The Black Flag Talks to Tony Mayo
Regular visitors to the Black Flag will know the name Naked Lunch, the band fronted by the elusive Tony Mayo were early pioneers of the post punk Futurist movement back in the early 80’s. Now over thirty years later Naked Lunch are back, bigger and better than ever before. It’s been a long while since we last had a chat with Mr Mayo, so we thought it was time to remedy that. After a year of prolonged harassment Tony finally gave in and agreed to an interview. Good timing as well as the band have taken on some new members, released an album and some awesome videos and are about to have their biggest year yet…..
The black Flag: A lot has happened since we last caught up with you guys in wow 2012, you’ve added an extra bandmate (that we all know and love), you’ve recorded your album, had a few awesome video’s made and recently supported Combichrist. Let’s start with the addition of the lovely Jet Noir…
What was the reasoning behind adding a female singer?
Tony Mayo: We added Jet as a replacement synth player, as Mick lives too far away and it just so happens that there were some lines that felt better with Jet doing them.
TBF: Has jets addition changed the sound of Naked Lunch and overall dynamic of the band?
Tony: We were happy to have Jet join as her ideas match our own and the sound of Naked Lunch is a fusion of electronic genres, not ring fenced into one area. What she has added is some awesome cyberspace skills and is a great addition in the writing of the new material, that we working on. In short Jet has fitted in perfectly as have Clint our new drummer and Sam our Bass player
TBF: Was this the reasoning behind rerecording your original tracks or was that more a case of taking advantage of modern technology to make them sound a way that maybe you originally envisioned?
Tony: It was a case of giving a nod to the past and bringing it into the present, which I think old and new fans would understand. Plus it was good for us to revisit some of the old tracks and tweak them and to have Jet’s input too.
TBF: Has much changed since tracks like Slipping again and Rabies were originally recorded? Do you feel there’s much difference between the old and new versions?
Tony: They have changed a little but essentially they are the same tracks
TBF: What has been the reaction from your fan-base?
Tony: People appear to like what we are doing and that includes those who know us from before and those of us who only know us as a band of the here and now
TBF: You’ve had a few excellent videos released as well. Can you tell us a bit about them?
Tony: We approached Pete Lankston after an introduction by Jet and asked if he would do some videos for us. We felt that having videos out there would give people a better idea of our vision, similarly to that of our art work and T shirts. It is all about being creative and moving forward
TBF: The video for Alone is really unsettling and works great with the track. Did you have much input or did you leave it all to Pete?
Tony: We discussed it and Jet suggested the grain effect, which we all though was a great idea and we suggested trying to get some band footage in. Pete lets us know what he was doing and we liaised with him but we trusted him to deliver and he certainly did.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/kS2muiLSD00[/youtube]
TBF: You’ve recently supported Combichrist on tour how did that come about?
And how did you find the tour in general?
Tony: We saw that they were doing UK dates and asked about doing them and sent though info and links about us and luck had it that we got the gigs. We really enjoyed doing the tour as it was the birth of the new twenty first century Naked Lunch, with our new line up. There were a couple of technical hicups but we got over them and played on. Awesomely we had brilliant audiences who really liked our set and it made the whole tour so worthwhile. Thank you to everyone who came to see us you were all fantastic and we hope to get up to you all in 2015
TBF: You’ve got a few more live shows coming up in early 2015. Tell us about those?
Tony: On the 10 Jan we are playing at Elektrowerkz along with Sigue Sigue Sputnik and then the 23 Jan we are headlining on the opening night of a new electronic club, Analogue Nights at The Cavendish Arms, 128 Hartington Rd, SW8 2HJ London. This will be a pre-release event for our Evolve EP we have coming out on the 13 Feb. This is four of the tracks from our album that we revisited and had Carlos Peron produce plus we have some dates in March that will be announced on Boxing Day plus we have been asked to play in Switzerland in November.
Looks like we are going to be busy in 2015
TBF: Wow. That is a lot of Naked Lunch in 2015. Any UK festival dates where we can expect to see you?
