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Which character from "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" do you identify with the most?- Susan Teynor Pete: In truth, I honestly do not identify with any character in Baby Jane. I just love it as a film, of course, but that's not to say, with the passing of the years, I will not end up doing a Bette Davis/ Jane Hudson with some new rising pop star. And with the current mania for being a Grade A dancer, as opposed to a good singer/ songwriter, it is perfectly feasible that one of the new crop, will end up in a wheelchair. I will be only too happy to assist him, or her. I love all your looks, but at the Warsaw Concert in New York you wore a Nazi flag onstage. The result was very strong to my eyes! Why did you choose that flag? Was there a message? Or was it simply a flag? Thank you- Paolo Caregnato, Genova - Italy. Pete: In my younger, wild days, back in 1977, this symbol was a common sight among the punk crowd. It was the last bastion of shock, the caviar of confrontation. Stupid, I know, but I have never quite grown out of that side of my personality. I knew it would wake people up, like a bucket of piss being thrown over them, and it did!! It is just a symbol, and if you research it, it is some kind of Hindu symbol, that was reversed. The Hindu symbol did not have the same meaning as the German version. Also, as I was brought up by a mother who lost her family in the concentration camps of Mr. Hitler, and made all too aware of the horrific events that took place when Mr. Hitler was as popular as Britney Spears, I find it a little sad that people could think I sympathized with anything like this. It is a symbol, a picture, and without people investing the wrong meaning, it is as harmless as a picture of Michael Jackson, which, personally, I find a lot more menacing. It was meant to shock, and it obviously did. It was a silly whim, but that's what I do sometimes. With the rather sorry state the UK charts are in now, can you think of any bands who were prominent in the 80's who deserve a second chance at chart success or do you think the 80's should be left firmly in the past?- Matthew Bowen Pete:
I am not sure what I think about that. I am not sure if it is
a sign of old age that I sometimes think that almost everything
produced today is not very good, but after all, did our parents
not respond in this manner when some of us were young? Telling
us to...turn that crap off!!... Listen to some decent music......?????
There is no doubt in my mind, that the 80s did produce some fantastic
music, it was feel good music, it filled people with optimism,
hope for the future, energy, and those that were lucky enough
to be old enough to listen to music, back then, have a need to
remember those times. Sometimes the future doesn't turn out quite
the way you hoped it would, and in order to reclaim your long
gone optimism, your energy, you need music to remind you, of the
person you used to be. I have long stopped looking into the future,
I have learned to appreciate the Now, because, in my experience,
the future is an uncertain thing. People die, towers get bombed,
wars break out, and wrinkles set in. I always was desperate to
get to the future, no nostalgia for me!! Well, I have had to eat
my words, and it ain't that bad ! I do not think the 80s music
could be left alone, even if it was declared as a law in parliament.
It simply couldn't happen. Anything decent today, harks back to
the 80s: Kylie's Cant Get You Out Of My Head is very 80s.
There are countless others , too many to mention. As for fashion,
take a look at some fashion mags, its all 80s. Do I think it should
be left in the past(80s)? I dare not even think the thought, and,
everyone deserves a second chance, they made a difference in some
peoples' lives, who's to say they can't make a difference again,
with just a silly song?? Do you ever intend to release previously unreleased material or non-album songs? Have you considered offering this kind of thing online?- Shannon Doyle McCool Pete: Well, I do toy with this idea, often, and some of the things that have never seen the light of day are really quite good, although, because, quite early in the recording process, I have to make a quick decision about which things will be completed, a lot of the stuff ends up half finished, so would require re recording. I suffer agonizing frustration with record company, commercial restrictions, and feel that in the in the future, this might be the only way to satisfy my artistic requirements, without being sectioned. It is an area we will look into, when the time is right, and as you all must know by now, if somebody doesn't act very fast, I change my mind. I do know, when we start to do this, it would be with a mini album, which is the only logical way to get anything out, before I...change my mind. My main hope for the Greatest Hits project is, firstly, not to bore you all to death, gain a new, wider audience, and become commercially viable enough for the record company to finance a new album, to satisfy demand. if this doesn't happen, the internet is the only option. DOA seem
