The Anti-Social Questionnaire
Interviewed: Pete Burns
Of: Kill Shelter
Q. What toppings make up the best burger?
A. Chilli Con Carne, jalapeños and soured cream.
Q. Favourite coping mechanism for touring NOT involving liquor or other intoxicating influences?
A. Note taking. Travel broadens the mind and inspiration can come from anywhere.
Q. If you could be any animal in the world, which would you be, and why?
A. Has to be something with wings. Who wouldn’t want to fly? Put my name down for being a Falcon or Kestrel in the next life…
Q. Most unusual piece of merch you’ve seen/bought/produced?
A. Remute’s N64 cartridge was a pretty cool idea. Nicolas Jaar’s “The Prism” audio cube and Beck’s sheet music (no audio release) are also very memorable.
Q. What lyric has had the most profound influence on your life?
A. Ghosts by Japan. Sylvian, for a while, was a lyrical genius.
Q. The internet: Best thing to happen to music in the last 25 year, or the worst?
A. Overall pretty damn good. Gave a lot of artists the ability to take control of their own destiny. Anarchical, chaotic and disruptive but it has brought musical communities together and allowed artists to reach their audience directly.
Q. If you weren’t in music, what career would you have instead?
A. Designer, artist or something else creative.
Q. What cartoon characters would you be?
A. Spot from Hong Kong Phooey, Ren from Ren and Stimpy or Marvin the Martian.
Q. What era of music or musical movement influences you the most currently?
A. I listen to a lot of contemporary material, especially from a production perspective, but I’m currently exploring a lot of music from the late 1970s. There was an incredible amount of innovation happening in that period.
Q. What is the best restaurant in your hometown and what would you recommend to order from there?
A. We have a good selection of fine dining restaurants in Edinburgh but it’s worth checking out the breakfasts at Dishoom.
Q. Favourite takeout/restaurant on the road?
A. Nando’s, Wagamama or anything Thai or Mexican.
Q. Favourite pro wrestling move?
A. I’ll need to research that.
Q. Diamond Dogs or Alladin Sane?
A. Low or Heroes surely? Probably Scary Monsters.
Q. Do you consider moshing and crowd surfing more intrusive and offensive than fans filming with a phone for most of the show?
A. It depends if everyone is signed up for it. No-one wants their night ruined by someone else’s selfish behaviour.
Q. What music video blew your mind the first time you saw it?
A. I love Chris Cunningham’s stuff. Come to Daddy (Aphex Twin) and All is Full of Love (Bjork) both spring to mind.
Q. If you mainly do vocal tunes, what instrumental song would you cover?
A. Erik Satie – Trois Gnossienne. Also see 2 down.
Q. Who is your greatest role model, and why?
A. My brother. He’s a creative thinker and very intellectual. He has always encouraged and supported me and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Q. Favourite film, TV or video game score (you can only pick one)?
A. Easy one…. Koyaanisqatsi (Phillip Glass)
Q. What song is an immediate skip to you, and why?
A. Likely to be anything I sing on. I’m still getting used to the sound of my own voice on record.
Q. What song from any (other) artist would you pick to be your theme song?
A. Ghosts by Japan, Riverman by Nick Drake but currently Dead or Alive by Trentemøller.
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