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NIKKI
SUDDEN INTERVIEW WITH DIMITRI MONROE
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DIMITRI
MONROE: Where did you grow up and what did your parents do?
NIKKI SUDDEN: I was born in London and lived on the outskirts until I was eight years old when our parents moved to Solihull, just south of Birmingham in the middle of England. My father was involved in Public Relations. My mother was, and remains, a housewife - they were, and both still are, heavily involved in the church. My father plays piano and organ. He could have done this professionally…This is one of his regrets and that's why he has always been proud that Epic and myself followed our hearts… Epic was 2 ? years younger than me. I was born July 19th, 1956. Epic on March 23, 1959. DIMITRI MONROE: What was the initial music they introduced you to? NIKKI SUDDEN: My father has an abiding love for Classical Music. My mother also plays piano from time to time. We grew up in a house full of Bach, Percy Grainger, Schubert, etc., and military band music, which we both loved when we were young. My father also liked the Savoy Operas of Gilbert & Sullivan and the '30's and wartime songs of Al Bowly, as I also do. I had piano lessons from age 5 or 6, which I unfortunately, abandoned too early on. DIMITRI MONROE: What was your relationship with Epic like? NIKKI SUDDEN: We were brothers with the friendship and rivalry that often entails. I was the older brother and therefore, the leader. DIMITRI MONROE: Did you have any other siblings? NIKKI SUDDEN: No, just the two of us. DIMITRI MONROE: When did you first discover rock'n roll? What sounds and images first fired your young imaginations, and when did the two of you pick-up instruments? NIKKI SUDDEN: I used to listen to music until I heard 'Debora' by Tyrannosaurus Rex. For some totally unknown reason I thought it was the worst thing I'd heard in my life and this put me off listening to pop music for the next three years or so. One day, in late 1971, Epic told me I should listen to 'Jeepster' by T. Rex. I did, and fell… so for a change, he led the way. I bought my first guitar for £6 from a school friend called Chris Davidson. This was around Easter 1972. It was acoustic and more or less, completely unplayable. I bought my first electric guitar for £15 from another school friend, Andy King. This was almost as bad. The action on both of them was so high! It wasn't until I bought my first 'good' guitar-an Arbiter Les Paul copy in January 1974-that I realised it wasn't actually as difficult to play the thing as I'd first imagined. Epic decided he wanted to play the drums about a week after I first started 'playing' the guitar. The reason we started writing our own songs was because we couldn't play anything by anyone else. DIMITRI MONROE: Most vivid memories of adolescence and formative experiences that foreshadowed your destiny as rock'n roll balladeer… NIKKI SUDDEN: Everything you've ever seen or done, or even read about, colours your imagination in some way. I still love the idea of the real England. The England that's fast disappearing but still remains in parts of the English countryside. In second-hand bookshops. In country pubs. The England of legend. I grew up reading Capt. W.E. Johns and Frank Richards. Their writings coloured my imagination a lot then, as they still do, and always will… At school, I was always fascinated by history-but never the polite side of things. DIMITRI MONROE: Who was the catalyst / driving force behind Swell Maps? NIKKI SUDDEN: All of us in equal parts though I tended to organise things… Swell Maps began in 1972 as a floating trio of Epic, David Barrington, and myself. The other band members were school friends. John Cockrill went to the same school as Epic, Richard Earl as David and Jowe Head as me. They drifted into the line-up gradually. Richard was the last to join up… The two biggest influences on the band were T. Rex and Can. In an idealised world, Swell Maps would be seen as lying somewhere between the two. Everyone in the band had different tastes, and music in the early 1970's was incredibly diverse in a way that is much missed these days. Everything from Led Zeppelin to the Stones and the Dolls, via Faust, King Crimson, Slade, Cream, David Bowie, Mott The Hoople, Focus… Various permutations of what would become Swell