Tony: We are still in the process of taking bookings and would love to do some in the UK and in Europe too
TBF: Ok our final question. We asked you it last time we spoke but obviously things have changed a lot for Naked Lunch since then. Where do you see the band in five years?
Tony: Evolving and still moving forward, with more fans and yes we are still aiming at total World Domination…. perhaps (laughs)
[youtube]http://youtu.be/F1C_O_M47j0[/youtube]
New EP coming out on Friday 6 March
Catch the Covenant tour dates Birmingham 6 March, London 7 March and Bristol 8 March
Read More
Resistanz Festival 2014
It’s nearly here folks and like you guys out there everyone here at Flag HQ are excited about what is promising to be one of the most amazing weekends on the 2014 calendar. So I’m guessing you want to know what is coming up at the worlds premier Industrial music event, well we have the power to please you.
Read More
The Black Flag Meets Attriton’s Martin Bowes
On Saturday 4th May Eighties Industrial Pioneers Attrition take to the stage at The Camden Roundhouse as part of the Reproducton 13 Mini Fest that also features Black Flag favourites Naked Lunch. We managed to catch up with Attritions founder and main man Martin Bowes to talk about the gig, the early days of Industrial and Zombie Movie inspired albums…
The Black Flag: Coventry 1980, the dawn of Two-Tone, Punks younger, smarter brother, seems an odd location for the formation of an electronic act like Attrition. How did the band form?
Martin Bowes: Coventry was a great place to be in that post punk boom… bands playing every night… and Two Tone was only a small part of it…it put Coventry on the map but it was never a massive part of the local scene… i loved The Specials though of course…. before i had even thought of ATTRITION i had started a local fanzine here in 1979… Alternative Sounds ran for 18 issues… it was punk and post punk and i was increasingly drawn to the new wave of experimental electronics…. i remember seeing the Human league support Siouxsie and the banshees here in 1979… i think thats what started it all for me…. ATTRITION started at the end of 1980… and yes… we never fitted in too comfortable with the Coventry scene despite my connections here…. but i took the view that this is a big world to explore…. and i am
TBF: Your hailed as one of the first industrial bands. What were the early days of the industrial scene like?
Martin: Well we were near the beginning but we werent the first wave which i think of as bands like Cabaret Voltaire and the whole Sheffield scene…. a big influence on me along with the spirit of punk… it was pretty hard at first playing with synths and no guitars… it was quite shocking to people… even dance music hadn’t adopted electronics yet… but at the same time it was a really exciting time…something new was happening… and we met some like minded souls and are still friends with many of them today… ultimately England kind of bailed on the industrial scene and the only bands that made it here were the more commercial synth pop bands… we found a home in Europe and later on in the USA…
TBF: What are the bands main influences?
Martin: Life. love. art. death. sex. spirituality and philosophy…. and not necessarily in that order.
TBF: What really stands out about you guys is your experimental aspect. You seamlessly meld many different genres together. Was it a conscious decision to do this?
Martin: I think most things are subconscious decisions… I get inspired to try something new all the time… while appreciating what has gone before and learning from that… i think that experimenting keeps you alive
TBF: Your first album Death House was inspired by Zombie films. Tell us a bit more about that?
Martin: I have always loved Zombie films, and horror in general… i think those films help us deal with our own fears in a subliminal way… and that was actually an afternoons improvisation on analogue synths and a 4 track portastudio in 1982… and then a few overdubs and effects…. inspired by a soundtrack for the mind if you like… a very dark ambient sound as would be described nowadays… we put it out on a cassette back then so i think of the first “proper” album as “the attrition of reason” we released on Third Mind records in 1984…since then This Death House has been issued on vinyl and then CD… and was used as the soundtrack to a German TV documentary on serial killers a few years ago…. it,s remained very popular…
TBF: You’ve toured most of the world. What was the high point of touring?
