On Monday, November 23, 1999, Glen, Scotty and Kurt sat down (on a nice green couch) with Sonicnet.com for a video chat - a great way to kick off Voodoo Week! Sonicnet edited down the chat, and took out some of the *best* moments, so here it is, in it's entirety, with running commentary and fill-in-the-blanks from me (in da yellow).
jetsfan20 asks: Where
did you come up with your name?
Glen: Scott
got Albert Collins to sign a poster to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Kurt
liked it and there it was.
courtney_shayne_jawbreaker_13
asks: How long have you guys been together?
Scotty: Ten
years ago, I put the band together. We started jamming together in '89
and the first record came out in '94. We put an ad in the paper that said
that we were looking for members interested in Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits,
etc. in a bath tub on acid. I was trying to play horn lines on my
guitar. We just got better and better and we ended up and the dance club
The Derby. We slowed our tempos down to work on our dance moves.
*Now, were they going
to be PLAYING in that tub full of acid? Or is there a comma missing
somewhere?*
chronic420_hotboy asks:
Are you currently on tour?
Kurt: We will
be on tour until 2025 for this record. All the tour dates are on the website
www.bbvd.com.
parkyposer asks: What
would you all be doing today if you weren't involved in the music industry?
Other than being the voices of South Park, that is.
Glen: I'd probably
be a porn star.
Kurt: I'd be
getting a lot more sleep and surfing more.
Scotty: I'd
be doing it for pennies. It's all I can do.
*Glen went on to INSIST
he'd be a porn star. Over and over again.*
phukyiou asks: So you
were playing in The Derby and got noticed. How did it feel to finally get
recognized and appear on the film Swingers?
Scotty: We
were at the Derby for almost two years before Swingers and there was a
buzz on us. Things were going really well for us, there was such
an underground buzz. When things exploded, we felt like we were these
cool guys playing the role of Urkel. It was like a weird sitcom. We traveled
the country in our van, playing almost every night each week. "Zoot Suit
Riot" spearheaded this thing that we had been doing for so long. We felt
like it was this really special thing. To hear swing music on the radio.
Cosmo6Sema asks: The
first reaction to listening to your new album, is that the tempo is much
slower, what brought you to make this change in your music?
Kurt: I was
really tired.
Scotty: We
had done that big record. The next record was such a backlash. We were
trying to focus more on the music and the songs so people will understand
that we have worked so hard for so many years. So the more you listen to
it the more you hear. Each member was trying to push Each member was trying
to push their limits with the record.
Kurt: The new
Chris Cornell, Nine Inch Nails, Wynton Marsalis, any music that has
a lot of passion. I try to incorporate all kinds of music into my style.
Buddy Rich, Foo Fighters, everything.
almondforjoy asks:
What's this Fantasia 2000 gig I hear you're playing on New Year's Eve?
Glen: It's
the world premiere for Fantasia 2. It will be the first New Years that
we've been home in five years. After the movie, we and Chicago will play
the party.
*They really wanted
to be home this New Year's. Even if it involves Disney*
BigBadSklay asks: Have
you ever considered putting some of your live cover songs on besides or
on a live package?
Scotty: Yes.
I would like to put out a live album We are working on a live internet
download, a free thing. Just get it for free off our web site. We played
over 280 shows in six months so we're trying to catch up right now.
*Scotty also expressed
interest in producing solo albums for both Glen and Karl, if they ever
chose to go that route*
bassinator_2000 asks:
Hello, Who did the artwork on your album cover?
Kurt: Our friend
Todd Shorr. It's based on a series called "Secret Mystic Rites." We're
selling the book through our web site and at our concerts. He's a great
artist and a good friend and he plays the drums which is a plus.
Cosmo6Sema asks: Do
you feel your music should get more recognition than it does?
Scotty: From
the song writing stand point, no, we hope to get to the people who really
listen to our music. We really just want to play for the people who want
to hear us. We want to rebuild what has been destroyed. There hasn't been
a change in the crowds but in the media. The media has attacked the band.
It was just part of the whole media blitz. Everyone we've worked with has
been so cool so far. We haven't encountered any real assholes yet.
