Interview with Marco del Castillo, Manila / Antipolo City, February 19,
2002
Literature, film and art in general are very important things for me. One of the reasons why I adore some labels so much is that when they have deep rooted philosophies and aesthetics. Did books & literature ever influence you? Films? Or even culture in its entirety? Did they ever play that vital role to the essence of the Junies?
PW: Books, more than anything. I was very into the existentialist writers like Sartre. I gave up university and decided to do music after reading the "Iron in the Soul" trilogy by Sartre - I decided it was up to me to shape my destiny. SO, yes!
Hey! Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are among my existentialist favourites! The idea itself of Les Temps modernes for me is still very much potent. I even used it as a title for some liner notes that I made for a local compilation. Heaven forbid! hee hee, although I did it no justice ... tributes are still tributes. : ) oh! ... Did you ever fancy yourself as a writer?
PW: Briefly. But I'm far too lazy and undisciplined (not to mention there being no evidence of any talent in that direction).
Well here is an intriguing bit. Being one who have never witnessed you first hand, describe to us the June Brides faithful and how were they like? How did the crowd react to a classic Brides set?
PW: We had some great, fanatical fans (The Bridesmaids!). A good night would end with everyone dancing and smiling. That happened very often (even at venues where people don't usually dance). You would have to ask the fans why!
Let's see now ... you once mentioned that one of your favourite sets was when you played with the Jesus and Mary Chain. With all of us having aged a little bit, what's your most memorable gig for now?
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PW: Hmmm. So many. A stage invasion in Glasgow? The Glastonbury festival? Ziggy's nightclub in Plymouth? Playing in Bergen? Different nights, different memories, but mostly of smiling, dancing, happy people!
Don't get me wrong Phil, but did Creation's interest in you have a significant effect to the Junies calling it a day?
PW: No. But if they had been interested in the start (Alan would not sign us because it was "too obvious" to do so!), I believe we might have been more famous and potentially lasted longer.
Too bad ainnit? If you were with Creation then, you'd fit in perfectly with Alan's eclectic roster. I know it's pedantic to ask ... but just for curiousities' sake ... are there any regrets that this did not happen?
PW: No regrets! We could have ended up even unhappier with the business. Life is too short to waste time thinking about "what if...?"
You once stormed the BBC and insisted to Janice Long that she play a Junies track. Although bemused, she agreed and played "Sick Tired & Drunk". I know that the June Brides were always gung-ho but did you ever surprise yourselves as to how far your fanaticism, bravado, idealism and sense of humour can take you? Did you ever think that you would not go as far as you went if you were not so, well, passionate?
PW: I'm not sure about bravado! The passion we had for the music is what I believe the people saw in us, and probably why we did get as far as we did. I'm sure that people feed off others passions or enjoyment, and that's why our live shows were so well received (usually!)
What are your favourite ear-candies then and now? What are you listening to right now? Do they ever remind you of the times when you were there in the stage and playing the anthems of yore (at least to a core following they were)?
PW: Too many to mention.
Haha, why am I not surprised by your answer? ; ) Now that many years have gone by ... how do you feel now about the whole C-86 scene? You were prophetic then about it ... that it would have some sort of backlash ... as it came to a point where it was much derided. But were there a time when you felt that it was good to see some bands having been inspired by the June Brides ethos?
PW: I am a bit embarrassed about C-86, and not too sure that I enjoy being associated with it. The NME invited us to be on the "C-86" cassette, but we refused because we did not want to be pigeon-holed with them. I liked the fact that some people were inspired to form bands because of us. The amount I like the bands depends on how much they sound like us (that is, the less like us, the more I like it!).
The politics that came with C-86 did not really mean much over here. Maybe it's a case of geographic and time discrepancies. You were there and I was not. I can sympathise with the fact that there was a sudden upsurge of the number of jangly and twee bands ... and many of them being not so good and sounding the same eventually led to the scene being ridiculed one way or the other. Saturation usually leads to oblivion. But if there were not so many bands that came out and all of them were more than ok, would it have made a difference?
PW: I don't think so. It was a brief moment in time when there was a little bit of cohesion. I am not sure there is a very important legacy from it, or would have been if it had been more concentrated. My problem was that there was very little politics, in the real sense of the word, associated with it. A lot of bands were just whining about not being able to get a girlfriend!
Some people have a high regard to your live sets partly because they say that the records do not necessarily capture your energy the way a performance does. Is it right to compare the two experiences? Do you believe that the perfect way to appreciate the band was through watching a live performance? If so or if not, why?
