Selector Interview
Selector
Cult Rock
By Craig Fraser

America... the land of musical contradictions, home to almost all the big revolutions in music. Yet in the year 2000 the American music scene lays in waste, divided between AOR, marketable "alternatives", manufactured rock and formula R&B, all equally lacking in a sense of humour. The Dandy Warhols, however, buck the trend. Even if they are only a distraction and not the solution, this band is worth it. From Portland Oregon, they come loaded with references to America's "cool past", the Velvet Underground and Iggy and The Stooges mashed up with harmonies, synths and a touch of psychedelic. Courtney, Peter, Zia and Brent - the Dandy Warhols - present Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, their third studio album and their best so far. Singer and main songwriter Courtney Taylor is quoted as saying, "with all the super high-tech production going on, we felt like we needed to make the last classic rock album". So beware - there is no attempt to incorporate loops or samples, no guest remixes, just blissed out riffs and pop tunes. The Dandy Warhols sound is not particularly new, they acknowledge and even send up their influences. The key that sets The Dandy's apart from most of their compatriots is that they have a sense of humour. An element of self-parody runs through their music. Adding to their image, they just don't write about 'sex, drugs and rock &roll' - they live it! Their two previous albums Dandy's Rule Okay and The Dandy Warhols Come Down, though not achieving huge commercial success, have afforded the band cult status. Best known here and at home for their almost-hit Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth, The Dandy's have enjoyed notable success in the UK with three chart hits and regular sell-out tours.

Selector: Your bio describes the band as counter-culture icons, do you like this description?
Peter of the Dandy Warhols: I have a hard time accepting I am an icon of any kind, I don't particularly like thinking like that.

You've also been described as stoner-psychedelic rock, how would you describe your sound?
About a year ago I came up with the only term I could, which was cult rock. I mean, we're slightly derivative of the 60s, 70s and a bit of the 80s. I mean we're a bit like rock soup or something.

Who influenced you while you were recording this album and in general?
The Rolling Stones, Duran Duran, My Bloody Valentine and probably just about everyone else out there.

Are you a big My Bloody Valentine fan?
Yeah totally. Are you hanging out for (MBV main man) Kevin Shields to do something new? Well he's doing the Primal Scream album, which's my favourite record at the moment. I saw them at the Brixton Academy, The All Nighter, it's probably the best show I've seen this year.

What do you think of the state of the American music scene?
It's God-awful. I just don't understand. I mean it's not that I didn't like some aggressive music when I was young, like the Sex Pistols and the Damned, but they had songs, those were pop songs. But Korn, for example, is just a bunch of yelling and shouting.

You've enjoyed more widespread success outside the US, particularly in Britain. Why do you think this is?
I think it's because the radio stations and press are more set up for that kind of music. Also because it's a much smaller market. It's easier to promote yourself.

What about the name, are you all Andy Warhol fans?
Courtney came up with that. I was an art student at college and have always been fascinated with Andy Warhol. With his art as well as the whole Factory scene in the 1960's.

Have you played the new material live yet?
About a month ago we were in England and we did some warm up shows and broke in about five or six of the new songs.

Do you enjoy the live experience?
That's my favourite part.

As opposed to being locked in the studio?
I like the first month in the studio, then I want to get out and play some real shows playing with people. There really isn't anything else like it. I'm not going to say its better than sex but it's close!

What are the chances of seeing you in New Zealand this year?
I hope we're going to do the Big Day Out next year. I want to get down there, I wanted to go to New Zealand since I was a kid.