary?
J:
I have the worst memory. I started writing a tour diary to try and remember
what the hell I've been doing for the last 5 years. It was just for
me. I think being able to see what you think on paper on the screen
also acts as a cathartic catalyst for what you think. You should try
it.
BV: You've been touring pretty much constantly
for ages. How do you keep things fresh and fun on the road?
J:
Satanism, child slavery, sex before marriage, crack cocaine, AC/DC records
and Sony playstations. No, seriously - we are having so much fun playing
music that we just enjoy it every night. We just literally goof around
with each other on stage. Watch us and you'll see us laughing as we
stage dive. It's a great life style and it's a shame it can't last for
ever. The plethora of laptops, digital cameras and samplers that travel
with us keep us on our toes too.
BV: How would you like to see Pitchshifter in
the 21st century?
J:
Madder, balder, fatter, richer, more irreverent, more cynical.
BV: You once said "The music that spoke to
us unemployed kids on sh**ty estates in the North of England was punk
music... It was angry and we were angry...". Are you still angry
now? What makes you angry?
J:
Take a look outside your door... GM foods, police brutality, racism,
us f**king the 3rd world over, bulls**t politics, right wing lunatics,
pro-life extremists, restrictive religions... Want me to go on?
BV: Is there any subject you'd really like to
write a song about that you haven't so far?
J:
I think we should write a love song. Now that would be funny.
BV:
You come up with all sorts of samples. Where do you get your ideas from
for them? Have you thought of anything you'd already like to sample
for the next album? Anything really weird?
J:
We just go to the studio and sample what we like. I think there will
be some more back tracking on this LP. We tried dog whistles but they
are outside the audio range of a CD. I have sampled my answer phone
messages, my flatmate talking drunk, a woman sleep talking and the sampler
feeding back through my computer - I'm sure other stuff will ensue.
BV: If you could introduce three new conditions/regulations
into today's society, what would you like to introduce?
J:
1 - Radio stations would be forced at gun point to play wide variety
of music and the DJ is only allowed to talk if she/he is telling you
the name of the record. 2 - Politicians are not allowed to own ANY businesses
and any that are caught lying have to parade naked with a dunce hat
around Trafalgar Square for 30 minutes while the populous get to throw
rotting vegetable matter at them. 3 - Big business is never allowed
to regulate itself, no more BSE scenarios please.
BV: Similarly, you like to get people to question
what's going on and you hope to open their eyes by writing and/or talking
about your beliefs. What do you currently think the masses should open
their eyes to?
J:
The continual stream of bulls**t in the news and the government line.
The classics from Tony Bore: 1 - "We will not support actions that
will endanger the lives of people in minority communities abroad".
So what does he do? Grants MORE weapons licences to countries like Indonesia
who we know for a fact will use to kill people in East Timore. 2 - "GM
foods are safe". Yeah, just like BSE baby. We have no idea what
the repercussions of altering food might be until 10 years down the
line when they say "Oops, actually they kill you". Just like
the pill, just like BSE.
BV: When you originally set up the band, and when
you bring new members in (i.e. when Jim began working with the band),
do things such as whether the guy is a vegetarian, into Greenpeace and
all the other same political and social beliefs as you take up as much
a role as whether he's a good musician?
J:
They are not mandates but they are important. Jim is a veggie and he
believes in a lot of things that we think are important anyway and so
all is well. We don't care if people eat meat. It's up to the individual.
We don't do it and it works for us and we will be happy to explain why
to you. But if you don't want to know then we aren't going to shove
it down your throat. It's about education not indoctrination.
BV:
Describe the other members of the band.
J:
Drinky, mumbly, randy, and happy (does that make me snow white?).
BV: Sum up Pitchshifter in ten words or less.
J:
Degenerate low life, mal-adjusted freaks.
BV: Anything else you'd like to add?
J:
Go to http://www.pitchshifter.com now and see what's up!
Yep, do as the man says.
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