| Jason |
We're here today with Bryan Dematteis of Pork Sword Productions
and his client Twiggy Pawn. Bryan, is it okay for us to interview
your client today? |
| Bryan |
It's
Mr. Dematteis - I guess so. It's important that I'm present to
make sure that he doesn't say anything that can be used against
him. I'll be here to make sure that the interview goes alright
and that you don't go into any areas that you shouldn't. |
| Jason |
For the record, would you state you name and position for me? |
| Twiggy |
I
am Twiggy Pawn. I am the Kuu Sect leader of the Tempora Kuu Sect,
SkareKrau Radio - and this is our manager (pauses for several
awkward moments...then mumbles at an almost indecipherable level,
jokingly)...i've had lost of practice doing this (outwardly frustrated,
hits bone against barrel). |
| Jason |
Now Twiggy, what function does Mr. Dematteis serve for your
music? |
| Twiggy |
He protects us from undue harm from evil people who don't believe
in the - from the Insectiods, really. Because the Insectoids have
all the money and he's the one who understands how to get rid
of those Insectoids. As you can see, he's a battled man and we
like him because he very aggressively attacks the Insectoids for
us. We're not a very violent Sect, so we figures we should get
some violence involved - so we got Bryan here. It was Bryan's
idea to keep the rest of the members in these barrels today. |
| Jason
|
Is
that why they're not able to join you for this interview? |
| Twiggy |
Our
religion says that they cannot be filmed, but I talked it over
with our manager and he said I should be filmed for today's interview.
|
| Jason |
Give
me a brief history of SKR - I know at least some of you formed
while in Chicago - who started out the group, who has lasted as
members, and who has come and gone? |
| Twiggy |
Well,
it started as a calling...It was back in 1990 - actually it was
probably before 1990 - actually it was more like 1984 - and I
woke up from a dream and I was at the end of the bed. There was
a figure...it was a stone about the size of a football, and it
rose up at the end of my bed. I wasn't really scared or nothing...and
it kind of floated around and it told me I should tell people
about the ways of the Kuu. So, I started doing music - figuring
that woiuld be the best way to get ahold of the youth of America.
So, I started with like little 4-track recordings. I guess I was
the one who started - at least with this band. And, then in Chicago
I formed a small band after many years - and some of them are
still in the band today...and some of them aren't. |
| Jason |
More
specifically, what about the other members - who are they? |
| Twiggy |
In
Chicago it was me and Horse Von Krawls (Ed Creagan) and Sea-Mo
Blue (Chris Carl) - and we did it in Chicago for a while and them
me and Sea-Mo Blue moved away and ended up down here and then
joined with us was Rainbow (Michelle Wilson), Dark Forest (Thomas
Eversmann), The Bump (Jason Paul) and The Chanhattan (Matt Chandler).
Then we decided we needed more members as it came along. We never
really get rid of members because it is more of a religious Sect.
We don't like to lose people because that would be...(after an
extended curious glance towards his manager he asks him)...are
you okay to talk about this? (Bryan gives nod of approval). |
| Jason |
You
played a while in Chicago - did you do shows there in clubs? |
| Twiggy |
Yeah,
we did our Warning Orbs. |
| Jason |
How
do you perceive the musical environment in Chicago verse the environment
here in the metro St. Louis area? |
| Twiggy |
In
Chicago - between bands - it was much more competitive... |
(some
male from afar screams) "What are you doing on my property?
You guys get the hell out of here!"
Twiggy
sends a clear message to the enraged man by swiftly beating
his bone against the barrels several times. The man is temporarily
calmed.
|
| Jason |
Who's this guy? |
| Twiggy |
Oh,
that's Dark Forest...well, in Chicago it was alot more competitive
between groups - where there are lots of clubs to play at and
the clubs are very accomodating, but to get the good shows it's
much harder to do. In St. Louis (Twiggy dodges a thrown rock)
I find bands to be a little less competitive and supportive of
each other, but the clubs are a little more moronic and (continues
to dodge stones being thrown by Dark Forest)...and it seems like
they want to make you feel like they're doing us a favor by letting
us play at their club. So you know we've had alot of problems
with some of the clubs in St. Louis, but we don't have any problems
in Chicago really. |
| Jason
|
Your
shows often include theatrical stage perfomances by characters.
