FOETUS COMES OUT \u2013 A FORCEPS DELIVERY<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate doing interviews. I think it\u2019s disgusting, it\u2019s just something that seems to have to happen. I hate the idea of going through the treadmill and being processed. Well, that\u2019s the extreme interpretation of it but the fact is, I\u2019ve been totally unknown and ignored, people start doing interviews and photo sessions with me and then the public start to notice. That makes me sick, why didn\u2019t they take notice before? That\u2019s why I\u2019ve always said to you, no, I don\u2019t want to do an interview but I\u2019ve made the first step now so I may as well go through with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is said with the tone of a resigned-to-ritual parachutist who realises he\u2019s forgotten to strap on his chute but leaps from the plane anyway. The speaker is Frank Want (that should perhaps be written \u2018Frank Want\u2019). He is one of the identities behind Self Immolation, a corporation responsible for the release of records by such as You\u2019ve Got Foetus On Your Breath (two LP\u2019s Deaf and Ache), Foetus Over Frisco (a wonderful 12-inch single called Custom Built For Capitalism), Philip And His Foetus Vibrations and Foetus Under Glass (a single a piece).<\/p>\n
Beneath the surface noise, the Foetus phenomenon is riddled with strange truths, bizarre unrealities and a rapidly evolving mythology. Readers may do well to bear in mind the phrase \u2018ambiguous flirtation\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve never wanted a public image. No one could look at the group and say \u2018they\u2019ve got this haircut and those trousers and therefore the music must sound like this\u2019. I found myself in a record shop, picking a record out of the rack, thinking that the cover looked interesting. Then I turned it over and seeing the band had long hair, put it back immediately. That\u2019s disgusting. With Foetus there is nothing to judge us on apart from the record.\u201d<\/p>\n
SCRAPING ART OFF THE WALL<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the idea of neo-constructivism and really identify with some of the slogans they came up with in the \u201920s. Like The Truly Modern Man Is One With A Constructive Life, and the idea of Art For The People, i.e. propaganda. I think propaganda is the highest form of art, I\u2019m all for propagandising and preaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of bands say they don\u2019t like to preach to their audience but I\u2019m all for that. Preaching is just lots of strong ideas being thrown about. It\u2019s a lot more interesting to read what Psychic TV have to say than the Virgin Prunes saying \u2018oh, we don\u2019t want I preach\u2019. Everyone should preach to anybody who\u2019ll listen. If people take it too literally then it\u2019s their own fault. A lot of Foetus lyrics are not meant literally, they\u2019re just cynical or taking a certain stance.\u201d<\/p>\n
How important is it to (p)reach (to) as many people as possible?<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me that\u2019s not important. I have wondered whether I was just screaming into a cupboard, but the record is a commodity and, as good as the independent distribution system is, it\u2019s there to buy. What else should you have to do?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have to hype yourself and get press exposure. What I always wanted was to get a following through word of mouth and that actually worked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m for preaching, but I\u2019m also for people genuinely wanting the record, not just being told they want the record. It just takes longer, the only difficult thing is to survive as the word of mouth gets stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sources of finance?<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom (hushed tones) the Corporation. Various backers, investors and the State. For Foetus On The Breath (future big project \u2013 see later) I\u2019d love it to be funded by the Swiss government or something because it needs at least a million pounds. Meanwhile, though, it\u2019s the State and independent investors, oil companies and things like that!\u2019<\/p>\n
I buy him another (black) coffee.<\/p>\n
DIFFERENT HANDLES OPEN DIFFERENT DOORS (PUN)\/WHAT\u2019S MY NAME?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are different line-ups with different aims, limitations and concepts behind them. For example, Foetus In Your Bed is instrumental systems type stuff, it\u2019s not been released (save for two tracks on a United Dairies compilation) but it\u2019s building up a strong identity. It\u2019s almost system-funk but with no percussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cFoetus Over Frisco, that\u2019s a cynical funk group. Disco records which are very conscious of being disco records. The next 12-inch will be called Foetus Uber Frisco. That\u2019s a really complicated network of ideas tying in neo-constructivism with disco conceit \u2013 that self admiring thing, like rap people who always talk about themselves saying \u2018I\u2019m the biggest star\u2019. it takes Le Corbusier\u2019s idea of the house being a machine for living and transposes it to the body: the body is a machine for living. And you can dance to it, what more d\u2019ya want?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next 12\u2033 after that will be by Foetus Uber Alles.\u201d<\/p>\n
(He later muses over this name: \u201cHmmm, I really love that There is a little bit of former Austrian house painter in Frank seeking revenge, plotting, scheming, sticking pins in maps of the world.)<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would take the idea to its most extreme but it would be fairly obvious to anyone who listened that it wasn\u2019t right wing or fascistic. Just power orientated .<\/p>\n
Who do you think is the typical Foetus fan (the Foetus Youth?)?<\/p>\n
\u201cA real schmuck. Judging by the letters it would seem to be the type of person I used to hate at school. I hate people who write letters anyway. We always post back with: \u2018Thank you for your enquiry, please find enclosed \u2026\u2019 and we send them some literature. I don\u2019t think you owe fans anything. I\u2019m not going to say thank you for buying my record. Bloody hell, they got a bargain!\u201d<\/p>\n
