Tranzine Interview
From InSocPedia
From the newagepunk.com web site
"What's On Your Mind", "Repetition", "Think", "How Long", "Peace & Love Inc."... These are the names of only some of the hits by INFORMATION SOCIETY. If you are Brazilian, you've probably heard them before, except if you were in a coma for the last ten years...
InSoc were a trio when they went to Brasil and played at Rock In Rio II, back in 1991. Nowadays InSoc is only KURT HARLAND and STEVE SEIBOLD. They've released a new album, DON'T BE AFRAID, with more obscure songs and lyrics than the previous albums. If you have a good taste in music, you are going to like it. I'm glad InSoc still kicks ass - and I hope they will be for a long time yet...
I have talked to Kurt Harland, in an exclusive interview for Tranzine. Below you can read the best parts of our conversation.
(Denis Kandle)
Tranzine. - This is a question I'm sure all of your fans would like to know: what really happened to Robb and Cassidy? Are you still friends?
KURT - Paul decided he wanted to go back to college. He moved to Minneapolis and has two children now. Recently he moved to Los Angeles. Jim moved to Oregon and is working in a food store.
Tranzine. - How useful has the current electronica hype in the US been to InSoc?
KURT - Not useful at all. InSoc is not Electronica, despite the fact that we have always been an electronics-oriented band. Electronica is really just this year's techno.
Tranzine. - Which way is music in general heading to? Is this the end of rock'n'roll as we know it?
KURT - I have NO idea. I'm too involved in making music myself to be in a position to have a perspective on the trends in music.
Tranzine. - How do you imagine the music biz will be in the future?
KURT - I think that electronic sales over the Internet will combine with low-cost digital recording gear to make it easier and easier for ANYONE to put out a record. As a result, services which sift through and provide some sort of name-recognition will become more and more important. The record company of the future will be more like a comuter-savvy public relations firm than a warehouse-based plastic-shipping company. Also, live performances will become more and more important to distinguish real artists from people who just recorded some stuff at home and offered it over the Internet.
Tranzine. - Your new stuff sounds much darker now . What has been your fans reactions?
KURT - Well, I only hear the positive responses. I'm sure there are many people who hear it and say "This is different, I don't like it", but I never hear from those people.
Tranzine. - Are you into rock music? Are there any bands you particularly like?
KURT - Rock bands? Yes... I liked Aerosmith and Sweet and Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd a lot when I was younger... More recently, I like the newer Ozzy Osbourne material and Jesus Jones and Marilyn Manson, etc.
Tranzine. - You still have many Brasilian fans - any chances to ever tour in Brasil again?
KURT - Yes! I hope to be there in '98. I'm waiting for a final contract with Spotlight records.
Tranzine. - Which was InSoc best gig in your opinion?
KURT - 1982, Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA), the Smik-Smak theater. We had no money, but we had a slide show and a video presentation and it was fun.
Tranzine. - What's your point of view about Cannabis? Should it be legalized?
KURT - No. Definitely not. Smoking anything is bad for your health. I hate cigarettes, and I hate cannabis. People smoking cannabis become dull and useless. Ick.
Tranzine. - Are you into clubbing? ;-)
KURT - Recently, I have gone to clubs a lot here in San Francisco... but I never did it much when I was younger.
