I am interviewing Jason from Spiritualized in three hours

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So if there's something you wanted cleared up, post it here and I'll see if I can work it in...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

oh shit. I can't really think of anything.

I dunno, ask him if he has a better time writing songs about God than writing about drugs.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

OOH OOH OOH!!!! Ned, PLEASE ask him about "Cop Shoot Cop" (the song). Ask him if he's familiar with the band Cop $hoot Cop, and if they had anything to do with the track. Thanky, Spanky!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh, can do.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex stole my question.

Ask him which was better, a-ha or Loverboy.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

As classic an interview closer as I've heard.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him if he's gonna switch things up soon, cause it's been the same schtick for a long while now, even with the new band. Or rather, do it politely. Also, ask why he plays sitting down at gigs so often. Him on his chair, the rest of the band standing around. And if the wall of noise jams are getting less fun night after night on tour (same old same old) -- what keeps him at it?

― Michael G, Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I might not be THAT confrontational. As it is the last two times I saw them were specific improvements, from Laserium Floyd yawn to actual honest to god rock out damn well goodness. (Also, both two times he was standing up.)

I was however definitely going to ask what he thinks of the perception that his guiding muse at core remains unchanged while the arrangements and bandmembers mutate.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

...and as it turned out Jason went to get a cup of tea or something, so we're going to try again tomorrow!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Is "cup of tea" a euphemism for "sub-machine gun"?

RUN NED IT'S A TRAP

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

If he wants to trying shooting me from Pittsburgh, that's his business.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to make a joke about shooting up in Pittsburgh, but I have been tasteless enough already for one day.

― Nicolars (Nicole), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there a polite way to ask him what the hell he was thinking when he (supposedly) approved the artwork to Amazing Grace? I'm serious in wanting to know what the motivation for it was.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

He likes arms. (I will ask him on the morrow.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him to say something he's never said in every other interview he's given. Ask him not to use the word "cabaret." Ask him not to say "music is more powerful than any drug I've ever taken," and not to mention Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Captain Beefheart or free jazz.

(OK, seriously...does he ever say anything diff? I always want to know about records he's presently digging, since he seems to have impeccable taste. Beyond which I dunno...he'll give the usual answers I bet...)

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

ask him if he likes sonic's snack cakes.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Then ask him if he likes Sonic The Hedgehog's "snack cakes, wink wink nudge nudge".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG, I just had the greatest idea ever: ask what type of tree he would be if he were, in fact, a tree! You can thank me later.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, please post the answer to the Cop Shoot Cop query. I'd really like to read his answer.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude! How did I miss this thread?!?!?!

ARRRGGGHHH!!!

(OK, due to time zone differences I was probably asleep at the time, but still!)

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 11:26 (twenty-two years ago)

...and as it turned out Jason went to get a cup of tea or something, so we're going to try again tomorrow!
-- Ned Raggett (ne...), October 21st, 2003 4:43 PM.

Kate, you still have time!

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him about how he felt hanging with those serious avante garde cats for the Spring Heel Jack live shows/record.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him for a pop star that he would like to produce a record for and why.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Did Zia (Dandy Warhols) come on to him in Toronto or what?!?!

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him if he ever dances round his kitchen listening to Kylie or Girls Aloud. It completely throws him, and it's quite sweet.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Not sure I'd be this confrontational myself but here goes:

- What was the real background to the split with Arista?
- Why did he fire Sean Cook, Michael Mooney, and Damon Reece, and what did he make of their consequent allegations that he ripped them off?
- Fave Spacemen 3 record?
- He sings about God a lot, but evidently doesn't believe. Does he have a similar relationship to narcotics?

― stevo (stevo), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him to pick a number between one and ten. No matter what number he picks, shout "WRONG! Hahahaha no one EVER gets that one right!"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him to pick a number between one and ten. No matter what number he picks, shout "WRONG! Hahahaha no one EVER gets that one right!"

Wierd Al did that one already.

Whats his favorite MC5 song?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

YOu'd think I'd have hundreds of questions, being a massive SPZ fan and all. But in truth, I've already seen him asked many of the questions that I could think of - and he's usually quite evasive about them, anyway!

I'd probably waylay him into a discussion of science - someone asked him about why he sings about god so much, and he said that he was really an atheist. When they asked him why, he said that he wanted his science to be good science (and I guess god wasn't included in that) - so I'd like him to qualify what he thought "good science" was.

Also, still on the god front... I know that his father was a religious prostheletiser (sp?) so I'd ask him how that affected his views. Is there some Freudian motivation to singing so much about god and spirituality etc. etc. when he claims to be an atheist? (But that would be very, very invasive indeed.)