Martin: We don’t tour constantly as I have my studio to run here – The Cage – I work with a lot of bands and labels on mixing and mastering…. but we have travelled a lot over the years and played in 4 continents…. although only once or twice in Asia and South America… it’s mostly been Europe and North America… I love touring despite the stress sometimes… there’s always something going wrong!… but you learn from that and it helps you handle most of what life has to throw at you… we would come back from those early tours in the 80’s feeling a mile high… and it is so worth it for the exposure and experience… the places you see of course…places you would never normally get to even as a tourist…and every experience you have there…and most importantly the people you meet… some amazing, kind and talented people and some of our best friends now we met while away on tour….
TBF: You’ve recently linked up with Evolve or Die. What appeals to you about the label?
Martin: I always worked with other bands and labels in a collaborative way going back to the start of ATTRITION… helping each other…setting up shows with other bands…swapping contacts…. the whole thing is a really rewarding way to work independently…. there have been times in the past when I left promotion solely to a label when I believed in them…and it never really worked…. take as much control into your own hands as possible and doing that in a collaborative way increases your exposure and possibilities… for everyone involved. and I see that beginning now with Evolve or Die so I am really happy to lend my weight to this…
TBF: What are you most looking forward to about the Reproduction 13 gig at the Roundhouse on 4th May at the Roundhouse?
Martin: I’m looking forward to playing at such a famous venue and playing with some excellent bands… and its always good to play London when we tour… this will be a good day
TBF: Anything else you want to plug?
Martin: Well the new album, and the first in a few years now… The Unraveller of Angels, is finally here and we have just begun a series of shows around the world to promote it…
Its getting a really enthusiastic response so i am pleased about that…. you can listen to the album through our bandcamp page at:
http://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-unraveller-of-angels and please check the tour dates on our website in case we are playing anywhere near you….!
TBF: Where do you see Attrition in the next five years?
Martin: More of everything…. its always the same… and always different…. i can’t imagine life without this…
[youtube]http://youtu.be/u8ZozakYviI[/youtube]
Read More
WILLIAM CONTROL HEADLINES CLUB ANTICHRIST’S 10-ZONE SPRING ‘UNIFORM’ PARTY ON APRIL 26TH
“One of our favourite club nights” – Bizarre magazine
“Downright deviant and gloriously goth” – The Guardian
“Colourful, vibrant and accessible” – Skin Two magazine
“Surely the most sinful way to spend your weekend” – Time Out
“a hedonistic horror bash” – DIVA magazine
On April 26th alt. nightlife institution Club AntiChrist presents perhaps its strongest – and strangest – live music line-up yet. The theme AC’s colourful crowd are invited to dress to this time is ’uniform’, but the eclectic array of entertainment set for the occasion is anything but…
Newly added are synthpop act AlterRed; AC regulars whose theatrical shows bring to life latest concept album ’Dollstown’. They join a deliciously diverse bill in live performance arena ‘THE THEATRE OF SINS’ – one of 10 lavishly decorated zones to explore at Vauxhall’s labyrinthine Colosseum venue – which is topped Aiden frontman Wil Francis and his acclaimed electro project William Control. Fresh from touring the States with Black Veil Brides, the group kick off a full UK run promoting recent DVD release ’Live In London Town’ by they making their debut at AC.
For William Control it‘s the first time, but for Joe Black a returning veteran’s welcome awaits. Well-known and loved at AC – as well as The Metro (where he was named “the king of cabaret noir”), Bizarre (“uniquely gifted”) and The Erotic Review (“fantastically creepy”) – Black’s sick showtunes and wicked wit earn every bit of praise attract. Firstly though, it falls to Rasp Thorne & The Briars to set the evening’s sonic thrill ride in motion, and they promise to so in a style all of their own. Tangling creepy carnival atmosphere with waltzing Alex Harvey-style high drama, their singular sound and has baffled and bedazzled everywhere from Torture Garden to The Crucible theatre.
