Billy Childish
Questions and Answers with Billy Childish
Harry Pye: Vincent van Gogh is often described as being a genius. The poet Arthur Rimbaud said, "Genius is childhood recovered at will". John Lennon said what people describe as "Genius" is often just pain. Is it fair goes to describe Vincent as a genius?
Billy Childish: Both could be true. I think someone who appears to be a genius is a conduit of god, or the creation. But they create nothing and are not in charge of their gift, which is fine, as Ishvara only requires that we express our gifts.
What is your idea of beauty in nature? Are you the type of person who could spend hours and hours in Kew Gardens considering the lilies?
I can spend moments in wonder, but not hours. I do believe that art is a poor cousin of the greater creation. Beauty is apparent everywhere if you can see it, and of course Vincent van Gogh was always trying to reflect the greatness of creation.
The celebrated Belgian painter Luc Tuymans claims to hate Van Gogh. Can you see why some people think he's overrated? Could you be friends with someone who loathed him?
I've never heard of the celebrated Belgian painter Luc Tuymans but I've just looked him up and he is rubbish. He sounds like a bit of a cold fish to me. I can understand why some people might be irritated by the attention Van Gogh receives, but I think Mr Tuymans is trying to big himself up in a perverse kind of way. Criticism often says more about the critic than the criticized (so maybe I'm the one who's rubbish). I'd have sympathy for someone who loathed Van Gogh and could possibly be their friend if they openly recognised the perversity of their prejudice. If not I would leave it to their mothers to try and love them. Van Gogh had many faults but any fool can see, and read his letters, to know Vincent was a true and noble spirit.
Paul Klee believed that Goya, Ensor, and Van Gogh were "The Masters of tragic expression in the history of Art." What title would you give to Vincent?
I think this is missing the point. Tragic? I’d say that his work is heroic and universal.
Robert Crumb liked Jewish women who were strong enough to lift him up. I had a friend who told me he was only attracted to women that were quite posh and "plump, but not fat". I had another friend who claimed to only be attracted to African women. Van Gogh apparently went for older prostitutes that looked a bit worn out. Obviously this is a silly question, but if you were to select a prostitute from a menu of every type of woman in the world what characteristics would you select?
That’s a very good question. Strong, graceful, athletic, and of mixed Caucasian, Black and American Indian blood would be my choice, like my wife Julie, in fact. But I’m not sure she’d appreciate you calling her a prostitute.
A while ago I got addicted to a song of yours called, Birthday Boy - what memories do you have of writing or recording that particular song?
Not a great deal. I was just thinking about the cool 'bully' kid I was friends with at school (I was 9/10 years old) he was dressed in the latest fashion and his parents also bought him a chopper bike. I was never in fashion, and didn't even want the then current craze of riding a chopper bike. He also liked to make you feel bad if he could. So the occasion of your birthday would be a good day for him to ruin it for you.
What's your favourite John Lennon song/quote/thing?
I like that he said that the best of the Beatles happened before they were recording. My favourite LP is the Live at the Star Club, and I guess technically that is before they were making commercial recordings — some friends berate me for not liking their later over produced stuff. My counter is — I agree with Lennon, your supposed hero and you say I’m wrong.”
What's the most recent poem you wrote?
I’ve been working on a novel lately and some songs so I’ve long forgotten. It will be in last years collection - if you fly with the crows you'll be shot with the crows, for arguments sake let’s say it was the title poem of that collection.
Do you still enjoy playing live? Are you planning to tour again?
I enjoy playing live, but as we don't use off stage mixing and the modern sound, it’s all a bit of a battle with sound engineers who tell me 'you can't do it like that!' We may play, but I doubt I would ever tour — we never really used to tour anyway — only 5 shows in a row — no agent, and not represented by anyone — I don't like being told what to do you see. That’s why I got into art etc in the first instance. The fact that other artists/musicians like being bossed about is their prerogative and joy.
Is it still possible to make a living as a musician in 2020 if you don't tour and don't make film soundtracks?
Almost certainly not.
Ray and Dave Davies have patched things up and are planning new songs. Do you the think The Kinks reuniting is a good idea?
It doesn’t affect me at all. I’m happy for them but I preferred the R'n'B Kinks on the first few LPs. Same for all the groups — I’m not into rock stars or convinced by celebrities of any stripe.
Damaged Goods is a great name for a label. Would you ever describe yourself as being damaged goods
Damaged goods, drums and racket, I’m happy with any insult that comes my way, but imaginative insults are my favourite.
What type of music heals and uplifts you?
Sibelius, some Mozart, Elgar, Beethoven. pop wise - sometimes Buddy Holly, Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Read - early Hendrix, early pop Beatles, early pop Rolling Stones, The Troggs, but mainly I don't listen to music much.
What do you make of this Gauguin quote: "Art is either revolution or plagiarism"? Are you a plagiarist? Or a revolutionary?
I think Gauguin was a blowhard.
Thanks Billy.
P.S. I did find one Luc Tuymans painting I liked.
Harry Pye by Billy Childish
Billy Childish by Harry Pye
Kings Of The Medway Delta
New album! On CD, digital and vinyl LP!
The first Damaged Goods release of 2020 is a brand new album featuring Wild Billy and his regular cohorts Nurse Julie and Wolf Howard. It’s the third album they’ve released as The Chatham Singers and features twelve tracks of gritty Chess Studio style blues with Billy on great vocal and lyrical form throughout.