We've played for Clinton. The Superbowl was unreal, no one can take that
away from us.
*Scotty also said
that making a huge MTV-like video and getting all kinds of airplay is cool,
but they really want to be known for their touring, great live shows and
relationship with their fans*
ikya99 asks: Are you
planning on re-releasing your original CD? People are making a mint on
it over on EBay.
Scotty: That
sucks. Yes. We're trying to get it cleared. We just have to wait
a little bit longer. We're gonna do our best to get it out. Cheap.
*He didn't mean that
people who bought it sucked. He meant it sucks that more people who
want it can't get it*
SuperVoodooDaddy asks:
Glen, Dude, you're the beastmaster on those horns. When we going
to hear more solos? Scotty, let that boy play!
Glen: He lets
me play, man, every night. My lips are sore. He lets me play more
than any other trumpet player in the business.
ty_crawker_punk_rawker
asks: Who gets laid the most in the band?
Glen: We're
not one to tell tales.
Scotty: We're
into yoga and mediation and we’re celibate.
*They guys were really
uncomfortable with this question and there was a few moments of silence
and some self-conscious shifting around. A very stupid thing for
the moderator to do - ask a dumb question and make your guests nervous*
soccer_sweetie9 asks:
Do you ever have fans send you strange mail?
Scotty: Yeah,
we get some weird stuff.
Kurt: No ticking
packages yet.
lindyhopper27 asks:
What's your favorite sport? Baseball?
Glen: Golf!
Scotty: I like
to play golf and surf, but I'm really into skateboarding. Tony Hawk is
God!
Kurt: Surfing
and skateboarding.
colleen27_artist asks:
What was the largest crowd you have played before?
Glen: We played
to 30,000 people in Boston once.
Scotty: 75,000
in Miami. On our own, the biggest crowd we played to was 30,000.
russellshock asks:
Glen - who does the horn arrangements? Heard that you might have done some
in Pinstripe? Any formulas?
Glen: Our horn
arrangers are Tom and Josh. I collaborated with Scott on "Pinstripe Suit."
sfraven asks: Scotty
are you taking good care of your voice?
Scotty: We
did an in your monitor thing and i don't have to sing with any monitors.
Thanks for noticing.
Glen: Since
we switched the inner he's been a real pleasure to listen to.
slave_melissa asks:
do you have a fan club and if so how do i join?
Kurt: I think
it's free, visit our web site at www.bbvd.com.
Glen: We're
trying to do a lot of stuff with our web site. We're posting weekly journals,
online chats, updating the pictures. We're trying to make it as interactive
as we can.
Kurt: We're
gonna install a video cam in Glen’s bunk.
*Woohoo, Kid Kam!
BTW, the club is on Yahoo! and is free with a broccoli floret*
colleen27_artist asks:
What was the most embarrassing thing to happen while performing?
Glen: I forgot
my pants the other night. Ten minutes before a show the other night, I
discovered my pants were missing so I had to wear someone's oversized Levis.
I wore these big black jeans and it was embarrassing. I'm the only guy
to ever wear denim on stage.
*The Levis' in question
belong to tour manager extraordaire, James. Glen opened his garment
bag and found his suit, with the pants missing (no word on their whereabouts
at press time). Being a bit larger than Glen, the pants swam on him
and Glen spent the whole night hitching them up with one hand and playing
with other*
Scotty: My
feet got tangled up on stage once. (He got all tangled
in the mic cords and fell flat on his face in the middle of the show.
The mic hasn't been heard from since) Kurt got diarrhea in the middle
of the set and we had to stop.
*Not at the same show
as above, but once again, the show continued on. When Kurt returned,
Dirk was singing and Scotty was pounding away at the drums*
Kurt: We were
flying to Calgary last week. I fell asleep on the plane. Scott pulled
out my Playboy magazine (there's still a bit of confusion
as to whether the magazine was his or Scotty's. We've heard conflicting
reports) and set it on my lap while I was sleeping. He got the flight
attendant to confront me and say 'I'm sorry sir you can't read that on
the plane.' They took pictures.
*Josh took pictures.
They should be on the site soon*
lindyhopper27 asks:
What song are you gonna do Regis and Kathy Lee tomorrow? Are you gonna
ask Regis for a million dollars?!?!?