Maps rehearsed in each other's bedrooms, in our parent's garages, much to their sometime chagrin. On one occasion, my father bought a pair of earplugs so that he could sit downstairs reading while we careened away upstairs. And on the odd occasion, we got to rehearse at various village halls in Dorridge or the Canon Hill Arts Centre in Birmingham. Epic and Jowe had a band in 1975 with Spizz called Hassles No Sweat. From what I remember, from the one rehearsal I attended, their set was mainly Bad Company and Free numbers. Any band who didn't attempt 'Can't Get Enough' or 'Alright Now' in those days wasn't worth anything. I picked up a guitar and we ran through what seemed, at the time, an inspired version of 'Honky Tonk Women'. My mother thought it was bad for me to laze around the house playing music, so she found me a job stacking shelves in a local supermarket! This still doesn't make any sense! Later, I moved down to London-took a job at Foyle's in Charing Cross Road, followed by a stint at the Vintage Magazine Shop in Cambridge Circus. Moving to London at the time and the freedom it allowed enabled me to catch the T. Rex 'Seaside'-tour in summer '75, as well as early gigs by The Stranglers, supporting the Pink Fairies, and the Sex Pistols who I first saw at the Nashville in early 1976. One thing I really remember from the show is thinking of the Pistols, "They sound the same as we do…" DIMITRI MONROE: I was just going to ask how you were affected by punk and who were some of your favourites from those days? NIKKI SUDDEN: Always difficult to answer. At the time it was great fun. Great bands to go and see every night. In retrospect there was very little there. Malcolm McLaren's basic scheme was to sell clothes. He had no love of the music, and judging by what the Pistols and the Clash have done since neither had they. Glen Matlock was the only one with his heart in the right place. I still love the Boys, still love the Adverts and I'll always love Generation X. They did this interview once where they said the best thing about being in a band was that they got to go out with models and air-hostesses. At the time that seemed cool. Since then I've done both… At least air-hostesses have got something to say… Or at least some of them have something to say… We had various songs in place by that time which would become staples of the Maps' live and recorded set, including, 'Winter's Rainbow', 'Forest Fire', and 'City Boys', which was later retitled 'Dresden Style', all of which got recorded on assorted cheap cassettes. The vast majority of which sound better, feel-wise, if not quality-wise, than many of the things that Swell Maps released. This was partly due to the fact that when 'punk' came along, we, as just about everyone else, speeded up the tempo of our playing. DIMITRI MONROE: Did you appreciate any of punk's nihilistic aggression? NIKKI SUDDEN: I prefer something with a bit more creativity… plus, I've never had any interest in politics whatsoever. For me, politicians are people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to try and determine those of others. As Charles Hamilton once said, "When I was young I used to listen to politicians and think the things they said made sense. Now that I'm 80, they still say the same things, but nothing ever changes…" I also never read newspapers-unless there's something about the Stones. Never watch the news. Never watch television, save for the rare music show. That's one of the things about living in Germany… and Nick Cave said the same… If you can't understand what people are talking around you-and 95% of the time, if not more, it's going to be the same boring rubbish that they talk back home-then you can rely on your imagination. And your imagination will never let you down. Well, my imagination will never let me down. DIMITRI MONROE: What are some of your all-time favourite records? NIKKI SUDDEN: DIMITRI MONROE: What was the local scene like when you first formed Swell Maps? NIKKI SUDDEN: If there was a local scene in Solihull, it was based on, 'musicianship'. There's some great tapes recorded at my school friend, Pete Higgins, parent's house, with Jowe, Epic, and myself playing songs such as 'Sunshine Of Your Love' as well as the odd original composition. Pete was a great guitarist but he was also one of those characters who didn't believe that anyone, save for people in 'real bands', could write music. The last time I had any contact with Pete was the day before Swell Maps were booked to go into the studio for our first single. A friend who'd promised to lend us an amplifier for the session had let us down, so at the last minute, I called up Pete to see if we could borrow one from him. 