Wild Billy Childish & CTMF - Failure Not Success - LP

The new studio album by Billy and CTMF features Billy at his song writing best! Includes covers of Richard Hell and Jimi Hendrix songs, along with a newly recorded version of 'Bob Dylan's Got a Lot to Answer For'!

We asked Billy a few questions about this mighty fine album_ Q: Great album title! It will seem counter-intuitive to some but why do you favour failure over success? A: If the Pop Rivets (the first group I was in in 1977) had been "successful" in the formal sense, then it would have been a disaster - no learning about sound, growth, and independence. Luckily, we considered ourselves successful from the outset by doing what we wanted the way we wanted. We believed the hype of punk rock - do-it-yourself and lived it, unlike the "successful" leaders of the movement. I've always wanted small gigs where your open and exposed. The same with recording - excitement, mistakes, humour, and hopefully joy. The reason to become "successful" is to cut yourself from your origin and roots. In short, we'll decide what success is, not a critic, the world, or public opinion. Q: The album opens with a cracking cover of Richard Hell's 'Love Comes in Spurts'. You've previously recorded this with Thee Headcoats on Brother Is Dead_ But Fly Is Gone! from 1998. What made you want to revisit the song? Has Richard heard it? If so, what did he think? A: I forgot that we did it with Thee Headcoats. If I had that LP, I'd give it a listen. I do remember covering it live with The Pop Rivets in 1978. Richard said he liked it a lot and told his girlfriend he only wants my tunes at his funeral. I said, "not too soon I hope." He assured me he's well. Q: We're digging the instrumental track 'Walk of the Sasquatch'. Is this track in honour of the North Kent Sasquatch Research Group? What do you know about that mysterious organization? A: The track is more about the pacific Northwest cousin of the English version (the Woodwose). The North Kent Sasquatch program has gone a little quite of late, but I believe they are still trying to get Cobham Woods - nearby across the river - to be designated as a reserve, though of course this poses some danger to the public during the spring breeding season. Q: The album closes with a version of previous single 'Bob Dylan's Got a Lot to Answer For'. What would you say is the biggest thing Bob has to answer for? And what do you most admire him for? A: It's a different take from than the 45 version. The single was recorded in full lockdown. What has Bob got to answer for? I guess a lot and nothing. It's not his fault he is famous, it is the fans and enablers that should be strung up for turning poor little pop stars into demi-gods. He seems to be one of the few in the mainstream music industry, who has remained in charge of his own recordings, sounds, and writing. Besides writing a few very good songs, I also liked his pronouncement: "I made bad records on purpose." Now that's a great line - so maybe he deserves his Nobel prize after all.

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