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Interview with Spizzenergi.
Please note this interview may contact some strong and abusive language.
Spizz started out in Birmingham on the 27th August 1977. They became the first ever number one band in the newly formed indie chart back in 1980. The BBC's famous DJ John Peel described ' Where's Captain Kirk?' as... "the best Star Trek associated song". This was probably the peak of Spizz's music career. They were also famous for singing ' The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa'..
Firstly thank you for taking time out to answer a few questions for us, please will you introduce yourself, and tell us a little about yourself/band?
Spizz singer/songwriter/performer for SPIZZENERGI
I made my debut at the Birmingham night spot Barbarella's during an all-day music festival held August 27, 1977, performing an improvised set on a borrowed guitar; returning two months later by school pal and guitarist Pete Petrol, billed as Spizz 77, the first of numerous name changes to follow in the years to come. Re-christened Spizz Oil, we earned our first significant notice in 1978 opening for Siouxsie and the Banshees, resulting in a John Peel session which itself led to an offer from Rough Trade to record an EP, "6000 Crazy". The record topped the UK indie charts, as did its follow-up, "Cold City 4"; however, me and Petrol parted ways soon after. My girlfriend introduced me to a new bassist Jim Solar and keyboard player Mark Coalfield and as Spizzenergi we launched in early 1979. Petrol then returned on guitar for the group's stint on the Rough Trade UK tour; after "Soldier, Soldier" was named Single of the Week in the NME, the follow-up, "Where's Captain Kirk?," earned the same honour in Melody Maker, topping the UK indie charts for eight consecutive weeks in 1980.
After the next single "No Room" / "Spock's Missing" notched advance orders totalling over 50,000 copies (the same number that took the Artic Monkeys to No1). Now re-branded as Athletico Spizz 80 having got through seven guitarists and three drummers -- we signed to A&M and released the much-anticipated full-length debut "Do A Runner" and spent a few weeks in the Top 20. Despite the endless line-up shuffles, a brief tour of the U.S. followed before the band returned home to record the second album "Spikey Dream Flowers", as the Spizzles. However, the emergence of the New Romantic movement had altered the prevailing musical climate so severely that sales slumped and after just two more singles, A&M cut the group loose altogether using a row over video funding as an excuse. As Spizzenergi2, we returned to Rough Trade for a pair of singles, "Mega City 3" and "Jungle Fever" and a LP compilation of Rough Trade tracks titled "Spizz History" but despite the return of Pete Petrol the outlook continued to dim, and by 1983 I had largely receded from the music scene to focus on painting and session work performing on guitar for my mates Heaven 17 on numerous European pop TV shows. In 1983 I did one solo show billed as Spizzorwell. A year later, however, I organised a large-scale stage production dubbed The Last Future Show featuring a six-piece female backing group which was well received.
By 1985, the show had evolved into a cult-favourite night club attraction, although no record deals were yet forthcoming. A year later, another girlfriend Claire King (Bad Girls/Emmerdale's Kim Tate) introduced me to members of the band 'Friends of Gavin' whose singer Billy had left to get married. We toured under the name Spizzsexual; splitting with the group in 1987, I recorded a new rendition of "Where's Captain Kirk?" and toured Germany, followed by a new single, "Love Me Like a Rocket." 1989 saw the emergence of Spizzvision, while in 1990 Pete Petrol and I teamed up again this time pursuing a techno-influenced direction under as a revived Spizz Oil . When Petrol relocated to New Zealand, I again returned to the Spizzenergi moniker, although in 1994 I did a cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" as Spizzmas. In 1996 to launch the Cherry Red CD "Spizz Not Dead Shock!" two original SPIZZENERGI members Dave Scott and Jim Solar re-appeared for a London show and at the Blackpool Holiday In The Sun punk festival (later issued on Cherry Red DVD). After the show in London producer Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) insisted that he produce our strip down version of Kraftwerk's "The Model". Still performing today with the longest line up (since 1996) with Simon Kinder on guitar, Matt Broughton on bass and Jeff Walker on drums. Most recent show was at The Luminaire in Kilburn, London February 28th 2007.
What made you write a song about Aston Villa?
My back catalogue was issued via Cherry Red Records and I soon became aware that the label was the most football friendly label in the world. I also noticed that some clubs had enough songs to fill a CD and were released by Cherry Red.
I asked if a Villa CD was ever going to happen? They said that the were the most difficult club to deal with but they were working on it and they asked if I had a Villa song.
"Yes of course" I lied and said "When did you need it?"