Kurt: We'll
be doing a few songs.
Scotty: "I
Wanna Be Just Like You." I'm going for Kathy, again.
ThreeOClockSuperman
asks: What do you think about while playing?
Glen: I think
happy thoughts.
Kurt: I think
about peanuts.
Scotty: I'm
just looking at the crowd the whole time and feeding off them. We're not
thinking about the notes, that's for sure.
Glen: It's
an emotional rollercoaster.
SuperVoodooDaddy asks:
Even if the swing movement dies down, will you guys be happy to continue
on, given your legion of cult-like fans? Or do you guys want to do other
things? Yer almost all family men....
Scotty: Yes
we will do other things and continue to make records. I hope we never break
up. I hope to play with this band until they kick me off the stage I can't
wait until the media blitz is over. We are more than brothers. Kurt's my
lover!
*So the truth FINALLY
comes out!*
fastbrat24 asks: Do
you date fans?
Scotty: Depends
on what they look like!
Kurt: I haven't
because I've been married for about five years.
*I swear on all that
is holy that Scotty DID NOT sound as shallow as this looks in print!!
He was kidding!!*
mizzgirl asks: What's
your favorite song off the new album and why?
Glen: I like
"Some Things." It's sweet. It's kinda jazzy. The style of music that
I've loved my whole life. Scott wrote it for me and I'm tickled to death.
Scotty: "When
It Comes to Love." Real simple and fun.
Kurt: I like
"Creepin'" and "Old MacDonald"
*Scotty went on to
give MAJOR props to Kurt on "Old MacDonald". Kurt nailed the drums
to a T on that one, and "I'm honored to appear on it with him" - Scotty*
bbvdgal03 asks: Are
any of your songs dedicated to someone special?
Scotty: Some
of them are, definitely. Every song on the new record is a very specific
incident. Drinking gin and playing clubs, then you grow up and have kids
and experience new things.
*The discussion continued
on for a bit, and Scotty mentioned "Sleep Tight" as a song he wrote for
his daughter Sydney. This lead to a *very* confused Kurt, who, all
this time, thought that song was about Australia*
BigBadSklay asks: What
is the most rewarding thing that you see from the stage during your live
shows? The age range of the crowd, fans singing along, watching people
get out of their seats, 'cause they can't help but move to your music,
etc.?
Kurt: They
really summed it up.
Scotty: You
hit it there. That's all the stuff that makes me come out every night.
That's why we go out and play each night. We've managed over 200 shows
a year since '92. Canada is the only other place that we've been. We wanna
play the world but our management gets more money in the States. We wanna
go to Asia and everywhere else.
ikya99 asks: There
was a discussion on the board regarding "When it Comes to Love". We all
thought it sounded like it belonged in a musical. Would you ever give permission
for it to be sung by someone else if a it was to be used in a movie?
Scotty: Absolutely.
Any of the songs. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton are my favorite combination.
We would do something with Spike Jonze or someone who we really like.
Kurt: I'm convinced
that Drew Barrymore will come to her senses and get in a movie with me.
Scotty: We're
doing the music for a song that Drew sings in a Christmas special. We're
reindeer.
*Teehee - Big Bad
Voodoo Reindeer! Scotty also said that Kurt had been mentioned (not
by name), in Drew's movie, "Never Been Kissed" (as in, "Yeah, she used
to date the drummer from the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.") Kurt had forgotten,
but is now very happy to be known as the dude that used to date Josi Grossi*
phukyiou asks: There
are so many of you in the band, how did you coordinate rehearsal and gigs
before you got famous?
Kurt: Scott
would call me and tell me to get everyone together.
bbvdvixen asks: What
kind of formal or non-formal training have each of you had?
Glen: It's
different for each band member. Kurt wasn't a music major but has taken
lessons. Scott and I met at band camp. (I think that's
a typo on Sonicnet's part - as far as I know, it was Glen and JOSH that
met at band camp)Andy is self-taught. We all have a pretty diverse
background. We've played in punk bands, ska bands and orchestras, the whole
gamut.
be_u_tea_ful1 asks:
i am in a jazz band at school and i was wondering if you have any suggestions
of songs for us by you?
