





What is it that makes Norwegian rockNroll so appealing to the Greek audience?
You know, it’s quite strange the connection between Greece and Norway. Here, Leonard Cohen, another gloomy and dark artist tops the charts, as you put Norwegian acts like Madrugada on the top of your lists. As far as I know, that’s quite unusual. Maybe, there exists a secret musical doctrine between the two countries.
Some Norwegian artists/groups that you deeply appreciate?
Serena Maneesh, Mira Craig, Madrugada, My Midnight Creeps, Mari Boine, Quarter Past, Camaros, Ane Brun, Erik Bye, The Cheaters, King Midas (one of the best bands in Norway)… to mention but a few.
Autheniticity: here’s what makes Ricochets so special. A factor that is so rare in today’s -plastic- rockNroll. Sometimes, you seem not to play the song… it seems as if you’re living the dam song!
That’s really how it is… the songs really are lived. Trond, who writes most of the songs, puts everything of himself in the songs. And that’s not bullshit.
Trond Andreassen, the singing/songwriting force in Ricochets, putting everything in the song
Th
ere’s a straight line that connects the 60s to Ricochets and vice versa…Alexander Kloster-Jensen on stage with Ricochets
Should one expect a political album from Ricochets?
No. Just a musical one.
Is black the color you like most?
Black is not a color. It’s the absence of all colors. I wish black was the color of my skin…
Which Ricochet spends more time in front of a mirror in the morning? Or is it noonday already by the time he wakes up?
It’s already noonday, when I wake up. My mirror is very small, so there’s not much point standing in front of it. But in the backstage mirror, I would say you truly spend the most time in front of it.
Is it true that you once got into fights with each other, while performing on stage?
No comment, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Can you describe the typical atmosphere backstage, five minutes before you walk on stage?
It’s like being a meteor heading for earth, bursting into the atmosphere, coming from the cold eternal, infinite space.
Do you nowadays write your songs faster that you used to? Do ideas come more easily, as time goes by?
Something has to trigger the writing. So, if there’s something significant happening in Trond’s life, it will soon be transformed into a song.
In terms of your next project, what are your ideas?
Lost of ideas but it’s a secret… I’m currently recording the second album with My Midnight Creeps, together with Robert Burås, the guitarist of Madrugada. It will be released this autumn. Thanks again for the request, and it’s always nice to hear from Greece. Love to everyone in Greece! Yours truly, Alexander Kloster-Jensen
THE WACO BROTHERS without bottles: still the hardest working men in drinking business
Do you play the drums nowadays, Jonboy?
I will this Friday - The Wacos play a special “cavalcade of drummers show”, as a benefit for our Chicago drummer Joe Camarillo, who was in a really nasty car-crash - he has no health insurance and is way in debt (but on the mend, which is the main thing), so we will guest drummers including Janet Bean from Eleventh Dream Day, Martin Atkins of Pil and Killing Joke and me - I can manage about one song, before I pass out these days…
‘Never Been in a Riot’, a satirical take on the well-known Clash-song ‘White Riot’ is the Mekons’ fist single. Langford (who started out as the drummer, but later switched to the guitar) founded his first side project to the Mekons circa 1982, with the Three Johns. Three Johns (Langford, John Hyatt, Philip ‘John’ Brennan, aided by a drum machine) specialized in abrasive, politically-fueled, danceable rock. The Three Johns will continue until the early ’90s. It is then when Langford relocates to Chicago. For the eyes of a beautiful Greek American lady…
In Chicago, our Jonboy pieced together the underground country-punk group the Waco Brothers. Langford having become friends with Bloodshot Records co-founder Rob Miller, the Wacos recorded their debut album for the label, in the year 1995. Bloodshot and the Wacos will remain faithful to each other until now. The excellent ‘Freedom and Weep’ (2006) is a record that deserves to be on the company’s acclaimed catalogue. Also are active the Waco Brothers’ brothers: The Pine Valley Cosmonauts, a moniker for excursions into performing and honoring music written by others, kinda collective of musicians. Over the years, Jonboy has enjoyed the cooperation of many musicians, guesting on numerous recordings, including sessions with Dutch punk pioneers The Ex, plus Austin, Texas local legend Alexandro Escovedo. This unstoppable man has also found enough time to record joint albums with Sally Timms and Richard Buckner.
It feels as a good time to interview Langford, because –apart from the Waco’s ‘Freedom and Weep’- he has a new solo album out (on the historical Roir Records). It’s called ‘Gold Brick’. As if those were not enough, ‘Nashville Radio: Art, Words, and Music’, a book + cd collection of his artwork and writings plus his performing 18 of the printed songs appears in 2006.
So, Langford is as extremely busy as he’s always been, producing records, designing record covers, taking care of his own paintings and sketches, organizing his regular anti-death penalty public actions, and being one of the hosts of a weekly radio show, called ‘The Eclectic Company’, that airs on WXRT 93.1 FM in Chicago. May his creativity never stops!
It’s such an honor that Jon Langford wrote us his answers to our blog’s questions (in the next post). Check them out for yourselves. They’re honest statements of an honest man.
