Anarchie totale.html Tagada Jones:New start.
TAGADA JONES :New Start.





On the occasion of their concert at Nouveau Casino in Paris I met Niko, guitarist / singer from Tagada Jones, legendary French band of hardcore punk scene, that he talks about their latest album, "Les Compteurs à zéro "Can you explain why this album is called"Les Compteurs à zéro "?
Niko: It's always hard to get an idea for a title, choose too often, we like that there is meaning such things. This one we decided to call it ""Les Compteurs à zéro " for several reasons: 1st we completed a kind of "cycle," Gus is gone, we are 4 in the band now, there is this idea and the idea we celebrated our 1000th concert, we said we do the same until 2000: "yeah we go from 1000 to 2000" Everyone was motivated, there is the idea of putting things dish that is related to the senses engaged texts and also our character, we wanted to continue using without redraw is the genesis which is represented on the sleeve. So we thought it was funny, suddenly the theme of the album is the idea of all these little ideas here and found really nice to call it like that. So we think (laughs).

Are you agree if I say that this album is the perfect blend of aggressiveness "l'envers du décor " and the melodies of "le feu aux poudres"?
Bah , we one is super happy. In fact there has been much pre-prod on this album, we were just started pre-prod on "le feu aux poudres " and " l'envers du décor " and there they really did the trick and most important for a musician is that the output of the studio we be satisfied with the album, and for us as the years pass, the more one is pleased with the outcome. And the first few albums, the outputs of studios was not what was imagined and this made sense because we all were listening and repeating his instrument and when we faced the tracks finished, complete, at the output, it was often surprises. So there it reflects what we really wanted most, of course, a few years behind, you see, we're not great musicians and we don't love too have labels but if there is a hand you should thoroughly is the side punk because it is simple to play that, on the quality of what we play, we play what we want to hear just for fun, we're not all weekends to repeat, I will say 4-5 years since I took my guitar for concerts and create pieces but otherwise never be repeated, it is not beside me I said no guitarist.

Basically it's a hobby?
Yeah and we can live our passion, but to return to your question, yes, we are a band that is coming from the french rock alternatif scene. So you see, we've never been anti-melody, even if you put the time to put in our music and nag the side, it is pretty angry in general against the company, we make a theme for speed and we want to keep the effectiveness of first days of Tagada. We do not want to soften completely, also are plenty of bands who are now pulling a commercial album, it probably pushed by their discs compagny as we can do what we wants what is much better that way. but I think it's important to stay just a little angry even if you add songs it gives a lively music as we always wanted to do in any case it is satisfied with this album.

I saw that you worked with Stéphane Buriez and Nik Jones and Ted Jensen. How did you met them?
Then I'll make a big scoop, Nik Jones, it's me (laughs). In fact I'm in Enrages Prod (disc compagny of the band) with Severine has been created that together. But I am left on the side Rage Tour because we tried to create our own structure of booking and we set up a studio that is available to bands enrages Prod and Rage Tour. If they need and it turns out that the bands, very often they have no sound ingeneer and as I had some ideas, I did the sound, I said, "'s why I don't do it? "and since 2 years I made the prod and the first record I made was to prod Dirty Fonzy and as they sing in English, while English and the delusion of the studio was the English, they said: "Niko Jones, it does not good, Nik Jones is more fun" and so, we kept it and now I put it on every album, especially the last Nevrotic Explosion and with Tagada with Stéphane Buriez. And then I just finished a disc with a more electro band called Shane Cough (electro-rock). Nik So I was not too difficult to meet and Steph Bubu we met pile hair on the release of "Le feu aux poudres" We met him on the road but also a little ahead with Black Bomb A, since we had the label of the BBA, we did all the deals with the studio and it was Stephane, who recorded them so we figured we met like that, we started to get along and after he has heard our album and he said: "Wow, I love what you do!" and he offered to play with us. 2 years have passed, we started working on "Les compteurs à zéro" he was asked if it's plugged to come with us, he replied: "of course" and meanwhile we had truly become friends and it was cool , because our boss at home and with a guy you know well. And what is ironic is that for this album we had time we wanted to record, because they not pay the studio (editor's note - this is the first album Tagada Jones recorded in their studio) and was our recording the fastest 8 days for vocals and instruments. And Ted Jensen is for mastering, in fact we had done tests with a lot of guys and it really stand out, we wanted to see if his reputation was overblown and at least it's not, but he we have not met, the system sends you that mastering your band on the net, he mastered and return them to you, this is progress, I wish I had a good visit New York but it me avoid a ticket return and 2 nights hotel (laughs).

