PENNY BROADHURST & THE MAFFICKERS

Penny Broadhurst talks to Damo Suzuki, leader of the Damo Suzuki Network and former vocalist with Krautrockers CAN. 2001.

You say you like to create music live and studio work doesn't interest you. How much of each gig is improvised?

I'm a composer on stage. I love things that are living. Living things have energy. Ilike to make music which is alive and before I go on stage I have no plans at all. Yes,we speak a bit backstage. But we're not like any other band. We just decide who starts and not exactly how it should be done.We don't have pieces written before we play. Also, place to place we're as different as the construction of the building where we play...Shatter is absolutely different. Another reason I like to change members each tour. Because I like to make music for the moment. The audience are also a very important part of my music. I make music to connect people with music itself, not from talking. I hate to play the same song 1,000 times....it's business.

There are some nice restaurant in Flanders or Tuscany. They're not big restaurants, may be three or four tables for a small clientele. But, the chef connects with the customers and talks about everything and fresh vegetables, fish etc. He makes the food special for these customers - fresh and good. Instant composition. Or let me explain it this way.. Nobody is interested in going to watch football if you know before full-time the result is Manchester Utd 3, Tottenham 0 or so...Then, you don't go, do you?

So, believe it or not ...almost 100% of my shows are instant composition (I don't like the word "improvisation"). Sure, sometimes there comes a piece like "Mother Sky" or "Mashroom". But it just happens in the middle of a piece. My musicians don't know what's happened.

What are you working on at the moment?

In October of last year, I toured the West Coast from LA to Vancouver and did 6 shows. I recorded every show like always I do, which will be material for the next CD. I was travelling with LA musicians and a German guitarist. Before the tour started I only knew Dominik von Senger and Tommy Grenas (they both played on "Odyssey"). Musicians from LA were chosen by Tommy . It was really great show in LA, our first show and our first musical meeting. Of course we had no rehearsal, only a short sound check. Well, I'm working on this material now.

What do you think of the artists influenced by your work - e.g. the Fall?

I think it's great ! Because I cannot live for 1,000 years - maybe I can live till 120 - I love those people who like my music. And I hope this sort of music exists from generation to generation for a very long time. I'm not telling you that Damo Suzuki's music must last that long. It's not important.

The way to make music is important. This is my mission now. So, I'm a lucky guy that I can play with musicians who are almost 20 years younger than I am or sometimes even more. In 1998 I played together with Michael Karoli in London. Oh! What a audience! :) They're young . I could be their father. Sure I could be...I'm the father of three sons aged 25, 23 and 9.

I can honestly say people like Mark E Smith are really nice. He presented me a song which really motivated me.

What do you miss (if anything) about your time in CAN?

Ummm....actually not so much. I'm kind of person who doesn't think much about things which I never can change. For instance - past days. I've energy which I can change with my power. I like to walk forwards. Because, my face faces to the front not the back as yours also. Human beings should walk to front. You can open your door. You can change anything you like. You know I like to live naturally.

What place do you think the Internet has in the music world?

Connecting people is not a bad thing. But, if you download music, please think of royalties for artists. It's the 21 century, every artist must find their own way to survive. I'm sure I won't do gigs on the Internet. I like small comfortable restaurants, as I said before. I need R.E.A.L. contact with the audience :)

If the live music experience is so important to you, do you go to other people's gigs?

Yes, I go sometimes. Mainly to any kind of folk music from every part of the world, and jazz. But, not often. .As I said I record every single show of mine, which is based on instant composition. So, I've enough material to hear. Also, if you're instant composing, you must be careful with your brain. If you have too much information - for instance listen to a lot of music, go to clubs, go to so many concerts - automatically, somebody else's music stays in your brain and it might be possible one day that I sing a song of somebody else's. That already happened to me during the CAN-era.

I use to take trips to non-tourist place in the world with a rucksack - I'd been many times to West Africa - then I heard native music in villages, the corner of a town, etc. It's nice to hear housewives are singing during their home work or small kids playing percussion with home-made bongos made out of cola cans or anything. I like such kind of experiences...music which is nothing to do with commerce. It comes from nature and it's based on real life. Not like " Let's go to
studio-recording-release-Let's go to tour....play same songs day after
day....". So, that's the reason I don't go to such a concert.

It's same with my trips. Most of the people like to see London Bridge or Kensington Palace etc, and take photos in front of these places or they are comparing with thier tourist guide book. It's nothing inside. Just surface tourism. Connecting with people is my trip. My trip is also my music.

Are you still a Jehovah's Witness?

I'm not a Jehovah's Witness, now. But I believe in their God, also in the Bible. Many times in my life belief in God has helped me a lot. You cannot live with the morals of today. Morals are changing from time to time, generation to generation. But, things with the Bible stay forever. This is the way of rule for the human being and its society.

If people can't get to your concerts, are you going to make your merchandise etc available on the internet?

My website is developing to give information and it will also have merchandising.
My friend takes care of my website....But he is falling love with his new girlfriend...his work is getting slow...

What other artists do you like?

I like artists who like my work and are able to instantly compose with me :) I like artists who have energy for innovation and who know good and bad are much more important than old and new.

What influences and inspires you at the moment?

If you're old like me better not to have anyone who influences or inspires you. I go my way. Because it's my life and it's the right way to go this way. I know IT IS R.I.G.H.T !