Interview: Zoogf Rift, Artist & Musician: 29th August 2004

Media Man Australia interviews one of the most creative and "out there" artists and musicians on the planet.

What motivates you?

Being alive. I'm not so sure there even is a thing called motivation. We wake up, we eat and breathe, we live out our hours and days, with everything repeating over and over again. We do what we do. It's only later on that we assess and evaluate what we did, and apply value to it. Who can say why we do the things we do? We just do them, for whatever complex network of reasons floating around at that moment, then we move on.

What's your background?

I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10. But I hated the teacher, so I stopped two years later and didn't seriously pick up the guitar again for another 10 years or so. I listened to a lot of different music when I was a teenager, ranging from Beatles to Zappa to Cage to Miles, and I hadn't yet decided which direction I wanted to go in, so I decided to let chance take it's course, and wound up, at least initially, doing serious electronic music. I became friends with John Cage--we used to go to concerts together in NYC--so I always had experimental music on my mind. Zen, Dada, Zen, Dada, Zen Dada. But once I actually started the band in 1972, I wanted to cater to the tastes and interests of the other musicians as well as my own, so the band started taking my time and attention in a rock and roll direction. That's when I decided to re-learn the guitar. For the first few years, however, I limited my participation to lead vocals.

Describe a typical day for you?

It kind of changes from week to week. Obesity, diabetes, partial blindness and arthritis have taken a major toll on my health, and ability to get around. Everyone in the band is off doing their own thing--Richie Hass is now in Saccharine Trust, Willie Lapin is now a full-blown high school science teacher, and Tom Brown is writing a really cool book about how he refused to fight in the Vietnam war. I spend a few days a week being visited by my son, who drives me to do errands like shopping. We have lunch together and watch television, stuff ranging from Ali G to Zatoichi to The Three Stooges to various full-length films of interest. He just bought me a 53" projection TV, so now I can at least see what I'm looking at. I spend the rest of the time working on my painting projects, visiting the internet, and playing a lot of computer Hearts.

How did you get your break in the entertainment business?

It never showed up. But I did it anyway. Fuck 'em. Thirty years ago, Frank Zappa told me that the secret to success in show biz was actually very simple: "Don't give up. As soon as you've given up, you've lost." That pretty much sums it up, I think. If it's in your blood, go for it, and don't let your friends, relatives or other adversities talk you out of it. You can't let the world bully you.

What do you consider the highlights of both you life, and your career?

Anytime I was having sex. I love sex, cuddling, that kind of stuff. Ultimately, I feel sex is the underlying motivator for everything we do in life. Everybody's going through their goofy little dance, all trying to impress everybody else. A lot of weird masculine/feminine dynamics going on all the time. I can't have sex with a stranger, though--I'm not into touching some idiot I don't even know. I'd rather stick with the idiots I do know.

How do you know your doing your thing right?

I doubt I ever did anything right. Sometimes things turn out good, other times awful. I'm not concerned about it. All I care about is living a happy, peaceful, creative life. Right and wrong don't usually have to enter into the equation. I don't believe in hurting people--"live and let live" best describes my attitude toward life. Ignorant people are constantly putting unnecessary obstacles in our way, but like water in a stream, I just keep moving along and don't let the rocks and sticks deter me. Flow as water. I'm just a water kind of guy.

What's the appeal of professional wrestling for you?

Well, I don't believe in real-life violence. Other than direct self-defense, there's never a valid reason to initiate violence. And I mean that on a global level as well. Still, the world continuously pisses me off, so I need some sort of outlet. I won't do it myself, but I do enjoy watching guys pretending to beat the crap out of each other. I love the soap opera element, the absurd storylines. But pro wrestling is constantly mutating--I admit that I don't like it as much as I used to. I enjoyed working in the business, but I'm glad I've moved on to other interests. The Warlord and I crippled Cowboy Bob Orton and ended his career, so that will have to do.

What makes a great showman?

That's easy. Someone who puts their heart, soul and intellect into their performance. Someone who looks at his job as a serious craft and not merely a hobby. After years of applying the effort, the experience and expertise start to kick in.

Describe your artistic talent, and the creative process that you employee?

There's nothing to describe. I'm a dadaist--I take it as it comes, and make the best of it. Dali said if you know what your painting is going to look like before you paint, then there's no sense in painting it. I believe that. Give chance a piece of your creative output.

What are a few funny tales from the road?

