I've always wondered about the song writing process. What is the inspiration for the songs you write? Do you have something you want to write about, or is there a feeling that results in certain music? Also, you sing a few songs but there are undoubtedly many others that you've written but don't sing. How is it decided that you'll sing a song you've written as opposed to Frank?
John: Inspiration for songs comes from many places. Music wise..Sometimes I pick a chord on guitar or piano...take a finger off and put it where it shouldn’t be..or turn on the radio and I must use the time signature or speed of the song that’s playing ...Lyric wise, .eavesdropping is always good...mis-hearing conversations...just picking the good words you hear everyday...today my favourite words have been ..shopkeeper..table-time and 'the vital spark'..I will write ‘em down and maybe never use them but you never know.. I love the words that we’ve managed to get into tunes - beachcomber, stethoscope, cabbage, sandwiches, umbrella. To paraphrase Mr. Robert Burns, "We rivet words together, just to hear them clang."...... Some of my favourite writers use rich, chunky language..e.g. Dylan Thomas, and his women with 'hot-water-bottle bodies'..We like to fill some of our tunes with 'furniture' as we call it..as long as it suits the mood ..doesnt get in the way of the emotion. We do have other ways of approaching lyrics...sometimes the simplest words have the most impact..some songs prefer to be uncluttered and need a kind of 'Feng Shui' approach.
There is no rule concerning who sings the songs..Frank is my favourite singer..he takes all the songs and brings them to Technicolor life..there are a few tunes that suit my voice and I am more than happy to give the big man a rest...Paul has sung on record (under duress) but point blank refuses to sing at gigs...Stephen sings beautifully but, as yet, not many lead vocals..and the amazing Mr. Hughes is a singer in a world of his own..hopefully our world will hear some more of him soon.
My question is: Which of the band members is the big Marty Willson-Piper fan? You are obviously using the guitar from Marty Willson-Piper's song "You Whisper" in your track "Freetime," and I was wondering whose idea it was? (I'm a huge fan of MWP and The Church as well, and just when I didn't think TCS could impress me even more--I heard Freetime...)
John: I’m glad we continue to 'impress' you...I’m afraid I’ve never heard of the song and artist you refer to...Freetime is one of Paul’s tunes with a chunk of Frank’s lyrical input and I’m pretty sure they haven’t heard of MWP either...we tend to stop writing a tune if it sounds familiar, it’s one of our golden rules.
How does it feel to be so fucking godlike?
John: I don’t know about feeling 'godlike' but I feel pretty good..how about yourself?
Thanks for putting out the Zebra CD, it's fantastic! I'm curious about the compilation process. Did you find songs or versions of songs you had forgotten about? Did listening to demos of older songs give you a new appreciation for those songs? I guess I'm just wondering if putting the album together changed the way that you thought about or remember those songs?
John: I’m glad you like the Zebra..yes we did find versions of songs that I couldn’t remember..the version of Hafever was a shocker..and, yes...some of the tunes grew in my estimation.....I love the version of The Pop Place........but my favourites are the Spy Theme , Blowing Up and Weightlifting (1)
Each of your prior three albums has seemed more hushed (maybe just less rollicking) than the one before--in a very nice, well-done kind of way. Does the pending album continue this trend? If you agree with my observation, can you think of a reason why it might be true? Have things just grown quieter in Scotland over the years? We seem to be damned to the opposite here in the states--a radio full of awful noise. Your band's body of work reminds me, in some veins, of Mojave 3--another excellent band with a penchant for quiet. Have you listened to them? At any rate, thank all of you for sticking with it over the years.
