“JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION
I just wanted to make crazy music.
This was an interview with John Spencer. However, due to my own shortcomings, the interview ended up feeling like I was ruthlessly cut down by John Spencer. He is said to be a very sensitive person, and even before the interview began, he seemed exhausted, almost as if he were about to die. His voice was barely audible, and he lacked energy. I tried my best to be considerate, but it seems I ended up greatly upsetting him. However, at the live performance, he was completely different, a powerful and energetic stage presence, like a mix of Lux Interior and Nick Cave, and watching John’s cool performance, I was taken aback, wondering what that completely downcast state he had been in earlier was all about. I couldn’t help but think of the phrase Jekyll and Hyde. Below is the entire interview.
–I’m sorry for coming to interview you even while you’re eating.
“No, it’s okay.”
I heard that you don’t do interviews during the tour.
“I came all the way to Japan for this reason…”
――――So you don’t like interviews?
“I hate it.”
–Why is that?
“I don’t like talking about my past.”
–And, I apologize for bringing up something from the past, but what was the concept behind BLUES EX-PLOSION, and when was it created?
“I started it four or five years ago, but I don’t have any particular ideas.”
There’s nothing special about it, just Crazy Mew
I just wanted to do Jick.”
–How did the members come together?
“Russell was in the Honeymoon Killers. I met the other person through the Honeymoon Killers.” — Why is there no bassist?
“We couldn’t find a bass player from the start, and we didn’t need one anyway…”
—This band has a stronger rock and roll and rhythm and blues feel than your previous band (Pussy Galore)…
“That’s right.”
–I’d like to hear about your feelings and passion for that kind of music.
“That’s a really stupid question… (pauses for a while). Well, when I started BLUES EXPLOSION, I liked Jerry Lee Lewis and…”
–There are three versions of the first album, but especially ‘REVERSE WILLIE HORTON’, I was curious about, what form did it take when it was released? “It was a bootleg.”
So, you have absolutely no knowledge of it?
“I haven’t”
-What about the HUT and CRYPT ones?
“Both takes are the same. I think a few songs are different, but I don’t remember.”
Why did you release them separately?
“CRYPT was simply a German label, and HUT was a British label, but,
“It was just released from a different country.”
—You’ve released quite a few singles, but what about the cover art for the one released by CLAW-FIST?
Dia is you?
“It was my idea.”
――――Whose photo is this?
“That’s Jeffrey Evans. A famous rock and roll singer.”
――――Which single is your favorite?
“Hmph (sigh) Maybe ‘SHIRT JAC’. From IN THE RED.”
Objectively assess the situation you are currently in.
What are your thoughts on this from a general perspective?
“I don’t spend time thinking about such things”
Do you write the lyrics extemporaneously?
“Some are created (improvisationally) in the studio. Some are created after careful planning.”
–If you’ve thought about it and created it, could you give me some specific examples? What kind of things do you sing about?
Are you there?
「SEX」
-It’s a simple answer, but is my question a foolish one?
“No.”
—When you’re recording, do you pay attention to the equipment you use? Do you care about things like that?
“It’s not that I’m particularly concerned about it, but if possible, I’d like to use better equipment.”
—The single was recorded in a rather rough state, wasn’t it?
“We recorded it properly, but when it became a finished product, it turned out like that.”
–I’d like to ask you about your second album.
“Regarding the second album, it was more influenced by soul music compared to the first. We recorded it in Memphis, and it might also be heavily influenced by Otis Redding. We focused on those aspects when we made it.”
—What were you aiming for when you created your third album, ‘Orange’? I thought it had a very thrilling development.
“Regarding ‘Orange,’ I put more effort into it than ever before. I worked on the songs more carefully, and I think you’ll understand when you listen to it. You’ll be able to hear more clearly what kind of music influenced me compared to my other albums. Like rap and hip hop.”
—Did you spend a lot of time holed up in the studio?
“This was the longest we’ve ever spent in the studio on an album. Well, compared to other bands, it’s still a short amount of time, but for BLUES EXPLOSION, it’s the album we’ve poured the most time into.”
――――How did you come up with the titles “Bellbottoms” and “Very Rare” that are included in “Orange”?
“I just liked those pants. I didn’t intentionally choose that name. The ‘very rare’ part comes from a friend of mine who runs a record store. The owner has some really rare records hanging on the wall and makes a fortune off of them. Like $40, $60.”
—When I saw the title, my first thought was that it was about records, but do you collect old records like that?
“I really love records, but I hate the act of collecting them.”
――――Changing the subject… Um, you don’t listen to punk, do you…?
“Like CHEETER SLICKS… They’re kind of 60s punk.”
– Do you know BIG BOYS?
“Yes.”
――――What about JACK O’FIRE, the band that Tim Kerr, who was in that band, is now in?
“I have a 10-inch one.”
Have you heard the negative approach cover that’s included there?
“Oh, you like it?”
—Yes. Do you listen to any other new bands that approach the blues besides JACK O’FIRE?
“Like Doo Rag in Arizona”
――――Do you usually play live shows with those kinds of bluesy bands?
“I’ll do it.”
—-for example?
“DOO RAG, DEMOLITION DOLL RODS, and R.L. BURNSIDE from Mississippi (he wrote the band names on a piece of paper). R.L. BURNSIDE is a band that plays real, old-school blues.”
—Do you ever play with punk bands?
“Of course I will.”
–Could you give me a specific name…?
“Most of the bands are punk bands, but I can’t remember their names.”
—What kind of venues do you usually play in with bands like this?
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big place or a small place. It’s not a big problem.”
—For example, where in New York are you doing this?
“In New York, there’s Irvin Plaza… it can hold about 1200 people… and then there’s Wu-Tang Clan.”
—This is a rather abstract question, but what does New York mean to you?
“Home”
So, you’re based in New York, right?
“We don’t have a base of operations. As we’ve become more popular, our location is changing.”
—So, I’d like to ask if New York is a city that inspires you in your musical activities.
“New York is the best. Sound-wise, too. I’m influenced just by the noise emanating from the city.”
Despite being a very dangerous place
“I’ve certainly been in a lot of dangerous situations, but once you live here, it becomes quite comfortable. For me, being in Tokyo like this is more frightening.”
—Is that your first impression of Tokyo?
“I don’t remember my first time coming to Tokyo (as Pussy Galore) in ’89, but what I’ve noticed since coming back is how big everything is. In places like New York, I know where I am, but here, I don’t feel like I’m in Japan. There aren’t any narrow alleys or back streets like in New York.”
–So, besides BLUES EXPLOSION, what other activities are you involved in…?
“BOSS HOG. When I’m not doing one, I’m doing the other, and I’m also the manager for BLUES EXPLOSION, so I end up spending a lot of time on business matters.”
How do you differentiate between them in BOSS HOG?
“It’s like cats fighting.”
-Are you the main person behind BOSS HOG’s activities?
“Yes, I mainly play the guitar and also compose music.”
— This is unrelated, but do you have any favorite movies?
“Recently, I really enjoyed Tim Burton’s ‘Ed Wood’.”