How many pieces of clothes do you carry inside your suitcase when on tour?
Many pairs of underpants and socks, an old cowboy shirt and a thong for the beach.
In ‘Freedom and Weep’ ’s democracy, you share vocal duties and split mic time with your partners Deano (mostly) and Tracey. Also, Mark Durante (Durantula) makes an astonishing appearance as a singer, stepping behind the mic for the last song, ‘Join the Club’. Whose lead vocals do you like most?
I am far too diplomatic to play favorites on a public website, but, although there is much to be said for Mr Dear’s cheeky neo-Crosby-esque crooning, the playful lyricism of Schlabowske’s authentic and semi-masculine americana howl and Durantula’s anguished, yet strangely angelic deep-throat laments, none of them can sing the skin off a rice pudding in my opinion - I am best and I like me most! Actually, Alan Doughty, our bass player, is a fantastic singer, but he never sings lead, why should he? He don’t need the hassle man… But you should hear him in the shower!
Sorry, I don’t like to watch other men in such private moments. Speaking of Durantula, my little opinion is that his pedal steel rules all over ‘Freedom and Weep’. Don’t you agree?
He is marvelous -isn’t he! Old, cranky, troublesome, but marvelous. We’re thinking of having him stuffed. When I met him, he was just a surly punk-ass heavy metal gonk, but now he is a really, really great pedal steel player and a top chappie to boot - ah! the healing power of Western Swing - I am proud to say we pay him an equal share of all money taken in…
You traveling a lot these days?
Just got back from Australia, where I did some shows with Sally Timms, including a stripped down version of our ‘Executioner’s Last Songs’ multi-media piece at the Basement in Sydney (fantastic club), recorded a live CD and had a really successful artshow. I was there for the Greece v. Australia friendly - Melbourne was crazy!
How often do you go back to England?
Haven’t been back for almost a year, but that was for a tasty 5 week chunk last summer. I miss Wales a lot. Going back at the end of July to play some dates and finish a Mekons CD - check out www.mekons.com for details.
What happened to your childhood bedroom?
It is preserved in every detail by the Welsh Punk Rock Heritage Foundation - 2 quid to get in, but don’t sit on the bed…
What happened to your childhood dreams?
Washed away in a tide of Militarism and Materialism - I thought we’d all be living in socialist pods on the moon by now…
What made you leave home, and relocate in the States, Jonboy?
The love of a good Greek American woman.
Have you picked any American accent and habits?
I drink less, which means I am less British than I was - I think I was too old to get an accent.
You drink coffee or tea?
Today both.
Why did you choose Chicago to settle in?
My wife grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and returned there from France in 1991, to go to Architecture School - I followed like a dog.
Many people view you as a sort of father figure to the Chicago music scene. What did you learn, by playing and getting in touch with your labelmates on the highly-appreciated Bloodshot Records and all those that shared the same stage or studio with you?
Chicago has been really good for me - a great deal of cooperation, support and enthusiasm from fellow musicians of all styles and the people who run the clubs and labels - very different to the UK - Chicago is a place of possibilities. I learned to trust other people to do what they do best. That’s really all I ever do when I produce projects and put bands together - I never really tell people what to do - I just let ’em go!
Fave US city?
Apart from Chicago, I love NYC and Austin (and New Orleans and San Francisco AND Seattle AND Milwaukee... er... this could go on for a long time.
What you think of the Bush administration, Jon?
Shitty Oilmen, cynics, traitors.
Any possibility to re-activate the -fabulous- Three Johns?
No really - geography forbids.
Are the Mekons pre-paring any new material?
The new CD will be completed by the end of July. It’s called ‘Natural’.
What about the Pine Valley Cosmonauts?
Always bubbling away.
When a new song comes to you, what is it that leads you to bring it in The Wacos or the Mekons? How do you decide on which group of the ones you’re involved in a new-born song of yours will fit? The songs that end up on your solo albums are in advance specially-designed for that?
The songs on the solo CDs are usually things that don’t fit anywhere else, but that’s a big playing fireld as I write very specifically for the Wacos, and never write on my own for the Mekons - just wrote a load of kids songs for a project called The Wee Hairy Beasties with Sally and Kelly Hogan and the guys from Devil In A Woodpile - and I’m working on an album with Kat from the Ex (Amsterdam’s finest) on a CD called KatJonBand - a noisy mental duo…
How has your songwriting changed?
I think I’ve got better, but I don’t know if that’s really true. We did a Mekons lyric book a few years ago, and had to go back and look at all the songs we wrote back in the 80s, and I was really proud of them. I thought it was going to be really embarassing…
How has your singing changed?
I have really worked on that. I used to be the one who did the shouting. Since making the ‘Skull Orchard’ and ‘Gold Brick’ solo CDs I feel I’ve really turned into a crooner like Perry Como or Bing! I realized I was writing songs with strong melodies that I really should try not to destroy with my salty sailor singing…
How has your guitar playing changed?