to be a very strong visual band, what are your favorite/ least Pete: I can't say I am wild about most of my videos. My favorite is Rebel Rebel, and, a version of Hit And Run Lover you haven't seen yet. I suspect that the Japanese company, Avex, used the language barrier to "not understand" the way we fought to have it edited. We had the most incredible dance group, a Japanese street gang, called the Kurage Boys in it. They did a performance that was breathtaking, but, we were told, in quite strong terms, that the Japanese audience did not want to look at other Japanese performers. Maybe something was lost in the translation, but, they are hardly visible in the video, and my whole performance hinged around them. You will, one day, get to see the video the way Steve and I directed it, and we will somehow incorporate the Kurage into future performances. Any insights into the making of the videos will be included on the DVD, in interview form, as I would be stuck at this keyboard for 4 years, telling it all... Are you addicted to any TV shows? What do you think of the current trend toward Reality TV?- John (I Paralyze) Pete: Well, the Osbornes, as it's the most realistic show I have ever seen, and reflects my life in a way I can relate to. Also Sex And The City, I consider that to be a reality show. I am addicted to the idea of the Anna Nicole show, can't wait for Rose to send it to me. I have worshiped her for years, a real star!! I also enjoy the show Diners. It's a cringe fest, so much so, I agreed to be on it, which I am sure is a decision I will live to regret. All the rest… Big Brother??? Loathe it. I just cannot relate to these weird people, deviants, weirdoes, freaks. You've been on UK TV a lot in the last year, as a personality and not a performer. Do you foresee a time when you'll emphasize the music less and the image more? -KC Coy Pete: I have, for some reason, become a hot property in TV land. I have no idea why! I do these things to show the record company, that, with or without a record, people seem to be interested in me, or, should that be in looking at me. Also, the fact that I have done these shows, means that various researchers from other TV shows see me, and ask me on other shows, and, some time during this treadmill routine, I will be able to say..... "Oh, excuse me, kind sir, I am a singer!! And I have a catchy little song out, so, perhaps, instead of sitting around like a stuffed trout, I could come on your wonderful show, and sing it." They, of course, will be only to glad to have me do this, because, after whoring myself around on various other TV. shows, doing the stuffed trout routine, they will feel they are getting something exclusive. I have been offered various TV projects, namely a show called 3rd Degree Burns, the idea of which, was sort of whitewashed, and given to somebody else, and is now on the air, as Anna In Wonderland. That's my show, but sanitized!!! I will always be a singer, but I might try other things. I honestly don't think I am a personality. I don't think I have anything even slightly interesting to say... others may disagree. Is it true that you plan to eventually write an autobiography?- Noriko Kado Pete:
Well, it's not something I consider a priority, but, if i don't,
somebody else will try and patch one together. If, and when I
do it, I do not want to white wash anything. This, of course,
will hurt people's feelings, may border on outing various, well,
famous people. I now understand that to many people, my life might
seem a little unconventional, and, the truth is much stranger
than fiction. I also think, without being arrogant, my story might
offer hope to some people out there, people who don't quite follow
the normal printout required, to feel like a vital part of society.
I have had some life experiences that left me in complete shock
as to the fact I survived, some that made me despise human beings,
some that made me love human beings, and, a mother that is a best
seller in her own right. So, if anybody can tempt me, it might
happen. In an abstract way: I don't want to do a usual format,
Geri Halliwell type thing. Hi Pete:
I would like to know ... What plans you have for the DVD release
(videos to be included, live performances, past tv appearances,
etc.) – R. Herencia Have you seen Taboo- what did you think of it? Would you be interested in doing something autobiographical?- Kelly Knudsen Pete: Yes, I saw it, and I thought it was fabulous. Boy George’s performance was worthy of an Oscar. I was speechless! I don’t have any desire to do anything autobiographical...yet. I don’t think my story is over, and every story should have an end, or else we get those frightful sequels, like Jurassic Park, Part 2. I don’t think I could put in the incredibly hard work something like TABOO requires, and, it’s the best of its kind, will go down in history, and play to packed houses for many years to come, both on stage, and in time, on film, so why bother to try and match its brilliance? I advise everybody: make the effort, go and see it, its fabulous!! Although it happened for you - initially - by accident, what advice would you give to someone wanting to get into the music industry - as a performer and musician - today? –DP Pete: My advice begins with a question: what do you want to achieve?? I would advise you to make time to seriously study pop music, starting with music from the 60s, up until the 90s. Listen hard, see what you can hear that has been recycled from the 60s? 70s? 80? 90s? Up to the present day. An example of this is Madonna’s song “True Blue” which bears an uncanny resemblance to a song from the 70s, by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra, called “It May Be Winter Outside But In My Heart It’s Spring” There are countless other examples of incidents like this, and it doesn’t really matter, as to who ripped off who, it just points out the importance of having what I call, good pop ears. If it’s been a hit once, it will be a hit again, with a little tweaking! Once you have trained your pop ear, and this can take quite some time, begin writing your own songs. Forget all about trying to really say something. Just try and share what you perceive to be common experiences, so other people can identify with them, understand what you are saying, instantly. When you are confident you can write a good pop song, write a few, and be self critical This will prepare you for the countless soul destroying things you will be told by people in the industry, record companies, managers, radio programmers, journalists, your friends. In time, you should become deaf to all these opinions, and you will feel, within reason, invincible. Start working, at the very bottom, because, if you do ever make it to the top, you will know how you got there, and if you end up back at point 0, you should have some idea how to trace your route, if not back to the top, at least to somewhere comfortable. Also, never give up, ever. If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. But, I repeat, learning to craft a pop song is not as easy as you may think, and, through studying pop music, as I have recommended, in time, you will appreciate the total genius some of the great pop records contain. Good luck. Do you think you're gonna have a fight from the good old fashioned British conservative journalists, who regard anything not labeled 100 % 'normal' as bad?