You are once again a quartet, why Gus is he gone? What role was there in the compositions? How is he now?
In fact he left because "he had singularly enough of France, he is originally from Reunion and when Sarko was increased it has been the final straw, you see, the reunion is people of different cultures living together, just the opposite of France and so he really wanted to go back there. But there he is now moving his degree in martial arts because it's a lot of martial arts and he had his state diploma of Aikido and now it remains to take a 3-4 months internship in India and once he did that he returned to the Meeting to mount his martial arts school that he found himself and he didn't really not live in France. At the moment there is still Rennes, he is just finishing, it goes away soon, as we see from time to time, there is a festival in Britain that we give us a total freedom to play for 2 hours and returned with us to make some songs, you see there is still very good friends is just the personal project that was generous in relation to Tagada. And regarding his role, he interfered not too much in composition, even the voice, it's me who wrote his texts, he put just the voice over.

Even the electro parts was not created by him? Hum…. Much electro things came deconstructed .
A bit like "Manipulé? Yeah a little here, and we begin to work on and to the electro parts of this album is me who do this parts and the guy that makes electro in Shane Cough who supported us on a few tracks, so we work together.

I feel that your singing style has changed. How have you approached the recording of this disc?
I think the idea a little, to make pre-prod and try other things. If you try some new technologies and that you enjoy it, well, there is never been closed to try new things instead, for example, was licking with Steph out there and we liked it and kept then I never work so it was a natural in the studio I tried that, they liked in the band of sudden, they remained above, I don't started to take trainning with the castafiore on the corner ( laught).


Listening to this album, we note that the electronics playing an ever more important to the healthy your sound. Is a path you want to explore?
Yeah, in any case you wanted to do, we will not release a pretext "yeah we're doing a 77 style punk" you always wanted to try different paths, I say that in the next album there will be no more or no less but obviously we have not particularly want to go without it is a modern evolution of music and are really interesting things and things with nothing, as in rock , things are great things interesting and draws, but for now I find it interesting to mix music. And why one is more pleased with this album there is that we have successfully integrated electronics to our music and not the contrary (electro in arrangement rather than us who play on the electro).

On the previous album "Le feu aux poudres ", you've made featuring with La Phase and Guizmo (Tryo). Which other artists would you like to work with?
There's a lot of guys, style Loran (from Bérurier Noir) who lives around home now, the guys I knew since I was a child was also fortunate to be friends with him. Parabellum as obviously, all the bands that you're a fan. Les Wampas as it would make me laugh to make something with them, in fact it is quite extensive and all the experience we had with other bands, it has always been positive, a good laugh and you'll destabilizes a little, because when you play with your band you got in the habit of understanding music in a way so that when you find yourself with your bands and another two bands, seeking their way together, that is damn interesting. And so far we have always been happy with the result of pieces and it makes us want to continue doing something else.

During the last presidential election, you supported an association aimed at getting young people to vote. On this new album there is the song "Aux urnes," where do you stand politically today?
Politically we have always struggled with political parties, although there is the NPA (new anti-capitalist party of Besancenot) which could be promising in the ideas we want to represent but it is anarchistic is safe even if anarchy it happens not in the 2010s, I doubt, so it's hard to find in the programs of political parties but it should still go vote, even if only to avoid the worst, I prefer to have Besancenot in power than another right. Anyway it is not complicated, if there is one thing you can not blame him to another bastard that he did what he said and we take fucking hits now on all sides, I have not voted for him, suddenly it not put me deep but I think there are plenty who voted for him and he put them stabbed from behind and it's a bit well done so. The reality is that motivates people to vote because we are in a democratic system and we are lucky to be there, because casually between a democracy and a dictatorship, there's no comparison, so I think we should enjoy it, because if you say "I have nothing to fart, I will not vote" is give free rein to big bastards going to vote and the only real weapon we have and I say in the piece is ultimately to vote directly and the hit is that everyone becomes aware of that. And when I was young, returning only messages in my head was often his friends and the bands that I listened and I find it really important to talk about. It's not the tone of the French discography is not a subject that is not often addressed in the hardcore punk / metal. It is taboo I have no right to say that (laughs).

After "Thérapie" on your previous opus include "Camisole" on the new. Psychiatry seems particularly interest you. Why?
yeah, I go every 15 days in hospital (laughs). In fact we speak because it is an abuse of the state, particularly French, because we are champions of the world in psychotropic drug use and any such products to 9.50 francs in France, and I think with us is unmarked and we must speak so that people stop believing "because they are unwell, they will take medication and it will get better" and all it is, it blocks their nervous system , it inhibits a little while and they know more too if it feels good or if it goes wrong, they are not even able to tell you, you see people, they look like vegetables and from the moment they stop taking the Cachetona, problems are still there, it has solved nothing.

