The Legendary Pink Dot's Edward Ka-Spel
Introduction Courtesy of Edward Ka-Spel
Interview by Matt Heilman
HISTORY
If myths have substance then it would be possible to believe that LPDs
change their line-up every week. Not true at all..The line-up changed once
in the last
9 years.Right now it looks like this

.......THE SILVERMAN/keyboards

RYAN MOORE /drums, bass
EDWARD KA-SPEL/vox,keyboards
EDWIN VON TRIPPENHOF/guitars
NIELS VAN HOORNBLOWER/horns,flute
FRANK VERSCHUUREN/Sound wizardry

It wasnt always so stable.In the early 80s people came and went so fast
that for about a month or so there were actually 2 versions of the
Legendary Pink
Dots with the same lead vocalist. A troubled merger occurred in 1981 and
the peculiarly unified results can be heard on LPDs first official album
"Brighter
Now" released at the end of '82. LPDs first appeared live in October 1980
at a local folk club in East London.

Unfortunately half of the audience retreated to the back wall,
interpreting the bands nervous state as a bad attitude. This attitude
problem seemed attractive
to the rest of the 100 strong crowd, but alas the band was never invited
back.The Dots were paid 5 English pounds for this spectacle.

For some years during the 80s The Dots enjoyed a strong 6 person line-up
(all English) and recorded albums such as "Island of Jewels", "Any Day
Now",
and "The Golden Age". They also toured Europe seriously and signed with
the then small independent label, Play it Again Sam Records.

Perhaps a little prematurely 4 people left the band in 1988, and Niels Van
hoornblower stepped in as horn player while Bob Pistoor took over the
guitarists
role.

With this line-up "The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse" and "The Maria
Dimension" were recorded, and the success of these albums led to Warner
Bros. USA
approaching the band with a view to making a deal. A little naively, the
Dots never followed up this approach and remained under the wing of PIAS.

Tragedy struck in 1992 when Bob Pistoor died from cancer. Martyn de Kleer
took over on guitar while Ryan Moore stepped into the band on bass after
meeting them in his native Vancouver during LPDs second USA tour.

A protracted battle with Play it Again Sam dominated the next years, and
the band quit the label in 1994, deciding to take over their own affairs.

A fruitful partnership began with USA label ,Soleilmoon in 1995 and the
bands popularity steadily began to grow again on the other side of the
Atlantic.

The year ended in spectacular fashion when the Dots played to the biggest
ever audience in Mexico city (around 2,500 people). It meant that The Dots
focus switched from Europe to America and the band returned there for a 30
show tour in 1997, and followed up with 36 dates one year later.

THE PHILOSOPHY
Sing While you May. The band's catchword since the start...it is an
OPTIMISTIC statement in these disturbing times.

Starvox: There is such a long history to absorb in regards to your work
and the Legendary Pink Dots. And I have to be honest, I am a relatively
new fan,
and I am not too familiar with the extensive history of the band and many
of the releases. What I have heard, I absolutely LOVE and ADORE. So if you
can, please discuss how/when/where the band formed, and what were the
initial goals and intents of the project?

Ka-Spel: LPDs were formed in 1980 (August) by myself, The Silverman and
April Iliffe (the only one of us who could actually play an instrument).It
was a
time when bands were popping up out of the woodwork all over Britain.
Theydddd make a cassette, duplicate a few, give them a cover and and their
work off
to NME where it was miraculously often reviewed. I used to buy some of
these cassettes, and regrettably normally had to find ear protection
fast.Even so,
the climate was healthy,and we bought a synth (Korg MS10), a drum machine
and an amplifier...all on credit because we were broke. Songwriting began
almost straight away and we cobbled our first cassette release together in
around 3 months (OnlyDreaming). I think 10 were made,each with hand-made
cover (a pop-up messiah figure).

Bored with duplicating, we simply moved on to the next release, and the
next until DDAA (a great little band in France) offered to release
something
properly ("Atomic Roses"). Again a cassette, but so beautifully made.The
first record came out at the end of '82 (Brighter Now) in an edition of
1990. Our
initial goal? As obscure as it is now...we do it because we HAVE to...

Starvox: I know that most artists despise labels. I know myself that
sometimes a particular tag seems to limit things and spark an unjust
comparison. But
inevitably, people seem to feel the need to label things. Do you prefer
any labels to your art? Are you comfortable with the Gothic tag or do you
prefer
perhaps experimental or  psychedelic?  Genius perhaps?

Ka-Spel: Just Legendary Pink Dots. Like others, I hate categories... but
Ivvvve nothing against those who label themselves gothic, experimental or
psychedelic.

Starvox: I have found it increasingly difficult to find many LPD releases,
unless of course I go through mail order and I always feel like I am
getting
majorly ripped off with the shipping and prices. Nonetheless, it seems
that when a bands discography is hard to find it adds a deeper mystery to
them. Do
you enjoy this cult-like status of your music? And also, are there many
plans to make some of the older releases more readily available?

