Interview: Ex-Violent Femme Gordon Gano Talks to Skiddle. Sort of.

Ahead of his Ruby Lounge show with his new band, Skiddle caught up for a 'chat' of sorts with ex Violent Femme Gordon Gano. We don't think he liked us very much. 

Gano and The Violent Femmes have long been branded as ‘defining 80s teenage angst’ and being pin ups for the alternative music scene at the time. With their phenomenal self-titled debut, released in 1983, they gained platinum record sales without ever being on the Billboard charts. The song everyone knows from said album is ‘Blister In The Sun’, some say written about connecting with God, some say responsible for the naming of Manchester’s infamous rock ‘n’ roll bar Big Hands (for the “big hands I know you’re the one” line) but Gano is blissfully unaware of this fact, and doesn’t want to discuss its inspiration.

In fact he seems blissfully unaware of a lot of things, and has floated along in a world of film score writing and revisiting his youth as an actor with appearances in children’s TV series in the last seven years. These days the Femmes are long gone, done and dusted for good, but Gano is finally returning to the popular music scene with a new band, a collaboration alongside The Ryan Brothers and a new album ‘Under The Sun’; again subjecting the listener to his playful lyricism and dour story-telling.

The musicians came together in 2001, after the brothers, Brendan and Billy, found themselves living and socialising in the same area of NYC as Gano. Apparently the music that inspired his collaboration with the Ryan brothers, fans of the Violent Femmes, spawned during fertile musical sessions between them in the cafes, bars and Laundromats of NYC’s west village, although Gano says he doesn’t know at all where this idea came from either.

You’ve had quite a colourful career creatively. Fill us in on where you've been and the different things you’ve been doing in the last 7 years?

GG: A vaguely depressing question. I could make a list of accomplishments and disappointments but I see no point in that - do you?

Well yes, it’d be nice to know in your own words instead of reading Wikipedia, but fair enough… The Violent Femmes' debut self-titled has been labelled 'best album of all time' by critics, selling  two million copies – how has having such early acclaim affected the rest of your career – positively, negatively, has it caused constrains, expectations?

GG: It’s an honour. Never felt any constraints.

You’ve got a platinum album but no billboard success - this is a bit of an odd occurrence – but it must be good to know that your music has such interest and hasn't been reliant on momentary hype?

GG: Yes, I suppose I am a little proud of it. A real “people’s choice”. Never had a hit record but have one (2 or 3?) “Classics”.

Your new venture [with The Ryans brothers] came together after playing in cafes, bars, launderettes in your early years in NYC's west village – tell us about the launderette gigs?! Or just how that was in general, starting out together on a new venture...?

GG: (Laugh). Not really sure what you’re talking about.

Your new venture, the album, the band?! Ah, next question… Having worked on film scores numerous times in the past, have you any plans to go down more of a composer's route with your music, or is it just something you tried out?

GG: Not sure. It’s a possibility. Do you have any projects for me or us?

No we don’t. Sadly we’re not a film company. So explain to us the idea behind this Spongebob Squarepants song we've heard about, was it just a bit of fun? It’s kind of off the beaten track for a super-cool band/musician…

GG: Violent femmes were asked to do it. It was a lot of fun. As I recall I was given the words and then wrote the music for them.

Considering you’ve had a varied creative background, film score writing and a lot of acting, how do you go about your writing, by taking on a different persona or character…?

GG: Each song is different. Once specific example: I wrote and recorded a song called “Country Death Song”. It tells the story of a farmer who kills his daughter.

Wow – that sounds heavy. A personal experience?

I was not the daughter.

Eeek, you could have been the farmer then! Back to the music, quickly…

Having moved into being a composer, you must’ve learnt more about instruments and their qualities than most band-boys. How many instruments can you play and what's your favourite?

GG: Favourite to play with others: violin. Favourite to play by myself: piano. Favourite of all time: guitar.

You were brought up in religious surroundings - your father being a Baptist minister - with this inspiring a lot of your early musical ventures. Do you still follow religion as you did when you were younger and does it influence what you do any more?

GG: I don’t like discussing religion. In general or personal.

So you're nudging 50 years of age now – what have been your crowning moments on this earth in the last half century, personal or otherwise...?

GG: Just this year riding as a pirate on a pirate ship with Rainier Simoneaux in a Mardi Gras. Also participated in a traditional Cajun Mardi Gras.

That sounds like fun?

Those who know will know.

Ok. Now we’re not sure what you’re talking about...

Possibly a predictable question to end with, but after an eclectic career, what music or musicians are pushing your buttons at the moment, and for what reasons? Who is making you sit up and listen with some inventive, unusual pieces of music...?

GG: Always (thankfully) so many. Here is a few: Marcia Mello, Arthur Russell, Duke Special, Tallest Man on Earth, Hot Club of Cow Town, Billy Bang, Beethoven, Glenn Gould, Jake Brebes (Threes and Nines), Billy Hough “Scream Along With Billy”- and a story or two with each one.

So, despite Mr Gano being blissfully unaware, decidedly cryptic or simply unable to speak on a few things, it seems we could forgive him and say his efforts have been channelled into the recent music. The new release it has been said is a great piece of work from the three musicians. Each has worked to their own strengths and yet the work still shows off their individual signature flairs; the adenoidal voice of Gano, his thoughtful eloquent lyrics, the colourful musicality of the Ryans, all put together in a ‘mature’ way. Platinum sales disc again maybe…? Possibly more likely than the Spongebob music.

Interview: MDS

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