Also now making a welcome return in April is fangsmith Father Sebastiaan van Houten. The Endless Night Vampire Ball impresario – and co-host of AC’s own annual ‘Night of The Vampires’ event, will once again be furnishing aspiring vamps with his custom Clan Sabretooth fangs throughout the night. He returns by popular demand and booking his services in advance via www.sabretoothemporium.com is strong recommended.
Back on the Theatre stage, the live music is complemented by two temperature-raising shows from a couple of the of the most distinctive dames in tassels today! Channelling the style and poise of a 20s flapper, Fifi Fatale cuts a curvaceous and charismatic figure in the current crowd of traditional burlesque performers, while in Alice Bizarre’s act ‘tradition’ is barely recognisable beneath lashings of blood ‘n’ gore! Regulars might recognise her from the AC’s make-up booth or the cover of this month’s Rebelicious magazine – tonight though Alice is the Theatre’s own gorelesque goddess!
Theatre shows aren’t all that AC has got to offer though – aiming to give party-goers all their wildest nights out in one place, the club packs in another 9 decadent zones at April’s 1,500 capacity all-night party…
In THE HELLFIRE ROOM, goth and post-punk fans can dance from dusk til dawn to the best alt. anthems from 80s through to today. Downstairs in the PUREFUCKINGINDUSTRIAL area, rivetheads can stomp til 6am to a soundtrack of dark electro, TBM and future pop – and for those who’d sooner slam dance than rave, THE HOLE will be blasting solid heavy metal from 2am.
Kinky clubbers ought to find most every dirty desire catered is to in THE DEVIL’S PLAYROOM – where house Mistress Rebekka Raynor and her experienced dungeon monitors will show you the ropes on a variety of Playpenz equipment, and for those with an appetite for even more filth, THE COUPLES’ DARKROOM comes furnished for satisfaction with sofa beds and complimentary condoms.
After working up an appetite in the dungeon or the dancefloor, AC’s motley tribe of Goths, glowstick-wielding gravers, metalheads, fetishists and card-carrying freaks can gather and grab a bite THE CHILLOUT ROOM. With plenty of seating and volume kept low enough for conversation, this is the place for first-timers to fully experience the friendly and welcoming vibe the club has become famed for. Such is the extent of AC’s inclusive ethos that even folks just looking for a cuppa won’t be left out in the cold – as saucy maids serve free hot drinks and biscuits from 3am, and an all-night Thai food stall ensures there’s no need for a chilly walk to the takeaway either! It’s the perfect finishing touch to AntiChrist’s ‘one-stop’ concept for top night out.
Read More
The Black Flag Teams up with Evolve or Die
Evolve or Die is the latest project from regulars to the Black Flag and our good friends , the lovely Jet Noir and Tony Mayo (see last month’s interview) https://www.theblackflag.co.uk2013/01/15/interview-tony-mayo-talks-evolve-or-die/ . Evolve or Die has been busy over the last few weeks recruiting an army of musicians, video makers, artists and us… Yes us. We’re very pleased to announce the Black Flag will be working very closely with Mr Mayo and co over the next few months (and beyond!).
So what exactly is Evolve or Die? Perhaps its Facebook page explains it best ‘Evolve Or Die is a Record label/multimedia company established to work in partnership with electronic musicians and people from the other arts. The aim is to promote collaborative working, push creative boundaries and to give the artists a louder and stronger voice in a corporate world. Change is inevitable, stagnation unacceptable!’
