The first time I saw Art Brut they opened for the Hold Steady Washington, D.C., in what would be a raucous night of music. There is something about frontman Eddie Argos’ lyrics with which any music geek can identify.
Before he and I skipped out to buy some donuts (mine glazed, his maple-flavored with bacon and a cock-shaped one for the band), Argos and I sat down to talk about comic books, confessional songwriting and fighting. I am proud to present the Spectrum Culture interview with Eddie Argos of Art Brut.
When I was a kid, I used to collect comics. There was this moment, that kind of came at the same time when I discovered girls, that I realized the comic publishers were having a laugh at me. Like I had to buy the different cover six times but the same fucking comic book.
Well, I like the stories. When I was younger, I was a collector but that sort of wore off. Now I just buy the books.
Yeah, but there was a moment in my adolescent mind when I realized there was a big marketing machine behind it all. You know, “Buy all the issues or you’re not cool!” Do you see a similar force in the music industry?
Well with comics, that was the ’90s. People were like, “Aw, they’re collectible” and people would stockpile “Funeral for a Friend” and “Superman’s Funeral.” Obviously everyone did that because now they’re worth like five p. I think comics have come through that. I think music went through a phase of that but it’s come through as well. There was a time in England when it was like buy these three different singles and all this business. But now, this doesn’t happen anymore I don’t think. I think both comics and music have gone through that phase.
But what about all the re-issues with the CD dying off?
I think the reissues are good. I actually wrote a song about it, “The Replacements.” I only just discovered the Replacements. So it’s cool for me. The Modern Lovers, who I have loved for years, every time there is a reissue I buy it even if it’s get only one song or if it’s just slightly different.
Well, the Modern Lovers stuff isn’t all readily available.
Well, they reissued that first album. In the last five or six years there have been different reissues for it and I like to buy all of them. I know it’s kind of cheeky. With the Replacements reissues it’s just like “everything! There ya go.” I don’t really like people collecting things for money. That’s not fun. See, there’s really rare Replacements stuff. They were worth a lot of money before and now they’re not because the songs are readily available on reissues. I think the internet has put an end to people collecting records that way and making a lot of money out of it.
So it’s true that you really just did discover the Replacements?
Yeah, about a year ago now, I suppose.
That is kind of a big gap.
That is odd, isn’t it? My theory is that there is so much about them that I love, my friends must have assumed I knew about them. Because it’s exactly what I like. Everyone must have gone, “Oh, the Replacements? Eddie likes them already. It would patronizing to tell him about them.” So no one told me. Yeah, I love them.
Have you heard of the Rolling Stones?
I have heard of the Rolling Stones (laughs). They’re not as famous. Yeah, I should have known the Replacements before. They’re awesome though.
In terms of your songs there is a definite first person narrative. Sometimes people write about characters. I had assumed the Replacements thing was a character.
No, that was all me. All of our songs…Well, I wrote some songs about Italian terrorists but then I wrote “Emily Kane” and some other stuff. I got really into that kind of personal, first person honest songwriting. I think I think I might leave that behind for the next album, but these three definitely were all me. It’s all actually me (laughs).
So there is some pretty confessional stuff then. Look at the “Rusted Guns” for example.
Well that and “Emily Kane” were so cathartic. To stand on the stage in front of a load of people and tell the truth. I couldn’t stop doing it really. When you finish playing I got kids, adults, everyone coming up to me talking about that kind of thing. It really connects because the songs are so personal. It’s like making a lot of friends. Which I kind of like as well.
Is self-deprecation part of your normal personality?
I think it sounds like self-deprecation because when most people write songs they embellish. I just want to tell the truth. So I’m not really being self-deprecating, I’m just being honest. I think.
I think a hip hop album where a guy talks about erectile dysfunction is not going to sell very well.
(laughs) No, maybe not. Maybe I should make a whole hip hop album about it.
That would be the antithesis of a hip hop album.
Yeah, one about erectile dysfunction.
No money.
Yeah, maybe it would be the opposite of hip hop.
I notice in your lyrics there bemusement at the thought of being a rock star. I use that loosely. A bemusement about the way things work and the whole network of people. How do you justify being a musician and then singing about those things?
I try to write lyrics that are conversational. Like me in a pub talking. These are the things I talk about. I’m pissed off that all these bands sound like U2 or I love comics or I just heard the Replacements. I’m just trying to be conversational. I’m not trying to be clever. I want it to be like we’re having a conversation.
Yeah, but “Cool your warm jets, Brian Eno” is obviously clever.
(laughs) Well, it’s funny. Yeah, but if everyone’s in the pub I would say that. I probably did say that in a pub. That’s where I got it from.
I think a lot of those references add a layer for music fans. If you’re just a casual listener, you can enjoy the song but if you realize you’re taking the piss out of the Clash or Brian Eno…
It’s funny how that works (laughs).
It adds a nice little snicker. Now that you’ve had three albums out and you’ve been around, have you witnessed any major rock star wankery?