"Not for several weeks - we'll let you know" came the reply
"What's it called?" and I blurted the first thing that came into my head
"The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa"
So weeks passed and I forgot until I got a call that they needed the track the following week. I called my bassist and guitarist and they said they could pop 'round that night. I got to work on the lyrics that afternoon. I also managed to book a recording studio for the next night. At the studio our drummer arrived and we hummed it to him and within a couple of hours we had a take. Overdubbed a guitar track and added the vocals. Mixed it there and then all very exciting. So from paper to tape and mixing it all took six hours.
Years ago it was short listed for A Song for Villa competition in the Villa programme. It was the only song that was neither an adaptation of a previous hit and the only one written by a Villa fan for the Villa faithful to sing.
Recently it topped the poll in a four song shortlist as voted by members of the Villatalk.com web site where again it was the only purpose written Villa song on the list.
I understand that the club will soon be running a poll via the club's web site asking which song would be the best to play as the team run onto the pitch - I know we recorded "The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa" in a very short time, I would like to re-record with higher production values which would have a more dramatic effect through the today's modern PA systems.
Things are looking bright once again for the claret and blue army so have you thought about writing a new song about them?
Well my recent World Cup song 'We're The England' adapts nicely to become "We're The Villa"
I'm presuming you are a Villa fan so how long have you been a fan of Villa? And do you visit on a regular basis?
I was probably 4 or 5 years old when my Dad first took me to Villa Park (I'm 48).
Alas living in London with family demands on my time and the costs prevent me from home games. I did go to games at Fulham and Charlton and I buy shirts online so I support the club via replica kits, socks, shorts, liesure wear, rug, clock, mousemats, sportsbags, towels, mugs, vids and DVDs etc
In your video, you mention the european cup final being one of the highlights of Villa's history, what exactly do you remember about that night?
I was in a punk band touring at the time and it is difficult to recall much about that period - I can't think why. So the line should read... "I wish I could remember a Euro-night"
In a review we read about you, it stated that you "caused the most headaches out of everyone else, barring Motorhead", what does this actually mean? And how big was you in your prime?
It was when we supported Siouxsie & The Banshees on the UK tour promoting their 1st Album in 1978. The sound engineer was a volume freak and as a duo there was a whole PA to fill and he did it to the max. I had this incredible high pitched scream too which he would add echo like on our first Rough Trade single '6000 Crazy' It was ear splitting. I think that's what writers were alluding to.
We later released a song called "Soldier Soldier' and 'Where's Captain Kirk?' both in 1979 and both were picked out as "Single Of The Week" by the then top music magazines The NME and Melody Maker. 'Soldier Soldier' was championed at the time by such artists as Paul Weller and the late Frank Zappa who included it on a one-off BBC radio special, while 'Where's Captain Kirk?' has been recorded by a number of other artists, most notably R.E.M. Though 'Kirk' just bubbled under the Top 40 at the time of its
release, Rough Trade's distribution caught by surprise was unable to keep up with demand, however it remained at No.1 on the Independent chart for over two months in 1980 and remained in the top 50 for the entire year. When the official Indie chart was first created January 19th 1980 'Where's Captain Kirk?' was automatically No.1. A new version of 'Kirk' released on the Hobo Railways label in 1987 and topped of the popular Viz Comic chart. In 1996 Cherry Red Records released a Spizz
retrospective CD entitled 'Spizz Not Dead Shock!', later repackaged with bonus tracks as "The Very Best of..." in 2002. John Peel called 'Where's Captain Kirk?' the best Star Trek song ever in a BBC1 programme on the music of Star Trek.
Do you get on well with any other famous personalities and if so whats your relationship with them?
I usually get on with most people famous or not famous. Obviously I don't like Phil Collins but then again who does?
You was around when the hooligan scene was also very big in football, do you have any experience's?
Yes. Run for it! About 100 of a nameless team supporters chased about five of us and we turned a corner to be greeted by about 200 Villa so we were saved.
What was your best match you ever went to? What was it like?
The two most recent victorious Wembley visits against Man U and Leeds. Walking home over Tower Bridge and (non Villa) truck drivers tooting their horns I think because we beat Man U. I also had my 6 foot square London Villa flag flying high.
On the way to the Leeds game we stopped off in West Hampstead to meet up with some London Villa and we had good time with some Leeds supporters, a couple of whom had bought "Soldier Soldier' and 'Where's Captain Kirk?' Then we got the landlord of the pub to play 'The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa' which I happened to have in my pocket and we all sang along. Really pi**ed off after the Chelsea 2000 final though just got away with my former Nuneaton dwelling Villa chum and had Vodka Red Bulls.
Are there any plus you would like to do?
No gigs at the moment - but check out websites out
http://www.spizzenergi.com
http://www.myspace.com/spizzenergiastonvilla
Once again avillafan.com would like to thank Spizzenergi for taking time out to answer our questions and we want to wish them all the very best in the future. Discuss this interviews over at the Aston Villa Forums
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