Project Description
Interview with
BORIS SUJDOVIC
from
THE BEASTS
by Dave Bruce
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You have all been around for so long, I wondered if I could ask a couple of background questions? How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?
In 1977, I was just a bored teenager waiting for something to happen, and for once it did. I heard The Sex Pistols and The Ramones. Within months I had formed a band. I was lucky I guess because my first real band was The Scientists, so it kinda never stopped from then.
What kind of music did you grow up on? Which artists inspired you?
My first single was To Sir With Love by Lulu, when I was about twelve. I grew up in the early-mid 70’s so Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. That evolved as I discovered more, The Stooges and Alan Vega / Suicide, who were the big influences.
How did you all find each other originally, and have you always got along pretty well or have there been World Wars along the journey?
In the very early eighties, the scene in Sydney was electric and we all just gravitated to each other. I’ve always got along with everyone in the band, but some of the other guys have had the odd disagreement, but nothing that a little time away from each other doesn’t fix. That’s not unusual for a band though.
I personally love the idea of getting you all together for the new album. I presume that was a mixture of joy and sadness given Brian’s passing?
The idea came about by trying the get all The Beasts, past and present, in a studio. Sad that Brian wasn’t there, but joyful that Spencer was. We included everyone, doing a James Baker song and one of Brian’s.
With this latest Album “Still Here” can you talk some of its origins and evolution?
We all found ourselves at Brian’s funeral and the idea formed there. We knew we had to act fast because Spencer was fading, and if he had passed before we’d had the chance to get into the studio, it probably wouldn’t have happened.
Was the recording process “normal” or was this more fun given its “here and now” requirements?
The recording process was far from normal. Some of the songs were shared around as demo’s beforehand and the others were just shown in the studio, but either way we hadn’t rehearsed any. That’s a good way to record if you have faith in the other musicians around you. We just did it on the spot in one or two takes.
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I know how challenging the creative and producing process can be. How good did it feel to complete?
Real good because now all we really have to do is play it live.
Is “On My Back” the favourite track on the album given it is the single?
Well, you kind of change your faves and then get sick of them all and don’t listen to it for a long while and then listen again and completely change your mind again so I cant answer this one.
If someone had never listened The Beasts (Beasts Of Bourbon) before (yes, it’s possible), what song of yours would you recommend them as your signature track?
Well if it was The Ramones you’d say Blitzkreik Bop, Deep Purple it’d be Smoke On The Water, but with The Beasts it’s a bit harder because there were distinct stages we went through. Maybe Hard For You earlier, and then Chase the Dragon later.
There looks like some serious travel with the tour coming up. Is that a challenge these days, or just as much fun as always? Any particular dates you are looking forward to?
It seems more fun these days. You never seem to know what’s in store at each gig so playing Byron Bay sounds like fun, but you never know.
If you could pick absolutely anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)
Maybe someone like Hound Dog Taylor, just to see how those guys operate.
Are there any major goals or milestones for the future? Is there another album in you all?
We’ll see how this tour goes, but probably do Europe next.
Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favourite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
Well favourite album changes, but probably the most influential album was the first Stooges one. Book is Rivethead by a guy called Ben Hamper. It’s about a music critic who grew up in the eighties, working in the car factories around Detroit. It’s great because that’s all it’s about, just him going through his daily stuff. Being into punk rock and working on an assembly line didn’t always mix well.
Bilbao in Spain is great to hang out at. We did that for four days last year rehearsing for a festival with The Beasts. We found a great little bar in the old town and basically just hung out there, meeting the locals, who know a lot about Australian music. Had a great meal in Spain once, mushrooms in red wine. Drink. Beer.
Person I’d love to meet Alan Vega, because Suicide and his solo stuff were right out on the edge and he went through a lot from total rejection to a top ten hit in France and then back to obscurity, all the time just doing what he wanted to.
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PREMIER ARTISTS PRESENTS…
‘THE BEASTS STILL HERE’
AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2019
Thursday 21st February 2019 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Tickets
SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Friday 22nd February 2019 – Prince Bandroom, St Kilda – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DALLAS CRANE
Saturday 23rd February 2019 – Croxton Bandroom, Northcote – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DALLAS CRANE
Thursday 28th February 2019 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns – Tickets
NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED
Friday 1st March 2019 – The Northern, Byron Bay – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
Saturday 2nd March 2019 – The Triffid, Brisbane – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
Thursday 7th March 2019 – A.N.U., Canberra – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
Friday 8th March 2019 – Metro Theatre, Sydney – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
Saturday 9th March 2019 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
Thursday 14th March 2019 – Rock Rover, Fremantle – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE PAINKILLERS
Friday 15th March 2019 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE PAINKILLERS
Saturday 16th March 2019 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE PAINKILLERS
Sunday 17th March 2019 – The Gov, Adelaide – Tickets
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE JOHNNYS
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
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Keep up with THE BEASTS
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