BOLDLY INTO THE FUTURE<\/p>\n
\u201cOne big direction is Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel or Scraping Foetus Off The Wall as some of the trade papers mistakenly called it. It\u2019s about getting the instruments out and letting the percussion through. Dynamically it\u2019s really over the top, simple and aggressive. A bit like punk rock. There\u2019ll be a mini-LP, the second side of which will be \u2018The Devil Rides Out Suite\u2019. Heavy, fire and brimstone stuff starting, with \u2018Streets Of Shame\u2019 then \u2018Satan Place\u2019 and more manic, depressive tracks called \u2018White Knuckles\u2019 and \u2018Water Torture\u2019. The climax is \u2018Cold Day In Hell\u2019. Foetus Diabola!<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be playing live at some point. The Foetus All Nude Review to be performed in strip clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why strip clubs?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the nature of the music and also it\u2019s good to be playing to old men who\u2019ve gone to see the strip show and confront them with the music.\u201d<\/p>\n
How would you get on there in the first place (audition?)?<\/p>\n
\u201cWheeling, dealing, friends in the underworld. It could be pulled off (sic). It would be good to use the rhythm section already playing at the club. I like that sort of music, brash, grinding arrangements, a very rude trumpet and trombone, all very seedy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d bring my own strippers as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Tasteless description followed \u2013 deleted).<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it got to the point where people were coming down specifically to see it I\u2019d stop. I\u2019d only want to play to that strip club audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe You\u2019ve Got Foetus On Your Breath records are the most important ones. I\u2019d like to think that the third LP, which will probably be the last, would be the ideal LP to hear just before they drop the Big One. The most intense experience, raw and frantic, about to crack.<\/p>\n
\u201cFoetus On The Beach is a massive project. It\u2019s a musical set after they drop the Big One. It\u2019s a triple LP and a feature film. That\u2019s what I need about a million pounds for. It\u2019ll probably entail five nervous breakdowns and, ultimately, death but I think it\u2019ll come to fruition, it\u2019s slowly formulating and gathering resolve.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me tell you some of the basic concepts running through, Self Immolation. . .\u201d<\/p>\n
LIES TO LIVE BY (I\u2019M ALL EARS)<\/p>\n
i) Aesthetic Terrorism: \u201cNothing to do with political terrorism. It\u2019s about taking things and throwing them out of joint, misusing phrases and stuff, juxtaposing things that don\u2019t quite fit. Musical quotations \u2013 taking bits of melody from recognisable songs, like on \u2018Wholesome Town\u2019 (on \u2018Ache\u2019) there\u2019s \u2018She\u2019ll Be Coming Round The Mountain\u2019 and \u2018Give Me That Old Time Religion\u2019 and over them \u2018Oh Susanna\u2019 and the William Tell Overture played on woodblocks.\u201d<\/p>\n
ii) Positive Negativism: \u201cA very vague concept, something I\u2019m aspiring to. Basically it involves using the songs as a means to an end result which is positive but which initially sounds negative. Like \u2018Anemone\u2019 (again on \u2018Ache\u2019), a lot of it seems very down and violent but it\u2019s for a positive end result. If only the release of all those pent up feelings. It\u2019s like embracing social decay and almost glorifying it. The opposite of escapism.\u201d<\/p>\n
iii) The Neo-Constructive Thing (Reprise): \u201cSlogans that are good to identify with. Written on walls so you can look up and see a good guideline to live by \u2013 an inspiration. it\u2019s about smashing elitist art. Simple direct things which we\u2019ve mirrored in the record sleeves.\u201d<\/p>\n
iv) Hard Art: \u201cNot thinking about any commercial considerations but just doing what you want. Then going out and convincing people that it\u2019s something they can\u2019t be without. Pursuing a whim then selling it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is the Hardt (abbreviation of Hard Art) Record Label.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re doing a compilation by Einsturzende Neubauten. Self Immolation thinks it\u2019s criminal that Neubauten aren\u2019t recognised here. They\u2019re just probably the best group functioning in the world at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
v) The Church Of The Immaculate Pre-Conception: \u201cThis is a mail order religion with guest saints and quest martyrs every year. The first year the quest saints are Sandy Lesberg and Carl Sagan. Sandy Lesberg edited a book called Violence In Our Times and also edits cookery books. Anybody who\u2019s sick enough to do that must be a fascinating character. Carl Sagan is the scientist of the people. All we\u2019re going to offer members, apart from T-shirts, is that we\u2019ll not disclose their names to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
FOETUS, FINALLY AND FRANKLY<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the good records I\u2019ve heard or the best books that I\u2019ve read have been through word of mouth, they\u2019ve just been dug up by people. We\u2019re waiting to be dug up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Original source: Sounds magazine, June 1983, Mick Sinclair.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOETUS COMES OUT \u2013 A FORCEPS DELIVERY \u201cI hate doing interviews. I think it\u2019s disgusting, it\u2019s just something that seems to have to happen. I hate the idea of going through the treadmill and being processed. Well, that\u2019s the extreme interpretation of it but the fact is, I\u2019ve been totally unknown and ignored, people start […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":210,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9364"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9365,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9364\/revisions\/9365"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}