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interviewed by A square 333 and Bruno (may 17, 2000)

Performer with Big Boys, Poison 13, Bad Mutha Goose And The Brothers Grimm, Jack'O'fire, and currently Lord High Fixers, King Sound Quartet, Monkeywrench . producer / sound engineer with Sugar Shack, Mooney Suzuki and loads of other bands. Works in partnership with the texas punk guerrilla..."

First of all, let me tell you, Lord High Fixers ' LP "Is Your Club a Secret Weapon?" is the last great album I've ever heard since "Apocalypse Dudes" (Turbonegro), "My Favorite Things" & "Olé" (John Coltrane), "Let my Children hear Music" (Charles Mingus), "No sleep 'till Hammersmith" (Motörhead), "High Time" (the mighty MC5), "Kick Out the Jams" (the mighty mighty MC5), and just add a little bit of Erik Satie...But don't forget the Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. They're great ! ! !

.and when listening to this album it comes with each song. I'd better call it high energy !!!

Before this, they recorded songs and I believe they are "hard to cover" songs like Young Man Blues (Mose Allison), Save my Soul (Wimple Winch), Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Beatles), Just Let Go (The Seeds), and then you realise that they have this ability to turn their music into a free form that makes them able to play any kind of stuff, while still seething with an incredible Texas Punk energy.

When asking to T.Kerr about this album it crossed my mind !

"This is a real Garage shock ! And it comes to roll, and keeps rollin' all way long, a sonic heap of feedback and guitars, they think of their roots, and stand for soul, .jazz, and the use of samples and the scratches that sound more like "Handsaw Massacre".!!! That's Furious Texas Punk at its best".

And I'm not exagerating. let's see, T.Kerr says it clear "We Are All Very Proud Of That Record".

We are very pleased that you're ok to answer some questions

TK : Hey, did you know that Monkeywrench is playing in London on the 27th and 28th of may at the Borderline?

Here is the Interview State/Meant :
- ".jazz, blues, pop, punk, metal, noise, reggae, etc., is capable of being cool, of rocking. And each is capable of sucking if it's not done so that it rocks. It's not WHAT it is, it's HOW IT'S DONE!." (Shited's state)

TK : It has to have soul!

Add anything you want to at any time. We all have to know about the Lord High Fixers, so we hope to hear from you
The rules : no rules. So here we go !
Poison 13 was discovered in France through the local pressings of Music Action label. How did you get in touch with them ? Were these records released in the USA at the time ?

TK : The local label here in Austin that both those Poison 13 records were on got in touch with Music Action. I'm not sure how he knew about them, or who contacted who, but it might have been that he worked at the alternative record store here, and also Dino Lee (from Austin) was getting noticed in France.

Were these two Lps successfull in Europe ? Did you have any sales statements ? Did you come to make some gigs in Europe to promote the Lps?

TK : Well. (smile). first off I never have any idea about record sales etc...thats not why I do what I do. I'm not saying it's bad to be aware of that stuff, I'm just not. I have a regular day job so that I don't have to be concerned if my self expression is generating any income. (smile). Poison 13 really only played in Texas and Cal. In Texas we were not really liked because it was right at the height of fast hardcore and here we were playing really slow (at times), really drunk (always), really loud, and to top that off we were playing blues...a nono for an Austin Texas punk band at that time. Hated and proud!

Who is Spot, credited as a producer on the first Lp, and featuring in the credits on the sleeve of the second ?

TK : Spot is the one who produced most if not all the SST stuff...Black Flag, Minutemen, Hüsker Dü, Meat Puppets, etc. He is a really great friend. We met when he came here to record the first band I was in, the Big Boys. He moved to Austin in the early 80s and we are still great friends today. We recorded and mixed that first Poison 13 record all in one nite, and that's counting the couple of hours we spent drinking before we started rolling tape. I have really learned a lot from him.

Are there some unissued tracks of Poison 13 ? Why is the second Lp so short ? Did you play other covers on stage than the ones that we know on the Lps ?

TK : Most everything recorded is out now between the Sub Pop reissue and the Estrus double 7'. I think the second Lp was in reality supposed to be an Ep. (smile)... We used to play Stooges, Johnny Thunders, Joy Division, and assorted odds and ends...some we knew, some we didn't. (smile)

How and when did your association with Mark Arm and Steve Turner from Mudhoney turn into The Monkeywrench ?