John: I think you are vaguely correct...the albums have gradually got a little calmer..as have us Trash Cans as individuals...As anyone who seen us play live around the first album will tell you, we were a bag of nerves, wired to the moon...and over the years we have relaxed into ourselves..comfortable as a unit. This has been reflected in the music. The new album is far from mellow, though it does have some of our finest mellow moments. I don’t know of the Mojave 3..I will try to check them out...Thanks for the kind words
For God's sake, will you please get this new album out so I have something new to listen to instead of this complete shit all over the radio and TV. I can't even stand to turn the radio on anymore. It would be nice if you toured, too. Thanks for letting me vent.
John: Can’t turn on the radio ??....Hey..You missed a war...Yeeha. Its good to vent..hope you feel better.
Whatever happened with March records in the US? They claimed to have been releasing your next record. Any truth to that?
John: The good folks at March records helped us out a few years ago...they helped to set up a recording session in Hartford, USA for us and also a small east coast tour..We stayed over at their place, somewhere up the Hudson river, and made quite a nuisance of ourselves. Their patience and hospitality was wonderful. Our mayhem and irresponsibility was also quite wonderful....The recording session was useful, but in the long run, fruitless ...As far as March records releasing our next record goes...I don’t know..all release details are unknown at the moment.. but I hope their house is still standing........we left it a little rickety.
i'm really looking forward to hearing the new album and hope you get it released soon. a couple of questions about that: when do you think the record will be released? since it has been so long since you've released a new record and things didn't go so well around the time of ahp, what are the band's expectations for weightlifting...in terms of the type of record deal you can get, amount of touring, records sold, etc.? would you consider putting the record out yourself?
John: We are trying to get the record out at some point this year. I think the most sensible approach is for us to finish the album using our own finances..so that we will own the Master recordings. Then we can license the album through whichever company offers us the best deal. This would give us the opportunity to actually receive some money from record sales..which in turn would enable us to play gigs more often and finance the next record (as well as those little things like buying food, paying the rent, feeding the kids etc.)
Have you guys ever tried gazing at your shoes when playing?
John: No.
John, Come on mucker, I know you've played London and Glasgow in recent times but its been far too long for other Cities especially Birmingham...ya got a big following here and the Jug of Ale would be ideal. I know at least 15 people who would come and see ya and I'm not even that popular. Any thoughts ???
John: It has been a long time...We would love to get back to Birmingham..we always had a good gig there. We have an open invitation to do a Janice Long session at Pebble Mill next time we are down your way..so, hopefully, we can organise it before the year’s out...
Take a look at this Ebay auction... How does it make you feel to know that TCS rarities such as "The Genius I Was" 2 track promo CD are selling for an excess of US$100 on eBay?
John: It makes me feel like I should have kept a few copies.
Do you think you guys will tour again in the UK and/or USA or elsewhere, or just keep with these one-offs you've been doing the last couple of months? Does your past experience touring in certain cities sour you on doing a full-blown tour and would you rather pick your spots? I'm afraid to say I've been to a couple of gigs back in the mid 90s where I could probably count the punters on my fingers and toes.
John: We would love to do some full blown touring again..nowhere is out of the question. I do recall some of the sparsely attended gigs you speak of and ..yes..my heart doth sink...yet....somehow, the flame burns bright and these songs are strong...
I learned to play guitar in a school folk group playing classics like "When the saints go marching in" the someone showed me the opening riff to "Layla" and i kind of taught myself from there. How did you learn to play guitar?
John: I began when I was 19..working in McDonalds, Marble Arch, London..I was in love with music but strictly as a listener. I knew nothing about guitars or chords..The shift manager, Willie Ward, was a good friend and played a little and he thought I needed a guitar as I was so into music. He had got to know these Iranian buskers who strummed on the corner at Edgeware Road. So, he figured they would be able to pick me out a decent, sturdy, cheap guitar. Off he goes, out the shop gives these guys £50 and asks them to buy me a guitar..Cynical me at the time, laughs and says kiss the £50 goodbye..well..the afternoon arrives and in comes the good Iranian with guitar, case and change....I was humbled......He kept the change.
