The last page - Interview with Brian Moiko

Would you agree that interviews are usually given to spread news and to promote upcoming events and releases? But “The last page“ in contrary was an interview series which put its focus on the artist's past. For this purpose a special keyword was used in every single question, and this specific word was “last“.
“When were you last...“ “What was the last ...“ “When did you last ...“ That way the interview became a collection of “last times“. An interesting concept, but it works.
“The last page“ with Brian was published in Bang Magazine in September 2003.

WHEN WERE YOU LAST PROUD TO BE AMERICAN?
“I don't think I've ever felt proud to be American in that flag-waving sense. I still travel on a US passport but I considered giving it up after the appalling treatment of the internees of Guantanamo Bay, the travesty of justice there. Still, when I was weighing it up, I imagined that Bill Hicks would've said: You'd be giving up your right to scream about what's going on.“

WHEN DID YOU LAST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEONE IN A SONG THAT YOU REGRETTED?“On tour we had T-shirts made that read “I went out with Brian Molko...“, “I went out with Stefan Olsdal...“, “I went out with Steve Hewitt...“ and on the back it said “... and all I got was this ballad.“ People know the score; if you go out with one of us, eventually you're going to end up in a song. The only consolation is that by the time it happens things will be long over. And you'll be extremely heavily disguised.“

WHEN WERE YOU LAST IN LUXEMBOURG?“We're playing there later this month. It's always a little odd being treated like a local hero in a place you don't like very much (laughs). It's fascinating playing somewhere where ypir old teachers are in the audience – the ones you got on with, the ones you didn't, all the settling of old scores,“

WHEN WERE YOU LAST CHATTED UP?“On tour in Australia. When people chat you up and they know what you do it's definitely different from when they don't – it's a lot more boring. Contrary to popular belief I to get tired of talking about myself. That said, I can't remember the last time someone chatted me up where they didn't know what I do. Should I go out in disguise? Hmm. Maybe a prosthetic nose.“

WHEN WERE YOU LAST IN A FIGHT?“A very, very long time ago at a Spice Girls aftershow at the Brits. I ended up being thrown across the room, hitting the wall, and got a few ribs broken. Did I know the guy? I'd definitely recognise him now. It happened because I said something about his wife – and yes, it probably was that mean.“

WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW?“Last night I saw a documentary called “Etre et avoir“ about a year in the life of a teacher in a rural French school – a lovely, warm, human film. And if you're at all emotionally inclined it will have you in tears by the end. It's just about communication between adults and … babies, basically.“

WHAT WAS THE LAST LIE YOU TOLD?“When I called you late this morning and told you it was because I overslept (laughs). I'm sure the last lie I told would also have been in an interview, and I would doubtless have told it for the mutual benefit of all concerned.“

WHEN WERE YOU LAST SURPRISED?“We played Mexico City in July and the crowd was so loud we literally couldn't hear ourselves, Our Beatlemania moment. There's definitely something in the Latin temperament that responds to dark, romantic music – The Pixies, Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, us I suppose. And it was fairly surprising coming across a band in the Maldives covering one of our songs.“

WHEN DID YOU LAST WEAR SOMETHING YOU REGRETTED?“In public, you mean? My fashion sense has definitely improved as I've aged. Certainly the first few years of the band involved a lot of fashion crimes. The camouflage tights were probably the worst. In private? Hmm. My birthday suit.“

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO DAVID BOWIE?“The last time I actually spoke to him was about three and a half years ago. Although we of course exchange Christmas cards – does that count? (laughs)“

WHERE'S THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH YOU'D WANT TO BE SEEN?“At a Spice Girls aftershow, having my ribs broken.“

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LAST WORDS TO BE?“One for the road...“(Bang, "The Last Page: Q&A with Brian Molko", Sep'03)

Photo credit: James Shamrock, 2003

Post by Silke