The Aquarian 10/13/99Gene Loves Jezebel: Welsh Rarebit Anyone?By Laura Drager
Let me start off by wishing you a belated happy birthday (Aug. 22). And the reason I know that is because it's the same as mine! I've known this since Gene Loves Jezebel's inception in the early '80s, and I've been hard pressed ever since to find another birthday 'mate.' Well, not I'll remember yours! So, do you have any personal philosophies regarding birthdays? I look at it as a time for introspection rather that celebration - where I've been and where I'm going; more reflective like, 'maybe I should quit smoking!' I saw your show at the Pier in New York City in '87 with Echo & the Bunnymen and New Order, and I can attest to the fact that you definitely possess the 'Leo personality' on stage. Yours was the highlight of the three performances, as you abandoned the stage and pranced through the crowd up onto the bleachers. Basically, wherever you could go, you went, and very sprightly at that. Now what can your audiences expect at your upcoming shows this Fall? Hopefully some great musicians and great songs! I get a chance to express all my traits through my songs, and I feel like I've really grown as a performer. I'm much more open to an audience, which resulted from my solo stint on the road last year in support of my album Unpopular Songs. I enjoy reactions from audiences, and I think it's important to have a dialogue with the fans, take them on a little trip of sorts. It lends a sense of communion to the whole experience. Each gig is always a bit different, but no matter what the size of the crowd, I always try to be as intimate as I can. You feel you're grown as a performer, and I detect a maturation in you as far as song writing is concerned on VII. Have any experiences in particular brought that about? It was right after my brother, Michael, left the band at the height of Gene Loves Jezebel's popularity, and there was no longer anyone to share the responsibilities of everything with anymore, so I had to be the man in the situation, as it were. Going out on my own to gig with just my guitar was a big learning process, one of survival and strength of independence. I also drew on my experiences while living in New York. I cut my hair short, played a lot of pool, and didn't hang out with musicians. People who didn't recognize me didn't talk to me and those who did, did. The superficiality of others alone wrote a couple of the songs. Ultimately people do judge you for what you do, and there's no fighting it. You just have to roll with it, laugh about it. I must ask about the controversy surrounding you and your brother, Michael, and how it is that you both have legal rights to the name 'Gene Loves Jezebel.' This is such a long story, but I'm going to make it as quick as possible. I was touring for my Unpopular Songs album and Mike was doing the same for his Love Lies Bleeding album when he called and proposed that we tour together and play a few Gene Love Jezebel numbers to close the evening with. So I was willing to give it a try, and meanwhile money was being put up by Robison Records to cut a new GLJ album, but neither situation was working out with Mike and I had to tell him so. The next thing I hear is that he and a band he assembled are touring under the name Gene Loves Jezebel with Mike attempting to sing the songs that I previously sang on and a guitarist trying to emulate James Stevenson's style. That's rather deceptive, now isn't it? Audiences are expecting one thing and getting quite another. Yes, people see a name on a marquee, go in to see the live show, and at the end of the performance think, 'Oh yeah, I remember these guys were good about six years ago, but now they're terrible! I mean Michael doesn't have any vocal range and his guitarist can't replicate what James does. Plus they've practically played the entire southern California circuit, then moved on to Denver! And as far as us both currently using the name, I took legal action against him, but it was causing too much distress for other family members, so I dropped the case. So Michael and his lawyer interpreted that as me giving permission to continue letting him use it! Well, I know you'll all set the record straight and get the integrity back for the name once you embark on this tour. Definitely. Every time we play a gig, it's a winning stroke in our favor as we prove we're the real thing. I understand you've been less than thrilled with past tour parings because of pervasive arrogance and egotism. Now you'll be touring with The Mission U.K. and Mike Peters of the Alarm. Did you know any of them prior to sharing this bill? I find that when people are good at what they do, they tend to be humble and nice; and those who are not very sweet are usually the least talented and hiding behind an image, totally deluded. James Stevenson was asked to play guitar for Mike Peters a couple of years ago, and Craig Adams from The Mission was drumming in the band when they asked me to gig with them in support of my Unpopular Songs album. Also, Wayne Hussey of The Mission and I shared producers. Tim Palmer, and we have been to a few parties together, so we had crossed paths. We're different types of performers, and although we all dean in 'songs,' our language is very different. It's a good bunch of people whose musical styles I feel complement each other very well. The tour kicks off at Boston's Avalon Ballroom on Oct. 16th and moves
to NYC's Irving Plaza Oct. 18th. Check out The Best of Gene Loves Jezebel
and Live In The Voodoo City, both just released in September whether you're
looking to become acquainted with or get re-aquainted with many of Gene
Loves Jezebel's standout tracks.
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