I'd also ask him if he's finally got the "three orchestras and six choirs and a mellotron marching band" thing out of his system now. I mean, Jesus, get the man a laptop if he wants to be that much of a control freak! (I would like to hear what Jason would do with a laptop - maybe you could suggest it to him? Or take along a laptop with a copy of Reason, and let him play with it...)

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him if he prefers musy peas, normal peas or mange tout.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

That would be too close to what Your Dead Husband is doing and would cause him to break out in a rash.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I think My Dead Husband with drop dead of fright at the sight of a laptop. It's all ANALOGUE with him, maaaaan. It's all about the oscillators.

(Strangely enough, earlier this month, HSA again mentioned the idea that he and Sonic were supposed to get together and mess about with osciallators, I mean, make an album together. I wish they'd just do it, instead of him talking about it to tease me!)

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I have taken all these ideas under advisement. (I am still waiting for the reconfirmation of the interview at this point, which hopefully will be at noon my time today.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

(BTW, Noodles, HSA's current show ends this weekend, so all the oscillators and oscilloscopes will be back in the flat next week - I'll have HSA take a photo and post it, so you can droooooool.)

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry - x-post!

Let us know how it goes, Ned!

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Baaaaaaaaaaaah, I need to get up the courage and time to fix my LFO. Cause right now its just gathering dust.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

WIERD AL STEALS ALL OF MY IDEAS um maybe I shouldn't complain about that.

Also ask him if "Come Together" was at all influenced by Primal Scream.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Humph, I never got this level of excitement when I interviewed Jason SPZ a couple of weeks ago < /sulk>

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

AND YOU ARE? ;-)

(Fret not, Charlie, you probably did a better job than I will.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, WHEN DID YOU ASK ME FOR QUESTIONS, Young Charles?

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Kate's questions were very good ones! Hope you get a chance to ask them, Ned.

― Nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Yus! And then I will reap the reward (see, I'm interviewing him for a piece for the Seattle Weekly and all).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Right here, young Kate - not my fault you weren't paying attention.

Interview up on my blog in an hour or so...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Seattle Weekly? Oh, so you're part of the cabal too! ;-)

― Nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Yay me!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

1) I didn't have internet access at that time
2) DO I READ BLOGS?!?!? DO I?!?!? I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH MY TIME THAN READ BLOGS, OR ELSE I'D SIT HERE ALL DAY AND DO NOTHING BUT READ BLOGS!

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

you could have asked him why more people have fallen asleep at Spiritualized gigs than any other...

― Mog, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I already know the answer to that one!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him if he'd agree with you that Spaceman 3 were better than Spiritualized.

― Freedom Dupont, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Except I don't think that, so.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Ask him if your butt looks fat in these jeans.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Over the phone?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes! It will be classic.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

ask him about girl groops... he's always on about macho he-man action painter abstract expressionist beefheartian free jazz yadda yadda but what i've always loved his ronettesisms more (and the new single's title is a crystals malapropism so there's an easy in)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

My interview's up here for those of you who might be interested (not Kate obv).

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

btw... I saw an interview with him yesterday and he said the TWO most important things in music were Being Honest AND Being Truthful so you might want to ask if the 3rd most important thing is Not Lying

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha ha!

― Nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Tempting. :-) I still haven't heard back on today yet, so I'm going to call the press rep at 11 am and see what the deal is.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Interview DONE!

Not all suggested questions asked -- I was playing it by ear as I could, and I try to keep interviews fairly short, since I figure most musicians are sick of them. ;-) However, got in quite a few, and I thank you all. Some bits (and Charlie, I'm guessing some of this replicates your work too!):

* He's become a huge Dizzee Rascal fan -- the exact line was something like "It's good to hear something where you think you have a good handle on what music is like in general and then something drops into your lap that sounds like it's from outer space."

* the arm on the artwork is intentionally open to interpretation and he refused to give specifics, but he says the portraits in the album art were an intentional nod to jazz efforts in the past, ie, 'these are the people who made the record.'

* He was thoroughly surprised when he was invited by Spring Heel Jack to participate in the Blue Series and admitted that modern European free jazz wasn't an area in which he had much knowledge, but that he loved how the albums and performances turned out and that he was quite taken with the fact that SHJ 'respected,' I think the word was, his own untrained style.

* the split with Arista boiled down to 'an opportunity to get out.'

* Cop Shoot Cop has NOTHING to do with "Cop Shoot Cop." ;-) Indeed, I now learn, it's simply junkie talk, ie, cop some smack, shoot it, cop some more...

* Kate's science question was the one that threw him for a loop, in a good way! He basically described it as a principle of 'double-blind control trials,' ie real solid experimental proof, as opposed to the kind of science that can give you the results you want to believe in. His very interesting line on the matter: "I don't have time for whimsy and fantasy. There's enough energy you can generate on your own." Even more interestingly, he then spoke about how gospel music still affects him strongly -- interesting subtext, should have played that out some more.

