Ahead of
their UK joint headline tour with The Professionals, we chatted with Glen
Matlock of reformed new-wave outfit Rich Kids. Here's what happened!
How’s it
going? Have you been up to anything interesting recently?
Loads but
that's for me to know and you find out but basically, playing all over the
world this year already - the States, Australia, Europe, so looking forward to
doing a show on our home turf.
You were
amongst the first group of musicians to experiment with the post-punk ‘New
Wave’ genre, which to many, shaped music forever, how do you feel about this?
Well good to
be recognised for that at long last, but yes we did try and move on from the
bog standard punk template a little bit and think we helped create a bridgehead
between punk and new wave and even the New Romantics. Maybe a little bit before
our time....
After your
official split in 1979 and going off separately to achieve success in your
individual careers, how does it feel to be back on stage and performing
together at the London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire?
I think
anybody who spends that much time going up and down the M1 in the back of a van
and sharing hotel rooms must have some kind of affinity that, if they haven't
throttled each other, is worth revisiting once in a while.
Many
musicians say your work inspired them to create music, but which artists
inspired you?
Cool. Loads
- Kinks, Who, Small Faces, Bowie, Iggy, Kraftwerk, The Normal - the list goes
on...
What are
your thoughts on ‘The Professionals’, who you’re playing Shepherds Bush Empire
with?
A fine
rocking band with some tip top toe tapping tunes that should have done a lot
more had their career not been curtailed by an horrific car crash in their
first US tour.
Have you
been to any decent gigs lately?
Not so many
but have played a few!
I did dig
Jonathan Richman and Tommy in San Francisco a little while back.
What have
you got planned for the rest of the year?
Working on
my own Glen Matlock project with some American chums - we have the best part of
an album in the can already.
When chance
permits, I will also be working on a good tan.
Do you think
‘Rich Kids’ will go on to do a couple more shows, maybe even a tour?
Never say
never but let's see how Shepherds Bush goes first on the 19th of May
Finally,
could you tell us what tracks you’re listening to at the moment?
