2004
Interview with Anton Newcombe
By: Rib Magazine
www.ribmag.com
[Rib]: Hey Anton, I’d be happy to ask ya a few questions via e-mail. I guess the first one would be...how come no phones?
[Anton]: Because I do at least one interview a day, sometimes five or six in a row. I don’t feel like I should have to stop living my life every time someone decides to write about my group, or the movie or what have you.
[Rib]: I noticed you haven't been on the road since October.
[Anton]: Not true.
[Rib]: What are you up to these days? Recording more? Taking a break?
[Anton]: Yes. I’m working on the new album and sort of waiting for the movie/DVD thing to blow over. I plan to tour Iceland soon.
[Rib]: Get tired of the road, or still enjoy?
[Anton]: I enjoy it very much, especially the UK, but it is hard.
[Rib]: After watching Dig I felt it was an obvious one-sided portrayal. What was your biggest problem with the film?
[Anton]: Well I lived it. I don’t think they needed to go out of their way to edit the thing into this work of fiction like they did. It’s just cheap. I wish they would have shown more of our interactions with the music business, or maybe some more live footage.
[Rib]: Do you ever chat with any of the original BJM/Dandy Warhol members? Some of those guys went on to emblazen the cover of Rolling Stone, etc. Any angst there?
[Anton]: I speak with everyone except Jeff Davies. No I never wanted to be a model. See, I like music. I am not a Big Mac or a bar of soap. All of that mass market crap makes me sick. I make records, not sell cell phones you know?
[Rib]: Why do you keep it underground? I noticed you were giving away your songs on the web site.
[Anton]: Because I believe people should hear my music. We’ve had over 4,000,000 downloads. Think about it--four million. That’s not underground. Fuck the system. I own the copywrite, I can do whatever the fuck I want to do with my intellectual property.
[Rib]: From what I can tell, you seem to be able to play just about every instrument, etc. Do you have a problem with working with others? Have you found a lineup that work together better?
[Anton]: Yes to all of your questions.
[Rib]: Is this still the current lineup--Anton Newcombe, Dan Allaire, Frankie Teardrop, Ricky Maymi?
[Anton]: Yes. That’s it. Great guys.
[Rib]: What kind of stuff are you working on these days?
[Anton]: Alpha-wave-generation-devices in the form of my songs.
[Rib]: When you gig are there songs that you repeat at every performance?
[Anton]: Yes there are.
[Rib]: What are some of your favorites?
[Anton]: Swallowtail and Hide and seek.
[Rib]: Where do your songs come from? What do you write about? Are they autobiographical? What/ Who’s the most written about person in your music?
[Anton]: It’s a mystery. I steal from the Rolling Stones…just kidding. I could tell you, but it wouldn’t change anything. I pretend that I'm trying to impress God with a clever idea.
[Rib]: Where are ya living these days?
[Anton]: I have a few places I live—Portland, Los Angeles, The Bay area
[Rib]: What do you do when you’re not playing, recording, etc.?
[Anton]: Drink
booze, do drugs and have sex. What do you do when
you are not working? I listen to the Able Tasmins as well.
[Rib]: Ok now I’ve inundated you with questions. Hope I didn’t offend. I’m personally a big BJM fan.
[Anton]: Thank you Will. Best wishes.