'What's it for?' he asked, 'We're going into the studio to make a single, ' I answered. 'Forget it, ' he replied, 'No one'll ever be interested in what you've written'… The band's first unannounced gig was at Barbarella's 12-hour punk all-dayer on Boxing Day. We got onstage using borrowed equipment and played after TV Eye, who, amongst other members, had Dave Kusworth on guitar, and the Scent Organs-Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), and Jonathon Hodgson (Cult Figures). Our second show was at the Crown in Birmingham on May 2nd, 1978 - the other band was called DADA and featured John Taylor (also from the Duran's) and Dave Twist. Soon after that, we ventured down to London for our first show at the Acklam Hall, a John Peel session (the first of three). I've never looked back. Which is not to say I've never gone back. DIMITRI MONROE: You are constantly cited as a big influence by people like Thurston Moore and R.E.M. for your work with that group. What, in your view, was Swell Maps' greatest success / artistic contribution? NIKKI SUDDEN: It's not my fault that these bands, none of whom I particularly like, choose to be 'influenced' by something I did. I mean, I don't own records by Sonic Youth, Pavement, Pussy Galore, Blur, or any of them-and have no desire to do so. While the accolades are always nice, I wish something more positive had rubbed off. I can't be laid to blame. The Germans have a lovely way of putting it… they call being innocent un-guilty. Really that's all I am and all I'll ever be… un-guilty. DIMITRI MONROE: I really appreciated the piece you wrote on Johnny Thunders for Jeff Dahl's magazine, 'Sonic Iguana'. Have you seen the Lech Kowalski film yet, and could you briefly discuss the effect he had upon you personally? NIKKI SUDDEN: Am I in Lech's film? He filmed about an hour and a half of Kusworth and me a good five or six years ago for his film. I've been told it's a totally depressing, negative look at JT. That he was just a junkie who played the guitar as opposed to the truth, which is that he was a great guitarist who also happened to like drugs. God, what can I say about Johnny? He taught me a hell of a lot. He taught me nothing. Taught me everything. Showed me a thing or two. I still miss him, that's about all I can truthfully say. I think it's all been said and done, but there's always more to be said… One day, his time will come. As I wrote, once upon a time, in fifty years Johnny Thunders will be seen as being as important as Robert Johnson is, now. DIMITRI MONROE: Origins of the Jacobites. . . When did you first come across Dave Kusworth and agree to create the Jacobites? NIKKI SUDDEN: We first met up when Dave was in a band called the Subterranean Hawks, who I still think were totally brilliant. DIMITRI MONROE: As much as I reviled the manufactured, Hairspray-Metal of the late eighties, I had hoped, back when a lot of Black Crowes and Guns' N Roses fans seemed to be discovering Hanoi Rocks and Dogs D'Amour, that maybe they were going to take the next intelligent, obvious progression towards embracing your stuff, Jacobites, and Dave Kusworth's Bounty Hunters. Back then, it almost seemed for a minute as if bands like Thee Hypnotics and Gunfire Dance, were almost commercially-viable, but nowadays, with no hope of accessing the corporate-monopolised mass-media, is there a way to make any money performing authentic, heart-felt, traditional rock'n roll? People keep telling me cats like us are obsolete… NIKKI SUDDEN: I did an interview with this kid on a radio station in Munich the other month and one of the questions he asked me was, "But isn't rock'n roll dead?" I thought, "Maybe it is for you, but for me it's as alive as it's ever been!" I still make enough to keep body and soul alive and to fuel my two current addictions-Stone's bootlegs and electric guitars. Drugs are transitory-only goods survive… As long as you're alive, how can you be obsolete? And if you leave behind a legacy, you're never gonna die. DIMITRI MONROE: I've yet to hear your