John Robb Youtube interview with Chris Catalyst

THE place for your Sisters-related comments, questions and snippets of Sisters information. For those who do not know, The Sisters of Mercy are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine. Or so they say. They make records. Lots of records, apparently. But not in your galaxy. They play concerts. Lots of concerts, actually. But you still cannot see them. So what's it all about, Alfie? This is one of the few tightly-moderated forums on Heartland, so please keep on-topic. All off-topic posts will either be moved or deleted. Chairman Bux is the editor and the editor's decision is final. Danke.
Post Reply
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

This is really good. Probably the most informative and relaxed interview with Chris I've seen.

Quite a bit of Sisters content in here. A look behind the curtain.

John is an excellent interviewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV6BVbbbDMM
Top
User avatar
Swinnow
Overbomber
Posts: 3551
Joined: 15 Mar 2005, 08:51
Location: In the Gazebo Of Badness, just outside BD3

Ta
....if I have to explain, then you'll never understand....
Top
User avatar
sam donut
Some Kind of Donut
Posts: 594
Joined: 28 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: manchester, europe

Yeah, I enjoyed this!
Top
User avatar
czuczu
Overbomber
Posts: 2191
Joined: 24 Oct 2005, 14:11
Location: UK

's a very good listen. Surprisingly open :)
Top
User avatar
Pista
Cureboi
Posts: 17627
Joined: 25 Jun 2006, 15:03
Location: Lost In A Forest
Contact:
Contact Pista

That was really good.
Lot of details & a nice long chat.
Cheers.
Steve
Just like the old days
TheCureCommunity
Top
User avatar
Being645
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 15271
Joined: 09 Apr 2009, 12:54
Location: reconstruction status: whatever the f**k

sam donut wrote: ↑03 Apr 2021, 20:15 Yeah, I enjoyed this!
Me too. That was really entertaining and restorative. John Rob is a good interviewer, indeed.
And we had Chris as we know him. He just can't but be the one he is... :D :D :D ...
Top
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

I thought it was interesting that Chris implied heavily that when he joined, the job was represented to him as leading to recording etc, and that it just never materialised. That's interesting, as it implies WE weren't crazy to hope for it. It seems that in the early 2000s, Andrew really was thinking of recording and the comments about them recording things weren't just smoke and mirrors.

I'd sort of wondered if he'd never seriously considered it and just liked to string people along to maintain ticket sales but apparently not. It was also interesting to hear Chris say that a lot of the new songs they've played live back in the day weren't really finished, and that gels with things people here have said. Think back to the likes of Arms and Still - great ideas, fun to hear but a little . . . unsatisfying as performed as they're missing middle eights and bridges etc.

I like Chris, he seems like a genuinely nice guy and I'm very happy to have had him (sort of) in my life through his work with the Sisters. But this interview also seems to draw a line under the Chris/Ben/Von era of the band. I'm more hopeful of a new record now than probably I've been in a while. It seems Von is capable of having creative spurts and going with his whims. Certainly, having to reinvent things a little has prompted new activity, so while I'm sorry to see Chris go (for now), it's nice to look forward to something new.
Top
User avatar
OLDFART
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 709
Joined: 10 Aug 2020, 21:55
Location: The Cursed Earth

Really enjoyed this .
Top
User avatar
sam donut
Some Kind of Donut
Posts: 594
Joined: 28 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: manchester, europe

I like hearing Chris talk about Eldritch. There's a genuine affection, it seems, as well as the frustration he shares with a lot of Sisters fans.
You almost get a glimpse behind the smoke and mirrors 😁
Top
User avatar
Silver_Owl
The Don
Posts: 7498
Joined: 27 Sep 2003, 18:52

Thanks for posting this. Both really nice guys...but then we knew that.
Would have been great if :wake: had listened and let Chris play bass. 8)
We forgive as we forget
As the day is long.
Top
User avatar
Husek
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1062
Joined: 02 May 2006, 05:03
Location: Canada
Contact:
Contact Husek

