Sept., 2006: Baz has just completed an internet interview for SIS France. This interview was conducted by Aurelia Vecchio and will appear (in French) in the next edition of 'Strangulation' (Oct., 2006) The interview can be read (in English) below.

A Previous interview with Baz from 2005 is available via the following link: riffsonline     (Thanks to Nige/Colin at Riffs Online Fanzine)

Baz - SIS France Interview -- Sept., 2006

1) What's your general feeling about this summer's touring, about the fans' reaction, now that you're the co-lead singer of the band? And about the tour to come?

This summer has been a lot of fun as it happens…We’ve done a few shows across Europe and the UK, and have been very well received…The fans have been so receptive and warm, and we’re really looking forward to the Sept/Oct UK shows…we’re rehearsing right now and it’s sounding spot on…!

2) So far 'Suite XVI' has received good reviews, many were posted on the internet. It seems it's the long awaited album for the fans. What was the spirit when composing the album?

Well ‘Norfolk Coast’ was cited as the long awaited album for the fans too…so we just keep on composing the music that we like I guess…JJ and I lived in a house on the south coast of England for 6 weeks last year writing the songs for Suite XVI, and the mood was very upbeat and positive during the rehearsing and recording…we knew we had some good stuff so we weren’t too worried…

3) How do you explain this craze for 'Suite XVI'?

Craze? Didn’t realise there was one! I think it’s a mixture of a few things…A new line up in the band, which is always eagerly awaited by the fans of any group…fans want to hear it…! And because of the internet and the illegal leaking of music which isn’t even released yet, and the ways in which people can get hold of it…the word is out that it’s a good album…simple as that!

4) Which song do you prefer on 'Suite XVI' and why?

I have my favourites as everyone does…and they change from day to day…At the moment it’s probably ‘Relentless’…I just love the vibe of that song…and the vocal, which I think I pulled off pretty well…’Bless you’ is another of my faves…written quite a while ago when I was thinking about a big classic sounding song with a lot of twists and turns…I’m proud of that one too…….

5) You are co-singing, co-fronting with JJ, as he used to do with Hugh. Is it a common choice? Why this choice? How did you decide who sings what?

Yeah we just do what comes naturally as far as who sings what…It was very easy really…we both know who sings what best, and as far as the old songs go I sing the Cornwell stuff and JJ sings what he used to…we pretty much sing the new songs we write…

6) Speaking about the good old days, many people think that The Stranglers back as a four-piece is a return to normality. What do you think about that?

Well I joined the band when they were a 5 piece…and Paul Roberts was and is a very valued mate of mine…I enjoyed working with him, and the 5 piece were ‘the norm’ for me as a musician…not necessarily as a fan though you know? If you’re asking me whether I think the 4 piece is better…it certainly is more raw and evenly balanced visually…None of us are very pretty so we don’t get caught up in the rock star bullshit that people expect…we do what we do and this line up is as close to the original as the fans have had for over 16 years…It’s a different band…better? You decide…I know what I think…

7) Jet told me in Cluses about Norfolk Coast that it was "an unfinished symphony". Do you feel the same? If so, what was "unfinished" in NC, and what's "the small plus" in 'Suite XVI'?

Jet had a few drumming issues that weren’t resolved to his satisfaction with Norfolk Coast…sounds mostly. It was recorded in a few different studios over several months and maybe we got a few things not quite right…I think as a body of work it stands up there with the best of the Stranglers recordings, and there are some great songs on there…but it was the 1st album with a new line up and at the start of it we were probably searching for the direction for it to go…maybe that’s what Jet means you know?

8) You haven't had a break this summer, since you toured solo, and now you're off for another 20 dates with the band. Are you a workaholic? How do you manage to deal with both projects? Are they completely independent, or are there some connections?

I think I probably am a workaholic yes! I’ve been playing solo since long before I joined the band, and I see no reason to stop…I still enjoy it as much as I ever did…and I get to go to some lovely far fetched places that I wouldn’t normally go to with the band…I’ve got mates that were into what I was doing solo long before the band, and that don’t necessarily like the Stranglers you know? And I love meeting folk and playing right up close in people’s faces…I look on it as the other side of the coin…However…as soon as the UK tour is over I’m off to somewhere hot for a few days…I think I’ll deserve it by then!

9) About your cinematographic projects: is it just for fun, or do you consider making it a real career? Can you talk about your part in "Sucker Punch"?

I’ve acted before and never really liked it if I’m honest…but Suckerpunch was different. It started when a karate mate of JJ’s came to visit us in Cornwall last year. He mentioned a movie he was producing and directing, and that he was in need of a bad guy for a few scenes…By coincidence he was looking for someone roughly my age, but more importantly from my part of England (the north east) and that the part required somebody who looked like he could handle himself in a fight…He looked at me and just blurted out “do you fancy a try”? Myself and JJ were more interested in scoring the movie (writing the soundtrack music) which we’re doing as we speak…but I liked the guy and thought it would be fun…and it was! A couple of days messing around in London pretending to be a nasty bastard and scaring people…great fun! It’s due out in the new year…and they’re hopeful of a full cinematic release…watch this space…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baz Interview -- Aug 2005

(This interview was conducted over the internet by Mark Van Dongen, following the Stranglers' appearance in Halle, Belgium. Reproduced by kind permission of M. V. Dongen).

