I started writing for RC
about a year and a half ago. I contacted Joel McIver
who runs
the "Digging For Gold" feature in the magazine. I noticed there weren't any reviews in the
magazine on experimental (avant-garde) music, which is what I am mostly involved in.
So I wrote in saying I wanted to do reviews on experimental music, and they said said,
"sure, send something in". From that moment on I
started doing reviews, which number about two or three a month.
I then asked Joel if I could do
something for the "Digging For Gold" section as I had a lot of rare
records and all sorts of weird stuff that people would perhaps be interested in reading about.
So I would write 150 to 200-word pieces for that. So, I thought if they
are going to accept these small bits, why not try larger articles? I said
I knew enough about Adam And The Ants to be able to write a piece and
they said, "go ahead". I was told to keep it roughly 4000 words.
I sent it in and they said, "fantastic"! I had all my covers scanned, etc.
- it was quite a lot of work (but a labour of love)! And then it stalled! I kept thinking it was going
to be in the next issue and it never was. So I started writing to the
editor and said that the Ants were due to be re-released on CD. I said, "you
have to print it now or it's going to go past its momentum".
Meanwhile, I had
written the reviews for the remastered Kings Of The Wild Frontier and Prince Charming
albums, which were printed.
So the KOTWF and PC
reviews in RC were your reviews?.
Yes. I gave Kings
five stars.
You're biased.
Only slightly. I mean
Dirk also got five stars, but that one wasn't written by me. Someone had
beaten me to it.
Most of the reviews I
have seen of the remasters fail to acknowledge the extra tracks. They just
review the album as it was. How did RC recognise the bonus material?
In my opinion a review has to
has three objectives; what's literally on there (objective), what I think of it
(subjective) and the packaging.
So it's more like if you haven't heard the album, here's what it sounds like,
this is how it was in the 80's and how popular it was. I also include
whether I like it or not, or stuff like if the booklet
falls out.
(laughter)
I wrote a bit about the extra
tracks. I think I wrote about Scorpio Writing on the PC review.
It was such a strange track to find on there.
I was a nice discovery
that.
It was brilliant, created by
a very tired Adam and Marco, late at night. Prince Charming I gave
three stars because I felt it was musically less interesting than Kings.
So how would you find
out about the constant non-appearance of your Ants article? Would you contact
RC?
No, I would dash downstairs and
get my free copy (from the mail) and see it wasn't in there! I was waiting
for this Adam And The Ants thing to appear on the front!
When did you get some
indication that it was going to appear?
When I wrote to Jack Kane who
was the editor of Jack's Added Value. He's the guy who puts prices records
that people send in and he turned out to be an Adam And The Ants fan, which I
didn't realise. He said it was going to be in the next issue, so maybe he
twisted some wrists.
Was anything left out
of what you initially submitted for the article for space reasons?
I don't think so. I kept
really close to the 4000 words. There were some grammar corrections and
English words they changed.
I can't believe you
had issues with English - you don't even sound Dutch!
There's only a limited
vocabulary I have mastered to use in a magazine, so they changed a few things around.
They also changed the captions of the scans. I had different captions.
What's your reaction to somebody doing that?
Well the main thing they
changed was under the Young Parisians cover, which was the one signed by
Adam. It had underneath, "signed on Camden Lock one misty morning",
because I bought it signed from some guy who had seen Adam go by and he made him
sign it. They put under it, "signed to the author", which isn't true as I've never met
Adam (alas).
At least it's in
there.
Yeah. And they didn't use
some of the covers I sent in.
Is that the one you
haven't got? The Young Parisians 'Eiffel Tower' sleeve?.
The Italian sleeve for Young Parisians
Yes,
I really want to have that. I would probably
kill some minor living being for it.
It's a nice sleeve.
They also left something else out, didn't they?
Yeah. The La Belle Image (bootleg LP) of which only 50 numbered copies
were made. Can you believe that?
What else was left
out?
Not
too much (some other bootleg albums). In the end, they only used the A.N.T.S.
double bootleg album.