- Shagedelia Pete: It depends on your definition of fight. I think journalists have their place. They are a necessary evil, so to speak. People like yourself are hungry to read things about people like me, and the more I go underground, avoid publicity, the more you want to read things. This leads to situations of complete fiction being printed, which, until recently, I didn’t care about, and, was mostly unaware of. So, in the bubble I exist in, it seemed to have no effect on my day to day existence. Then....Popbitch... and we all know about that, don’t we?? I think it is pointless to fight the press, except in cases like Popbitch, where there is not even a grain of truth, and it causes problems that relate to work, and family. If the things written about are harmless, or even humorous, I don’t care. If they are true, I have no right to care, and must learn to be more discreet. If I don’t want them to be written about, and, it all goes to prove that people like me, are just human, and prone to making total cunts of ourselves, from time to time....aren’t you????? I think Madonna did the best thing when she did her sex book. She sold everything the paparazzi spend months, hiding in bushes to photograph. Genius. Of course, this caused huge frustration for the press: who now, wants to sneak a look at Madonna’s tits, or, twat, they have already seen them, and paid to do so, and, I might add, got a very nice metal bound book in the bargain! The newspaper editors must have wanted to burn her at the stake. You see, they only want to show you what...we.. don’t want you to see, and, in a funny way, I believe a lot of you only want to see, what we don’t want you to see. To what
extent do you think the international success of "You Spin
Me Round" contributed to the endurance of Hi-NRG dance music
during the mid-late '80s? –Glen Power I really
believe "Nude" is a masterpiece of late 80s pop. It
did quite well here in Australia and in Japan, but got ignored
in the UK. Why do you think that was?- Oscar Wildcat Do you think that you will ever again release a ‘piano album’? (similar to"Love Pete") - Carlo Ottavi Pete: The piano album you may have heard was never intended for release, in the form you have heard. At the time this was recorded, or, should I say, attempted, I was in America, on a badly organized tour, with a dubious management team, against Steve’s advice. Alarmed by the spread of AIDS, and seeing hundreds of homeless people, with this sickness, begging in doorways, I thought I could do something to help a few of them. The intention was, to sell a CD, at shows, then, take the profits, and distribute them, directly, to the people, in the doorways!! Silly, I know, but seemed like a good idea, at the time!! So, I asked my management to find me a piano player, book me a studio, and give me 1 day to do this project, I must add, the requested piano player was supposed to have a wide knowledge of old standards. Well, they did it....sort of. The piano player was at least 75 years old, wearing a ginger toupee, and, blind drunk, and incontinent!! I am not joking!! He was a serious alcoholic, hopelessly drunk, and, didn’t remember more than 8 bars of anything!! I, like a fool, thought, if we kept him busy, he would eventually sober up, and, regain his memory. I was wrong. So, what you have heard, was brief warm ups, that the engineer recorded, for our amusement, not release. After about 12 hours, we gave up, and left the studio. We had a few CDs pressed, or should I say, the management had them pressed up, and, they would appear every so often, and I would say...these are not to be sold. They sold them, and, what is worse, they kept the money, not 1 cent went to the original cause, and, to this day, they press them up, and, it is shit!!! Shit, in every way!! It is also a prime example, of the levels some people will go to, stealing money, from seriously ill people!! I would do another piano album, because, despite what you have heard, on the album you speak of, I can sing, and, have a vast knowledge of old standards, but, I don’t think that now is the time to do it, it would get confused with people like Harry Connick junior, Robbie Williams, and all the rest of those people. I have many favorite old songs I always sing in sound checks, and as vocal exercises, and, I am told, I do them very well, but, for now, I don’t see it happening. I have other things to concentrate on, but every LOVE, PETE album you buy, out of morbid curiosity, is lining the pockets of people that would steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes......... Would you
ever consider doing a duet with a female singer? – Scott
Williamson Why was
the song "I Paralyze" never released as a single?
-Karroll I read
once that when you create a song, you come up with the hook first
and then mold the song around that hook. Is this true? (You can't
always believe what you read) If not, what is your creative process?
–Russell Collins We are
all excited about the new releases, do you think you will be able
to achieve the same levels of success in the UK as you did in
the 80's? –Shagedelia |