Eddie Argos - Vocals
Jasper Future - Guitar
Ian Catskilkin - Lead Guitar
Freddy Feedback - Bass Guitar
Mikey B - Drums
One of the weirdest UK bands in recent memory, ART BRUT, comes off as part
prank/part fun rock band.
They have already conquered the UK. In November 2005 they played a few shows
in the USA. They even
played for the first time "Moving To LA" in LA. The band has been together
for about two years. Even though
they were mostly Bournemouth based, ART BRUT happened rapidly in the
beginning of 2004 in London.
Eddie Argos (singer) was inspired by attempting to be a pop star. Their first
song was called "Formed A Band."
Argos quickly recruited his old friend Ian Catskilkin (Guitar) and Freddy
Feedback (Bass). They met drummer
Mikey B on the back of a bus and Jasper Future (guitarist from Eddie's old
band, Art Gobblins) joined a few
months later. The original member Chris left soon after they were formed. ART
BRUT released several successful singles including "Modern Art" and "Emily
Kane." There album "Bang Bang Rock and Roll (2005)" made a lot of people's best
of the year's list even though it hasn't been released in the USA.
I got to meet Eddie Argos on their recent tour. I had a bunch of questions
for him? Who is Emily Kane? Does
Modern Art make him want to rock out? Why does he take off his shoes when he
performs? Where did he get his hats? Hopefully in 2006 their debut album will
be released in America. Hopefully they will come back soon?
* * * * *
SFB: Let me ask the question that everyone wants to know? Where did you get
your hat?
Eddie: I bought this one. I have a lot of hats. I have one hat that I have
worn a lot. It's in the video. I lost one in Norway. Since I was wearing a hat a
lot, someone presumed this was also my hat. So they gave it back to me. I
didn't say anything. I kept it. I like this new one. It is a great shape. It's
lightweight.
SFB: How has the American tour been going?
Eddie: It's been loads of fun.
SFB: When did the dream of Art Brut begin?
Eddie: I found out recently that there is no Top of The Pops in America. What
is the point of us being here? I am going home.
SFB: We have talk shows like Craig Ferguson and David Letterman where bands
play. It's like Jonathan Ross.
Eddie: Oh, okay. Top of The Pops is on Sunday now. It used to be on Friday at
8pm. They should bring it back to Fridays.
SFB: Is that how the dream started? You wanted to be in a band and be on Top
of The Pops?
Eddie: That is it. I was very young when I made it up. I didn't know any
better. I was five years old. When I got older, I tried to play guitar and
couldn't do it. I tried to play everything: bass, keyboards, and drums. I couldn't do
it. I just can't do these things.
SFB: The drinking came much more naturally then?
Eddie: Yes. That started around when I was five years old. I figured out that
I was like Lou Reed and couldn't really sing. But if I was going to be in a
band, I would have to be the singer. If Lou Reed can do it, so can I. It's
easy. That was the first plan. Next was getting on Top of The Pops. That was my
next mission.
SFB: How did you get the band together?
Eddie: I had an old band that fell apart. We were playing when we were at
university in Bournemouth. I moved to London to start a new band. I met Chris at
a party. He is not in the band anymore. We were both a bit loaded. We said,
"Let's start a band!" He wanted to meet girls. I wanted to be on Top of The
Pops. His next-door neighbor played bass. I knew Ian in Bournemouth. We met Mikey
on a bus. We were just trying to make friends. We were just putting together a
band randomly.
SFB: Did you live in a certain neighborhood?
Eddie: Not really. We ended up being a South London band. We were just
mucking about.
SFB: Why did Chris leave the band?
Eddie: Chris didn't want to tour. He gets tired easily. He is busy. He has
another band. He is writing a book. He left because of that. He has been
replaced by Jasper. I have known Jasper for years. He was in my previous band. I
phoned him up: "Chris has left. Do you want to join?" And he said: "Sure. When?" I
said "Like Today!" He had to move and leave his house.
SFB: You did that song "Moving To LA" last night. Was that the first time you
played it in LA?
Eddie: Yeah. It's an Art Goblins song. I have been singing that song for
seven years. It's very funny doing that song here. I usually point in the
direction of LA. I was pointing down toward the ground last night. In England you can
get away with pointing in any direction. But when I was in New York City, it
was like the West Coast is THAT way. I was pointing to LA. People were telling
me it's actually over there. Sorry, I didn't know. I was just guessing.
SFB: It seems like you have ideas for songs and then get carried away, whether
it's about Los Angeles or Modern Art.
Eddie: It's true. I get excited by art and then write about it. "Moving To
LA" is a sad song. I wrote it on a rainy day and I was sitting in a pub. I had
just broken up with a girlfriend. I didn't want to be there. Where could I go?