I didn't
put it in the article as I wasn't sure if it even existed commercially!
Now, what about discography values
?
I read on the (Ant Rap) forum that some people were disappointed by the low
values, but they were based on the Record Collector's Price Guide.
So I used that plus values that were paid on the Internet and of course on
eBay. The prices featured in RC are the prices which will please
both buyer and seller.
I try to put realistic values
for the dealer and the seller.
What I like about RC
is that when somebody has written an article, the following issue has all the
readers' letters that come flooding in...
I can't wait!
...with errors here,
there and everywhere. There will always be those minorities who will pick
out errors and the guns and fingers will be pointing at you! What are you
expecting?
Well I was told to go to the (Ant Rap) Forum to see some reactions. One person
wrote about the Kings album with the alternative version of 'Antmusic',
saying you CAN tell the difference comparing the matrix numbers. I didn't know
that one.
In fact, on that note,
I had the same conversion with Ant Lady and she has this very pressing. But we
have no turntable and the only way to be 100% sure is to have both, play both
and compare the matrix codes. Were there any other errors? And I
don't like to use the word 'errors' as you're only human.
'Slight imperfections'!
Were there any more
that came to light?
Stand And Deliver being
kept off the #1 spot.
Well that was an editing error, surely, as you already
mentioned that single entering at the top of the charts. That comment
belonged after the 'Antmusic' single was mentioned.
Yes, that was something that
was edited around. I'm happy for everyone to respond because, like
everyone else, I'm a fan who wants to know things. So when someone
points out that you can actually differ the versions of 'Antmusic' from
looking at the matrix codes, that's great.
(Ant
Lady, who is also present, adds that she's still not convinced.)
Neither am I actually.
Same here. It's
ironic that we have this friend, Steve Ant, who recently viewed a fan's
collection. He had dozens of copies of Kings. Steve emailed me
confirming that there is a matrix number difference. He ended his email
with the words, "I think", so we still haven't got there! It's still up in
the air. I'll have to physically compare the two.
A display of Freek's rare Ant bootleg LP's
(We talk about the quality of the alternative version of 'Antmusic'
on the remastered Kings. I point out that the recording is in
mono and has audible clicks alternating left and right where the guitar
solo starts. Freek says he thinks there's an edit in there too. I
add that an email to Marco about this version has remained unanswered.)
In RC there's an
article dedicated to the hot sellers on eBay. Why do you think the recent
auction of the Beautiful Dream CD single didn't get a mention?
The person who edits it has a
certain musical preference.
(We talk about the contents of the CD and he brings out his bootleg copy of "Persuasion".
In fact, this one comes with a booklet and is called "Persuasion Unlimited".
He tells the story of how fellow Dutch Ant fan Rob Lesman put the compilation
together.)
Your RC article deals
specifically with Adam And The Ants - even up to the first solo release
Goody Two Shoes - presumably because it was pressed as by AATA initially.
When are you going to write one about Adam Ant solo releases?
I think we have to wait for the
magazine response. It would take a lot more research. I would like
to do it, but on the other hand, I'm more of an expert on Adam And The Ants as a band.
What I'm trying to do
is plant the seed as there is a story beyond Goody Two Shoes and up to
Wonderful.
(Ant Lady throws in "Save The Gorilla")
Absolutely. And other demos we have yet to uncover.
Would you consider such a thing?
Again
I would love do it, but it would take a longer time to
write. This one I wrote all by myself. If I did a solo Adam Ant article, it
would take more research from other experts.
Freek's US pressing of Kings with bonus Stand & Deliver single
(Talk wanders off to the solo remasters for a while, until...)
The Ant DVD is now expected in the Autumn of 2005, so there's
now a goal to aim for for an Adam Ant orientated article.
I'll wait to see what reactions I get on the article and then I'll suggest it
for a future issue.
(Meanwhile,
Freek has contacted RC to cater for a solo Adam Ant article.)
(Freek talks about the lack of interviews with Adam for the remasters why may
affect national interest.)