Not really. A lot of the people I hang out with aren’t really in successful bands and none of them are really wankery. I don’t really see any of that. I got into that fight with Kele (Okereke) from Bloc Party. But that was just stupid. I said he was whiney and he punched me. That’s kind of wanky. That’s in the past and I don’t really see bad behavior like that very often.
Did you swing back?
No, I was like, “Oy! What are ya doing?” (Laughs) “This is only a joke! Leave me alone!” That was okay.
Frank Black produced your newest album.
He was going to come tonight but it’s the first day of the Pixies tour tomorrow so he can’t make it. He phoned us earlier.
Did you record here?
We recorded in Salem. That’s where his studio is. He lives in Eugene. I came here, on the train obviously, when we were in Salem. There’s not much in Salem. So, I came here. What is it? Powell’s bookshop? A couple of times.
So you’ve seen much of this town?
Yeah, I saw my way around a little bit. You’ve got an amazing train that goes to Los Angeles. But I only rode it to Salem.
Amtrak?
There’s a restaurant on there and there was like a band playing, cheese tasting and wine tasting and stuff. It was like being in a hotel. It was awesome. But I only rode it for an hour and a half.
When I’ve talked to other British musicians they always seem amazed at how varied the United States is in terms of geography. Did you experience that the first few times you’ve been here?
The first time probably yeah. But we’re here so much now. We’re here more than we are at home. I love America for that reason. I’m kind of used to it now. I can look and be like, “Ah, Portland is going to be like this and Alabama is going to be like that.” We know where we’re going now. The first time came as a surprise. Now we know where we’re going.
How’s the tour been so far?
Good! I love touring America. It’s my favorite. I’ve had loads of fun. People who come to our shows here are so nice. Like giving us presents and stuff. I got loads of comics yesterday. When we played in Chicago last time, I got Replacements bootlegs. It’s awesome. I think people understand what we’re all about more here than in England. In England I think people think we’re cynical, being sarcastic. But in America, no…
So there is no cynicism at all?
I don’t think so. I am being as straightforward as I can. There’s not much cynicism.
But you use a pseudonym.
Well, I changed my name to that when I was 13 or 14. I’m 30. So I’ve been Eddie Argos more than I’ve been my old name. So I’m more Eddie Argos than Kevin Macklin.
All right, to wrap this up I’m going to play a little game with you. In honor of your amazing album title Art Brut vs. Satan, I am going to put in other situations. You tell me who is going to win the fight and why.
Okay.
We’re going to start with Art Brut vs. Sting.
Oh, we’ll definitely beat Sting. Well, I don’t know. He’s pretty tough isn’t he with that tantric sex and stuff.
I think he debunked that.
Yeah, he did, didn’t he? Ah yeah, we’ll beat him. He’s a hippie. And we take pleasure in it (laughs).
Art Brut vs….let’s go with someone obscure. David Niven.
(laughs) David Niven. Ah, I couldn’t fight David Niven. I used to have a mustache a bit like David Niven’s. We’d let him win. We’d try to become friends. “Aw! That hurts! Let’s just become friends.”
Art Brut vs. the Hold Steady.
Well, it’s a bit like that. We’re both quite big drinkers, both of our bands. That would be a draw, I think. I reckon Tad (Kubler) is a bit handy. Galen (Polivka), I don’t know. They would probably win an actual fist. Bobby (Drake), he looks tough.
I’ve only met Craig (Finn), Tad and Franz (Nicolay).
Even they’re pretty tough. Tad, I reckon he would be good in a fight.
To go off the game for a moment, have things slowed in drinking the more you’ve been touring?
We still drink quite a lot. We’re like the Hold Steady; we like to enjoy ourselves.
Well, the show I saw where you played together, Tad climbed up on the speaker and couldn’t get off.
(laughs) Yeah, that was in DC. 9:30 Club?
Yeah. That was a pretty wild show.
That was one of my favorites. At the time I would say they were my favorite band in the world. Also, the openers 1990′s. So I was playing between my two favorite bands.
So the Replacements have replaced them?
(laughs) Yeah, the Replacements are my favorite band now. And people think I got into the Replacements because of the Hold Steady. Not even they told me about them. They could have said to me, “Eddie, you’re going to love this band the Replacements.” I suppose they presumed I knew who they were.
There’s a band called the Beatles…
(laughs) All right!
Do you prefer Let it Be or Tim?
Well, Hootenanny is my favorite. Because it’s right on the cusp. They are still mucking about but they’ve gotten some nice songs too.
Back to this game real quick. Art Brut vs. Powell and Pressburger.
The basketball player?
No, the filmmakers who did all those old British films like the Red Shoes…..Okay, we can skip that one. Art Brut vs. Monty Python.
Now? If we were actually physically fighting I think we would win. John Cleese is old, isn’t he?
And Graham Chapman isn’t alive.
Yeah, he’s gone, isn’t he? If it was a test, like an exam, they would probably win. They went to Cambridge and Oxford. I didn’t even go to grammar school. They would probably win.
by David Harris
