New interview with Ben

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.
User avatar
markfiend
goriller of form 3b
Posts: 21181
Joined: 11 Nov 2003, 10:55
Location: st custards
Contact:

TheGoodSon wrote: 06 Sep 2021, 18:55 I always feel sorry for the other bandmembers (usually Ben or, previously, Chris) for having to defend stuff in interviews that are so clearly Vons decisions. Of course they would want to release new music, and of course they would like a bass player in the band, but The Paramount Leader can’t be bothered and so they have to publicly defend his decisions as if though they stood behind them 100%. That has got to be tough.
Yes, you can see the frustration mount as you read between the lines of their interviews.
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand Russell
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

Anyone listen to the Kerrang interview? Anything interesting said?
User avatar
Nyth Grandbeard
Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 147
Joined: 11 Nov 2020, 23:26
Location: Vortex World
Contact:

Todashi wrote: 07 Sep 2021, 10:46 Anyone listen to the Kerrang interview? Anything interesting said?
Listening to it now so i'll make a quick bullet point list for anyone who doesn't have the chance to listen. Also for anyone that does want to listen the interview starts around the 2 hour mark of the broadcast.

-The host was originally supposed to interview Andrew, but plans changed last minute, so they got Ben on.

-They did a ton of writing last year during the summer remotely sending demos back and fourth, and between July and August they got together in person to rehearse for around 10 days.

-They had so much pent up energy thanks to not being able to go on tour, that they were able to put that energy into writing more songs.

-There is a lot of talk between the band members about releasing new material, however one point that gets brought up in these conversations is a lot of bands have 3-4 really great albums but no one really thinks fondly of later career stuff, and this is what causes some hesitation.

-Andrew intentionally puts the lyrics on the website to tease fans of what the songs may sound like, so that when they show up to shows and actually hear the tunes it gives them, and I quote, "A sense of Euphoria."

-Andrew is a little hesitant to play at "Chain Venues" because they don't have the same feel as non chain venues.

-Ben reiterated what has been said recently where this is the most the band has felt like an actual band since the early 90s, and there is a super strong sense of synergy among the group at the moment.

-Ben says, and I quote, "Von has been really prolific with his lyric writing."

-As a fan who grew up with the Sisters of Mercy, Ben feels incredibly honored when people say the new songs are a return to form for the band.

And that's it, It was a rather sort interview but good nonetheless. The most interesting tidbit to me is that there have been some demos recorded and passed around of the new material. Now if those will ever see the light of day, that is uncertain. But, it is exciting that the band has a lot of synergy right now. For a lot of non-European sisters fans such as myself I hope we do get to see more recorded sisters material, and it is exciting that it is a conversation that is still regularly being had between the band. We shall see what happens in these next couple shows, and months. Maybe we will get that But Genevive Single :innocent: :innocent: :innocent:
User avatar
Wilkstein
Road Kill
Posts: 82
Joined: 09 May 2006, 00:22
Location: 30 Seconds Over Reeperbahn

Thanks for your summary. Much appreciated.
User avatar
Swinnow
Overbomber
Posts: 3551
Joined: 15 Mar 2005, 08:51
Location: In the Gazebo Of Badness, just outside BD3

So I guess it's the Stylus next time around in Leeds rather than the Academy.
....if I have to explain, then you'll never understand....
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

Thanks for the summary. Very nice to get.
User avatar
Being645
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 15271
Joined: 09 Apr 2009, 12:54
Location: reconstruction status: whatever the f**k

Absolutely. Thanks from here, too ... :notworthy: ...
User avatar
TheBoyNextDoor
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 873
Joined: 04 Sep 2004, 13:11
Location: Sweden
Contact:

https://www.loudersound.com/features/th ... -12-songs

Another good one from M Andrews. Thanks!
8)
User avatar
Swinnow
Overbomber
Posts: 3551
Joined: 15 Mar 2005, 08:51
Location: In the Gazebo Of Badness, just outside BD3

Ta, now this is new new. Does 'But Genevieve' have verses in this iteration?
....if I have to explain, then you'll never understand....
User avatar
Planet Dave
Underneath the Rock
Posts: 6744
Joined: 22 Apr 2003, 23:51
Location: Where the streets fold round

TheBoyNextDoor wrote: 09 Sep 2021, 20:50 https://www.loudersound.com/features/th ... -12-songs

Another good one from M Andrews. Thanks!
8)
Excellent :notworthy:
'What a heavy load Einstein must have had. Morons everywhere.'
User avatar
Charlie
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1492
Joined: 27 Mar 2017, 19:12
Location: Yorkshire

Awesome read and now we know 'Instrumental' from the setlists is actually called 'Instrumental '86' ;D

Fantastic to read more insights into the new songs and how they come about and how inspired and energised the band are, absolutely cannot wait for the Roundhouse gigs and getting to hear more new stuff!

Long Live The Sisters! :D :D :D :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
User avatar
Icon
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 280
Joined: 20 Mar 2019, 14:10
Location: Germany

I’m so envious that I can‘t be at the Roundhouse tonight! :cry: This interview is really awsome and so insightful.
Mark Andrews is doing the best interviews with the band ever and obviously has a very good connection.
Now I just soooo wish they were releasing something.

Thank you very much, Mark! Brilliant! :D
User avatar
Being645
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 15271
Joined: 09 Apr 2009, 12:54
Location: reconstruction status: whatever the f**k

Lovely ... :D ... it's good to see the band so very much alive... ;D ;D ;D ...

Of course, my choice of Sisters songs would look very different ... :lol: ...
It will be great, though, to see all these new songs develop to their full ... ;D ;D ;D ...

Another great thanks to Mark Andrews ... :D ... :notworthy: ....

Sad enough, I can't be at the gigs, but hell.
Now I'm looking forward to the videos from our fanbase masters of the field,
who, I've heard, are going to be there ... yesss ... ;D ;D ;D ....
User avatar
markfiend
goriller of form 3b
Posts: 21181
Joined: 11 Nov 2003, 10:55
Location: st custards
Contact:

"A combination of U2 and Motörhead" :lol:
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand Russell
User avatar
Being645
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 15271
Joined: 09 Apr 2009, 12:54
Location: reconstruction status: whatever the f**k

markfiend wrote: 10 Sep 2021, 10:07 "A combination of U2 and Motörhead" :lol:
Yeah ... :lol: ... very 1990s (like the Eldritch brain at the time, I guess) ... :lol: ...
Last edited by Being645 on 10 Sep 2021, 10:34, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
euphoria
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1253
Joined: 11 Mar 2003, 19:39
Location: Berlin

Ben's elaborating on Show Me in the last interview is probably the most interesting reply I've read from a Sisters guitarist ever, more about his own feelings and developments within the Sisters than about the track itself. Starting off with the frustration after having written 10 tracks with Chris in 2007(this was new info to me btw) to no avail (except Arms which was Chris song), and ending with phrases that could have come from Von himself:
The relocation of the rehearsal sessions from Yorkshire to Belgium felt like a new era. It made sense. We’re a European band. :notworthy:
Post Reply