How did you get into the Ants?
In
1979-1980 I was into ska (Specials, Selector, Madness, etc). One
beautiful day I was watching TopPop
(1980's Dutch music TV show)
and they
had a section which played 20 seconds of new "musical tips" and which featured
20 seconds of the 'Antmusic' video which made an everlasting impression.
I still remember the huge plug...
...the number of discussions online about the whereabouts of
that plug...
I saw that clip and "wow"!
Very exciting and colourful.
I went out
the next day and bought the single and I dated the record.
You mean you wrote on the sleeve?.
Yeah! It's in the
collection somewhere. Then after that I started to buy everything.
You said in your interview,
which is a separate article
in the back of that issue of RC, that you
still play the records in your collection. Even the rare ones?
Yes. I know people who
buy two copies and use one to keep and one to play. But I don't worry too
much about that.
(He shows us his copy of the La Belle Image bootleg LP)
'La Belle Image' bootleg LP sleeve
What other articles have you written
for RC?
This is actually the first and I have already suggested doing a second feature
on Alice Cooper, 1965-1970, before he hit fame. It's nothing like his
later heavy metal stuff. It's brilliant free form psychedelic pop music.
You also mentioned your passion for experimental music.
Describe what that is because it's not a genre I'm familiar with.
In the eighties there was a
scene in England....
(And as if by fate, Freek's doorbell goes. It's the mailman delivering
a package of rare goodies he's ordered. He opens it. It's been
packed in old Monkees LP covers! He puts the contents down and
continues.)
In the
eighties there was a very healthy tape scene in England with all these people
releasing their home-recorded music on cassette because they couldn't find label
for it. Often, the music featured synthesizers, tape looping, splicing tapes,
rhythm boxes etc. It was a time when people realized you didn't have to be a
member of Queen to make music. You could create your own stuff and it would
sound good (probably even better than Queen) and there was an audience out there
willing to listen to you. There was one band called the Legendary Pink Dots.
I am a really a big fan of them. They made a combination of experimental
soundscapes and pop songs.
What do you mean when you say "pop song"?
Two and a half to three minutes, chorus, refrain, middle 8 - that sort of stuff.
Does any of this stop becoming experimental when it crosses
over into the mainstream?
That's
actually a difficult question. I do know that we started a band in the late
eighties called
Beequeen
and we
crossed over from making this droney stuff which had all these things happening
underneath, to more pop-based music. We do sell more CDs now (laughs).
Like Brian Eno?
Yeah, a bit like that, only
worse!
(Laughter)
Freek's latest CD - Beequeen "The Bodyshop"
With
Beequeen we tried
experimental sounds and I learned to play the guitar and got really
experimental, industrial scene combined with pop music. Quite nice
actually.
Are you still doing stuff?
Yeah. We have just put a
new record out and did a two week tour in America - very small clubs. It's
fun to do.
Do you just go into the studio with an idea or...?
I believe everyone feels the need to create. Creation as such is nothing
special. It's just part of life. When creating music, it feels like a constant
stream of ideas all fighting to make their way on an album. We were so proud
and excited when we first made an actual album on actual vinyl. Because that's
what everyone dreams about when they are 14 - to sell millions of records and be
adored by an equal amount of women. I never really quite achieved that
actually!
But you made the record.
We made the record and had one
dream fulfilled - and it was very special just to see the record - to put it on
your record player.
How many copies were pressed?
I think we made 100 or 200 of
the first one, and then made more records and larger editions. Then we
made a CD and it was wonderful . So it developed in that way. And we
developed musically as well.
(We then talk about the legend that
is Dave Barbe , how Andy Warren is the coolest (looking) bass
player, Bow Wow Wow vs the Ants, Dirk's new packaging, the
Redux sponge. He also tells a hilarious story of how he was once
given an edible record and how he actually ate it, totally unaware that
it was one of only TEN copies!)
(He kindly gives me a copy of his
current Beequeen CD, "The Bodyshop". It tasted delicious!)