LA! It's about escapism.
SFB: "Formed A Band" was the first new song you did with Art Brut?
Eddie: Yes. It was written when we were rehearsing for the first time and I
was singing for the first time. They had never heard me sing before. I was
trying to persuade them not to sack me. I was singing about all the things I
wanted to achieve.
SFB: What about the song about the Velvet Underground?
Eddie: It was fun to do that song in New York. I am always afraid to be on a
radio station and they play that song and Lou Reed calls up. It would be good
to talk to them. I like that band. But I got bored of all the bands trying to
be like them. It's been going on now for four years.
SFB: We have all these bands that sound like Gang of Four too.
Eddie: Yeah. I am tired of that sort of thing too. When I wrote the words to
that song everyone was trying to be like Velvet Underground and wearing dark
glasses. It's a very angry song. It would be good if they were trying to be
influenced by certain bands, but they are not doing that. They are just wearing
dark glasses and taking drugs.
SFB: The album has been out in England for a while.
Eddie: That is why we are over here. We are trying to sign a deal.
SFB: When you play the songs live, it's different. At the end of "My Little
Brother" you have that bit about smoking crack and Pete Doherty. There is an
element of improvisation.
Eddie: I am always trying to update the songs. I get bored if I sing the same
thing every night, so it's fun to muck about.
SFB: The drummer stands up when he plays. I haven't seen that style of playing
in a long time.
Eddie: He says that he likes to stand up and stretch his legs. It's not true.
He is a show-off. He likes to be looked at. I think that is what it is. Don't
tell him I told you. There have been some people who played standing up like
the drummer in Jesus and the Mary Chain, and of course, Mo Tucker. But Mikey
just wants to be looked at. He is a very vain man. He has a big head.
SFB: How have your experiences in America been?
Eddie: Every show is different. It's been loads of fun though. They told us
in New York "No one here dances." And then, every night, everyone danced.
People were drunk and leaping around.
SFB: Did you go to college?
Eddie: No. Some did and some didn't. I failed my O levels and was stuck
without a band. Jasper went to college. They all studied for years, apart from me.
SFB: Did anyone study music?
Eddie: Ian studied music at a university. His dad was in a famous band. The
singer from that band recently joined Genesis.
SFB: What is Bournemouth like?
Eddie: It's a beach. It's mainly old people and students.
SFB: You did a lot of festivals this year?
Eddie: Yeah. It was aces. We played the second stage at Reading and Leeds. We
were at the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury. We played at three or four in the
afternoon. Sometimes we played at midday. I couldn't believe the tent was
packed. People got up early to see us in Belgium. I was amazed. Kids were waiting
for hours.
SFB: You are always referring to yourself onstage. You say "Art Brut, are you
ready?" like you are at the helm of a ship.
Eddie: It started when we were crossing the street or walking around. I would
say to them collectively "Are you ready Art Brut?" It just ended up sticking.
I don't know why. Jonathan Richman used to do that too: "Are you ready Modern
Lovers?" I always liked how that sounded.
SFB: Are there any other bands that you liked recently?
Eddie: Yes. The one from last night. They are called Porterville.
SFB: So you will probably come back to America early in 2006? Maybe you will
go to some more cities?
Eddie: Yeah. In March 2006, we hope. We will find out. We are recording
another single when we get back. It will be released in England. We are not sure
what song yet.
SFB: You have some new songs you are playing now?
Eddie: Yeah. We have three or four new songs. I have written the words for a
lot of new songs. But we have to get back and start working on the music.
SFB: How do you write songs?
Eddie: I walk around and write songs in my head. I sing them into the phone.
I go home and put them into my book. Once a week we will rehearse. They write
the music and I go to my big book and select some lyrics.
SFB: All these songs are about your life?
Eddie: They are all true. It's all about me. I would get bored singing about
other people who are made up. I like real people.
SFB: What is up with this song "Rusted Guns of Milan?"
Eddie: The guns?
SFB: That is a metaphor?
Eddie: Yeah. I couldn't just sing about my cock. I had to change it around a
little bit.
SFB: Maybe on the next album you can write a "cock" song that is more in your
face?
Eddie: (laughter) Maybe? Who knows?
SFB: Can you talk about the song "18,000 Lire?"
Eddie: There were these terrorists in Italy. They didn't hurt anybody. They
did a bank robbery. They were rubbish. They only got 18,000 Lire, which is
about four pounds and seventy-three. That is about two American dollars. It sounds
like such a huge achievement, but it isn't really. I wanted to write about.
SFB: So many of your songs are just inspired by everyday things like what you
read in a paper?
Eddie: Yeah. It happened. It's an old song. It is not about me.