Too many to go into here. You'd be better off watching my new 4-hour documentary/interview for stuff like that. Being on the road with a rock band is definitely like being in the Twilight Zone.

How does technology assist you?

Technology, as great as it is for a musician, can also be extremely annoying. I have a problem with essentially lazy, uncreative people using MIDI technology to cheat their way through composing and performance. They take the art out of the music. It's pathetic. Generally speaking, I prefer to use and hear real instruments, with real musicians who make real mistakes. It separates the men from the boys, so to speak. If a synthesizer is being used to explore sounds, then I'd say you're using the instrument creatively. If you're using it for strings, or as a drum machine, or whatever, then I'd have to say you're full of shit. Bad music needs gimmicks--good music needs sweat.

What are your tools of the trade?

I play a customized Fender Squire Strat with a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and a couple of different pickups. I always play with a t-bar, and make sure it's in my right hand at all times while I'm playing. I can't/won't play a guitar that doesn't have a tremolo bar, period. For the past 25 years, I've played in open E tuning, using my fingers to simulate slide guitar technique without the slide. My favorite amp to play through is any Mesa/Boogie--those amps have balls, power and strength, and help translate my playing into overwhelming sexuality.

How does the world portray you?

It doesn't. I essentially don't exist. I'm lower than obscure--I'm outright invisible to most of the music world. Five minutes after I die, I'll be totally forgotten. I would have liked to have made more money for me and my loyal musicians, but 30 years of legit art will have to do. I thought I did a pretty good job, all things and low budgets considered. I don't dwell on it. It doesn't matter.

How does life imitate art for you?

It doesn't. They're essentially the same thing. They're both fun and they're both extremely annoying.

Who are your influences?

Well, let's see. If one were to dig deep enough into my music, they'd be likely to find musical influences like Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, The Beatles, The Bonzo Dog Band, The Contortions, Elvis Costello, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Miles Davis--stuff like that. Beyond that, other miscellaneous influences include Capt. Lou Albano, Ayn Rand, Lou Costello, Lenny Bruce, etc.

How do you make a positive difference?

Ha ha. Who the fuck knows!

What does "success" mean to you?

There're no such things as success and failure--just hills and valleys. Everything constantly changes and mutates, regardless of what we personally do to control it. Like a river, best to go with the flow of your own interests and instincts, and not worry too much about it. When you have a job to do, just do it and shut up about it.

What media attention have you attracted over the years?

I've been reviewed in every major music publication and many of the minor ones as well. Billboard, Spin, Rolling Stone, Wrestling magazines, blah blah blah. It's all a bunch of phoney-baloney bullshit. If you buy ad space, they review you. If you don't, they probably won't. Usually all that's involved is to send them a well-written press release, and they'll essentially print the whole thing, putting their name on it. Publicity is bullshit. All the media is concerned about is making money, which makes them worthless to me. Diabetes has destroyed most of my eyesight now anyway, so I don't read much of anything anymore. It's too strenuous. Getting old sucks. I highly recommend that you avoid it as much as possible.

What are your current projects?

My son is directing a 4-hour, 3 dvdr set--a complete biography of Zoogz Rift, along with interviews with me and my band: Richie Hass, Willie Lapin, Tom Brown, Arthur Barrow and numerous others. It's extremely comprehensive, and tells the whole story, straight from the horse's mouth. It's called ZOOGZ RIFT: THE FIRESIDE CHAT, and is scheduled for release this Halloween, in time for the Xmas season. Updates will be posted at my website, http://zoogzrift.4mg.com

What would you like to be known for?

Once I'm dead, nothing. Now, though, I simply would like respect, recognition, and financial support from the people who enjoy my recordings. Go to my website and buy my cd-r's. Above all, I'm a dadaist, and I take it dead seriously. Ha ha. Whatever the hell that means.

What do you know about Australia that sounds appealing?

A lot. I'd love to check out the outback, as well as the topless beaches and scenery in the mountains. Recently, I've actually seriously considered moving to Tasmania, though I've never been there. It seems like a really cool place. I can't take the big cities, though. Mass populations give me a supreme headache. I'd love to meet Steve Irwin and see if he's as goofy in person as he is on TV. I hope so.

...end.

Zoogz writes...

Thanks for interviewing me. Best of luck, Greg. Keep in touch. Dada lives, daddy-o. --Zoogz

Editors note: Creative genius or nutter? You be the judge. A serious talent, who keeps on making history in his own way.

Z O O G Z R I F T
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dada - surrealism - experimental art and music

http://zoogzrift.4mg.com

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