February 4, 2004
Interview with Anton Newcombe
By: J. H. Tompkins
San Francisco Bay Gaurdian
[J.H.]:
I understand why it
makes sense to post some of BJM's catalog as a kind of teaser – as a way of
getting new listeners interested in the band. But I went to the Web site
yesterday, and it was all up there. What gives?
[Anton]:
Well, if you get right
down to it, record sales weren't generating a lot of money, and the fact is that
what I really want is for people to hear the music. I mean, that's why every
musician starts playing in the first place, as a way of communicating. And so I
made it available at the Web site.
[J.H.]:
Is there a way of describing
what you've done as part of a business plan?
[Anton]:
Well, sure, you just
say it's part of a plan. Whether it's a sound plan is another thing entirely.
But do you know what? We've had over a million hits at the Web site since the
spring. So something is happening.
[J.H.]:
You've been a strong enough
leader of the band over the years so that the sound has been remarkably
consistent. And yet it seems like just putting the music out there is the
opposite of this.
[Anton]:
When you listen to the
music, you hear the power of what real art can do. That's what's important. I'm
not that impressed with mainstream culture these days. I've got my spot in life,
I'm comfortable here, and I can create from here.
[J.H.]:
Have people advised you to
not be quite so generous with the music?
[Anton]:
Look, over a million
people – a million – have been to the Web site. So when the band goes into a
city that isn't a mainstream place, people can find out about the band, about
our music. They'll come out and see us. What better way is there us to get out
there? The Internet has changed things very fundamentally. I really believe
that.