[youtube]http://youtu.be/qTsDdaYDUpQ[/youtube]
Naked Lunch “La Femme”
And that’s pretty much the nuts and bolts of it. Evolve or Die is about taking the music industry back from the corporate vultures who have in my opinion created the artist equivalent of fast food. In a world of televised Karaoke and tribute acts that would need to practice for twenty years to entertain the roughest boozer in South End. The name says it all; EVOLVE OR DIE and that’s a warning! Mr Cowell take note…
So what’s first in the plan for world domination? Well first up the labels f single launch which is Jets ‘Signs’. Which will be available on Valentines day (February 14th) and looks set to kick the project off with a bang, before an amazing gig at the Camden Roundhouse on Saturday 4th May. ‘Reproduction 13’ is being hailed as a a mini-festival of classic electronic music, varying from post-punk darkwave and synth art pop to synthpunk, lounge electro and sequencer instrumental.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/V1ttFxuSdBs[/youtube]
Jet Noir ‘The Scarlet Women’
Included on the bill are Headliners ATTRITION, Tony Mayo’s band NAKED LUNCH, CULT WITH NO NAME and many more. Watch this space for the latest Evolve or Die news as well be featuring the label regularly on the Black Flag. Check out the Facebook event for Reproduction 13 https://www.facebook.com/events/327304267371307/ and be sure to like Evolve or Die on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evolve-Or-Die/269002109893162
Read More
The Black Flag Meets Resistanz Festivals Phyll Pearman
Phyll Pearman is fifty percent of the brains behind Resistanz Festival, the largest industrial festival of its kind in the UK, which he runs with his partner in crime Leighton James-Thompson. As well as running Resistanz Phyll is also an established top name DJ on the Alternative scene. The Black Flag caught up with Phyll to have a chat about his DJ career and the juggernaut which is Resistanz…..
TBF: You’re co-owner of Resistanz festival, along with your business partner Leighton James-Thompson, which is rapidly approaching its third year. How did the festival come into being?
Phyll Pearman: The festival came into being a little by accident and a little by luck like most things that happen and become successful. I’d known Leighton for years but we had never worked together directly before the festival. It turned out that we both had the same idea about wanting to put on a new type of industrial festival in the UK. We thought it was criminal that the UK industrial scene only had one large festival devoted to electronic music, yet there are many on the European mainland which meant that numerous bands never got the chance to play in the UK and the UK scene was missing out. We decided to join forces and give it a go and Resistanz festival was born. Luckily it turned out to be a complete success that everyone, including the bands, DJ’s and the audience has enjoyed being a part of and we couldn’t have done it without their support.
TBF: Resistanz has been described by many, as the best weekend of their lives. How does it feel to get that kind of recognition for an event that you created?
Phyll: I am totally blown away and speechless when I hear something like that. We created Resistanz Festival to be a great place to go and be a part of and it feels amazing to think that we succeeded. Every year has gone from strength to strength so we must be doing something right. But those guys who enjoy the festival and have a great time are who make the festival the success it is.
TBF: What bands and acts have played the festival and what’s been your highlight so far?
Phyll: There are so many great performances that it is hard to pick but if it had to come down to it, W.A.S.T.E., Icon of Coil. Faderhead and Ultraviolence’s Ministry cover. Then there are the many highlights such as the onstage collaborations which have made the festival special to so many people such as Stewart Whoo performing with XP8 or the Droog dance to Modulate’s remix of Prodigy, but its seeing people’s faces when this happens that is the real highlight for me.
TBF: Last year’s Resistanz was huge compared to the year before and also a sell-out to boot. What’s in store for 2013 and how are you going to beat that?
Phyll: Resistanz Festival 2012 was a very special year and caught us a little by surprise when it sold out! The only way to beat that was by aiming to be bigger and even better. Resistanz Festival 2013 is now three days and bringing to the UK the biggest line up a festival of it’s kind has ever seen with the usual Resistanz style surprises thrown in for good measure.
TBF: What different rooms/areas are there at the festival?
Phyll: Resistanz Festival comprises of the live arena, DJ’s, stalls, shops, a food court and some of the best after parties you will have ever been to. The main arena where all the bands play has one of the best live rigs and sound technicians in the UK which make for a very smooth operation when it come to changeovers and set ups for the artists. The shops, stalls and indoor seating area is a massive area comprising of plenty of seating for everyone with table service from the bar and the ability to get away from all the madness for a moment and chill out. The food court and outdoor smoking yard is a place to satisfy anyones food cravings as we have a great variety of foods available this year, serving everything from German bratwurst to mexican wraps and falafel. Not forgetting the essential tea and coffee which everyone needs after a long day dancing and singing your heart out to your favourite bands.