Scotty: For
the jazz band, "Boogie Bumper" would be good. It would be cool to see them
do "Creepin'."
Glen: We're
gonna run a contest for high school bands. All the bands will enter by
sending in tapes. It will start next year. We will go to the winning school
and meet all the kids.
Scotty: We
want to get more funds to music programs at schools.
betty_crawker_punk_rawker
asks: Do you guys have any kooky pre-show rituals?
Scotty: We
listen to the American Gladiators.
Glen: And a
mariachi thing.
Scotty: Kurt
does a couple haikus.
*Scotty or Glen or
Kurt: "And of course, the group prayer."*
kimber1076 asks: What
is the name of the animated special you just recorded for with Drew Barrymore?
Scotty: "Olive
the Other Reindeer." It will be on Monday Dec. 17 8pm on Fox. It's from
the mind of Matt Groenig, the executive producer of The Simpsons and Futurama.
It's great working with people who you really respect.
*The 17th is a Friday.
As the date gets closer, I'll have it all straightened out. They
also mentioned that none of them had red noses as the Voodoo Reindeer,
and that The Simpsons is their favorite show of all time.*
rose_07032 asks: Scotty,
do u have any tattoos?
Scotty: I have
five piercings.
*And I happen to know
where. And I ain't tellin'.
skatefanatic85 asks:
Do you have the name of your next album?
Scotty: I don't
know, i have some ideas. The next one will be absolutely crazy. Now the
sky is the limit as far as I'm concerned.
*Us too. You
lead, we'll follow.*
ikya99 asks: Were you
guys band geeks high school?
Scotty: I was
just a geek.
Kurt: Glen
was a band geek.
Glen: I was
four feet nine until fourth grade. They called us bando's and band geeks.
Scotty: I punched
a band geek before going on stage and got kicked out of band.
*Kurt went on to describe
just HOW much of a geek he was - long hair, boots, punk...awww, poor baby*
SuperVoodooDaddy asks:
Who's the smelliest guy in the band?
Glen: Karl.
Scotty: But
Andy has an original thing.
Glen: Andy
is the zen master of stench.
*This discussion went
so far as to proclaim Andy as the master, with Karl as an up and coming
disciple of Stink. You DON'T want to hear the discussion we had (in
person), about this the next night in Philly*
tonyono asks: When
on tour what is the most interesting occurrence that has taken place on
the bus?
Scotty: Last
week I had a nightmare on the bus. We were going from Vancouver to Portland.
I had a horrible nightmare, my walkman got caught around my neck, I woke
up shouting, "no! no!"
*Okay, Sonicnet took
this waaaay apart. In addition to some comments on their favorite
activity known as "bunk stuffing" (how many Daddys can YOU fit in one bunk?
The record so far is 5) - here's what happened:
They were making a 16-hour drive from Vancouver, Canada to Portland, Oregon.
Scotty went to sleep with his walkman on, and during the night, somehow
got all tangled up in his blankets and his headphones got wrapped around
his neck. Meanwhile, he's having a terrible nightmare (he can't remember
about what), and is screaming, in his sleep, "NO! NO! NO!"
At the same time, Dirk is in the bunk across from him, having a dream that
he and Scotty are on the Hoover Dam, and in the dream, Scotty starts to
fall off the dam. So he (in HIS sleep), is waving his arms around,
yelling, "I got you Scott! I got you!!".
Hearing this, Scotty wakes up, all tangled and fighting with his blankets,
yelling, "Where am I?!? Where am I?!?".
Kurt, from the bunk above him, yells, "It's 4:30 in the morning!
You're on the goddamn bus, and I'm trying to sleep!"
The next morning, a slightly cranky Kurt tells them all this. Upon
hearing the whole thing was a dream, Scotty's response is a loud and forceful,
"FUCK!"
And THAT'S what really happened.
Scotty: Goodbye
everybody, thanks for having us!
Kurt: Check
out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
*As they're getting
up and taking off their mics, Scotty starts whistling a song from the 'South
Park' movie, a lovely little ditty entitled, "Shut Your Fucking Face, Unclefucker"
:-)