Willie, a commited Mancunian socialist, gave me a songbook called " The Wee Red Songbook" and the first song I learned to play was " As soon as this Pub closes...the Revolution starts." After he had shown me a few chords I was hypnotised.. Everything stemmed from those Iranian/Mancunian good deeds.
Who is the better guitarist you or Paul?
John: Paul and I rely on each other...its one of my favourite things about the Trash Cans. When I am quiet, he speaks and vice versa...kinda like ventriloquism...you keep your mouth shut ....the dummy speaks
Which type of guitar do you prefer to use and if you could have any guitar you wanted what would you choose? Mine would be a Gretsch White Falcon. I think this goes back to the days when Billy Duffy of The Cult had one and i looked a bit like him, well i had the same hairdo. (it was the 80s) Nowadays i have the Paul Livingston look.
John: Ah..the "Paul Livingston Look"...a classic cut. I play a black Gibson Les Paul, just like wee Brian Robertson, I quite fancy getting a Strummeresque Stratocaster at some point, and I do have a secret yearning for a Flying V.
Apart from Paul who are your favourite guitarists?
John: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Steve Hackett, Brian Robertson, Scott Goram, Marc Ribot, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jody Stoddard, Johnny Marr, Santo and Johnny, John McGeoch, The Edge.
At the King Tut’s gig you had a bit of string around your finger. What was that about? By the way it was my eagle-eyed wife who spotted this. Women notice these things apparently.
John: Well spotted, Mrs. Sherlock. The string round my finger is the hairband of the one for me. Glad you and the missus enjoyed the King Tut’s gig.
are you going to tour in the USA, particularly Boston, MA?
John: Boston holds a special place in the Trash Cans heart..someday, I'm sure, we shall return.
I have the Zebra of the Family CD and love it! Why did you guys decide to do an album of demos and a few unreleased songs? Or was there any reason to do one at this time? Any chance that there could be a volume 2 someday with additional demos (maybe including some of the newer songs) or unreleased songs?
John: The reason we created the Zebra was.......we needed to raise some money to help us pay for Weightlifting...and putting out the demos and unreleased stuff seemed a decent and interesting way of raising the cash. We felt there were enough songs to make the Zebra value for money....And, yes, there may be another Zebra in the future
Since you guys don't all live together in Shabby Road anymore, where does everyone live and how often do you see each other? Did losing the studio change the way the band interacts because you don't spend as much time together, or how does that work?
John: Frank and I are now based in Glasgow...Paul, Stephen and Davy are still living in Kilmarnock. We don’t see as much of each other socially, but that is more due to some of us being in relationships than any geographical stuff. Since we lost the studio we don’t have as much time to spend playing together. We have to book rehearsal time and it costs money..so we only do it when its necessary e.g. a gig or recording. When we had the studio there was the luxury of time for jamming and working things out without having to clockwatch..I yearn for the return of that feeling...I’m sure that with the release of our record, we will be able to afford that luxury again.
I've noticed a slow building of publicity recently. You had Billy Sloan playing a couple of new tracks, the Brian Morton Show appearance, the gig at King Tut’s, an article in the Scotsman, another new song on Janice Forsyth's show and these gigs at Brel. Are there plans to have a steady stream of gigs or other publicity leading up to the album release, or is this recent activity coincidental?
John: I am hoping we can keep up this steady stream of gigs and radio play ..I’m sure it will help us when the record is ready. It’s also a real blast to get playing again.
I was hoping you could please take 3 minutes and type the lyrics to Duty Free (the song is beautiful) and forward those to my wife and I at our e-mail address above. Guitar chords, too? (I hope I'm not asking too much, you and your mates have already given us fans a great contribution...) We're looking forward to the new album, hopefully out this year!
John: I will try to get the lyrics up on the website as soon as I can..the chords...well its C , G and D for the most part...there is an Am thrown in at some point...sorry I cant remember at the moment...glad you like the song..Another one of Frank and Paul’s pearls.