YOU’VE BEEN A STRANGLER FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS?

Yeah I’ve been in the band for 5 years now and there’s been many highlights….the first gig I did with them in Kosovo, the first recordings I made with them, the first album, the first single, a selection of the biggest gigs…of which I’ve done around 170 now…Guildford 2003 sticks out in my mind…right up to the last one which was the Wickerman Festival in Scotland…brilliant! Went to Australia last year for the first time which was a blast…Canada, Iceland…you name it…..

THE STRANGLERS’ RENAISSANCE MORE OR LESS COINCIDED WITH YOU JOINING THE BAND. WHAT HAVE YOU ADDED TO THE LINE UP?

Well I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to think that it all kicked off again with me joining…no way…but a bit of fresh blood and new ideas always comes in handy in anything in life that’s been going for a long time…doesn’t have to be a band…could be anything. I’m from a totally different background to them, come from the opposite end of the country, I’m younger than them (don’t tell ‘em I said that though!) and I guess these things have their bearing too…a bit of rekindled enthusiasm and a different voice…it all goes in the pot…it’s hard to put real specifics on it…it’s just an amalgam of loads of things…

YOU PLAYED A LARGE PART IN DELIVERING SONGS FOR NORFOLK COAST. WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING YOUR SONGS TO THE REST OF THE BAND?

Nerve wracking to start with…are they going to like them? Are they any good? They know a thing or two about hit records after all so it was a daunting prospect, but I knew they’d asked me to join partly because they knew I was a songwriter so it was inevitable, you know? The first song I wrote was Dutch Moon. I think they expected a shit kicking punk song or something for my first one, but I decided to go the other way and deliver something sweet…and they loved it ! That gave me the confidence to write more and I ended up with 4 songs on the first album…very satisfying…

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING STRANGLERS ALBUM? WHAT WILL YOUR INPUT BE THIS TIME?

The next album will be a lot harder and heavier…I’m pretty certain of that. We’ve started demo-ing and it’s chock full of riffs and there are some truly mighty moments…JJ and I lived in a house in Cornwall on the south coast of England for 6 weeks during January and February this year, and we wrote every day…together or separately…mostly together. This is going to be a great record…fingers crossed!

THE LEVELLERS WERE GUEST PERFORMERS ON NORFOLK COAST. ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR GUEST PERFORMERS ON THE NEW ALBUM?

We didn’t have all the Levellers on our album actually, only John, the violin player. We were pretty certain we wanted violin on ‘Sanfte Kuss’ and our producer was mates with him…since then he’s become a good friend and whenever we play with the Levellers, which we do from time to time, we catch up for a beer.

Don’t know about any guests on the new album…have to wait and see…it’s still early days…

YOU’VE BEEN QUOTED AS AN ADMIRER OF THE STRANGLERS BEFORE YOU JOINED THE GROUP.WHICH SONGS DO YOU LIKE TO PERFORM MOST?

Never thought about it…I like to be onstage and playing…! My faves would have to be Goodbye Toulouse and probably The Raven….good tunes.

YOU’VE RECENTLY PLAYED A PART IN A FILM. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT?

The director is a mate of JJ’s…he came to visit us one night in Cornwall when we were writing for the new album. He mentioned a movie he was doing and needed a ‘heavy’ from the North East of England…I’m from there, I’m big, I’m ugly. I’ve acted before….need we say any more?!

THE STRANGLERS ALL HAVE A CAREER OUTSIDE THE BAND. IS ACTING GOING TO BE A PERMANENT DETOUR FOR YOU OR JUST A ONE OFF?

Well Paul and JJ do their own thing outside the band from time to time, as sometimes do Jet and Dave…but at the moment we’re all pulling for the new album…it’s important you know?

I don’t mind the acting so much….it’s the fucking waiting around….does my head in! Been offered another couple of things, not too time consuming etc…so might do it…might not…depends what else is going on, you know? I’ve got no aspirations to be the next De Niro, but I enjoy it and am told I can do it, so why not? As long as you don’t take it too seriously…it’s just a sketch really….

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE STRANGLERS? WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS?

Just to keep on keeping on…sounds a bit old hippy fart like, but it’s true...We’re making a great album, no one can touch us when we’re onstage and going for it, and everyone still loves and is up for what we do….can’t argue with that can you?

Me personally….? I’m still gigging as I seem to have done forever, have a new solo DVD coming out soon, and have tentative plans for a new solo album as soon as I can fit it in…so…busy times!

Nice to talk to you…take care

Baz / Aug 2005