SEAN YSEULT
Where are you now and which are your next works or projects?
Right now I am on my way to NYC for a while. I am working on new songs with Dava and Von, breaking in a new drummer and 2nd guitarist, and preparing to play some shows surrounding a showcase we have at SXSW.
When you realize you want to be a rock musician?
When I saw Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, back when I was in high school. She looked like the 5th Ramone, rocked out, and I thought there was nothing cooler! Then I heard the Cramps and went to find a guitar with a whammy bar at St. Marks Guitar Store – then I met Rob, and you know the rest!
You are very known for playing with White Zombie, but I would want to know how was your begining in music, what group you played with and things like that...
White Zombie was actually my first band! When I was very little, like seven or eight years old, I played blues improv in jazz clubs with old blues men. When I was twelve I played piano for a rock band that was much older than me, but just one or two gigs. I also sat in on keyboards for about a week or two with a punk band, right before we formed Whit Zombie. But Rob and I started White Zombie and it was our first band we had ever created, written music and played in.
How do you remember all the years you formed in White Zombie?
We were pretty straight edge back then so everything is clear as a bell!
Is Rob Zombie an easy person who work with?
Oh god no! But he puts high demands on himself, as well as others around him. He just has very high standards and is extremely critical. This is why White Zombie became so unique and as good as we did. It was very hard working with him especially in the beginning, because although he knew what he didn’t like, he didn’t seem to know what he did like, which made it difficult to write riffs that he would agree to sing over. But in the end it made us create a new sound, so being difficult is not a bad thing!
You are married with Chris Lee from Supagroup, have you speak anytime to form a group together?
Again – oh god no! I promised myself I’d never do that again – something about mixing business with pleasure, and believe me: a band always turns into business at some point! We owned a bar together in New Orleans (The Saint) and that was tough enough on our relationship!
You also worked with The Cramps, how was the experience? How do you feel when you know the Lux death?
I cried a lot when Lux died. I was friends with both Lux and Ivy, and am good friends with Ivy now and couldn’t imagine her without him – they were always a team. Lux and Ivy created the cool world for me to grow up in, musically, visually, before I knew them and after. After gigs with them we would stay up late talking about art, literature, criminals, ghosts, tiki restaurants and all things of the underground – they would turn me on to the best books, movies, etc! It was like hanging out with a walking, talking Psychotronic Encyclopedia, being with the two of them! Getting to play bass with them was such an honor, and I felt like I was in a dream when I would look across the stage and see the two of them right there next to me!
White Zombie and The Cramps had a similar horror b-serie image, did you like this estethic?
Yes of course. It was what drew me and Rob to each other – I was really into the Cramps, the Birthday Party, Bauhaus, etc and he was really into the Misfits. The Cramps were a model for us: we believed every band should be like the Cramps in the way that they not only made cool music and looked cool but incorporated an entire lifestyle into their band.
You also formed in Rock City Morgue, how was the experience?
This is a band that revolves around the enigmatic singer, Rik Slave. Every musician in the band has been a fan of his for years, and we are merely there to back up his singing and insane stage performances. I love everyone in the band and it is always a pleasure to play with such a talented group of musicians!
You published in 2010 a book titled I'm in the band dedicated your experiece in your White Zombie's days, how was the fans and critic reaction?
Lucklly the book got great response – a lot of great reviews, and a lot of thank yous from fans. I think it helped that I am also a fan – of a lot of the bands we toured with, etc- so I write it from that perspective.
You formed Famous Monsters with Katie Lynn Campbell, how do you remember this period?
Like one big rocknroll pajama party! We really had a blast, touring with great bands and being asked over to England and Japan twice – great fun! We partied way too hard!
You play bass guitar but also plays other instruments, which is your favourite instrument to play with?
Piano, only because I grew up playing it and it is easiest to compose on. But live (onstage) I much rather play a bass, it’s really fun and natural for me. I also play banjo and am trying to master the theremin, which is tricky business!
You also have another ocupations like graphic designer and I think you have made expositions, which have been the public and critic reaction?
Really good – I had my designs printed on silk scarves and small cases, and they were in some top stores right away – Barneys, Bendels, Liberty of London . . . I just didn’t want to be in the fashion world, I really enjoy the drawing and graphics angle. The fashion part, doing tradeshows, etc, was not my thing – it made me start hating it. I would much rather just create designs and have them applied to various things –trays, home furnishings, etc. I have gone back to my photography lately, as I have more control over the end result and don’t have worry about how it will be applied.
I tnink you also studied dance. It seems you are a very versatil artist, do you like this very much?
I can’t say I like it, it just happened! I almost wish I had just one thing since I was six years old that I focused on, so I would be a virtuoso at that one thing – but I started off young with piano, art, ballet and violin lessons so there you have it.
I think you had a bar where was a meet point of rock musicians in the city, was a good experience for you?
The best. Chris and I started the Saint back in 2002, and it took off right away. We stayed open until people left – usually six in the morning, and we had the best jukebox in town, everything from Kyuss and eyehategod to Abba and the Bee Gees. It was like a clubhouse for musicians, chefs, and all late industry workers and nightcrawlers.
Do you want to say anything more?
I hope to come to Spain with my new band Star & Dagger soon! Please check out our recent video for a song called “In My Blood”, we had a blast making it!
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario