'…And That Was the Beginning of Can'

the emotional revenge of… Do you think music criticism ever helped wheels on it!’ I always say: ‘I didn’t know that was holger czukay improve your music? really necessary…’” Words: Richard Fontenoy “Not that I know of. I know what I want to do, Where are you biggest, geographically? and I follow this idea until it becomes real.” “I had a lot of success in America, Japan, Russia. What was the most ridiculous thing said about If you were a music magazine editor, who Germany is somehow in the middle – I am the you or your music? would you feature and why? prophet on my own. When I went to Russia, young “The Observer said “Now, finally, he has become “Karlheinz Stockhausen. When I was people said ‘Holger, why don’t you stay here? You childish” – I think this is when people have no sense interviewed by him, I had never passed an already have a Russian name.’ It was unbelievable, for innocence: they think I am not mature.” examination. He asked ‘What do you want to people came from Siberia when they heard I was Do they expect you to mature with age? become?’ I said, ‘a composer’ and he took me playing Moscow. Japan is one of my favourite “You can reach an age when you will not mature on, no problem. He once said to me ‘Czukay, you countries. Around the beginning of the Eighties, anyway – you can be silly for your whole life.” are far too intelligent! I can see you write a lot of everyone knew me there. They used my music for What is the most over-used adjective about questions.’ He knew a composer who asked so an advert for one of the most expensive whiskies, your music? Santori – it featured the Charles Bronson of Japan [Chuckles] “Maybe ‘Kraut’.” sitting in a boat, rowing slowly away…” What word never gets used that should be? What kind of film would you most like your “Emotion! They think I’m not emotional, but ‘…and that was music to soundtrack? I am.” “When I came to London, Jim McBride – who What concept or detail is always missed? the beginning made Great Balls Of Fire – offered me film music, “It has something to do with ennui…” of Can’ and was surprised I didn’t want to read the script. What was your worst interview That happened because I met Ennio Morricone experience? when I was an actor in a musical, and he said Sergio “It must be for the New Musical Express, Leone would only ever tell him the outline. decades ago. I was not really able to build up a many questions he couldn’t compose any more. ”It was similar when Can worked on Deadlock rapport. When you are getting over-intellectualised, I was in the same situation – I had to get over the and Deep End, only Irmin Schmidt was in contact that’s where you say ‘Ah…ooh…’ You can’t find wall, and land somewhere I didn’t know. A year with the director. He described the scene to us, and the words.” later, he said ‘When the bird is able to fly, he should we would just try to make something suitable for it. What was the weirdest? fly away,’ and that was the beginning of Can.” I think it was 20 years before I saw the movie.” “Melody Maker. Usually in a political interview, What do you do when a band or artist you What’s the silliest thing a fan has done to you get caught in a crossfire by two interviewers; don’t like cite you or Can as an influence? impress you? I did the opposite. I had someone with me, and “That is applause from the wrong side!” “Send me his record!” the interviewer was caught out of the conversation. What advice regarding ‘direction’ or The headline, which went over both pages in presentation are you glad you never followed? Holger Czukay plays the London Roundhouse on the middle, said ‘The lunatic takes over the asylum’ “Permanently, they tell me: ‘You must get more 14 May as part of Short Circuit. – wonderful.” commercial…if you drive a car, you must have four www.roundhouse.org.uk

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