most recent solo record, 'Red Brocade', the one that everyone's raving about, but the last Jacobites' record, 'God Save Us Poor Sinners', has to be right up there with 'Texas' and 'Bible Belt', as maybe your best yet-it must be gratifying to still be capable of co-creating such vital music, this many years deep into your recording career… NIKKI SUDDEN: I wouldn't expect anything else. Without sounding overly arrogant I seem to be getting better with each year that passes. And luckily I can see no reason that this should ever change. DIMITRI MONROE: Where does Dave Kusworth live and what does he do to survive? NIKKI SUDDEN: He lives in Moseley in Birmingham. He plays guitar and writes songs. Lives with his girlfriend, Isabelle, from Germany. We met up the other month to remaster 'Jacobites' and 'Robespierre'… Played a gig together in London a week or so back. Every time we meet we talk about the next Jacobites' album. But he's got his own band the Tenderhooks now and I've got the Last Bandits. My favourite of Kusworth's albums is his latest one, 'English Disco', either that or the new one, 'Dave Kusworth & The Tenderhooks'. Dave's like me - he gets better with age. When it comes down to it as long as the two of us are alive then the Jacobites are still a possibility. DIMITRI MONROE: You had Glen Tranter with you guys on 'God Save Us… ' Did you like their Bounty Hunters' records? Have a favourite? NIKKI SUDDEN: Glen was on every one of the Jacobites reunion albums - he's currently playing with a band called General Kingpin, married to Brenda Parkerson, an American film-maker, and working in a record shop, Highway 61, in Birmingham. And back playing with Kusworth in the Tenderhooks the last I heard. DIMITRI MONROE: Dave Kusworth, was also an original member of the Dogs D'Amour, another of my personal faves. Do you like the Dogs? NIKKI SUDDEN: Yes I have met Tyla. When we first came into contact he was in the pre-Dogs D'Amour, Dogs D'Amour - i.e. when Ned was still on vocals. I introduced Dave to Tyla - they got on pretty well. Tyla asked Dave if he'd like to join the Dogs for a Finnish tour they were doing. Tyla and I used to be good friends-a long time ago. Even wrote a song together which we did plan to record on 'Robespierre's' - ran out of time. Our relationship has improved of late. And Darrell Bath - late of the last Dogs' incarnation is a good friend. I think his 'Sabrejet' album is probably my favourite of last year. DIMITRI MONROE: Could you comment on booze 'n' pills 'n' powders, your choice of medicine, drug laws, etc.; All time Rock'n roll Low… NIKKI SUDDEN: I know nothing of drug laws other than what I know. Though seeing what has come and gone along the years there should have been more knowledge attained. I don't like soft drugs - that's one thing I know. As Bob Dylan once said, 'To live outside the law you must be honest.' Or as Keith once said, 'I don't have any problems with drugs, just with policemen.' I see nothing wrong with drugs only with drug users. If drugs were only taken by talented people then they wouldn't have such a bad / good name. All time Rock'n roll Low? The Stones only releasing two 'new' albums in the last decade. The Faces not getting back together yet. Death of JT. The deaths of Marc Bolan and Paul Kossoff. And my brother… All so young with so much still undone. There's too many highs and too many lows… DIMITRI MONROE: Do you like Mike Scott, from The Waterboys stuff? NIKKI SUDDEN: I like most of what he's done. We used to be good friends-still good for a chat! Didn't like the first three Waterboys' albums, but everything else is cool. 'Another Pretty Face' on through… I think Mike is good at using people - using their ideas - trying to empty them and then discarding them. But so are many artists. There was one time back in the early / mid '80's when I was watching the Old Grey Whistle Test on TV. The Waterboys came on and watching Mike was like watching myself. The velvet jacket, the scarves, the hair, the lot. Mike's got a new album out - I expect I'll get a copy of it one day. He's ripped off a few of my things, but that's another story. At least he's still got all his hair! DIMITRI MONROE: Are you familiar with the American Songwriter, Paul K? NIKKI SUDDEN: Never heard of him. Kevin K I know! DIMITRI MONROE: Which of your contemporaries do you hold in high esteem? NIKKI