Just like in the song "Hôpital"?
Yeah, that's exactly it is one of the first items of Tagada, because "Hôpital" is one of the first songs of the band, and nothing has changed while there are many things that have changed, they say one thing green, we find that it's important to gaff behind the planet and it has evolved, it's going much better what has 20 years, the awareness is there, the media coverage So much the better while on psychiatry that not budge a millimeter away hear never spoken, except sometimes hear you "oh yes, the French are champions of psychotropic drug" and ultimately it nothing happens, it's always, 'oh well you will not, wait I'll prescribe you something, you'll feel better after "and once the guy has more he shoots himself. Is anything you see delirium. In France, a little ashamed to go see a psychologist or psychiatrist, then there are many problems that are resolved just by speaking, because at first they talk to anyone, they keep it for them. And I think everyone has known in his circle of people who made depressed these things and you realize it's really in their heads, small problems are 2-3 problems and suddenly everything becoming catastrophic times and the solution, people would always come out when they talk themselves catching up, and not puff of pills.

You played a festival with the UK Subs and The Exploited. What are these bands for you? Can you tell me how it happened?
In fact, it was several dates with Exploited, it went extremely well spent with them. Wattie, the singer is a good man smashes, the full team and he were really cool with us and they had given the record because they had not had the time of their spin, we were told that was downright good, after perhaps false bottoms but at least that is what they have said. And after the concert was great, Watt who arrested not take pictures of us, and it's always nice to make friendly with a bands, whose fan was when we were young, I would say the same about Parabellum, after our idols that our friends and I'm the same manager Parabellum and it's always super exciting and we encounter them more as "myths" but as a human and they are like us, we channel, we talk about many things, and it was a good experience.

You are a live band and yet you have not released any live record your debut. Is this intended?
Yeah yeah, they might, they had told the 1000th, which was filmed and recorded, there were the out on DVD but eventually a DVD it does not much interest then finally we wanted to release a documentary film about the band, because a live DVD, I watch it one time and after is so ... And the fashion is over for everyone too, so that a true documentary, when well done, you can now watch 5-6 times you getting tired of it. And as the next project is turned on it and like it will be a DVD, there would likely be quite a bonus, so why not lives. But getting an album hardline live, why not? But it's not our priority. But we'll maybe do it because there are few people who are demanding this.

You have a Myspace, a tool that belongs to Murdock, American businessman pro-Bush, who actively supported the war in Iraq and who owns several newspapers. It seems that MySpace does not agree with your ideas .. .
It's funny because we are often asked, but I'm pretty radical in my choice to boycott or no boycott, MC DO for example. after I have a big problem with internet is that myspace is free, I'll explain later, but one, I boycott myspace the day we'll all be on Linux with computers coming from small firms and when major brands no longer exist, because that is exactly the same thing to put your finger in the eye of myspace only attacks while 98% of children who are above are Microsoft, while Microsoft is absolutely the same kind of character, huge multinationals and boxes on top of that three-quarters of big guys who dominate the world with the brands, have ideas totally bombs, for example with shoes , that bother people to have and to weigh the small kids from 9-10 years and in this case, mean we boycott all the myspace, I would delete but would mean that 'should I stop using Microsoft even though I'm on a Mac and still is almost the same thing. Microsoft is not far away but what's more, it was with our Internet phone company and there is the sacred rot already Murdock has AOL, but the problem with myspace, he resold it clear that it is not he who created it and you bear not necessarily his ideas. But after I found that internet has an interest really important for bands, because it helps to disseminate ideas and writing alternative, you know, bands like us, the big media do not care, it has nothing give a damn about their mouths and casually we meet on myspace cows more than the national press so groups like us need internet and necessarily when you need internet you accept all the misdeeds, advertising Internet are everywhere all the time, and the Internet when it's free it means there's ads everywhere and this idea that contradicts me. I would rather pay to listen to music and not have all the pubs for example. And finally in myspace the problem is that a lot of adds, and even that is not the worst, and not just what the guy behind. And ¾ stuff we consume is a big fucker at the top of the ladder, and bands who are boycotting in this case must all boycott it, and here I pay tribute to their courage, because it would mean live in the mountains, with cows, without electricity and more than many people who do that. Loran did this for a while and that side, hat because I have kids and everything. I do not want to go here and basically the back of our minds that we would do that, but there will always be this way paradoxical, for concerts, we need electricity, one walks around with leaflets out nuclear power when one is green and it was this idea of being in the system, but that does not mean we accept it. So myspace it has its pros and it's shit , and early Tagada we said 'it is our passion, we wish to live, he'll have to accept full of paradoxes, for example, at the beginning we wanted our disk is distributed in a bookstore. It's the same but Murdock is a little worse, but Pinault is not all good either, he is right, basically there's nothing to see, after it was either music, and the factory it's the same bumps you work for shit people for large golden parachutes, so we made music, the money you earn, it runs it, it goes up in the pockets of someone else and we has nevertheless accept, for large cunts with whom we are not necessarily agree, but do not look the other way almost everyone at one time or another gives a little dough without the knowledge to people silly mind well and often much black.

