Q: Congratulations on the new album. It seems very hard to me, more like a live concert by DEMENTED ARE GO. What do you think? Did you change anything in the recording of the album compared to the previous ones?
A: Thank you. This time we recorded the album in collaboration with Tim Buktu. Tim is known for his very good production work. Our goal was to make the record sound real and raw. The previous one was a “little” disaster. When Tim unexpectedly passed away last autumn, we had to move the mixing to another studio. But we are very happy with the result.
Q: After all these years, how do you keep the madness alive? Doesn’t it get boring at some point (Sparky)?
A: Haha, that’s part of it. We didn’t join the band for nothing. There are plenty of boring pop bands out there. When we have time off, we actually miss it a bit.
Q: The sound of DEMENTED ARE GO is a mixture of Rock’n’Roll, Blues, Country, Psychobilly, and madness. What does “The Art and Style of Psychobilly” mean to you?
A: Good question. It’s really hard to describe precisely. Everything somehow belongs together. With DEMENTED ARE GO, we don’t stick to one style. What’s important to us is, at least, the zombie drumming and the pounding sound. I personally like almost everything. Stupid bands bore me a lot. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of bands in that direction that either don’t know their instruments or play boring whiny music. That’s annoying.
Q: To what extent are you afraid that titles like “Retard Whore” or “Bodies in the Basement” could cause controversy because they are hard material?
A: Are they? What about Anal Wonderland? It’s not hard material. As you said before, it’s our madness.
Q: Are there any young Psychobilly bands you can recommend, and if so, why?
A: A lot of bands come and go. Many don’t even realize that they are just annoying or even bad. I have the feeling that especially among the younger psychos, it’s part of the deal to buy a double bass and get started. There’s nothing wrong with that in principle. Just a little music school has never hurt anyone, right? I can’t pin down a “new” band.
Q: With DEMENTED ARE GO, you have played in many countries. Where is the scene the craziest? Which festival should every Psychobilly have attended?
A: The scene actually differs. I always meet the funniest people in Finland or Sweden. Finland is one of my favorite countries when it comes to Psychofestivals. There’s a nice tight-knit community there.
Q: When I see you on stage, I always think about whether you would be interested in making a feature film that captures all the madness, perhaps even offstage. What do you think about that?
A: Write a script and do it!
Q: You played with Heartbreak Engines before DEMENTED ARE GO. Will there be a revival of the band?
A: I still play with Heartbreak Engines. We have just minimized our live shows. At the moment, we are working on a new album.
Q: You have some concerts scheduled until September. What should one expect if they plan to attend a gig of yours?
A: Expect anything. Every night is exciting anew. I’m looking forward to the audience's reaction and whether everyone already knows the new songs by heart.
