|
THE VACANTS interview
(from Panache 4)
|
| We met these two in the
Marquee at a gig by the incredibly boring After The Fire and as we had
no interest in the music we did this peculiar interview. They told us
that they’d just got a contract with Beat International – with one
condition; that they include four well known numbers. ‘Anarchy’,
‘Grip’, ‘Peaches’ and ‘White Riot’. New Wave Muzak for
supermarkets? thought this Sounds a little unlikely, but
whatever the reasons are they also get eight numbers of their own
recorded. They was a good way of getting known. |
| How
did you get your contract then? |
| Steve: “Guy worked for
RCA and made a demo tape, which Eddie Bourne was impressed…and
offered us the contract. We got £60 and rehearsal fees. We’ll be
the fucking best band around.” |
| What’s the
line-up? |
| Steve: “Tim Ryan (rhythm),
Jeff Jansen (bass), Vincent Scharp – that’s Guy - (vocals), Martin
(drums) and me on added vocals.” |
| How
would you describe your music? |
| Guy: ”Loud, with great
hooks. Good pop music, that’s what it’s all about.” |
| Why
did you start out? What was your motivation? |
| Guy: “To be famous. The
only reason was to be famous, and have a lot of fun. Having fun’s
the only way to have success. We think we’re original.” |
| But you’re
doing old numbers? |
| Guy: “But that’s in
the contract!” |
| Who
are your main influences then? |
| Guy: “The Standells’
song, ‘Try It’.” |
| And
he starts singing it! |
| What do you think
of the ‘New Wave’ scene? |
| Guy: “Something’s
happening, at last.” |
| What
songs do you do, what subjects do you cover? |
| Guy:” ‘Dead Girl’, ‘TV
Show’, ‘B.A.D.’, ‘What happened To You’, ‘Misuse Of Love’,
‘Half Man Woman’. They’re about girls, television, stupid
people.” |
| Nothing
about dole queues then. |
| Guy: “No, I’m the
dole at the moment. It’s alright.” |
| Did
you go to any other record companies? |
| “We took the tape to
Chiswick Records but they’re such a bunch of wankers that they lost
the tape. We did the tape at JJ Studios in Tooting. Only cost £16!” |
| What
about gigs - done any? Any lined up? |
| “We’ve not done any
yet, but at the end of July, when the album’s out we should have a
few lined up.” |
| How
do RCA treat you? |
| Steve
sits blot upright. |
| “RCA are crap. Cunts!” |
| Why
do you call yourself The Vacants? |
| Guy: “It sounded pretty
good, but we might call ourselves The Fun. How does that sound?” |
| Pretty
stupid. |
| Guy: “What’s in a
name? I don’t care. It’s the music that speaks, not the name.” |
| He sings. |
| “’Fun, fun, fun’.
The name of the fame is fun! Don’t be a robot. Do what you want.
Wear what you want.” |
| You didn’t just
jump on the bandwagon? |
| “We just took time
getting going.” |
| Why
no gigs? |
| “I’m a born
performer. I don’t need gigs. We can relate to New Wave.” |
| No. |
| (He
looks hurt.) |
| It seems
ridiculous that you haven’t started earlier. |
| Steve: “We had to wait for
this era. A year ago and we’d have been buried in the dust. We’ve
had to wait so long to be accepted.” |
| But you haven’t done
anything yet! |
| Steve (undeterred): “The
papers are trying to kick it down, but it’s doing it a favour. It’s
been kept inside for too long. Now you can get it out of your system.
From the day you’re born people can predict what you’ll be. While
you’re here, do what you can. We’re out to change things.” |