I've noticed that there's common thread of failure running through all your albums from 'Obscurity Knocks' to 'The Safecracker' (in theme not music!).I'm probably wrong, but there seems to be a huge leap from the rather unconvincing 'I'm old, not wise, just worried' on Cake to 'I've Seen Everything' only 3 years later. How did you come to write such an exhilarating song about losing everything? Where is it you're off to that's so warm? Are there any other should-have-beens out there who you can relate to?
John: Thank you..yes...it is exhilarating..isn’t it? To me the song depicts the exuberance and optimism of youth and the cusp of it changing....It’s our 'American Graffiti' song...you know ..a group of friends who've grow up through school together and along comes adulthood with its different paths.. and that bittersweet parting..It captures that feeling for me.
"Where are we off to that's so warm?"...the future..the bright, shining unknown.
"Common thread of failure" ?......hmmm....maybe...there is melancholy... but there is also joy.
Other 'Should-have-beens' ? One band that springs to mind is 'Its Immaterial'...a Liverpool band from the Eighties...they got to make two fantastic albums, " Life's hard and then you die" and "Song", and then were never heard of again. They wrote beautiful songs of ordinary life and human frailties, songs full of character and bizarre instrumentation.... I know how hard it is to keep a band together and keep a vision alive in the face of indifference. It’s a real shame that some things just slip away through the cracks. I hope they are still out there somewhere singing.
When you play a show, how do you decide what ends up on the set list? Do you ever end up playing something you haven't practiced? Or do you practice, say, 20 songs and then see which 18 you're in the mood to play the night of the show? Along those lines, when the crowd is shouting out requests, would you ever actually play one of them other than by coincidence?
John: Our gig routine recently has been to rehearse a whole bunch of songs, giving emphasis to the newest written, and then make up a set list on the evening of the gig...it was different in the past, when we had the opportunity to tour at length, then a certain dynamic would arrive..we would realise what songs worked well together, etc...we have been restricted to playing one-off gigs for the past while, so our set list skills are a wee bit rusty...We are working towards the day when we can tour properly again and then we can ignore request calls the world over. |
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A couple questions: The photos for the cover and booklet of "Zebra" are brilliant, and you've done wonderful paintings for the cd covers in the past. I was wondering, did you ever receive formal art training? A question that may have been answered in the past, though I didn't see it in the FAQ: where did you find the 1963 Ford Falcon convertible shown in the "Bloodrush" video?
John: Glad you like the photos and paintings...I have no formal art training... The 1963 Ford Falcon (made the same year as little ol' me) was borrowed from a local car collector ...from Prestwick or Troon..can’t quite recall...
i don't know the other place's situation, but in japan, i can't get A HAPPY POCKET, because it is not released any more. can I get it in britain ? or do you have a plan to release AHP in japan again ?
John: I don’t know where you can get it..Maybe E-Bay ...or ask someone on the message board to burn you a copy...highly irregular, but it’s ok with me ...just this once... If we can get the rights to release it in Japan..we will ...but it may take some time (and money) so don’t hold your breath
do you read the messageboard on trashcansinatras.com and if so, how come you or the other band members don't post messages? i saw in frank's questions he said the website and fans make a big impact on the band. not that he wouldn't tell the truth, but do the messages and e-mails and fan support really make that much of a difference? i guess it's idealistic to want to say that, but it's something else to think that it's actually true and the website and fan support really does make a difference.
John: I do read the messages and I have, on occasion, posted messages...It gives a real boost to morale .....especially over the last few years when we were going through our bankruptcy and losing the studio...it felt like we were being attacked from all sides and the messages were a reminder that our work also created a lot of pleasure...Thank You All
I'm an avid fan. I was just wondering why you just didn't sell some singles as mp3's. I (and most of the TCS faithful) would buy them. I doubt many would distribute, given the size and conviction of the fan base. For instance, I'd pay $5 USD for a studio cut of Freetime. And I know a few others who would too. I'm just curious if this is something you've considered.
