From Kelvin Tamayo Sent Wed, Oct 22nd 1997, 02:47
From Kelvin Tamayo Sent Wed, Oct 22nd 1997, 02:47
Hi all... I'm not an Aphex Twin, but since most of the bandwidth on this list seems to have to do with the man, I thought enough of you would find this interesting enough to warrant forwarding. It's from the Rock(gasp!)tropolis Allstar Daily Music News. >___________________________________________________ > >APHEX TWIN'S RICHARD JAMES SETS HIS SIGHTS ON TOP OF THE POPS -- >SERIOUSLY >Plans Piano Album For Next Release? > > Richard James, better known as the electronic artist Aphex Twin, >doesn't care if his new album Come to Daddy sells, or even if his songs >get played on the radio. What he does care about is getting to perform >on the BBC television program Top of the Pops and being able to make an >album of piano music -- yes, piano music. > > "I basically wanted to go on TV with all my mates," says James >gleefully. "That's the only reason I wanted people to play [the album]. >I wanted to go on only one program in London, and it's Top of the Pops. >It's just the shittest program of all time. But apart from that, I dont >care if it sells one copy, and I don't care if they play it on the radio >or anything." > > Even though the first single -- "Come to Daddy" -- from the album, >which was released Tuesday (Oct. 21) on Warp/ Sire, debuted at No. 35 on >the U.K. singles chart, James still hasn't landed that spot on Top of >the Pops. "It's not fair. I'm sad," he moans. "They didn't want me on >there. Fuckers. They just wanted some other shit band on there instead. >I wanted to go on there with my bears -- my fluffy teddy bears." These >mascots of sorts, which jump around onstage as James is DJing, are >actually men in day-glo bear costumes with a mask of James' face sewn >over where the bears' faces would be. > > For his last attempt, James says he's currently working on a new as- >yet- untitled song that he says will surely gain even more attention, >and hopefully a spot on the show. "Well, I've got the next single, it's >pretty commercial," says James. "But if it doesn't happen after that, >then that's it. I've given up. It's almost too commercial to release, >but I just know it'll be a hit." > > One of the other ideas James is tossing around is working on an album >of piano music, though he admits he doesnt play. "I dont think that >matters," he says. "I'm sure I could do something. I used to have a >piano when I was little. I don't play conventionally, just mess around >with the strings and put things under the wires and stuff to get >different noises. It was my first instrument when I started making >music, so I really like it. I'm going to get one next week." > > A piano album will certainly be a departure for James, but creating >new and different works is the main reason he wants to do it. "I've got >loads of ideas -- that's not difficult these days 'cause everyone just >does the same thing," he says. "It's quite easy for me to make things >that are different. If people were making really good music, I'd >probably just stop making music. That's what makes it nice for me, >'cause I see loads of gaps that keep opening up all the time." > >-Tina Johnson >___________________________________________________ Hope this was informative to at least some of you... Now if I may ask a question: Does anyone know if the new Spring Heel Jack is slated for a U.S. release any time soon? Thanks for any info. Peace, Kelvin Tamayo