Ka-spel: Older releases will become much easier to find in 2000 when
Soleilmoon assumes responsibility for the back catalogue. LPDs is
unashamedly a
cult band...it always will be.

Starvox: The quote Sing While You May is a said to be personal philosophy
of the band. Obviously, I can gather that it has an optimistic carpe diem
vibe to it, but is there a deeper scheme of thought behind it? What
exactly does this quote mean to you on a personal level and what are you
trying to
express to your fans?

Ka-Spel: More my personal philosophy... we can argue about this within the
group. Itssss meant to be positive at a strange time when (in my view)
events are
accelerating towards saturation point and systems we rely upon are likely
to collapse. Not the end of the world, but a dramatic transformation when
excess
will no longer be possible. Enjoy this exciting time. Be glad you live
now. Sing while you may.

Starvox: It was actually the Tear Garden that sparked my interest in the
LPDs. I was thoroughly enthralled with the first record and I quickly got
a copy
of ....Crippled Soul Divide, and it is by far one of my favourite records.
Can you tell us a little bit about how the Tear Garden project came into
being
and your relationship with cEvin Key?

Ka-Spel: cEvin first wrote me in 1982...he collected our early cassettes
and we stayed in touch by mail. In '86 I was invited to play some solo
shows in
Vancouver and he asked to engineer. Before I came he sent a cassette of
Center Bullet and asked if I could sing with it. I wrote the lyrics on the
plane...and
TG was born.

Starvox: I have heard that there is a new Tear Garden CD soon to be
released. Can you tell us a bit about that? Any particular concept behind
the album or
any new musical direction? How does it compare to the other material?

Ka-Spel: New TG (Crystal Mass) bears closest relationship with the first
TG (Tired Eyes) in that it is more electronic than its predecessors. A
deliberate
move, as we felt LPD and TG were becoming a little too similar.

Starvox: You seem to be quite a busy man. Is there any particular reason
why you surround yourself in so much music, and any reason for the many
side
projects? How do you think they all differ? Do they represent a certain
personality of yours or specific mindset/idea?

Ka-Spel: I enjoy new approaches, different inputs from people...so
collaborations are exciting if I have time.But theressss also a side of me
which wants to
have complete control..so thatssss why there are solo CDs (a new one is
due soon- "Red Letters")

Starvox: To me, the music of LPD seems to be so eclectic and open, that
basically any style of music could be performed on a LPD record and it
would
sound right, it would have the signature LPD sound. From what I have
heard, the music of Tear Garden and LPD seem almost interchangeable and
compliment each other.

Ka-Spel: Its a particularly feeling about a piece that sees it end up on
an LPD album...an intuitive thing.

Starvox: I had the pleasure of seeing you guys live a couple of years ago
in Pittsburgh. I went to the show because I try to attend all dark music
shows in
the area and I had never even heard you guys before. I just heard, They
are really cool and very trippy! LOL! So I went and I was absolutely
spellbound.
I love the effects that were used on the brass instruments and just the
stage performance itself was hypnotic. So do you plan to return to the US
any time
soon? How have the responses to your shows been overall in the US? What do
you think of the US and the music scene over here?

Ka-Spel: That Pittsburgh show was actually one of our lesser ones,
honestly.Normally USA is much better for us to play than almost anywhere
in western
Europe. Bigger and more open crowds (especially on the west coast)...the
whole continent just seems to care more about music.The plan is to return
in
June.

Starvox: I know this is sort of a worn out question, but every time it is
posed unto a different artist, a unique response is given, so I will ask
you.Where do
you draw your inspiration for your art?

Ka-Spel: Radio Zophquiscuo, a pirate sender emanating from the Planet Erg,
operated by a race of utterly oppressed , but supremely gifted stick
insects
who sing about their tragic history in high pitched Finnish (backwards). I
record it , slow it down and translate it into English. I ensure that they
get part of
the royalties.

Starvox: If you dont mind me asking, what are some of your personal
hobbies besides music? What other musicians, writers, artists, or
filmmakers do
you admire or enjoy? What do you like to do in your spare time?

Ka-Spel: Harlan Ellison,Robert Sheckley are great writers...mostly I read
when I have the chance.

Starvox: What is your fondest memory as a musician? Any particular tour or
time spent in the studio for a particular album?

Ka-Spel: Recording of Maria Dimension.A glorious summer..lots of
inspiration, playing Mexico City for the first time. That solo tour of USA
with Skinny
Puppy.

Starvox: Since I am not all that familiar with a lot of your material, in
closing I would like to ask on behalf of people who may never have heard
ANY of
your material: what releases would you most recommend as introductions to
LPD, Tear Garden, or any of your other projects? What were your favourite
recordings and why?

Ka-Spel: Maybe "Maria Dimension", "9 Lives to Wonder", "The Last Man to
Fly" or..for the complete depressive...."The Golden Age".

Starvox: I appreciate you taking the time out to participate in this
interview. I hope to see you on tour soon!!! On behalf of Starvox Music
Zine, we thank
you for your time.

Ka-Spel: All the best
On the Web: http://www.brainwashed.com/lpd