John: We have not considered the possibility of selling mp3's. We are trying to find a more conventional way of releasing the music once it is finally mixed. Though, who knows what the future holds...mp3's could be the new laserdiscs...
It's nice to see things happening again for the band. I actually can't believe you made it through the last 5 or 6 years without a new record, record deal and hardly ever playing any shows. How did you make it through? I'm sure there must have been times when it would have been easier to just call it quits. What kept the band going? Good luck with the new album.
John: Thank you for the good luck wishes....somebody once said 'Luck is when opportunity meets with preparation'....we have spent a good part of the last few years preparing to be lucky. What kept us going is hard to define....love? faith? sheer bloody-mindedness? a desire to prove ourselves vindicated? stupidity?....all of these were probably true at some point..but the main, over-riding reason is..the songs..they won’t let us be..those pesky songs..damn them.
Have the TCS ever considered another tour in the United States? We have a large fan base in Detroit Michigan, and we would the TCS to come to Detroit to play.
John: The band is permanently contemplating an American tour..it’s one of my favourite daydreams...and today I shall daydream of Detroit.
Do you think that the TCS' relative success (or lack thereof) is due to anything that the band could have controlled? Anything you've learned from your prior records (especially being on a good sized label, playing or not playing certain gigs and your relationship with the press) that will help you as you push to release this new album? Hindsight is always 20/20...
John: I’ve learned that yesterday pales into insignificance when faced with today and tomorrow. This new record is a magical, strength-giving brew....we are a living, breathing success already...we sit on a goldmine...can’t wait to let you hear it....all your troubles ......all them shitty days...... all of that stuff will just....evaporate.
As a follow up to Saturday's pre gig email..............Gig at King Tut’s was excellent, I thought the set was well mixed with old and new (even though the guy in front of me was shouting for "Obscurity Knocks" or "To Sir" from immediately you took the stage!!. I also purchased "On a B Road" and "Chewing A Brick", which should whet my appetite for the new, eagerly awaited, album. The "Send for Henny" with Edna was the icing on a well baked cake (no pun intended), I haven't seen Eddi perform live for a couple of years, which I now regret. So, what next? The live show definitely deserves a tour (both U K and further), when are one of the majors going to recognise great Scottish talent? (rhetorical question!) Thanks for a great gig, look forward to all things new, very soon.
John: Hope you like the CDs...What next?...Well..more gigs ..mix the album..get a sleeve for it...release it..get the songs on the radio..cheer the world up.... Simple.
I've been a huge fan since cake. even my dad (a die hard brian wilson fan) was taken by your music. when i discovered the internet i found myself checking in at the web page for any news of your CD's possibly being released in america. the only CD's i have access to are cake and i've seen everything. what are my options? maybe you could send me some paypal info.
John: Glad you like the tunes...your Dad is a Brian Wilson fan, eh ? Well, just to make him jealous, ......I’ve got a beautiful signed tour programme and Pet Sounds songbook from last year’s tour...my girlfriend was at the Festival Hall gig in London and afterwards she was backstage and chatted to him...well.... chatted at him is more the truth...she told him how she and I fell in love to one of his songs.." Sweet mountain of love" sung by his wife and she wanted him to sign the programme as his music and that song meant a lot to us...All he said to her was" Uh...How do you spell 'John' ?" ...Magic.
Check the merchandise page at the website for paypal info.
Hi folks - since seeing you play at King Tuts I've been meaning to get in touch and let you know how much I enjoyed the gig...Nice to see Eddie on stage but just a wee shame you didn't pick perhaps a more melodic song to duet on (no disrespect to 'Send for Henny'!). Highlights of the night were hearing a lot of the new songs, particularly 'Weightlifting', it sounds a magic track...I didn't like to shout out a request, as there were plenty flying around, so was over the moon when you played 'January's Little Joke'.
