Tim Burgess talks R. Stevie Moore and O Genesis
On Weds 6th June 2012, Night & Day welcomes to its stage the home-recording legend and star of Charlatan Tim Burgess's roster of musicans on his O Genesis imprint, R. Stevie Moore. Nick Mitchell talks to Burgess about his obsession with Moore and just what makes him such an important, if long-ignored, pop icon.
CREPUSCULE: He's an incredibly interesting figure, R. Stevie Moore. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1952, the son of Elvis's bass player, by the age of seven he was already sitting in on recording sessions and was all set to follow in his father's footsteps. Then, suddenly, after dropping out of college in 1971, he decided to eschew the life of a star session man and, instead, hole-up for 35+ years in relative obscurity to produce in excess of over 400 incredible, askew pop records. Where did you hear of him and what was the attraction to his work?
BURGESS: First heard R. Stevie at a party in Los Angeles – I think it was at Jason Faulkner's house in approximately 2004. The song was 'Showbiz Is Dead'. Everyone at the party was in a band The Tyde, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Warlocks, BRMC, Frausdots, Beachwood Sparks – the fabric of the L.A. underground. Drummer from Frausdots who's now in Spectrum with Pete ‘Sonic Boom’ Kember [was there]. Natch – I went out and bought Everything You Always Wanted To Know About R. Stevie Moore But Were Afraid To Ask and Gary Wilson’s You Think You Really Know Me. On first listen you can hear that he's someone who doesn't play by the established rules - and once you look deeper you definitely know he doesn't. The fact that it's one of the biggest back catalogues in history means you can never get bored too.
CREPUSCULE: The past couple of years have seen a huge surge of interest in Moore's music. His biggest, most notable fan (and now collaborator) is Ariel Pink, with whom he's just put out a cassette album. Are you a fan of Ariel Pink, Gary War and the crop of other Stevie inspired 'hypnogogic pop' artists?
BURGESS: I LOVE Ariel Pink – I don’t know too much about Gary War – I love John Maus he’s a very important artist. I think the idea that you can rewrite your own rules is the first rule of being influenced by R. Stevie. I think there's other artists that have been really successful that he's influenced too - Back kind of springs to mind on that one. I think Jack White has many similar qualities in his way of doing things too.
CREPUSCULE: The aural palette of O Genesis seems to be quite a shift away from your work with The Charlatans. What's your remit as a label boss?
BURGESS: I think my work with The Charlatans is constantly changing – evolving with each album. My remit is a shared vision as a collective of what O Genesis is about. My personal taste in music is as wide open and as completely opposite as a cucumber and a rhino.
CREPUSCULE: You're DJing at the R. Stevie Moore show on 6th June. What kind of obscure jams you gonna drop on us?
BURGESS: Oh I like to spin floor shakers, song and dance anthems, William Burroughs poetry and remixes done for and by people on the label – expect me to drop 'Gold E' by Nik Colk Void. Might follow it up with some northern soul and once i start digging in my record box it can go in any direction.
CREPUSCULE: What's your favourite Stevie video? We like 'Too Old To Fall In Love' because 1) it heavily features his dancing feet in tube socks and 2) contrary to music video etiquette, he lights-up a fat one.
BURGESS: I like 'Another Day Slips Away' – must’ve cost an absolute fortune. I really love 'I Like To Stay Home' because of the drummer's masks – R.Stevie hitting himself over the head with the tie of his dressing gown (ouch!) and miniature guitar. I'm obviously a bit biased towards 'Pop Music' too. Not just for my cameo appearance but, as it was on O Genesis, I was involved from the start. We were trying to think of ideas and Nick, at the label, mentioned he knew a puppeteer who made his own characters. We rang him and he loved the song and we had the most hilarious afternoon. There's talk of the puppets coming to the [Night & Day] gig too!
CREPUSCULE: Do you plan to do any more records with Stevie? What else have you got coming up?
BURGESS: I / we are releasing a compilation on O Genesis - R.Stevie Moore - Lo Fi Hi Fives... A Kind of 'Best Of' in June/July, depending on when we get our collective shit togeth(er).
Tickets for R. Stevie Moore at Night & Day are available from www.ticketline.co.uk and www.seetickets.com
