Conversations: Ian McCulloch of Echo & the Bunnymen

[insanejane]

Were they ever "Darlings of the press" in the U.S.? I don't seem to ever remember that.


The day after their recent L.A. OR show at the Nokia, I scoured the L.A. Times & Daily News in hopes of finding reviews. Nothing. Not even one.
Last night my daughter went to see the Pixies here (don't know if BF made the show?) and I see the f-cking L.A. Times writes a really positive review about THEIR tour to commemorate a TWENTY YR. OLD album.
I would have thought they were talking about the Bunnymen if I'd read the review a few weeks ago and didn't see the word "Pixies" in the article."Playing obscure b-sides", "keeping mainstream success at arms length for decades (on purpose)", " their music influencing all these current bands"

I like the Pixies, but I don't get it. First I thought after the Nokia show that the press were probably too mainstream to know about EATB, only MJ's Thriller Dance, but if they can know about the twenty yr. old Pixies album, then they should also know about the twenty-five yr. old Bunnymen's album.

[tonywojo]

simple - pixies bigger than bunnys

[zabird]

simple - pixies bigger than bunnys

Could be ... the Pixies did sell enough tix to warrant three nights at the Palladium (capacity: 3,400-4,000), whereas the Bunnymen were only able to sell 3,000 tix in a 7,000-seat hall. On the other hand, they were performing Ocean Rain in its entirety. Not a rarity tactic by bands anymore, but still ... Esp. when the New York Times reviewed the RCMH show.

As to LAT's staffing or not staffing a concert, there's no here or there. I work there, and I can't figure it out beyond interest vs. disinterest. Sure, they'll always review people like U2 and Brucie when they come to town [because they have to], but the others, maybe only if one of the pop music critics on staff or one of LAT's freelancers likes the band and wants to review it. Otherwise, they can't be bothered. For instance, Devo did two shows in L.A. this week, playing a couple of their early albums in their entirety, and all they got was a little pre-show promo in The Times. No review, tho, as far as I can tell.

[insanejane]

simple - pixies bigger than bunnys

Is it that way in England, too? I don't see the difference in talent, that one should be so much bigger fame-wise.

[insanejane]

Could be ... the Pixies did sell enough tix to warrant three nights at the Palladium (capacity: 3,400-4,000), whereas the Bunnymen were only able to sell 3,000 tix in a 7,000-seat hall. On the other hand, they were performing Ocean Rain in its entirety. Not a rarity tactic by bands anymore, but still ... Esp. when the New York Times reviewed the RCMH show.

As to LAT's staffing or not staffing a concert, there's no here or there. I work there, and I can't figure it out beyond interest vs. disinterest. Sure, they'll always review people like U2 and Brucie when they come to town [because they have to], but the others, maybe only if one of the pop music critics on staff or one of LAT's freelancers likes the band and wants to review it. Otherwise, they can't be bothered. For instance, Devo did two shows in L.A. this week, playing a couple of their early albums in their entirety, and all they got was a little pre-show promo in The Times. No review, tho, as far as I can tell.

I didn't know you worked there! Sorry! I notice they do snub certain artists. It's like the Oscars!

[tonywojo]

Is it that way in England, too? I don't see the difference in talent, that one should be so much bigger fame-wise.

build them up then knock em down

[black francis]

I find the Pixies and the Bunnymen to be very close in terms of recorded material but Frank Black definitely has the advantage when it comes to solo work. Where the Bunnymen required all four members to achieve greatness, Frank Black wrote all the Pixies material save 3-5 songs and was better equipped to work alone.

But having Kurt Cobain say that Smells Like Teen Spirit is a Pixies rip off (definite shades of Gouge Away) never hurts the legacy.

[neil]

I find the Pixies and the Bunnymen to be very close in terms of recorded material but Frank Black definitely has the advantage when it comes to solo work. Where the Bunnymen required all four members to achieve greatness, Frank Black wrote all the Pixies material save 3-5 songs and was better equipped to work alone.

But having Kurt Cobain say that Smells Like Teen Spirit is a Pixies rip off (definite shades of Gouge Away) never hurts the legacy.

Much as I like Teen Spirit, Gouge Away pisses all over it and doesn't even bother stooping to clean up the steaming mess.

[neil]

Duran and Spandau came out all smiles with their photo shoots and videos. They spoke amicably with the press. Duran Duran actually worked really hard on their image and treated it like part of the business. It was part of their great success in the 80s.[/img]

But then again, they perhaps had to over-compensate for creating the aural equivalent of a bucket of raw sewage being poured over your head.

[zabird]

I didn't know you worked there! Sorry! I notice they do snub certain artists. It's like the Oscars!

No worries! Like I said, I've never understood their rules for coverage. It's prolly just total whimsy. With print, at least they could blame it on "not enough room to get it in." That's not the case anymore with the Web.

And according to Mac in that Vox interview, Pete and Les didn't have anything to do with the writing of the songs. I wonder about that ... somebody came up with those bass lines and the drumming, and I can't imagine that it was Will and/or Mac.

[DivaDiana77]

But then again, they perhaps had to over-compensate for creating the aural equivalent of a bucket of raw sewage being poured over your head.

Except for John Taylor's bass playing.

I'll just leave it to saying it's not my taste anymore. Though some people might say early Bunnies is just noise.

[insanejane]

Except for John Taylor's bass playing.

I'll just leave it to saying it's not my taste anymore. Though some people might say early Bunnies is just noise.

Black Sabbath aren't my taste anymore, but they were my very 1st concert in 1970, and I have to say they were a great band, then. I'd still defend their original band today.

Anyone who can say "early Bunnies are just noise" I think it just means that the music went right over their heads; it's too sophisticated, like the Pixie's music. UNlike Kurt Cobain's. Talk about heavy rotation!

[withahip]

it's too sophisticated, like the Pixie's music. UNlike Kurt Cobain's. Talk about heavy rotation!

You don't like Nirvana so they aren't sophisticated? Because they use the same chords and the same insturments - and the same soft loud thing.

[insanejane]

You don't like Nirvana so they aren't sophisticated? Because they use the same chords and the same insturments - and the same soft loud thing.

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)

[DivaDiana77]

Black Sabbath aren't my taste anymore, but they were my very 1st concert in 1970, and I have to say they were a great band, then. I'd still defend their original band today.

Anyone who can say "early Bunnies are just noise" I think it just means that the music went right over their heads; it's too sophisticated, like the Pixie's music. UNlike Kurt Cobain's. Talk about heavy rotation!

Well, can't say that I would defend Duran Duran except to say that they were danceable, but for me today, I can't stand synth based pop and I'm glad the Bunnies never went there.

Personally I think their early stuff was brilliant and it's definitely complex in many songs.