John: Glad you enjoyed the gig..Eddi was singing on 'Send for Henny' because she sings on the record..its credited to Sam Francis..thats the name of her son..who was still in her belly when she recorded the song...Im glad you like Weightlifting...its definitely got something, that tune..and were all still fond of Januarys little joke....
The band has made some comments about not liking Cake and that's why you don't play much of it in concert. Or the need to not look back so much and move forward. Looking back, are you happy with the first three albums or do you wish you had done anything different?
John: I think we are all happy with all of the albums so far...wouldn’t really change a thing..but you are right..we do feel a need to move forward...as old Mr. Waits says " Don’t look back, there are things that might distract."
i have a couple quick lyric questions about only tongue can tell. the website lists: 'five? footsteps' i always thought it was "folly footsteps" , 'hoovering up for the day' i thought it was "limbering up for the day" can you tell me what the correct lyrics are? thanks a lot.
John: It's "following footsteps" and "hoovering up for the day " Your suggestions are fine ....keep it up
I just wanted to let you know that I've revisited 1993's I've Seen Everything record today after not having listened to it for a while, and I have to say it is one of the best albums of 1990's. It was so ahead of its time and it should've ranked with such great newer records as R-head's Ok Computer,and the new Coldplay record.
John: Thank you for your kind words...yes, we buried our treasure well in the 90s..we will try to give clearer directions to all future treasure.
after listening to nothing but the zebra cd for the last 4 days now, a quick glance at www.trashcansinatras.com 's lyrics page came up no dice for my borderline-rabid desire to know the complete lyrics to "blowing up", "homeless", and "weightlifting". any chance you can tell us the lyrics?
John: I will try to get the lyrics for those songs up on the website lyrics page as soon as I can...I thought they were all pretty audible ...except maybe 'Blowing up'...oh well.
what were your favorite bands (past or present) in 1980, 1990 and nowadays? do you find yourself listening to much new music these days or does the current music scene turn you off?
John: Favourite Listening Then 70s, 80s, 90s - The Clash, The Jam, Joy Division, The Fall, Gang of Four, The Undertones, The Sex Pistols, John Cooper Clarke, Roy Harper, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Squeeze, Thin Lizzy, Kraftwerk, XTC, Microdisney, The Walker Brothers, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Scritti Politti, Black Uhuru (Michael Rose era), Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Odyssey, Neil Young, The Specials, Tom Waits, The Blue Nile, Abba, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Ennio Morriconi, Sly and the Family Stone, The Associates, REM, Magazine, Van Morrison, The Smiths, Scott Walker, Its Immaterial, The Band of Holy Joy, Bob Marley, The Go-Betweens, U2, Genesis (Gabriel/ Hackett era), Kate Bush, The Young Rascals, Leonard Cohen, Any Bacharach/David, Joni Mitchell (Hejira, Hissing of Summer Lawns), The Fatima Mansions, Prefab Sprout, Madness, Michael Marra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jimi Hendrix, Funkadelic, PIL, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Jacques Brel, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Stanshall, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Bill Hicks, UB40, The Stray Cats, Nick Drake, Nya Fearties, Ivor Cutler, Al Stewart, Happy Mondays, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Arab Strap, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Tricky, Talking Heads, Syd Barrett, Aretha Franklin, Morrissey, Momus...Elvis
These Days- The Flaming Lips, Bob Dylan, Sugababes, Super Furry Animals, Radiohead, Tom Waits, Heirloom, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, Eminem, Cornershop.
How old were you when you first started playing guitar?
What bands/musicians inspired you most then?
