SKANEWS Webzine - THE SLACKERS Interview

THE SLACKERS
Interview of 15th February 2001

The Slackers are one of the finest Ska-Reggae in the world. Their lastest album called "Wasted Days" is wonderful. A very good mix featuring Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady and some influences styles as Gospel and Country music.

Thanks to Dave Hillyard to answer to this interview.

Skanews : "Can you introduce the line up of the slackers. Some rumours said that the slackers have a new line up..."

The Slackers : "Rumors spread fast. the slacker line up is vic - vocals/keys, q-maxx - vocals, tj - guitar, glen - trombone, vocals, marcus - bass, and on drums is now, allen teboul. Luis decided he didn't want to tour anymore. I, dave, play the saxophone."

Skanews : "Can you introduce your brand new album "wasted days" (recording, production...)

The Slackers : "the cd is a 16 song disc that goes from reggae to ska to a church sermon to swing to dub to rocksteady, but keeps the slacker sound focused on original material together. The Lp is a 10 song set of bonus tracks and mixes that are different than the CD."

Skanews : "Can you introduce the guest musicians on this record"

The Slackers : "Some of the guest musicians are larry mcdonald - percussion, simon chardiet and agent jay - additional guitars, glen adams- mixing on the dubs, john graboff on pedal steel, regina bellantese on violin"

Skanews : "Slackers keep own feeling but include on this new record some "gospel" and "country" sounds (pedal steel)... can you explain us ?"

The Slackers : "I think that's what we've been doing for years now. We've put swing and New York salsa into ska for like 6 years? yeah, vic's been listening to some country and bands from the 60's like the Band, so that sort of influence came into some of the new songs. We spend a lot of time on the road, down south, so it just gets in you."

Skanews : "Can you talk me about the lyrics of this record. have you some messages to tell ?"

The Slackers : "Some of the lyrics are cryptic like "pets" and "the nurse." some are love songs like "wasted days" and "made up my mind" some like "dave's friend" are just about friends who've become estranged. Other songs like "tales of the mongoose" are just kind of frivolous fun. the mongoose has to do with vomit."

Skanews : "Can you talk me about the bon jovi cover. Why have you choose this song ?"

The Slackers : "its was originally a joke. this guy did this cd, 'mettaliska", ska bands covering metal. he asked us. I was like, "thats a dumb idea." but he gave us some money, so we said, "ok!" and then the sick thing is, as we worked on the song, we all started liking it. a lot. y'know, we just did it, cause its fun. the lyrics are crap, but the melodies are allright. and we made the song our own, it doesn't sound much like bon jovi."

Skanews : "Have you some other things to say about your new record (to introduce it to the people...)"

The Slackers : "I feel that this record is my favorite yet and i think the sound of it, is the band at this point and time."

Skanews : "Are you happy about public reaction for this record ? I don't know yet. its not been released in the states. so im waiting."

Skanews : "Can you talk me about the cover of this record and artwork..."

The Slackers : "The cover is a picture of Q's daughter, Miki, reading an underground comic designed by adrienne who is the girlfriend of our tour manager. we wanted to make the cover a little more psychedelic and also a little more colorful, not so grim as some of our previous covers."

Skanews : "What do you think about Ska scene in USA in 2001 ? (end of Moon Ska, Hepcat split up, press wrote "Ska is Dead" etc...)"

The Slackers : "You see the "Ska is dead" thing in the states has been happening since 1997. So its really kind of old news. But we weren't popular at the time. So we moved on and have come through to the other side. I don't really like to live by the trends. Moonska hasn't been relevant for the US scene in years, although i guess their reissues were getting more play in europe. Hepcat just had personal differences. Couldn't stand each other anymore. But in terms of us, we're much more popular now than we were 5 years ago when ska was "big" in the states."

Skanews : "Are you happy to back in Europe ?

The Slackers : "Yes. good food. good booze. great fans. what's there not to like?"

Skanews : "I think the slackers have very good memories in Europe... you recorded your live album in this continent..."

The Slackers : "Yes. in sittard. that is our home away from home. we've had some pretty cool times in a lot of other cities as well. one of my favorite memories of france was a gig we played a couple of years back in narbonne. it was in a vinyard way out in the country. big vats of wine. people running around on the roof of a french farmhouse screaming at the rising sun. it was beautiful!!!

Skanews : "Some solo projects for slackers members ?" Some news from D.H.R.7 (new album ? some rumours said a few ago that greg lee could join D.H.R.7...)"

The Slackers : "Well, i can't speak for the other members....The rocksteady 7 just recorded 6 new songs. we're shopping them around looking for a record label. Greg Lee is not joining the group. he he."

Skanews : "have you some others things to say to your fans about the slackers ?"

The Slackers : " Yeah. I want to thank all the fans who have supported us in the past. I hope you like the new album. We (the slackers) are just trying to move the music forward and express our feelings at this time. I hope its enjoyable to you.

Thanks.
Dave hillyard

Interview released february 15th 2001 by JP Boutellier / Skanews.