01/12/2005

“I've never met anyone interesting at a club-I used to like it more than I do now- I prefer learning than shaking my arse so I read up on things that help me build for my future.”

Chatting from his new home in Bordeaux, South-West France, former Renegade Soundwave producer Gary Asquith admits he’s whole-heartedly abandoned dance music.

“Club culture has no sincerity-paying £20 to listen to some shit that doesn't pass the standards of music that you can listen to in your front room seems ridiculous to me,” he complains.

“Punk clubs used to be better-Johnny Thunders and The Ramones don't get spun these days.”

Punk looms large in the narrative behind his current band The Lavender Pill Mob, which consists of Gary and one time Adam Ant man Kevin Mooney. Friends and occasional collaborators since 1977, the pair now runs Le Coq Musique Records, their vehicle for releasing Pill Mob records including new album Mikes Bikes. As Gary’s comments suggest, the 10 track record is a million miles away aurally from anything he did with Renegade Soundwave RS), and if anything vaguely reminiscent of Primal Scream or even Alabama 3.

“I must say I Like Mikes Bikes more than any other CD that I have made-because its more real for me,” he declares, before launching into a vicious tirade against former RS conspirator Danny Briottet.

“That might sound pompous, I don't care,” he continues.

“My father told me what is what and I follow my family rules-not the rules that make the money. I don't prostitute myself for anyone. Kevin is family. Shame on me for being so honest; I don't care. What I am is what is around me-and my truths are my friendships and companions.”


Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): The album is definitively rock as opposed to dance, have you actively abandoned dance music?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “Yeah Mike Bikes, its a positive move -I think the whole world is bored to death with Beats-we can write inflammatory tunes/love songs feelings from our hearts why should we worry about how the bass drum sounds. We need a message right now not some gibberish bullshit from some blokes from Sheffield that have an attitude with sub bass effects. I don't care about the effects of songs its the message of the spoken word that intersects me. I'll want to die with the poets not the latex crowd.”

Skrufff: Do you still identify with anything to do with club culture at all?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “I like dance music - but I like a sensitive song better. I DJ sometimes-but I only play Punk rock and reggae-and folk grooves.

Skrufff: You recently described the new album as ‘a punk rock explosion of a CD’: what are you punk credentials?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “You should ask around-It's what inspired me to get involved in music-it's a state of mind rather than a silly haircut. It's about energy. I’d rather be a Sex pistol than a Chemical brother. Without Punk rock I’d still be in my bed early each night-I've seen all the best English punk bands but my favourite was Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers and I saw those guys in many different shapes-including Sid Vicious on throw away Bass. Sid Vicious always connected with my eyes and often asked ‘what the fuck are you looking at.”

Skrufff: What does ‘punk’ mean in 2005?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “It's a reflection on our golden era. It's revolutionary thinking. It's what ever you want to be. It's another choice. Mikes Bikes is a CD for open-minded people that are bored with Oasis, Goldfrapp and alike. Lets not bore people with the same shit all day long. Northerners living in London; wow; tits and arse.”

Skrufff: What exactly has Adam Ant done on the album: how did that work in practical terms?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “We just did a track with Adam and it was effortless, it took us 17 minutes I think-Adam timed it. There were no re-takes it was just Adam doing his thing. I wasn't at all happy about the Adam Ant fan club response to the track, though. But popular opinion is now growing in the Adam Ant camps about the track-it was like we'd crushed him and taken him prisoner to make the track. Nothing could be further from the truth- he wanted to get rid of some energy and we were around at the time. Adam loves the Lavender Pill Mob and especially Kevin- because Kevin has an inspirational spark in Adam's mind.”

Skrufff: Why did you relocate to France from London?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “I spend half my year in south West France and the other half in London and Phuket. It's not healthy staying in any particular place for too long. My houses in Southern France are too beautiful for my to describe and i wanted to challenge myself to create a Dictator-land amusement park. Hang out with all the arch bastards that have fallen from grace-but just in statue form. Stalin, Saddam, Lenin, Hitler, Mao all mingled together in stone and bronze. That's why I moved to France for my summers. When it comes to revolutions the French know how to kick them off-check out CNN tonight.”

Skrufff: Looking at the ideas and imagery on the album artwork, it seems as if they’re inspired by Britain of old: do you feel nostalgia for a Britain that’s now passed?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “My mother and my brother and all the Asquith children are the only things that I really miss. Kevin's got a better key to the Lavender Pill Mob artwork-He's not what I'd call nostalgic, but lunatic fits his bill.”

Skrufff: What’s with the motorbike symbolism: have you got back on the bike since the accident you had in Thailand when you broke your collarbone?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “When in Phuket you've got to have a bike to get around -I get really isolated and stay in the jungle bungalow without any shopping malls nearby so having a bike is a necessity. I have to get out sometimes to get my cigarettes and sunshields. I'm not fully recovered from my accident-I don't think it's possible to make a full recovery from broken bones-I didn't say I was any good at riding my motorbike- just that I have one when in Phuket. "

Skrufff: Have you been back to Thailand/ had any more adventures/ attacks by dogs?

The Lavender Pill Mob (Gary): “I missed the tsunami last year-all my pals showed up though-so I'm happy about nobody I know over there having died. If I finish my work on my cave in my big house in France in time for Christmas I might just do that Thai thing-yeah I've still got a spirit of adventure. Far out in the Far East. No dogs please.”

The Lavender Pill Mob Present Mikes Bikes is out now on Le Coq Musique