Esquire Interview

[In The Margins]

http://www.esquire.co.uk/2009/09/10406/

With a nice photo.

Here's the follow up:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/music ... s-bunnyman

[Mr. Brian]

…music-based videogames Guitar Hero and Rock Band: “I hope they all get electrocuted, because they shouldn’t be playing with that crap.”

Well that's too bad. I guess Mac has an aversion to making a bit of money off his career and exposing younger people to his music. Some older bands now make more money off of these games than their entire back catalog.

but obviously he is delusional now, Killing Moon is great and on par with several Beatles songs but better than MOST Beatles songs? No comment on the voice. Why would you refuse fans of another band? I can see thinking Bono is a twat or whatever but to shit on their fans?...

…The Beatles: “The Beatles were amazing, but I think The Killing Moon pisses over most of their stuff, and so does Ocean Rain. And Idolness Of Gods, if that was by The Beatles it would be up there with Yesterday.”

…his voice: “My voice is infinitely better than it was. What I like is I don’t have to attempt to prove I can sing. I can’t listen to some of the earlier stuff, it sounds like someone really trying be like a Bowie.”

…the longstanding (and largely unrequited) feud with U2: “I always slagged off U2 mercilessly because I didn’t want their fucking fans.”

Ah well, it's just Mac being Mac I guess. This sort of thing used to seem rebellious and independent or something, now it just comes off as a cranky and bitter.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I'm in total agreement with Mac on those music video games. Why don't they just pick up and learn to play a guitar or another musical instrument? Lazy buggers.

Did he say he smokes 80 fags in one evening or did I misread that. No wonder his voice is fuked, even if he claims that is better than it was. Jeez, I still smoke and think I'd be wrenching on the floor and throwing up my lungs if I smoked 80 in an evening.

And when are we going to hear this Idolness of Gods? Mac's supposedly greatest ever written tune. Surely it would have been showcased by now, even as a snippet if it is that good.

[Dr Evil]

Cranky and bitter (or perhaps ironic) maybe, but you have to admit the man is funny. What the hell-who isn't cranky and bitter after 50?
Shame his songwriting isn't quite as good as his humour these days-but 80 cigarettes a day? Mac seems to have a death wish for his voice if nothing else.

[Mr. Brian]

I'm in total agreement with Mac on those music video games. Why don't they just pick up and learn to play a guitar or another musical instrument? Lazy buggers.

You can still do that. It's not an either or thing. I play a real guitar and play RockBand as well.

It just seems odd to be so adverse to the most commercial thing going on right now, just as management makes a statement that infers that they want to be more commercially appealing. The Bunnymen paradox... let's be successful making the same mistakes over and over again.

[Mr. Brian]

Cranky and bitter (or perhaps ironic) maybe, but you have to admit the man is funny. What the hell-who isn't cranky and bitter after 50?
Shame his songwriting isn't quite as good as his humour these days-but 80 cigarettes a day? Mac seems to have a death wish for his voice if nothing else.

Yeah true on being funny, it just doesn't come off that way in print sometimes.

I still think it's a mistake to dismiss RockBand and those games and to piss on millions of potential fans (U2). This is the man who did a song with the Spice Girls. I guess their fans are ok?

[moses (2)]

god he sounds like my dad

I think it is time maybe he had a translator for him you know where he says something and the translator kind of giggles nervously and gives a watered down version

the stuff on Fergal Sharkey is not funny, it is ignorant and offensive and if it is meant to be tongue in cheek then Mac needs a humour transplant

still I bet it will get loads of press

[In The Margins]

It just seems odd to be so adverse to the most commercial thing going on right now, just as management makes a statement that infers that they want to be more commercially appealing. The Bunnymen paradox... let's be successful making the same mistakes over and over again.

It's like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. This band and its management have never been on the same page.

His interviews are repetitive (U2 bashing) and full of hyperbole (80 cigarettes, really???) that grows old and comes across cranky and absurd for anybody who's read them before. But like I wrote, nice photo. I hope it wasn't photoshopped.

[Grumpy_Jimbo]

If you want my opinion I believe that The Bunnymen are a far superior than The Beatles......

Totally overated band in my opinion........

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

You can still do that. It's not an either or thing. I play a real guitar and play RockBand as well.

I'll let you off on that one as you also play a real guitar. I get every other video game, just not the music ones. I'd rather play the real thing or even, which I haven't tried yet and keep meaning to do so, one of the music studio software thingies to compose stuff.

[Dave Smith]

Totally agree-people should learn to play the proper guitar.When I was 12 I had a £30 Argos acoustic not some shit game of musical electronic Simon .

[Mr. Brian]

I'd rather play the real thing or even, which I haven't tried yet and keep meaning to do so, one of the music studio software thingies to compose stuff.

I don't think those computer things with the fancy pictures and whatnot are going to catch on.

[black francis]

The Killing Moon is better than any other song ever written. Listened to it about 3 times on my way to work this morning (drove the missus' car with the working CD player) and I can confirm it is the greatest piece of music known to man.

I thought his comment on guitar hero was hilarious and I love me some video games. You know if they get approached for some songs they'll go with it so I wouldn't take offense guitar hero fanatics.

[Mr. Brian]

I thought his comment on guitar hero was hilarious and I love me some video games. You know if they get approached for some songs they'll go with it so I wouldn't take offense guitar hero fanatics.

No offense taken, it just surprises me on how he is so dismissive of it. I know Jimmy Page is not a fan either. To each his own but it seems like it could get some more exposure to a relatively old band with basically a cult following.

The way Warner spits out those Greatest hits packages for them every year without any input from the band, I wonder if they even would get a choice? I mean if someone at Warner decides that Killing Moon would be a good song for one of those games, my guess is, it will just happen. Then Mac will do an interview on how brilliant it is.

[black francis]

Yeah but I think half the time Mac opens his mouth it's tongue in cheek and not meant to be taken too seriously. Having listened to The Killing Moon three times this morning I am in a forgiving mood so I'll be defending Mac today.

Hopefully Think I Need It Too won't turn up on my random playlist and ruin the mood.