PW: NO! They are very different experiences. A lot of the June Brides songs have lyrics which, I hope, mean something to people. That's for when you are listening to the records. You can enjoy the group peacefully, even contemplatively. That's one side. Playing live, I think you have to become something different - "Mak Show" for the kids! I mean, they have all the week to sit at home and be miserable listening to records, they need something different when they see you live. That's why we always tried to make the live experience enjoyable, loud and fast.
Ha! You just summarised a part of my miserable life! : ) What other labels were interested in getting you? Why did you choose to stick it out with another indie label? (even after what happened with Pink)?
PW: Go! Discs, Parlophone, Stiff Records were all very interested (Parlophone offered us an awful lot of money). But...we were young, anarchistic idealists and didn't want to be corrupted. I think, in retrospect, that we were stupid, but it's too late now! We had faith; too, at the time that In Tape was growing and could maybe grow with us.
Besides Creation, what labels were ... for you ... the most influential and had the arsenal and catalog to back it all up? Did you ever wish to be a part of them?
PW: Factory and Rough Trade were my favourites. I would have loved to be on them. I didn't like everything they put out, but they had great attitude and style.
I very much agree. My list also includes Él, Les Disques Du Crepuscule, Postcard, New Hormones & Blanco Y Negro among others. What do you think of them?
PW: I obviously agree - all distinctive and independent minded. Some groups/songs I don't like - but the spirit and passion of the labels is obvious and that's the important thing.
You were noted for being a band with a solid list of originals. But you also did covers. So, what covers did you most enjoy doing? Were there any particular reason why?
PW: Old punk rock songs (The Radiators from Space, The Cortinas, The Ramones). Because they are damned good fun.
For me, I wish I got to hear your take on The Undertone's "Teenage Kicks". I would definitely be delighted to hear your treatment. "Big" Jon's trumpets would prolly soar! On to the next level then ... among those who covered the Brides, who do you like most?
PW: I have only ever heard one June Brides cover version! It's by Big Flame (Every Conversation) and I love it.
Aaah! That one I have already heard! ... And was taken aback at how fast they did it. It was like The Weddoes take on Orange Juice's "Felicity" but waaay faster! I agree ... it's also a fine version for me. (although the original is STILL an ace tune of course!) Are you surprised to learn that the June Brides have influenced people even as far as halfway (to crazy ... heehee) around the world?
PW: Very surprised, but happy! Pop music knows no boundaries. From Brazil, to Japan, to South Africa, to Australia, to Greece … even to the Philippines! Lord knows why, but people have heard us there somehow and been kind enough to contact me.
Good thing I did! : ) You announced in the indiepop list that you are reforming for a series of gigs (with some Petrols even!) ... how did this come about? What are your feelings about it? What are the other's thoughts on it?
PW: As above, it's for our birthday! We are very excited. Can't wait to be on stage again.
Will you consider ever playing here given the chance?
PW: We would love to...but the three people who would come to the gig would have to be charged thousands of dollars each to pay for it ;-)
Hah! You won't leave here with your instruments if that happens ... they make superb souvenirs I might say! ... Just kidding! No, seriously ... I am certain that many would love to get to see you perform all the classics. That would be some gig if it happens. Is there a possibility that the June Brides would release new material? (Or at least re-issue your back catalog?) I am quite sure that many out there would definitely be elated. : )
PW: All being well, the June Brides and my solo songs should be coming out again on CD this year, including previously unreleased tracks. (The Bus Stop label in America is planning to do it). Who knows if I might not write some new songs once we are rehearsing and playing these few gigs in the summer?
Hey! That's great news! I even thought that Bus Stop has called it a day. Nice to see some good ol' collaborations. And I hope that you can get to write new material. Are you excited to see how far you've gone as a song writer if you ever did start making new songs?
PW: I'll worry about that if and when it happens ;-)
So Phil ... in closing ... you always said that you wanted to have a brilliant quote to end on so here's my final question. What's the future going to be like for Phil Wilson, Simon Beesley, "Big" Jon Hunter, Adrian Carter, Frank Sweeney, Dave Bickley ... otherwise known as that fantastic pop entity we call the June Brides? : )
PW: We will get old and die, and then the general public will rediscover our music when it is too late! ...
Aha! It's good to see that the man still has his edge! Thank you very much Mr. Phil Wilson! * * * * * * * * * *
Marco del Castillo