*An Interview To Bob Weston*
by Jessica Hopper

JH: When did you get into punk rock?
BW: College, I had no idea until then that that sort of thing existed.
JH: What was the record or band that did it for you?
BW: Well, it was more like, local music, I had no idea there was such a thing. I thought bands were just Boston or Foreigner. I was working at the college radio station and found this record called "Nobody Gets On The Guest List" compilation of Boston bands on Throbbing Lobster. They were great, and I immediately started seeing bands and buying records like crazy - Volcano Suns, Mission of Burma, Minor Threat, Gang Of Four - that was my first year of college. Before that I was just into REM and Psychedelic Furs, anything English. I was big on the Cure.
JH: Did you have Cure hair?
BW: Sort of. I had it bog on the top, short on the bottom... I had a tail for a while. I never had really punk hair. When I cut it myself it looked pretty punk, but now I am in long hair mode. I grew it really long in 88 though. I used to have a super short military haircut right when I joined Volcano Suns. I'm a big fan or hair. People's hair is a big part of my initial impression of them, like with bands.
JH: So if you're getting ready to record a band, you ask them to send you pictures of their hair?
BW: Actually, the reason I got to record Rodan, the reason they picked me over Albini and Brian Paulson, was because I had seen them a bunch and was a huge fan and I loved their hair. I was just going on and on on the phone to Jason about their hair, how much I liked it, what I liked about it. I got that job because I liked their hair...
JH: I read in Alternative Press that Veruca Salt was your favorite record of last year...
BW: Yeah, I liked that record a lot, but they asked me that in, like, July. My favorite records of last year are actually Bjork and Candy Machine.
JH: Candy Machine - Tune International?
BW: Yeah. That was the beat rock record of last year.
JH: I did their press for a long time, they are one of my favorite bands ever.
BW: BW: And I also really love that last Sheryl Crow record a lot. Swear to god. I liked the first Veruca Salt record more because they weren't trying to be such bad-asses. Bjork Homogenic is amazing, I just discovered her records. I love all Sheryl Crow's hits...
JH: What if Sheryl Crow called you to play bass on a tour - would you do it?
BW: I don't know if I would do that, tour with a band that wasn't mine, unless it was Chavez. I'm not big on touring. I would record a Sheryl Crow record though.
JH: If you had to be in a tribute band, who would you tribute?
BW: The Police and it would be called Ghosts In The Machine.
JH: If Sting called you now and asked you to record a record of his, would you do it?
BW: Wow. But I wouldn't be a good choice considering what he's doing now.
JH: We're speaking hypothetical... What if he called you and asked you to be in a Veruca Salt cover band with him, would you?
BW: (laughing) No. Because he would be playing bass.
JH: No, he'd be singing.
BW: Maybe...
JH: Who are some of your favorite Chicago bands?
BW: I really love Dianogah, All the Grubbs/O'Rourke stuff... I think I'm still a Tortoise fan, but I'm not sure. I think I was a big Tortoise fan a few years ago. The Nerves. Mouse.
JH: That's Mac from the Jesus Lizard and his wife's new band, right?
BW: Yeah. Ultra Swiss. Veruca Salt.
JH: What's the most complicated thing you've ever had to fix?
BW: Certain tape machines in the studio. An A-80.
JH: Do you think you could fix a toaster?
BW: Yeah, toasters aren't hard.
JH: What about a VCR?
BW: Maybe not.
JH: Do you know how to knit or anything?
BW: I crop all my pants, I can sew.
JH: When did you know Shellac was the right band - any defining moments?
BW: First practice, first song. It was just awesome.
JH: Did you cry? Did you have a hug?
BW: (laughing) No, but we hug a lot now. We're close. We all get along really well.
JH: Have you ever punched one of them?
BW: Mmmm, no... I'm not a puncher. I actually just started taking Yoga.
JH: Another hypothetical question: Let's say Steve got on a huge ska kick and started bringing ska songs to Shellac practice, how long -
BW: It wouldn't happen.
JH: Hypothetically here. You know, he's your friend and he's trying to convince you that's what you need to be playing. He's throwing little "Pickitup, Pickitup"s in here and there...what do you do?
BW: Me and Todd would probably quit. I mean we only practice like, every few months. Actually we haven't written new songs in a year and last week we just wrote 8 new songs last weekend.
JH: What's your favorite thing about Steve?
BW: I'm trying to think of the right word for him. I need a thesaurus. It's like loyal, but you can always count on him...
JH: Dependable?
BW: But it's a word for dependable and generous. I'll call you later when I think of it.
JH: He gave you the pants right?
BW: For Christmas, Steve and his girlfriend gave me the black vinyl pants. It was a total surprise. I like them a lot; I want a silver pair.
JH: What do you wear with them?
BW: Well, the key is to wear them with something really plain, like a sweatshirt and boots, and wear them to the grocery store.
BW: What's the word for Steve, I still can't think of it...
JH: If he was a girl, would you marry him?
BW: No, probably not. I don't think we'd be a good married couple. We'd break up, but we'd still be friends. (laughs)
JH: What's the latest gossip you've heard about your band?
BW: That we're signing to Geffen.
JH: What gossip have you heard about yourself lately?
BW: Um, nothing really. I hear that I have a girlfriend all the time, but I don't.
(digress into talking about Fugazi for 10 minutes)
JH: Do you know any Fugazi stories?
BW: I heard this one second hand... But they were camping on this desolate beach in Australia, they had just been swimming and were standing around naked, in Australia, cooking food, and these kangaroos came up and they started feeding them and feeding them ‘til they got closer and Guy was out of food and the kangaroo started to attack him, and the rest of the band chased it away with baseball bats.
JH: Wow, Fugazi, naked chasing kangaroos - that's a good one.

 

Very very thanks to Mizra Puric for this one!