TBF: As well as bands and DJs, you also have stalls trading at Resistanz festival. What kind of brands and merchandise can we expect to find there?
Phyll: We have a lot of diverse traders at Resistanz Festival for instance clothing, latex and accessories from companies such as Jed Pheonix (Clothing), Urban Halo (Clothing), Heresy (Clothing), Mico Couture (Clothing), Zhyon (Clothing) and music suppliers Juggernaut Services (Music) and Mark Haigh (Music) will also be joining us for the weekend. Finally, there is of course the official merchandise stand which not only sells all the official Resistanz Festival merchandise but also all the band merchandise from the artists who are playing at the festival.
TBF: What do you think is the secret behind the festivals success?
Phyll: The bands, DJ’s, the venue and of course the people who attend all contribute to the success of Resistanz Festival. Together they create an amazing atmosphere that makes it an amazing weekend and something thats so great to be a part of. If it wasn’t for their enthusiasm, dedication and love of the scene, the festival wouldn’t have ever been as successful as it has been.
TBF: As well as running Resistanz, you also DJ regularly at the Corporation. How did you initially get into spinning records and how long have you been at the Corp?
Phyll: Like most people who get into DJing, it was by total chance. I had never thought of it as a career option! I used to go a club night pretty regularly and so knew the DJ pretty well. One night, the DJ unexpectedly couldn’t make it and phoned me asking to stand in for him. I grabbed every piece of music I had and thankfully the night was a success. From that night I was bitten by the bug and here I am, many years later still DJing. As for how long I have been at Corporation well we opened in 1997 and I have been here since we first opened those doors!
TBF: What qualities do you think make a good DJ?
Phyll: This is one for a good debate but for me it is the ability to listen to what people want and importantly have fun doing it as no one comes out to be bored to death and played music they don’t want to hear. They want to have a good time and you are there to supply that.
TBF: Strangest song request you’ve ever had?
Phyll: If I had to pick one song out the list of strange requests I have had over the years it would have to be Cliff Richard’s Millenium Prayer which I wouldn’t have the balls to play to a room full of alternative people.
TBF: What’s your opinion of the modern music industry? How has it changed in the time you’ve been working in it?
Phyll: The music industry has changed so much just over the last year, let alone over the time I have been working in it, but I think it is definitely in a time of flux at the moment. More and more artists are taking control of their careers and the music they create than ever before, as they have direct access to their audience through the internet. I think this is a really positive change as for too long artists have been taken for a ride by large archaic corporate music industry giants and its about time the artists were back in the drivers seat. For the last few decades, the music industry has been shoving mass produced nonsense in our faces and I’m glad that not only are real artists who create real music getting the chance to shine, but we as music consumers are also getting more variety, choice and control over what we listen to. In a similar way to the punk movement in the 1970’s we are sticking two fingers up to the establishment and that can only be a good thing.
TBF: What advice would you give to wannabe DJs/Promoters?
Phyll: Work hard, do your best and with a little luck it may all work out for you.
TBF: Anything else you want to plug? Upcoming gigs, other projects…..
Phyll: Well of course Resistanz Festival 2014 as we have some huge plans for this event which I am keeping fully under my hat for now but our Resistanz army will be in for some real treats. I also DJ a weekly alternative night ‘Drop’ which is held at Corporation every Friday and is one of the most legendary alternative nights in the UK. Finally, Corporation also plays host to a monthly industrial night ‘Revolution’ which is not to be missed.
TBF: Where do you see yourself and the festival in five years time?
Phyll: I think Resistanz Festival in five years time will be a sight to behold. Every year we keep expanding and coming up with great ideas on how we can improve it even more. The festival has grown so quickly and we have achieved so much already so I’ll be excited to see where the festival will be in five years because as we have seen so far, in just a couple of years anything can happen!
