BOC/BRAIN: Albert Bouchard Interview

[Jason M. Scruton]

http://www.50megs.com/msj/albcintr.html

Very odd Q and A.


     Interview with Albert Bouchard





     Music Street Journal:Blue Oyster Cult always used to have a pretty
     strong progressive rock tilt to the music. Did that influence come
from all the musicians or was it more the contribution of one or two
members over the others?

     Albert Bouchard:We all dug King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and the Dead but
     Joe, Buck and I were into more hard bop, Coltrane etc. Allen was into
blues and Eric was more into hard rock.



     Music Street Journal:There have always been some connections
     between BOC to Hawkwind (the collaborations with Michael Moorcock,
etc.), and that has carried through to Brain Surgeons. Were you friends
with that band, fans? How did that  connection come about?

     Albert Bouchard:We played a few gigs with HW but they were typical
     reserved Englishmen except for Lemmy. We played a lot more gigs with
Motorhead. tBS   came to do the HW songs at the request of our fans who
were fans of both groups.

     Music Street Journal:Is working with Dave Brock or any of the other
     Hawkwind members something you would like to do in the future?

     Albert Bouchard:The biggest problem with even considering that would be
     logistics. Great music often needs time to stew. It's hard to
collaborate with musicians wholive in NYC much less merry Old E'.

     Music Street Journal:What was the whole story behind Imaginos? I
     remember reading somewhere that the disc was originally slated to be a
solo album by you  or Joe?

     Albert Bouchard:It was originally sold to the record company as a solo
     project with me and my famous friends. The whole story is a book yet
to be written.



     Music Street Journal:In a lot of the old BOC songs there is a Susie
     mentioned. Who was Susie?

     Albert Bouchard:Sandy Pearlman's old girlfriend.



     Music Street Journal:How have the BOC fans reacted to Brain
     Surgeons?

     Albert Bouchard:95% of the 10% who've checked us out are a great
     supportive audience. We have yet to reach most BOC fans.



     Music Street Journal:What would you see as the similarities between
     BOC and Brain Surgeons?

     Albert Bouchard:Same drummer and a lot of the same songs. What do
     you think?

     Music Street Journal:What would you see as the differences?

     Albert Bouchard:Most of our stuff is funkier. We have more female
     vocals. I think tBS take more chances.



     Music Street Journal:How does it feel to have the band functioning
     as a three piece these days?

     Albert Bouchard:We've worked as a trio from the beginning when we
     were just a recording band. Practicing is easier; I'll let you know
about playing live after  the 14th.



     Music Street Journal:What can we expect when Brain Surgeons
     come out on tour again shortly?

     Albert Bouchard:It will sound different. Before we were a wall of sound,
     now the sounds are much more articulated.



     Music Street Journal:What`s been your biggest Spinal Tap moment?

     Albert Bouchard:Probably the time my drumstick got caught in my hair.



     Music Street Journal:What are you listening to these days?

     Albert Bouchard:Doris Troy, Johnny Staats, Bella Fleck, Adrian Legg,
     Cream, old Santana, old Al Green, Dead, Floyd, BOC, Beach Boys, Sadé,
Beatles, Helen
     Wheels, Tribe Called Quest, Beasties, Mobb Deep. I like what I like
but my favorites
     change over time.



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