Many of the other questions produced more standard responses -- I'll use them for the interview as need be, of course! I thank all of you who contributed. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Huzzah, Ned, thanks very mucho!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Ta Ned.

― stevo (stevo), Thursday, 23 October 2003 04:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I threw Jason for a Loop! Heh heh heh. That amuses me. (On both levels.)

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 07:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Thankya Ned. Pretty much what I expected/wanted to hear from him. :>

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre700/e739/e73921fpzf2.jpg

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

There you go, now Kate will be staring at that for hours and won't get any work done, you meanie.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll be staring at a big red X? Hardly likely.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, must not be loading for you (it's the cover of Heaven's End).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, must not be loading for you (it's the cover of Heaven's End).

...which I'll play tonight if you care to show up, Kate! I'm treating tonight as a dry run for the post-gaze night I'm vaguely talking about planning thinking about doing.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 23 October 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

As I said on the other thread, I'd like to go, but I suspect that HSA has already made plans for us! This is the problem with being married and all! (That said, shoegazer revival club = ROXOR!!! can I do a DJ set if you start it? You KNOW how large my drone/shoegaze collection is...)

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

*blink* Married?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Not in an actual married sense, dear Dan. But they do live together and are happily settled from what I can tell, which rules. Do not ask me how I know about the 'fart cave.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't your wife ever make plans for you and not bother telling you what they are until the last minute?

(It doesn't help that HSA is also extremely forgetful to the point of brain damage.)

x-post BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH FART CAVE!!!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

We do that to each other all of the time! I thought there was an important announcement that I missed (and clearly there was otherwise I wouldn't be baffled by this alleged "fart cave").

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The fart cave is something I learned about after Southall, curry and Tories in passing cars.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Rule one of fart cave is you do not discuss fart cave.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

From Jason Pierce to the Fart Cave. BEST! THREAD! EVAH!!!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, I am gravely disappointed in you. The founder of the Million Wang March upset by a little ol' fart cave.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

You make it sound so cute! "Aw, look at the adorable widdle fart cave! Isn't it precious?"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

ROTFLMAO!!! plop, plop.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

See, we're not denying this, Dan. Embrace your inner fart cave.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks, I wouldn't want to put my arms far enough to reach it!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Help me, dear lord, I'm turning into Dan Perry!

(funnily enough, that sounds like the title of a future SPZ b-side!)

― kate (kate), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Help Me, Dear Lord (I'm Turning Into Dan Perry)", the B-side to "All Together To the Sun," was released to general bemusement to the public. Hearing Jason Pierce sing "I don't wanna die/Oh lord/Sing about asshats all day/Oh lord/Cockfarmers and fart caves/Oh lord" struck many as 'curious.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"It winked at me!"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan Perry in the smash hit movie adapted from Chaucer, The Miller's Tale. (I leave it to you to determine which role(s) he should play.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Okay folks, the formal version of the article is up for your enjoyment:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0345/031105_music_spiritualized.php

Thanks again for all the help and questions. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 7 November 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

query: when I was younger, I would sometimes bring memorabilia to concerts to have autographed by the musician(s). One such thing was the glow-in-the-dark box issue of Pure Phase, which I took to one of their concerts on that tour. The thing of this was that JS signed it "Jason '93," which would seem perfectly reasonable, except that this occurred in 1995. I've since wondered if he was just so out of it at the time that he'd forgotten what year it was, or if that was just a thing he did, "93" having some connotative association w/ "Spacemen 3." Does anyone out there have the dish on J. Spaceman autograph trends in the mid-90s?

― A capella key change in "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips (Pillbox), Sunday, 28 March 2010 21:19 (fifteen years ago)

It wouldn't surprise me if he thought it *was* still '93 in '95.

― Delia & Daphne & Celeste (Masonic Boom), Sunday, 28 March 2010 21:33 (fifteen years ago)

yeah that would be pretty o_O - tho the evidence does suggest..

― A capella key change in "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips (Pillbox), Sunday, 28 March 2010 21:38 (fifteen years ago)

Noteworthy info about the gig: This was not initially a planned tour stop, but a friend of mine booked them at the zero hour to headline a springtime outdoor festival at his univ, Calvin College, a smallish school on the outskirts of Grand Rapids, MI. Some local cops caught some of the band-members smoking weed on campus & as a result Spiritualized received a lifetime ban from Kent County. The response from one of the perps: "we're just really glad they didn't search the van."

― A capella key change in "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips (Pillbox), Sunday, 28 March 2010 21:49 (fifteen years ago)

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