The Jazz Butcher
Press
Les Inrockuptibles
September, 1991
September, 1991
Les Inrockuptibles
(France)
September, 1991
September, 1991
Credit:
Emmanuel Tellier
It has lasted for nearly ten years. Nearly tens years that "la
mode", that ungrateful beast which infatuates itself more
easilier with bawling opportunists that real talent, has
turned it's nose up at the Jazz Butcher. Nearly ten years that
Pat Fish
has navigated between carefree bliss and chronic
depression.
"You will laugh .. I've just been through the longest downer
of my life, for sentimental reasons. For three months, I
stayed in, lying on the floor, without moving. I couldn't do
anything, I couldn't get up, I was at the bottom of a hole.
My only companion was my cat and even he made faces at
me ... (laugh). I haven't had many romantic experiences, but
those that I have had are engraved on record. I only left the
house to record Condition Blue, which is the story of my amourous
misadventures."
We find further on in the pages of this self-examinatory album, the inestimable pop treasure - Girls Say Yes - and incredible bits of music, reflections from the discotheque of the hair-brained JBC.
"I have always loved collecting records - from Jonathan Richman
to King Crimson .. (laugh) I have had three collections in
my life, which I have sold when I have been hard up. My
punk singles collection went, for 10 pence a piece. And
recently, I saw the same records in a shop for 20 quid a
piece. Before recording Fishcotheque, when I was really broke, I
lived by selling test pressing of the Jazz Butcher. One
test-pressing equalled one sandwich!"
Later, in a slightly less depressive part of the interview, Pat Fish described his fondest memories of life on the road ..
"After a concert in Germany, a fan came up to me. (Pat, tell
me why you will never be successful, hein. You will remain
unknown. Do you like that ... and you will end up dying of
an overdose, won't you? ) Not knowing where he was on
about, I replied `You like seeing your favorite stars die,
don't you'. He looked at me and said in a vicious voice (Ya,
ya, It really cracks me up....) Another time in Spain, this
bloke came up to see me after a show and told me that I had
saved his life, that he was a heroin addict but he kicked it
thanks to my records. That day I felt that my music was at
least useful to one person"
After the winter disco twister - the 12" We Love You from the JBC, the Jazz Butcher is back on the road this autumn - direction U.S.A.
"They love me over there, I am a real star. I've put together
a new group, it's my fifth. I would like to be on my own,
but the Yanks want to see me with a group. If you don't
have a drummer, the americans boycott the concert..
Anyway, I don't want to piss them off - they are the ones
that feed me. When I haven't got anymore money, I will top
myself. I am well decided on the subject, I am too fond of
the good life to be poor. When I have only got 1000 pounds
left in the bank, I will have the most luxurious suicide ever.
I will spend everything on a big party and then shoot myself.
Ladies and gentlemen, the show is now over. Good night"
translation by: joe[at]-remove-cetia.fr (Joe Nicholson)
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