COLLAPSE BOARD

an interview with Chris Bailey (The Saints), conducted for All Times Through Paradise

by Everett True

Inspired by Wallace’s recent overview of The Go-Betweens’ Before Hollywood, I thought I’d exhume a couple of articles relating to Brisbane music. First up comes an interview conducted with Chris Bailey. This originally appeared in Plan B Magazine #3, a few years before Ed Kuepper and Bailey reunited as The Saints for the Pig City concert.

(Article starts)

There’s a four-CD compilation of Saints songs out now on EMI, All Times Through Paradise.

You may not be aware of it. You should be. Not only does it feature one of the finest ‘punk’ albums ever made, 1977’s raw and alienated (I’m) Stranded – a record full of snarling, bratty vocals and guitar riffs that torched a generation, recorded in just two days flat in Brisbane, Australia. Not only does it feature the incredible third album, 1978’s Prehistoric Sounds, with an entire slew of refrains and oblique religious chants to die for. Not only does it feature THE BEST FUCKING ALBUM EVER FUCKING RECORDED FUCKING EVER – and I’ll punch you out if you say any different – the same year’s Eternally Yours (The Saints’ second), the only successful fusion of horns and loud guitars EVER in the history of rock (and yes, I’m including The Rolling Stones). (‘This Perfect Day’, ‘Know Your Product’ … oh my fucking Holy Jesus and all the Righteous Apostles). Not only does it feature an entire live London concert recording from November ’77 – shit, even Ramones were hard put to match the adrenalin and melodic swing of those tunes. But! There’s also, like, 30 bonus tracks from that first incarnation of The Saints – and you should take anything that’s been released under the same name after guitarist Ed Kuepper left in the late Seventies with a large pinch of salt – including THE BEST FUCKING VERSION EVER of ‘River Deep Mountain High’ … better than Spector even. Yes. Fucking really.

You know what? Fucking quit reading this magazine already. Fucking go and track down some Saints and get them into your life NOW. Then come back. Otherwise, you are not fucking worthy.

Herein follows an interview with singer Chris Bailey about the early days of The Saints. Part two, wherein I talk to Ed Kuepper, will follow next issue. [The second part actually appeared in Loose Lips Sink Ships, and I no longer have it. If anyone can send me a copy, that'd be lovely - Ed]

(continues overleaf)

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 4:33 pm. It is filed under Brisbane and tagged with All Times Through Paradise, Brisbane, Chris Bailey, Ed Kuepper, Everett True, Plan B Magazine, punk rock, Queensland, The Saints. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.