TK : I went to see Mudhoney play here in Austin and we met then. They were big Poison 13 fans and when I told Mark about a bunch of songs I had that we (Poison13) never recorded because of breaking up... he went into action, and those songs were the first Monkeywrench record. We just recently got back together and recorded another record and are doing shows.

Are the Lord High Fixers going to play in Europe ?

TK : No...the Lord High Fixers played their very last show in march almost to the day of our first.

What do you think of the " Who will save rock and roll quest "? I mean, nowadays a lot of groups are playing good music with a lot of high energy and guts and a raw AND well produced sound.

TK : I think you need to do what it takes to save yourself... but if you are not putting 110 per cent into it then whats the point ?

Any project with In The Red Rcds ?

TK : There will be one more Lord High Fixers record that will come out on in the Red... a kind of part two to " Is your club a secret weapon ". Its already been recorded, I just have to put it together. I am also doing something with Alex (Blacktop, King Sound Quartet) and Lisa from the Bellrays singing called the Now Time Delegation. Larry is also putting out a Monkeywrench single.

Music that hits your brain these days ?
Studio recording ?

TK : Things I've recorded are the Mooney Suzuki. They are really great, kinda like if the Makers had gone more the Who Live at Leeds route. Fireballs of Freedom are really great. There is a band from Italy called 2 Bosmaniacs that are cool and the fatal Flying Guilotines. Things I haven't recorded that I am playing a lot of is the Art Ensemble of Chicago, lots of soul 45s,John Coltrane, Mudhoney Retrospect, Soledad bros., and the Horrors.

Live show ?

Mooney Suzuki, Fireballs of Freedom, Arkistra.

The new Lp was released in 1999. At that time the Lord High Fixers are paying tribute to a lot of different musical sensibilities. Right.? Did the LHF turn into a new whole thing ?

TK : Not really...for people that know us /me this record made complete sense. It was like giving you the whole picture.

Do you think that it's just the perfect album to reach the largest public as possible?

TK : I really like it a lot, but once again it was a self expression thing that wasn't done with sales in mind. My point of view is to just keep doing your best and by all means keep pushing your expression. If people like it, that's a great bonus.

It contents various spoken words from well known black and white American revolutionaries and talented black musicians. Can you comment ?.

TK : It's just comments on keeping wide open in music and life. You dont have to do what everybody else does and once you realise that it frees you up to be yourself and express yourself in your own way.

In the 90's Poison Idea recorded "Harder they Come" and a lot of other cool covers in the great "Pajama Party" album on Tim Kerr Records( and BTW, thank you Mr Kerr), then Antiseen covered C.Mayfield 's "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go" and Sun Ra 's "Space is the Place" and the King Sound Quartet play Sun Ra 's "Space is the Place" on the whole B side of "The Get-Down Imperative"LP. So is there anything special going on out there ?

TK : Well first of all, Tim Kerr Records is not me and there has been a lot of confusion from this in some ways, fueled by the label itself. Some of the bands on the label thought it was me ! As far as the covers...those are great songs and pretty much blow that myth out of the water that if you are in one "tribe" you only listen to that particular style of music. Once again its much healthier and fun to listen to all kinds of stuff and find the connections.the sounds with true soul will ring out loud and clear !

About these guys, Antiseen and the Confederacy of Scum, do you know them ?

TK : No, not really... Antiseen played with a band I was in, Bad Mutha Goose, and the brothers Grimm in Philadelphia. They were nice guys and asked me about Poison 13 and Roky Erickson.

What is The Young Lions Conspiracy ? What does the Young Lions Conspiracy "do to participate" ?

TK : A group that promotes an attitude of diversity in sound and life. What do they do to participate ? Plant seeds !. (smile)

One of your best memory with the LHF ?

TK : Playing places for the first time and people being caught completely off guard ! One show only making it through 4 songs before all the equipment was destroyed....

The worst ?

TK : Fixing equipment after every show. (smile).

What scares you the most in the world ?

TK : Souless bullshit music, and the attitude that goes along with it is pretty scary

Now, you stepped into the Dangerhouse and you're on the way to hell because when push comes to shove you have to choose and save just one of your favourite album. Which one ?

TK : John Coltrane... Africa sessions

DO something! participate! start a band, a fanzine! breathe! live!

tim