Rockezine.com interview with Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum on Oct 29, 2006

with Neil on Oct 29, 2006

There are still bands who are doing something completely different than most of the others in the music industry. Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum is one of them. Drawing influences from Zappa, Mike Patton`s projects and Theatre they released an pretty exciting cd `Grand Opening And Closing`. A cd that I recommend to every advanced music listener. After listening to this cd some questions have come up. I sent an e-mail to the group. Some remarkable answers followed, read for yourself!
		I recently received the cd `Grand Opening And Closing`, is this a re-release and how many years are you doing S.T.G.M.? SGM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1999. EARLY VERSIONS OF THE BAND NEVER WENT OUTDOORS, OR EVEN TALKED TO PEOPLE. THE BAND OFTEN WET ITSELF IN ANTICIPATION OF A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. THIS IS WHY THE FIRST CONCERT WAS GIVEN TO ONLY A LOWLY BANANA SLUG IN AN ABANDONED DEPARTMENT STORE. THERE WAS A "TUCKING IN" BOOTH FASHIONED IN ORDER TO SOOTH THE BANDS TATTERED NERVES, AND IT WAS RUN BY A PRETTY LADY WHO READ STORIES.
		What`s the concept of Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum? ROCK AGAINST ROCK. DESTROY OURSELVES BY LOVING AND PRACTICING THE VERY THING THAT WE HATE TO LOVE HATING. SPEW A STEADY STREAM OF DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF INTEREST FROM MAJOR-MARKET COOKING SHOWS.
		How does the music comes together? AT NIGHT, OR DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE MEMBERS OF SGM CONGREGATE IN A WINDOWLESS ROOM, AND DRINK TEA, AND PARTY LIKE IT`S 1997. OCCASIONALLY SOMEONE WILL HAVE BROUGHT IN A TUNE, AND WHEN WE FINISH GOSSIPPING, WE PICK UP OUR INSTRUMENTS, AND GIVE A COLLECTIVELY AGGRESSIVE GO AT MAKING THE COMPOSTION ENLIVEN ITSELF. THIS FORMULA OFTEN PRODUCES A CLANGOROUS, IF NOT MALODOROUS EFFECT ON THE MUSIC-LISTENING PUBLIC.
		About the music, sometimes it gets really freaky and the music reminds me of Mike Patton and some Zappa Projects. What are the influences for S.T.G.M.? PEOPLE ALWAYS SEEM TO MENTION PATTON AND ZAPPA, BUT THEY TRULY DO NOT REGISTER ON THE INFLUENCES RADAR. TRY FIRST SWANS, ART BEARS, HENRY COW, EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN, AND LIGETI. AND MAYBE TOM JONES?
		From your point of view, what is your favorite track on the new album and why? What is your most memorable moment being in S.T.G.M.? DINNER ABOARD THE BUS IS ALWAYS MY FAVOURITE MOMENT. CARLA, OR ALLEN THE LIGHTING GUY, WILL WHIP UP A DELICIOUS FEAST, OFTEN CONTAINING BOILED MEAT.
		Meat? THIS WILL BE EATEN EITHER AT AN EARLIER OR LATER MOMENT IN THE DAY. THE FACT THAT WE GET TO BOUNCE ABOUT ON A STAGE IN DRESSES FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF EACH NIGHT IS ALSO THRILLING. BUT BOILED MEAT? OH...AND THE MAKEUP
		Any Touring Plans? SGM WILL HIT THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF OUR NEW STUDIO RELEASE BETWEEN MARCH AND OCTOBER OF `07. WE WILL BE IN EUROPE IN APRIL!! AND POSSIBLY AGAIN IN THE FALL OF `07.
		Anything left to say? WE ADMIRE FROM AFAR YOUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING ALL OF YOU EUROPE. PLEASE COME ON THE VAN TO ENJOY OUR SUNDRIES. WE WILL TRY TO FIT EVERYONE.
(Friso Veltkamp)