Silver_Owl wrote: ↑07 Apr 2021, 14:35 Thanks for posting this. Both really nice guys...but then we knew that.
Would have been great if :wake: had listened and let Chris play bass. 8)
There's still hope, we ain't have a bassist yet, and Chris, probably, is available still :innocent:
Project Personal Dok
Hardware: 100% (Single Hackintosh)
AU: 90%
Software: 90%
The Final Floorshow - My Own Sisters T-Shirt Shop
Top
User avatar
eastmidswhizzkid
Faster Than The Light Of Speed
Posts: 9876
Joined: 24 Mar 2005, 00:01
Location: WhizzWorld
Contact:
Contact eastmidswhizzkid

A Great Imterview!
this answers so many of the tedious questions eternally asked both here on Our Heartland & in the murky depths of the FacePond that if i was a cruel cnut i would suggest that EVERYBODY can now S.T.F.U.! with regard to.....everything. but i aint a fascist dictator i'm an anarchist and i will happily now personally cease such past-times, knowing that the facts are mostly known (subject to the contrari-wise paradoxes and contradictionaries of The Chairman). :von:
Well I was handsome and I was strong
And I knew the words to every song.
"Did my singing please you?"
"No! The words you sang were wrong!"
:bat:
Top
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

Agreed. If I was Chris, I'd direct people to this interview in future.
Top
User avatar
MadameButterfly
HL's mystical safekeeper
Posts: 6940
Joined: 12 Jul 2005, 09:29
Location: in my own galaxy

thank you for posting this, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

both lovely chaps and of course Chris being who he is and honest about how he works.
can only wish the best for him for his future projects :notworthy: :notworthy:
it's all about circles and spirals
that ongoing eternity
Top
User avatar
Silver_Owl
The Don
Posts: 7498
Joined: 27 Sep 2003, 18:52

I also found out on the back of watching it that John is a vegan. :notworthy:
We forgive as we forget
As the day is long.
Top
User avatar
MadameButterfly
HL's mystical safekeeper
Posts: 6940
Joined: 12 Jul 2005, 09:29
Location: in my own galaxy

Silver_Owl wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 12:58 I also found out on the back of watching it that John is a vegan. :notworthy:
and have you seen his body? those arms are to die for *melts* :wink:
it's all about circles and spirals
that ongoing eternity
Top
User avatar
Silver_Owl
The Don
Posts: 7498
Joined: 27 Sep 2003, 18:52

MadameButterfly wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 14:27
Silver_Owl wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 12:58 I also found out on the back of watching it that John is a vegan. :notworthy:
and have you seen his body? those arms are to die for *melts* :wink:
Urmmmm...Can't say I'd noticed but hey, that's veganism for ya. :P
We forgive as we forget
As the day is long.
Top
User avatar
Nyth Grandbeard
Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 147
Joined: 11 Nov 2020, 23:26
Location: Vortex World
Contact:
Contact Nyth Grandbeard

Very insightful interview, I'm glad to hear that that Von seems to have made genuine friends out of Ben and Chris in their time together. The thing that has me concerned though was when Chris decided to take his break to focus on other projects he mentioned there was an air of disloyalty about the whole thing. Hopefully it all works out in the end!

Also Chris' other projects rock! Can't wait to see what else he has coming down the pipeline.
Top
User avatar
MadameButterfly
HL's mystical safekeeper
Posts: 6940
Joined: 12 Jul 2005, 09:29
Location: in my own galaxy

Silver_Owl wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 15:56
MadameButterfly wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 14:27
Silver_Owl wrote: ↑09 Apr 2021, 12:58 I also found out on the back of watching it that John is a vegan. :notworthy:
and have you seen his body? those arms are to die for *melts* :wink:
Urmmmm...Can't say I'd noticed but hey, that's veganism for ya. :P
LOL indeed veganism... good for the mind, body and soul. but actually meaning from the interview... in 2017 the Membranes support act for the Sisters when i saw John on stage and his presence was remarkable.
something i think both John and Chris have a dominant stage presence and just go for it which is entertaining.

that disloyalty feeling why Chris left. Von knew that Chris and Ben for that matter have other projects that they are actively involved in and if Chris wasn't available for a September tour that he wanted to do well it could have been organised for another month. Von is lazy and like they said the opportunities for recording were there but if Von can't pull his finger outta it what else could he do? Chris is a busy creative person and he can't be not creating music, the way it should be.
but like John also says and we have to agree, Von has not recorded anything in so many years but that is what makes him unique in the business. we still buy tickets to see him playing live which is also unique :von:
it's all about circles and spirals
that ongoing eternity
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Sisters Chat”