SUDDEN: Darrell Bath. Ronnie Wood. Usual Suspects. DIMITRI MONROE: Do you have a family? NIKKI SUDDEN: I have two parents, a girlfriend or two. No pets, and no children known of… DIMITRI MONROE: What are you currently listening to for pleasure? NIKKI SUDDEN: 'Songs of Yesterday' - Free box set, 'All the Young Dudes' - Mott The Hoople box set, Ron Wood solo albums. Far too many Japanese Stones' boots! DIMITRI MONROE: I heard tale that you once lived on a house boat… NIKKI SUDDEN: There's truth behind every rumour… DIMITRI MONROE: What's a day in the life… like? NIKKI SUDDEN: Delightful at times, other times, tiring… DIMITRI MONROE: I am one of the few who appreciates certain songs from both Keef & Mick's solo records… NIKKI SUDDEN: Me, too! Though I think 'Hard Woman' would be better if the Stones played on it - kinda like 'Memory Motel'. And 'Take It So Hard' would be so much better if Mick sung it. '999' would be a load better if it was shorter. Mick's best solo song though, is 'Evening Gown' - apart from the line about 'wearing his sports clothes way too loud'. I was thinking of recording a version of that for 'Red Brocade'. Never happened. DIMITRI MONROE: Aren't you writing a book on the Rolling Stones, and haven't you met them personally? Do you think ol' Keef's hip to your music at all? NIKKI SUDDEN: Yes I am and yes I have. I often wish I wasn't… but I'll always be glad that i did. The working title is, 'Bring Back Ian McLagan' which is something I really wish the Stones would do. Ditch all the fucking Chuck Leavell, Darryl Jones kinda guys. Get back to being what they've always been. The best rock'n roll band in the world. I very much doubt Keith has ever heard a note I've played. But then you never know. I do, however, think my new band would be the best opening band for the Stones in the world, bar none… Bob Dylan, however, is a different point. Mind you, I've never actually met Bob, but I stood about six feet from him once. He was talking to Van Morrison underneath a tree. Backstage at Finsbury Park. There were a bunch of people in a semi-circle round the two of them. Most of them were pretending Bob Dylan wasn't there. I stood there kinda pretending Bob Dylan wasn't there… wasn't much else you could do. Ended up watching the show from side stage that night. And finally, on this point, Ian McLagan has said that he'd play on my next album. Just got to get Mick Taylor along to the studio as well and everything will be hunky dory! DIMITRI MONROE: Care to discuss your impressions of R.E.M., or the record, 'The Jewel Thief', being re-released as 'Liquor, Guns, & Ammo', they played back-up on? NIKKI SUDDEN: Still can't understand why people like R.E.M. Pete Buck is a real gentleman. Mike Mills, likewise. Michael Stipe and I don't get on-but then, who does? It's my 'country-rock' album released at totally the wrong time. I got back to an England full of ecstasy and acid-house. I liked ecstasy-I hated the music. Still do… Apart from Primal Scream and Andy Weatherall no one had a clue. DIMITRI MONROE: Wasn't your last album, 'Red Brocade', recorded in Chicago? Jeff Tweedy from Wilco sings on 'Farewell My Darling', Are you a fan of some of the No-Depression / Insurgent-country scene? NIKKI SUDDEN: For my sins, yes it was, but being there inspired the record. If it had been recorded in Europe, it would not have been the same record, and my phonebills would have been cheaper! Having said which, many thanks to Ellis Clarke in Chicago. I was made to try things I wouldn't usually consider-I hope I made him do the same… Jeff's a kinda friend. I bump into him in the dressing-rooms of the world every couple of years. Likewise, I don't own any of his records. He's got some of mine, though. I asked him to come along and play harmonica on 'Silver Blanket'. It was Ellis Clarke's idea to get him to sing 'Farewell My Darling'. It worked to degrees. Mind you, loads of people have asked how I got Shane McGowan to sing on the album… I actually prefer the song with me singing the whole lead. It'll come out one day. Jeff's a nice chap. DIMITRI MONROE: Is 'The Last Bandit', your Greatest Hits album available? NIKKI SUDDEN: It was released in the States through Alive Records in early 2001… It includes a free solo acoustic CD with it. And the cover does look cool! DIMITRI MONROE: What is your relationship with Chatterbox Records and