And , what do you think about download?
I think it's something good in itself.

Even illegal downloading?
Yeah, legal downloads, it is not really someone finally does, except those who listen Lorie or music to the old people (laughs). But because it is the continuity of what we were doing, in school we traded tapes after we put it on CDs, the only problem I see is the "free not free" (from free which are not really free), guys who pass on your address that you refile for pubs, the only one that scares me in mind. After that people download when they have no sub, it makes sense, ethically I do so, anyway. And I think people who like really end up going to buy the disc or product of the band and as the system and being put in place it is not serious. And I'll give you an example, we who are a bands with a minimum of ethics, even if you are on myspace, the last album, we'll sell as much or slightly more than the previous one must believe that people were thinking: "I'll buy an album, and as for spinning our money to someone, we're going to spin this little box there, at least, the self is better than big box" . The reality is that by selling a little more than before so I've nothing against downloading, you just avoid having too many adverts, you live still in a world of advertising. Free = pub, the free, it does not exist.

I always wondered how and why you chose Tagada Jones as the band name?
So this is a stupid (the name), we created the band in 95, just after the Gulf War, during the 1st saying 'it was called "Mammifères dans le golfe" and that stupid names and then one night we said "come on, seriously, tonight we found a name, debriefing, brainstorming, etc and like all good nights then, it has finally ultra-watered, we woke up, there were lots of things on the board and they had put 2 words butt surrounded and was "Tagada Jones" and every 4 - at the time it was 4 (with one of the 2 Banane Metalik guitarists who replayed with the band on the cover "Ce soir c'est Noel" of Les Wampas to the 1000th) and there remains more than myself this time - and suddenly we decided to keep the name. But nobody was able to explain why they were there "yeah related to tagadagada (reference to pick on the guitar). 2-3 years later, we thought it was stupid as to name, but said he was "remark, why not keep the name that is, it counterbalances political ideas tossed" because it is people who like to enjoy life, I said a little in the last album, after a moment it is not because one is against everything we don't want to enjoy life. After that it should include the name as something fun and humorous Islands people saw us as a bands "yeah, go brush your teeth", the idea was brocken when it was released on DVD, people were thinking: " bah they look nice in fact these guys.

They are on your records compagny, you toured with them once, a tribute song, what would you do with other Parabellum?
(Long-term thinking) Well, not sleep with Schultz (singer / guitarist Parabellum) because it takes up space (laughs). There is very good as I told you we take care of their history, there were minor conflicts of interest with their former road manager, former manager and all that, we had toured together, they were with their old box and we, in our course, it went very well, it was well understood and then they were told: "You know guys, next year is the 25th anniversary of Parabellum" even them they knew not, and the manager was not even aware of, wait for the other it is a little off base, and they asked me the question: "Is that how would you like to take care of us "" Obviously the guys what you think!?. Now you have many projects with them, we will release a tribute to their 25 years they are more or less aware ..

Is the info that, that there will be other band?
Exactly, even them (Parabellum) did not know it is a surprise because it is primarily a gift to them was the French scene that pays tribute to the bands 25 years later. They said "ok bingo, go on, you've got total freedom do whatever you like," I contacted lots of bands, we redid all bits and it should probably come out May 8 ( May 8, 1984: Training Parabellum), is full of large groups, it will make them warm pleasure.

Last question: Next Enrages Prod trips and projects for Rage Tour?
So there is the tribute. Shane Cough, I produced (see "Nik Jones"), March 9 and then we made a little break, because the counterpart of downloading is that it has released a lot of records in small band. Not long ago and we got picked up serious sales then it calms down a bit, but in September and October I think there will surely be new projects. We released "Serge Robert and Anonymus", playing with us tonight, which we released in early February and Rage Tour, it works very well, we recover, European tours, we make a date at the Elysee Montmartre "Parabellum" and "Ultra Vomit" April 9 and the day before they play "The Unseen", "Condkoi", "Detroit 7" (a Japanese band) to Glaz'art and we'll make a pass for these 2 days 2 concerts.

A big thank you to you Niko, to all enrage prod records members and has leo442rue that made this meeting possible.

http://www.tagadajones.com/ band site
http://www.ragetour.com/ Rage Tour (turner)
http://www.enrageprod.com/: Enrages Prod (label)
Interview by Quentin Vieilletoile, with the collaboration of Spike, February 4, 2009.

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