When you're writing, which comes first: the writing... |
|
At
this point the interview is temporarily sabotaged with an assault
on the manager and Twiggy by Dark Forest who is visually aggrevated
with the interview. I had been led to believe the rest of the
members of SKR were in the barrels, but apparently Dark Forest
roamed free.
|
| Jason |
...Which
comes first for you, the story line, the idea, the song, or the
characters? |
| Twiggy
|
Well,
the whole performance is to convey our religious teachings and
warnings from our god Kuu. So, we try to find a way to keep people's
attention. I found that most rock bands - they have a message
on their own - but they don't - they're pretty vauge about what
it is, and alot of people don't pay attention. I figure, if we
get people to actually look at the stage and see what we're doing
- and the performance usually reflects what we're trying to convey.
So, I guess in a way our god Ku really told us we should be able
to convey a message which is also irritaining and musically stimulating
at the same time. I think most people find us more interesting
to watch than to actually listen to our songs because they're
not very pleasureable. I think when they go home at night they
get a basic understanding of what we're trying to convey. I hope. |
| Jason
|
For
people who don't know...(Twiggy gets distracted and starts to
chase a passing vehicle)...your stage performances utilize different
costumes and theatrical exhibitions. This rock show extension
with the performace and the theater, how does that come about?
What are some of your influences and where did you get some of
these ideas? |
| Twiggy
|
Some
of these influences stem back to a band called SunRa and his
Arkistra where they had sort of a free stance towards their
music where they wore elaborate costumes and they didn't really
have any confines of any kinds of songs - they kind of just did
what they wanted to do - like a big party on stage - like a celebration
- I really like that sort of idea. Other influences would be Strawberry.
They did alot of costumes, but they were kind of sick - and I
kind of like that too. They even had people come to the shows
dressed up. We hope people will start doing that for our shows
because I like audience participation. It's awesome. |
| Jason
|
So,
your saying that this extension with the costumes sort of draws
people into your performance a little more. It's not like you're
trying to distract them? |
| Twiggy
|
Oh
no! We want to bring them in. We want them to feel like they can
come up on stage and join us in our celebration of our god Kuu. |
| Jason |
What's
next for SKR, are you recording? Maybe a video? Something to accompany
your message? |
| Twiggy
|
We
would like to do a video of our first couple years. Our manager
here usually tapes our performances when he's not in the hospital.
We want to make a compilation for those who can't make it to St.
Louis to see these shows that we're doing. That'll be really cool
because our live performances are really different from our recorded
work. I think more people get more out of a video experience.
We're also planning on recording in Chicago this summer for a
new album called "Waste Today". |
|
At
this point Dark Forest returns wielding a greasy broom and begins
a joust of sorts with Twiggy and his bone. Dark Forest keeps
up this attact for another minute or so by throwing greasy potato
chip boxes and bits of rock and brick and the pair.
|
| Jason
|
Shouldn't
your manager be taking care of such inturuptions as some people
get upset? |
|
The
manager points to his neck brace from some unknown injury.
|
| Twiggy
|
We
get that alot. (screaming at Dark Forest) Non believer! |
| Jason
|
At
a point you said you were called skarecrow radio, what was the
thing that made you change your name? How did that come about? |
| Twiggy
|
Back
in '88, I was in a band called skarecrow radio with a couple friends
of mine and we had differences of musical opinion. Then I went
off on my own and I started SkareKrau Radio - kind of by accident.
I was on a public bus with a good friend of mine, The El Shorty,
and I was sitting on the bus and he asked me what the name of
my band was and I said, "SkareKrau Radio" but it's bacause I was
sneezing when I said, "skarecrow radio" and it came out "SkareKrau
Radio". Years later i found out that "Krau" means "forehead" or
"knowledge" by the Eskimos. And then the "Radio" part is actually
broken down into "Dio" and "Ra" - meaning Sun god. Skare is kind
of a play on words. So, I guess it means scary-head-of-a-Sun-god.
But, that was all an accident - I praise my god Kuu for bringing
that name to us - to have some sort of meaning - but it doesn't
have any meaning at all. |