Australia's Vicious Kitten? I really appreciate both Raul Mira's and Col Gray's dedicated efforts in the service of Rock'n roll, particularly as how both labels grew out of dynamic little fanzines… NIKKI SUDDEN: Raul is one of the coolest people I've ever met. I haven't met Col Gray yet. I look forward to doing so. DIMITRI MONROE: How do you feel about your Bastard Sons / creative-progeny / all the guys you've had such an overpowering influence upon, like your friend Kevin Junior from the Mystery Girls / Rosehips / Chamber Strings? ('Gospel Morning' - to me, that title just SHRIEKS, Nikki Sudden…) He played on your last record… NIKKI SUDDEN: Is it flattering or is it tedious? You never want to spawn a whole blanket of imitators. If you inspire someone to find their own soul, then you've achieved something. If you inspire someone to try and recreate what you've already done then what have they ever achieved? Kevin Junior sounds more like Dave Kusworth than me… I'd say… I met Kevin when he was touring Europe with my brother, Epic Soundtracks… I thought Kevin was a kindred spirit. The trouble is that sometimes, there's more than an ocean and a language between England / Europe and America… As far as the Chamber Strings go, it seems to me that Kevin's far more influenced by Carole King & Co. than by me, or by Dave. Mind you, there are some tracks on 'Gospel Morning' that are pure Jacobites. I can't remember the titles - but even they are exact replicas. I told Kevin this when he sent me a tape of the album before it was ever released. The last time I listened to the Chamber Strings album was a year and a half ago or more-maybe I should hear it again. I do like the way he plays guitar - a bit like Kusworth, i.e. your basic Ron Wood style. And the second Chamber Strings album sounds to me like Epic by numbers! There was one time when we were doing 'Howling Good Times' - the Jacobites' reunion album in 1993. Robert Young from Primal Scream came up to the studio and I got him to put guitar down on 'Flying'. Kusworth heard it and said, 'What's the point in using that? If we want bad Ron Wood impersonations, I can do them myself!' DIMITRI MONROE: I ask, because Cheetah Chrome told me one time that when he first heard Andy McCoy's note-for-note appropriation of the classic 'Third Generation Nation'-intro that he kinda felt like somebody stole his suitcase. Do you mind 'being sampled' in this manner? NIKKI SUDDEN: This is the same kind of answer as the previous question… but different. If someone stole all my ideas, lock, stock, and barrel and didn't add anything of their own, then I guess it would be strange. Sometimes people play me songs they've 'written', which are basically just my words in a different order with one of my tunes underlying everything… artists steal, imitators borrow! DIMITRI MONROE: Believe it or not, I've been having the same experience… NIKKI SUDDEN: I believe you, honest I do. This to me is so totally pointless. I'd be ashamed to do the same. If I didn't have the wherewithal to realise that was what I was doing than I guess I wouldn't have a problem. It just makes me regard the people in question with greater scepticism… Once again, you can't blame me. Can't blame the parents for the sins of the children just like you can't blame the children for the sins of their fathers. DIMITRI MONROE: I keep hearin' people say we look alike, you and I, but my friend Ratboy and me have a joke about 'Any Dick In A Band', like someone always says we look like so and so from the Black Crowes or Cult or whoever's wearing a bit of make-up that year, but last time I saw him, even Jeff Dahl said we look something alike, but I'm not making a conscious effort to… NIKKI SUDDEN: Ah well! There's worse things in life… DIMITRI MONROE: Speaking of Jeff Dahl, you toured with him and Freddy Lynxx a couple of years back, and didn't you also play on some of Freddy Lynxx's records? NIKKI SUDDEN: I've appeared on two tracks that Freddy's released. A duet on a version of the Tammy Wynette number, 'Apartment #9', and a co-written song, 'Opium Den', a great little rock'n roll number… And he appears on my 'Seven Lives Later' album and on the lead-in track on 'The Last Bandit'. DIMITRI MONROE: You also have a cut on the recent compilation, 'Jesus Loves My Heroin'. How do you know Hiroshi the Golden Arm and do you ever tour Japan? NIKKI SUDDEN: