Kowpat Rock - Zig Zag April 1984
Article scanned and submitted by Maurizio Pustianaz.
Click here for a scan of the article.
"We're painting pretty pictures
Look how they shine!
We're jumping out of rhythm
Stepping out of time."
Begin by quoting something they said.
O.K., I'll paint the pretty picture. I doubt that it will shine.
What can I say? The last thing you want after hours of shopping in torrential rain, is the prospect of bantering words with some strangers for an hour or so. Photographing them is one thing, having to find out what makes them tick, especially in the murky confines of the Klub Foot is enough to make the heartiest of spirits sink into the gloom. When this particular spirit is soaked to the skin, clutching hundreds of carrier bags and a heavy tape recorder mere 'gloom' is hardly the word.
The only Play Dead person around is Pete, the bassist, who, suprisingly enough, can be found in the sleazy, downtrodden transport caff next door. We decide to begin the interview, surrounded by several keep fit people, in various states of undress, in the bar of the Klub Foot. (we are in the middle of a dance class I might add).
So let's be enlightened as to what the band have done up to now.
"I met the others (Steve-guitar, Wiff-drums, and Rob-vocals) five years ago. The band has been going three years and we began with Fresh Records where we had 2 singles, before they were bust, Then we moved to Jungle and did 'Propaganda' and 'The First Flower'. Next came Si, our manager and the Sex Gang tour, the Killing Joke tour and two of our own. Then we did 'Shine' on Situation 2. That's it."
"We're not gothic, we're not anything. People are always going to categorize you, especially the press. Well we don't care, any of us. Christ! Even I could write about bands, any idiot can do it. We're compared to the Sex Gang, Death Cult movement. THIS WASN'T A MOVEMENT. WELL, I MEAN . . . IT WASN'T A MOVEMENT TILL SOMEONE CALLED IT ONE!"
His voice has risen considerably and the keep fitters, sweating profusely in strange places, finds all this very interesting indeed. Some, dressed in grey, dance towards us in curiosity, like stampeding elephants.
Does he feel the need for the band to spread the name to the masses?
"We tour a lot as it's the only way people can get to see and hear us. If a person don't do it accurately we do it it ourselves. We don't play gigs in our area as we'd only be playing to friends. It wouldn't get us anywhere."
Pretty ruthless stuff. So comparisons can't be made to the Sisters of Mercy, who are 'big in Yorkshire'. Play Dead haven't it seems, got a strong Oxford based following, so who/what gives them the motivation to tour so much?
"We do have a strong following. Very strong. It's just not based anywhere. We have fans all over."
I'm beginning to turn my interrogation inwards. Why can't I seem to say anything right? How come Pete is on the defensive all the time. What makes me so damned anxious anyway?
The rest of the band arrives! Offering no useful comments short of "My head's not together" and "Got a cig?" they wander off leaving Pete to defend them.
The band, after their track on 'The Whip' album have been to Paris, their first trip abroad which apparently went really well. Other than that they've nothing lined up. Are they becoming as disillusioned/complacent as their stage set would suggest?
"NO! We know what we want. Things like we don't want to move to London, although that's why we're having a hard time. Moving to London is a bit of a farce anyway. We only live and hour away anyway."
It's frustrating to see an excellent band plodding along at a slow pace, though on reflection to say things are going slowly is an understatement. What is the reason for all this lethargy? Well . . . I've been talking to one of the reasons for the last hour and I still haven't broken the barrier. He doesn't seem happy about the way things are going so is it a case of 'make or break' time?
"No. I for one wouldn't do anything else. I just like travelling, writing and the music. It's all about doing something you feel is constructive, experiencing a lot of things. I don't sit around on my arse(?), I have to get out with the band and play. It's a personal thing, I'm certainly not trying to give anything to anybody."
Quite.
Pete seems set in his ways and opinions. Whether this is a personal attitude or one of the whole band I don't know. My psychic abilities were never that hot.
Draw on your own conclusions, ask yourself some questions. Does Pete really get off his arse or does he need a hefty kick up it?
In the elusive quest for an accurate character analysis we decide to elaborate upon our previous conversation at my humble abode and as it is being made suitable I began to get cold feet again, waiting for the chosen one to appear. Still, he's motivated enough to travel from Oxford to acton with a view to changing my petulant misapprehensions so let the saga continue . . .
After being stuffed full of spaghetti bolognaise and whisky we begin our reassessment, in decidedly more compatible frames of mind. I've criticised Play Dead for being apathetic, so what is the true attitude?
"Well we're not. At this stage there's nothing more that we can do. For example, in 1983 we did five tours and released nine tracks in all and at the moment that's all we can do, tour and release records. As for your comment about things going slowly that's not our fault. We haven't had a stable record company. Things are slower than we'd wish."
One point established. The band are not full of apathy but as I'm full of whisky Pete gets a free reign on his grievances.
"As for the press, you'd think it would help to do some but it wouldn't. The fact that we don't do it is held against us and they can't be bothered with us. This is because we've been building up steadily not suddenly appeared on the scene at the spearhead of some new movement."
I think comparisons can be drawn between Play Dead and The Clash, versatility being the operative word. Making such a profound observation after consuming a bottle of whisky is quite an achievement. Is this awe-inspiring statement of mine acceptable to Pete?
"I think so. We like to be considered versatile. We have our heavier tracks, like The Tenant, coupled with dance rhythms in Sin of Sins. People interpret being powerful as being unthinking, which is rubbish. It would be complementary to us to be considered powerful and intelligent, whilst having a desire for experimentation. In conclusion let me say that we worked harder in 1983 than ever before and we've toured more often than 98% of other British bands."
So there we have it. You can have my little moral of the day; "Never prod a turtle too much!" but you'd better judge Play Dead yourself. All my preconceptions fell flat on their face.
By Jayne Houghton. Picture by C. Mchale Marshall.
[Here's a great follow-up letter to the above trash, which appeared in the following issue of Zig Zag.]
Click here for the actual article.
Dear Zig Zag,
Just who does Jayne Houghton think she is? I had been looking forward to this issue for ages. What a hash she made of it. Apart from adding pieces throughout the interview which had absolutely nothing to do with the group and also taking the piss out of them she ought to be grateful that such a talented bloke gave her an interview at all!!
I am of course referring to her interview with PETE of PLAY DEAD. I'm not surprised that "Things are going slowly and that is an understatement" if she makes them sound as if they are not trying! Pete mentioned that 98% of other British bands "sit on their arses" instead of getting out to meet the fans who put them where they are today. And I quite agree.
I've never seen Play Dead in concert as they've never played near me but I have all their records and comparing them to Sex Gang or Death Cult is utterly ridiculous. The words are audible which is more than can be said for S.G or D.C.
If ZigZag meet Play Dead again I suggest that J.H. be bound and gagged. I volunteer to interview them, then at least we'd get a fan's-eye-view of the guys.
A pity a decent picture couldn't be printed with the morbidly-drowsy-Jayne's interview - I might have had something nice to say about her then. If you could be so kind?!?!?
Keep on shining lads,
The Tenant (female!)
Oxford;
