Conversations: Ian McCulloch of Echo & the Bunnymen

[withahip]

I don't agree with Mac thinking Kurt Cobain was some genius.

I didn't say Nirvana was unsophisticated. I said early Bunnies + Pixies were probably too sophisticated for some.
I just don't get why American FM has to play Nirvana over and over, and rarely play Pixies or Bunnymen (unless it's 30 yrs. of the same Door's cover or Killing Moon)

Marekting + Deregulation of the broadcast industry so Clear Channel can buy up every channel in your market and the realization long ago repetitive play of certain bands that struck a major chord with a demographic at one time along with the fact that repeated play brings in a new group of listeners.

If it really bothers you listen to streaming internet radio of one of many independent college stations. If you want to hear said stations in your car - get a blackberry.

Yes, public airwaves are supposed to serve their community - but we live in an age where such thoughts are idealistic and naive - see business and corporations know what is best for us.

Music is a product. Ask the Bunnymen.

[DivaDiana77]

Music is a product. Ask the Bunnymen.

They learned that, didn't they? Honestly, they did everything they could to keep making their own decisions, but it took a toll. They were true rebels throwing fits over artistic choices in ways many wouldn't have. They even had to have a fight about the Seven Seas video. They produced it themselves because the powers that be hated the script but then loved it when they saw it and then bought it from them. HUH? Crazy

The powers that be would hear stuff and just say, "it needs trumpets" or "add in some synthesizer" it's disgusting. Why bother trying to find new talent or fresh sounds if you just want it to sound like everyone else?

[withahip]

I take the deregulation thing back. Radio in my area sucked before then.

[fat cherry]

wasn't the horns incident a balfe thing? are there horns anywhere else - on get in the car and other places on what are you... by which time they had pretty much their own way, or mac did at least. the only songs they ever play from porcupine are back of love and cutter and they do them pretty much in that fashion, so i guess they've got over it. I think i disagree with what appears a rose tinted view - and i dont mean that as an insult, i've no idea where youre coming from. But i'm not sure they've ever fought for anything much. The impression is 'cant be arsed'. Even mac to some extent. I think the buns way of dealing with management/producer issues was sulking alot rather than fighting - though there are reports of actual real fighting with balfe. Thing is, they have always, even now, wanted a major, but not wanted the hastle and compromise that goes with the it - again not uncommon with bands. Give us the money to do what we want and then you go and sell it. Theres a Lemmy quote saying (somehting like) - 'whenever one of the suits would come into the studio and suggest anythhing we'd say, we dont dont come upstairs and tell you how to type a letter mate so why dont you fuck off'. One of the oddest things is they were apparently given free range on ocean rain and produced this timeless work of art (I'm biased), then went to uber producer for the grey album and have been struggling with the issue ever since. The only really decently produced album since is reverberation and thats will and les being set free of the mac constraint. NOw they are back to uber prodction and its shite. mac doing his best politicians smile (eh.. see where i'm goiung with this) but its still shite. But no... i dont think they've ever really fought for artistc freedom. I think ther were always on the wrong label (factory would have been much better) and never had really good management - in the way U2 did for instance. Drummond was alright for the start but doesn't seem to have had much business acumen unless it was his own skin he was looking after. since he left i dont think they've ever had anyone they've trusted - which is why they have two of their mates doing it now. and by way of a digression i went to a party last night where the theme (if it was one) was wigs. anyway i was talking to some bloke at one point and said - you know who you remind me of.... peasey, of porcuine management and cigggi roadie fame. spitting image, but strangley enough he'd never heard of him. Sorry. theres no point to that last part.

[insanejane]

Marekting + Deregulation of the broadcast industry so Clear Channel can buy up every channel in your market and the realization long ago repetitive play of certain bands that struck a major chord with a demographic at one time along with the fact that repeated play brings in a new group of listeners.

If it really bothers you listen to streaming internet radio of one of many independent college stations. If you want to hear said stations in your car - get a blackberry.

Yes, public airwaves are supposed to serve their community - but we live in an age where such thoughts are idealistic and naive - see business and corporations know what is best for us.

Music is a product. Ask the Bunnymen.

I guess I'm old enough to remember when radio was actually good; the days of FM before music wasn't a product and DJs would actually handle vinyl and introduce work by new artists or play "album side Sundays" all because of Edwin Armstrong, the man who killed himself after having his patent for FM held up for so many years by RCA who only wanted AM to dominate radio;His patent only to be stolen by them some 12 years later.
Yes, I know all about ClearChannel. I know all about college stations, too. That's where I first heard the Bunnymen and so many other great "new wave" artists at the time.

[fat cherry]

and as for the horns, its just occurred to me. they lost

[DivaDiana77]

and as for the horns, its just occurred to me. they lost

Why yes, yes they did. There are a few horn solos on the Grey album. I do remember being disappointed in the new stuff. Dancing Horses was not my flavor either. But I've always liked Bedbugs and Ballyhoo and the Game. In fact they should have cut these live versions onto the album. What a shame.

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But the Bunnies could be arsed when they really wanted to be. The story about them pushing for the Seven Seas video came from Turquoise Days.

I was lucky that I had great radio in the 80s. Plus with hours of video shows, managed to see all of the videos that the Bunnymen put out. American bands weren't catching onto video when the video shows first got going.

[Lancashire Fusileer]

Why bother trying to find new talent or fresh sounds if you just want it to sound like everyone else?

Saves the investment in creation = saves money. And makes money by virtue of copying. Working on the sales premise that more ice cream vendors= more ice cream sold, regardless of individual quality. Hence White Lies, Editors etc

A classic record company trick.