I've played in Japan once in my life. Met Hiroshi then. His first band, Stephen's Quints, supported me on at least one of the three shows we did then. Apparently, him and some friends used to have a Jacobites' tribute band. I was shown some pictures, but never heard a note! DIMITRI MONROE: What did you think of the Mercury Rev cover version? NIKKI SUDDEN: I was grateful for their good taste. Didn't like it at first, but it grew on me, now I find it rather charming. Met them for the second time the other week and they are very charming! The first cover version anyone ever did of one of my songs was German band the Big Sleep's recording of 'Where The Rivers End' back in the early '90's. Since then two or three people are releasing versions of my songs every few months. Some are good, some are bad, all are interesting and all make me money, which is always of interest. The last one I heard was a Berlin band who recorded 'Teenage Christmas' - that's coming out in Japan before too long… which is more than the original has done! DIMITRI MONROE: What artistic triumphs are you proudest of? NIKKI SUDDEN: Just about all of them really. DIMITRI MONROE: Do you like any of the bands from the Australian Scene? NIKKI SUDDEN: I do like The Fatal Shore who are 2/3rds Australian - friends of mine based in Berlin. DIMITRI MONROE: Favourite Songwriters? NIKKI SUDDEN: Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, Marc Bolan, Mick & Keith, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant. Dave Kusworth, Rod Stewart and, of course, Johnny Thunders. DIMITRI MONROE: What kind of stuff are you currently reading? NIKKI SUDDEN: At the moment, just about everything ever written on the Stones. If I wasn't writing this book, I'd have a lot more time to concentrate on other things, like my life… but it is fulfilling. Hopefully, I'll get it finished one of these days. Like all my books, it's about half-finished. Still, I'm writing around 1,000 words a day, so it must be nearing somewhere close… soon… Apart from that, my favourite authors are all English and unfortunately, all dead-or will be too soon. (Americans can't write fiction. Good at rock'n roll books, but fiction-forget about it…) Charles Hamilton, P. C. Wren, P. G. Wodehouse, Capt. W. E. Johns, Baroness Orczy, Eric Williams, Leslie Charteris, Alastair MacLean, 'Sapper', Edwy Searles Brooks, Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Arthur Conan Doyle… Many more… most of whom would mean not a jot to your readers. Favourite living author seems to be Bernard Cornwell. DIMITRI MONROE: Anyone else you care to endorse here? NIKKI SUDDEN: Listen to the good stuff-the stuff that comes from the soul, not from the pocket. I love Maria McKee (but does she love me?), Rolling Stones, Faces (individually and collectively), Jerry Lee, Fairport Convention w/ Dave Swarbrick, The Dubliners, Johnny Thunders, Charlie Feathers, Free, Mott The Hoople, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T. Rex, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Groundhogs,. The Boys-especially Casino Steel & Honest John Plain. Darrell Bath. If I like someone enough to love them, I have to have everything they've ever done. DIMITRI MONROE: Current Events… NIKKI SUDDEN: Continuing The Last Bandit European tour. The States in December inc. Irving Plaza, NYC w/ Mercury Rev. New album to be recorded March 2002 in England. I've actually done demos for the first time in my life-God knows why! It still seems a very pointless exercise. Mainly to keep the band happy I guess. I spent most of last November in the studio remastering just about every one of my 1980's releases. Now I'm up to it trying to get the covers together for 10 albums! The new band is the best I've ever had. John Barry from England on bass. Stephane Doucerain, the drummer, as well as being French, from Paris, is totally brilliant. Probably the only rock'n roll drummer apart from Charlie Watts who has some kind of jazz influence. All four of us live in Berlin. My proudest achievement will hopefully be my next album. DIMITRI MONROE: Future Goals… NIKKI SUDDEN: My new bass player, wants to be on one classic album in his life. I'd like to be on quite a few more. This next album should do the trick… I'm always hopeful… DIMITRI MONROE: thank you ever so much, Mister Sudden, not only for the interview, but for all the great songs! |