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Mark Edwards of My Dad Is DeadInterview by Mark Maynard.
As far as “the end of the band” goes, I’m kind of leaving it as a we’ll see what happens thing. My main focus over the next couple of years is to get far enough out of debt that I can afford to purchase some decent recording equipment, and eliminate the issue of having to spend $3-5,000 every time I want to record something. After that, who knows, maybe technology will have advanced far enough that I won’t even need to manufacture anything. Maybe I can just put the songs up on the web. So, as a long winded answer to yr question, My Dad Is Dead (MDID) is not “officially” dead, but you won’t see any new release in 1998 and probably not for at least the first half of ‘99.
I’ve heard you say that the name My Dad Is Dead is no longer relevant, given the fact that you’ve come to terms with the issues you once had with your father. If you had to rename the project today, what would you call it?
I don’t know, maybe My Beer Is Gone... something less serious I guess. I’ve come to realize that the vast majority of people are not interested in sincerity, honesty, integrity or any of that bullshit. They just want to be entertained. In hindsight, MDID was never “entertaining” enough.
What did your parents think of the name My Dad Is Dead? Did they know about it right from the start, or did you try to keep it from them?
Truth is my parents were both dead when I started the band. I guess I’ll find out in the afterlife what they thought about it.
What would you think now, as an adult, if your son formed a band called MDID?
Hmmm... I’d probably try to talk to him about why he named his band that. If he wished it to be true, I’d try to find out why.
Were you still living at home when you made your first record? How did it come about?
I was no longer living at home. It was mainly a result of having played in a lot of “local” bands who never put out any records. I wanted to put out at least 1. I never really intended it to become 10. I think it was May1985 in Kent, OH. It was just me and a drum machine. I don’t think anybody liked it too much, and I can understand why. I wasn’t very good, but that’s what “indie rock” was all about; getting up there and doing it, no matter how crappy you were. If you’re a history buff, you can get even more details on the band’s web page.
The first time I saw you play live, actually it’s the only time I ever saw you play live (I tried to go antoher time, but Linette and I got into a fight and had to leave the bar), you were opening up for the Pixies. What was that tour like? I’m just guessing, but those were probably your biggest shows, weren’t they?
They were definitely the “biggest” in terms of the most people in attendance, except for a few we did in Europe. It was kinda strange. We were all big Pixie fans at the time, and we had our little 6 feet of stage room and tightly controlled 1/2 hour set to convince all those thousands of Pixie fans that we were worth paying attention to for more than 2 minutes. I don’t know how successful we were.We ran the gamut from having bottles thrown at us in Toronto to a very warm and enthusiastic reception in Detroit. Charles [aka Frank Black nee Black Francis] was very nice. I didn’t really talk to any one else in the band. We weren’t allowed to “officially” sell any merchandise unless we gave the merchandising company some huge sum of money, so we mainly sold stuff walking through the crowd while the Pixies played. It was definitely a “career” high point.
Which of your albums do you feel the closest to? Which one do you think best represents your vision as an artist?
All of my records represent my “vision” at the time they are done. They are all period pieces as far as my life is concerned, but if I had to pick just one it would probably be “The Taller You Are the Shorter You Get.” That LP was almost magical the way it came together in the studio. The songs just seemed to fall together effortlessly, and all the production tricks worked. “For Richer, For Poorer” was the most fun to record. We all had a blast in Nashville that week. I just wish the guitars had a little more bite to them on that record.
What’s life like for you now? You mentioned in an earlier e-mail that you were in school. What are you studying?
I’m actually just trying to get the accounting degree I abandoned in my early 20’s. It isn’t so much that I love accounting, but in order to get a job out of state, it seems like employers are insisting on that 4 year college degree these days... and the local state college agreed to honor all my 20 year old credits. What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
I never approach music with an “accomplishment” in mind. Whenever I record it’s just because it’s time, because I have a need to get something down on tape or because I feel like doing it. It’s always been a huge plus that anyone besides myself cares to listen to it.
What was the best show you ever played?
I honestly cannot remember. We had our high points in Europe on our second trip there. I remember one show in Munich that was particularly good. Unfortunately, the instability of the live lineup always made our live performances kind of touch and go. The typical scenario was that it was the last few shows of the tour before we were really jelling together as a band.
Who was your first favorite recording artist?
Hmm... probably Led Zeppelin... though as a young-un I was never particularly loyal to any one artist. It was more, what’s my favorite song this week. That ranged from “Classical Gas” to “The Sounds of Silence” to “Hot Smoke and Sassafrass” to “Midnight Confessions.” It was all top 40 radio, just like it is today.
When were you the most frightened?
In my whole life? Probably when I was hit by a car. I was 16 at the time. I remember waking up on the street with EMS people around me and thinking, “This is it. I’m gonna die.”
How old were you when you left home?
I was 21. My mother had been dead for 3 yrs and my father had become impossible to live with.
Would you say that you’re more optimistic now than when you were younger?
Nope... This was the whole essence of the title “The Taller You Are The Shorter You Get.” I think for everyone, as we grow older, the world becomes a little less our oyster, the possibilities a little less endless, our limitations a lot more obvious. When I really think back to what I thought life might be like in the mind of a 5 yr old child, it just makes me sad.
Would you say that you have a depressive personality?
I think anyone who truly thinks about the state of the world would find it hard not to be somewhat depressed, don’t you? That doesn’t mean we can’t keep going forward with our lives and trying to do the best we can. I just don’t like false optimism. The world is not a healthy place. I’m not one of those that believes a few “affirmations” a day will make it so.
Do you watch television?
Of course... I’m not a caveman. *** |
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I’ve heard a rumors that you were thinking of calling an end to the band. Are they true?