John: I was 19 when I first started playing....one of the most inspiring records round about that time was" A Walk Across The Rooftops" by The Blue Nile. Certainly not a guitar record, but inspirational in the sense that it was made by Scotsmen of roughly my age and background and sounded like nothing else I had ever heard. Passionate and otherworldly, yet down to earth and familiar. " The traffic lights are changing, the black and white horizon, I leave the redstone building and walk across the rooftops"...starts out ordinary and ends up magical. Greatness could be reached, just up the road, by folks like you and me..... It still transports me.
when is tcs going to release its cover version of 'let's hear it for love' by the big gun?
John: A seminal record from the great post punk Irvine music scene..all those bands....The Kick, The Dead Souls, Rebel Dance, Warzone, The Galloping Gunshot Boys, Easter Parade, Almost Evening, The Car Crash Set, The Shock Club, The Campfires, The Big Gun ....like any scene, it had its fair share of bitching and jealousy..but for me, coming back to Irvine from my couple of years in London, it was a vibrant, creative world that I fell in love with. The period had a peak when the Big Gun single became a John Peel favourite. A band from our town was on the nations finest radio show...just amazing. Its still a Trash Can ambition to get a play on the Peel show, so a cover of 'Lets hear it for love' isn't out of the question.
who in tcs is most like the office's david brent? gareth keenan?
John: Thankfully, none of us are like either
a few questions for you, if it's okay to send in more than one:
1. what's your use-to-discard ratio for songs: 1 in 2, 1 in 3, 1 in 5, etc.?
John: Our "use-to-discard" ratio is not defined...we have good patches and bad patches. What was your "use-to-discard" ratio for questions ?
2. your songs tend to be low-key and melancholic -- is it in your muse to write more energetic stuff, or is that not really your style? or do you disagree and think that you're getting a bad rap lately for being 'mellow' or 'low-key'?
John: I try not to analyze the muse...in case she stops coming round..I try to call her every other day..sometimes she's round at Paul’s having a party, or over at Frank’s having a quiet night in..she's on her best form when were all together..she starts to show off. ..As far as the style of what we are left with once she's been and gone ...well... 'Mellow' and 'Low-key' aint really slurs in my book..and we do have our 'loud' and 'frantic' tunes...my thoughts are turning to 'Welcome Back'...one of the songs on the new record...a pounding, crazy, riff song..we've got it all covered..don’t you fret.
3. tcs has toured in the uk, usa and japan, with sporadic dates on the continent. is it possible to compare and contrast? did all of the usa seem basically the same to you, in terms of audiences, etc., or did you notice regional differences?
John: It's tough to recall the differences...the similarities were...shitty dressing rooms..the same the world over...requests for 'Who's He' in every conceivable accent...and also a warm, appreciative reaction everywhere. We seem to have 'international appeal'
4. the last 5-6 years have been very quiet for tcs, with almost no new material and extremely limited live appearances. are you concerned even your most ardent fans will gradually lose interest?
John: Its always a concern that we will get ignored or overlooked or forgotten....but not a major one ...our self belief is intact. We know the band is something special and, thankfully, others do to.
In Frank's website Q&A he talked about recording this new record to help clear out a backlog of songs. You recorded 11, I think, and there were others from the recordings in the US that aren't used. How many songs do you still have that are recorded but not planned for this album? and I assume the song writing process never ends, so how many other new songs do you have in the works? It's nice to know that there are still more songs to come out someday!
John: We have a few songs in the back pocket.....including Prisons, Astronomy, The Weight, In Capitals, The Neighbour’s Place, New York...as well as a few nameless ones, the writing process is ongoing...there are tunes that are years old that we still have to finish..the "Prince" one...the "Fender Rhodes" one.. hopefully we will get them done someday
The Zebra of the Family CD is awesome! It seems to be going over well with the fans talking on the messageboard. Are you happy with how it turned out? Do you wish you had included/excluded certain songs? Any chance for another Zebra someday? Maybe it could hold people over between the 4th and 5th TCS albums!
John: I’m very happy with the Zebra...I think we covered everything...And ...yes, there may be more Zebras to come... Glad you like the music.
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