I got really used to playing on my own with the 3 Johns (anything goes), and doing this KatJonBand thing has really got me back to a lot of that wilder stuff. Playing in a band with other (better) guitarists (Waco, PVC) leads me to just play as simply as I can…
What pays best: music or being a visual artist?
Bit of both, but in Australia the art definitely won!
You have a BA in Fine Arts from Leeds University. What were your horrible jobs, throughout College and High School?
High School I worked at Marley Homecare in Newport, and that was terrible - cutting carpet tiles with a hangover is bad…
You think situation in the music industry is better now that it was when you started making records?
When we started, Punk was going off, and the possibilities seemed limitless. It’s been up and down in between, but now my seniority and statesman like demeanour had left me in a pretty good position to do what I want to do, and tell the industry to go to hell.
Ever been in a riot?
Does being beaten up in a carpark outside an anti-Nuke gig in rural Herefordshire count? The young farmers didn’t like our haircuts, but that was 1982, and now I wear a hat… We definitely hadn’t when the first Mekons single came out.
Do you have a good time during your radio program, ‘The Eclectic Company’?
It’s on WXRT, a fairly big commercial rock station in Chicago, but the rule is I can play anything I like, and have fantastic guests on, like Graham Parker, Jon King of Gang Of Four, Freakwater, Kelly Hogan, John Doe, Robyn Hitchcock, Wreckless Eric etc. etc. DJ – It’s the best job in the world… If you go to their website (www.wxrt.com), you can listen live at 5 in the morning every Wednesday… (It’s on from 10 til midnite over here, so what time is that with you?)
Do you play the drums nowadays, Jonboy?
I will this Friday - The Wacos play a special “cavalcade of drummers show”, as a benefit for our Chicago drummer Joe Camarillo, who was in a really nasty car-crash - he has no health insurance and is way in debt (but on the mend, which is the main thing), so we will guest drummers including Janet Bean from 11th Dreamday, Martin Atkins of Pil and Killing Joke and me - I can manage about one song, before I pass out these days…
You mind telling us a few things about your Greek wife?
She is very beautiful and dark and fierce and smart and is an architect.
In terms of your next project, what are your ideas?
See above - KatJonband, Wee Hairy Beasties, new Mekons - my idea is to keep doing whatever I want as long as I can - to keep all the plates in the air.
Finally, I have this idea: could you draw something exclusively for our interview, scan it and e-send it along with your answers? That would be just awesome! Anything is more than welcome.
I shall try! Hmmm, how’s this?
For more on Jon Langford’s art, why don’t you take a moment and stop by his page at Yarn Dog? You’ll be rewarded with many fine pieces of art.
The Waco Brothers are consisted of the hardest drinking men in show business: Jon Langford (Mekons, Three Johns, Pine Valley Cosmonauts), Steve Goulding (Mekons, Poi Dog Pondering, Graham Parker & the Rumour), Dean -‘Deano’- Schlabowske (Wreck, Dollar Store), Mark Durante aka Durantula (KMFDM, RevCo), Alan Doughty (Jesus Jones), and Tracey Dear (World's Greatest Living Englishman).
Last but not least, our credits. Our sincere gratitude goes to two lovable ladies:
- JP Pfafflin. Jenny, thanks wholeheartedly for making this special thing happen!
-- Thais Fletcher (an ex-Bloodshot-er) for sendin’ out the Wacos CD in the first place. Cheers, Thais!
John Simandiras
ΕΟΣ
Δεν υπάρχει Θεός.
Δεν τον είδα ούτε μια φορά στην Τηλεόραση.
Ούτε στο Ίντερνετ τον πέτυχα ποτέ.
ΑΟΥΜΕ
Όσα «να πούμε (ακόμα)…»
κι αν μου πεις, βλαμμένε ρεπορταζά τής δεκάρας,
άμυαλο κατακάθι τής δημΙοσΧιογραφίας,
σκατά θα με πείσεις για την αλήθΧεια των λεγομένων σου στην κάμερα.
Σου βρίζω χυδαία και ακατΑνόμαστα
(στη γλώσσα σου μιλώ, είδες; λέω κι εγώ «ακατΑνόμαστα»)
τη μάνα που σε γέννησε,
κάθε φορά που σε βλέπω και σ’ ακούω να λες δέκα «Να πούμε» στο δίλεπτο.
Και δεν ξεσπάω πάνω σου με ύβρεις, επειδή είμαι ασουμιστής.
Και ναουμιστής να ήμουνα, πάλι θα μου την έσπαγες, ημιμαθές ον, άχθος αρούρης!
Είναι που τα «να πούμε» σου είναι τελείως περιττά, αφού όλο λες βρομο#$%*λη!
Όλο λες, πράττεις και τίποτ’ άλλο;
Τότε προς τι τόσα «να πούμε», καθίκιον;
Μα όσο κι αν σε βρίζω πατόκορφα, ματαιοπονώ.
Όχι μόνο δεν θεραπεύεσαι, μα ο ιός σου εξαπλώνεται ραγδαία
και στους υπόλοιπους standupάδες ρεπορταζάδες.
Εγώ φταίω που ασχολήθηκα μαζί σου.
Γιάννης Γ. Σημαντήρας