1. According to your website, you consider yourselves as "elitist batcave". In concrete terms, what does it mean in 2002?
Bonzo: Actually, I'm not familiar with that reference. The term "Batcave" has been used occasionally, and I think it has always been meant to imply that Cinema Strange has much of the same spirit that drove some of the British acts that comprised or were associated with the Batcave scene in London in the early eighties. Cinema Strange has, at times, appeared as though it summoned the demons from that time and put them to work in their musical/artistic workshop.
2. Why haven't you got a drummer any more?
Bonzo: Cinema Strange does use a live drummer, occasionally. Both James Ribiat (Mik and Yellow's older brother) and our friend Danny Walker help out in that capacity from time to time.
3. On September 22nd it was your first gig in Paris. What were your global impressions about the show?
Bonzo: Everyone loved Paris. The people were wonderful. The band did regret, however, that they were not able to do more for the live show, but it turned out fine just the same, I'd say.
4. What are you listening to at the moment?
Bonzo: Here at Cinema Strange headquarters, we listen exclusively to high frequency radio static and sound effects records.
5. And ten years ago?
Bonzo: Low frequency static and sound effects records.
6. Can you tell us the genesis of the band?
Bonzo: The band started as a highly trained group of combat specialists who sold their skills on the open market, usually to South American guerrilla warlords. However, during an unusual diplomatic visit to Sweden in 1923, on behalf of the Columbian Marcon cartel, the group was ivited to perform a few musical renditions of their various and glorious campaigns. The ballads were so well received that it inspired the group to develop the musical aspects of their collective, which led to Cinema Strange being a primarily musical endeavor.
7. What's your favorite drug (anything you want)?
Bonzo: The Cinema Strange Project occasionally indulges in aspirin.
8. The French language is almost omnipresent in your samplers/songs. Where does this infatuation with our language come from?
Bonzo: We employ different languages when it is appropriate, or when it is warranted. Besides French, we have been known to supplement our efforts with phrases of Sumerian and Cantonese.
9. You seem to appreciate the old, mute and expressionist cinema. Can you give me some examples of films you prefer?
Bonzo: We all enjoy a very wide variety of films, from silent expressionist works to modern films such as the work of Caro and Jeunet. I think it would be better to ask what sort of films we don't like, and I could tell you that early 20th century Manchurian fish-catching docu-dramas would be at the head of that list.
10. What are your next tour dates in Europe?
Bonzo: Cinema Strange will probably be invading Europe again in the summer of 2003, and hopefully with a live drummer.
11. Lucas, the singer, has a particular tone of voice. Is it a gift from Nature or is there some effort behind it?
Bonzo: Whatever his voice is, it is natural. Although, I suspect that he has, at times, influenced the character of his singing with the use of one or two aspirin pills.
12. We are swimming in an 80's revival at present. Does the US batcave/deathrock scene follow the wave or are you curiosities of the last one?
Bonzo: I think that whatever the scene is doing, Cinema Strange is a curiosity.
13. And if God exists...?
Bonzo: Then he can make the check payable to "Cinema Strange". Thanks very much for the chat, and please check out the new official Cinema Strange site at www.angelfire.com/goth/eckearchive