I have to watch my boyish figure
1997: chat with John

Not so much a proper interview as a chat Esther and Manon had with John Taylor after his live performance in Stuttgart, Germany, June 26th 1997. Talk about bad timing – John had just given his first proper live show outside of Duran, we were sitting in a noisy ‘backstage area’ and an Italian waiter kept interrupting to ask John if he wanted anything to eat or drink…

JT: I'll have another glass of that fruitjuice you've got. Have you got some more of that fruitjuice stuff?.

TDGD: Why did you decide to come to Stuttgart, John?
I was asked. I was asked.

And what was it like, you know, because half the crowd was just out there [on the stands] and there was only the fans up front?
Look, I mean, I'm doing something new, you know. And, uh...

You're enjoying it?
Yeah, yeah.

You look happy.
Yeah. I mean it's... I mean, the audience... No, you know what, I just had a really good time. I mean sometimes you've just got to say to yourself that uhh...

Waiter: Sorry, we've only got Fanta.
(JT to waiter:) Oh, OK.
Sometimes you've just got to euhh... I mean, it's professionalism, you know.

More shows?
No.

Just this and then back into the studio for the second album?ⁱ
Yeah. Finish it, yeah.

What's it like?
It's great!

Yeah, of course. So you've got an orchestra on it?
No, not yet.

You are going to do something with that?
Well I thought about doing that, but I'm not sure whether that was just, that was just me being grandiose. I'm not sure. I'm not sure whether it's necessary.

Any other B5 projects?
Well, the Roxy album we're gonna, we're gonna release two albums on the internet through the website. One is the Roxy Tributeⁱⁱ, which by, which I think will be ready, which will be selling in September. And I think I'm gonna do an EP. I'm just gonna do a four track EP CD-ROMⁱⁱⁱ that'll have the Feelings Are Good video on it. And sell that on the internet as well, just through the website. Just because I really like the idea of the internet; I like, I'm excited by the possibilities of what I can exploit. So you know, I wanna work it. I went away from it after I first put the album out, but looking back, I think I did quite well. I think we sold about 4000 Feelings Are Good albums. And people who know the market say, well, that was pretty good, you know.

Yeah, it was so small-scale as well, wasn't it...
Yeah, but I mean in terms of doing it through the internet, through the internet...

Iris (The Icon): Why did you choose Germany for making promotion?
They chose me. You know, they chose me. The label that took the album, Arcade, felt they could make something, make something of a success with it. And, um, so I said, well, I'm very reluctant, you know, I reluctantly said, OK, I'll do whatever you want me to.

Umm, we have a whole list of questions... One of them: Why B5? What does the name mean?
No, there's nothing in the name.

There's nothing?
No.

You just chose it?
It was, my friend^iv already had a studio called B5 and I just thought, aahh, I don't want to have to think of another name.

We've been looking for all sorts of symbolism behind it: the vitamin, a postcode in Birmingham. And it's nothing...!
What's that?

It could have been a postcode in Birmingham or something.
(smiles) Yeah, but it's not, no. It's just a number.

Are you happy outside Duran?
Yeah.

We heard you're working with The Bloodhound Gang. If you listen to their song...
They... Mojo called me, 'cos Mojo Records are putting together a Duran Duran tribute and they put me together with them. And I must say that I loved them!

Yeah, they're funny, aren't they?!
Jimmy Pop is a great, he's really a great... He's a crazy guy, wild and crazy. And, er, so I hope it's going to happen.

Have you heard they've got a song out, it's called Your Only Friends Are Make Believe, with bits of Hungry Like the Wolf in it?
Yeah!

You don't mind?
Oh, I love it! I think it's a great compliment. I mean, coming from a band like that, that are so left-field, you know, that you really wouldn't expect, I think, to like that kind of pop.

Waiter: Excuse me (brings a plate of melon)
Thank you.
Waiter: ? Senore
Thank you very much. Great idea, lovely.

We've heard you're mountain-biking, is that your new (hobby)...?
No.

You're not?
No.

Waiter: Would you like something to eat or drink? Would you like chicken?
No, I'm fine. I think, I think we're going to go out for some Chinese food actually. But thanks all the same.
Waiter: A beer?
No, I'm fine.
Waiter: A ?
No, not for me. No, I'm fine. I don;t mind. No, I'm just going to... This is perfect.
Waiter: Perfect? OK, so if you want something, say to me.
OK.
Waiter: Any espresso?
A cappucino actually, yeah.
Waiter: No cappucino. Espresso, very Italiano.
OK, yeah!

(How do you interview someone if a waiter keeps butting in...???)

We've heard you're working on a Queen Tribute album?
No.

It's not true? What are all these rumours...?!?
Andy,^v Andy's working the Queen Tribute. It's just on the same label. The Queen Tribute came out here, it came out here a month ago.

Do you know the cover version by Paul Oscar?
The what?

He did the Eurovision Song Contest for Iceland and he covered A View to a Kill. And he sounds like Boy George, but he's compared to David Bowie. (Esther hands JT a tape of the song)
This is for me? (huge smile) Great!

And before we forget, we've just got some presents for you because it was your birthday last week. This is for you, this is for Atlanta, this is Dutch as well.
(JT tears open his present)

That's for the next time you come to Holland. It's everything you need to know...about the Dutch.
"The Undutchables"? Excellent! I actually just love Holland, I'd like to spend more time in Holland.

Well you'll just have to come back then!
Hein is Dutch.

(Waiter brings espresso and some Italian pastry thing)
Thank you very much.
Waiter: Very Italiano, yes?
My figure, you know, I have to watch my boyish figure.

(We give JT some fanzines) Some more reading for later.
Thank you. (Looks at Neurotic Outsiders on the cover of TDGD?) It's a shame the Neurotic Outsiders never played in Holland.

Esther: I went to Cologne. It was great. It was a pity I was ill, but...
That was great, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was great.
We would have blown up the Paradiso!^vi

Yeah that would have been excellent!
Cologne was great!

Umm, have you heard the new Duran stuff?
Umm, not all of it.

How do you feel about the fact that they've been recording so may new songs that they've removed a lot… (of your contribution to the album)
(interrupts) Oh... It's all about me. You know, what I mean, when I left I thought I could make it about, you know, one person's bad habits and another person's dressing. It's not about anything to do with them. It's what I want for me, you know.

We understand that. But it sounds like... You worked so much on this album^vii and now you're only going to be on...
I would have done the same thing.

Would you?
I mean, if somebody had walked out on my band right at the last minute, I'd have said, well fuck him! We're taking him off the album, we're gonna replay everything. That's what I would have done. You know, that's very much John Taylor kind of thinking, that. They probably got it from me. I trained them well! No, because I mean, they need to feel as confident, umm, in their abilities when they come out with a new album. And they need to make something they feel is very representative of them. So it was only natural. It hurt for about a minute, you know, but that's all.

Waiter: You want some cheese?
(Esther & Manon in hysterics – we can’t compete with this waiter!)
It looks great, but no, I can't. I don't know whether any of these ladies would like some?
No, thank you.

I think I gotta move on, I think. Alright, bye ladies, thanks a lot.

Thank you, bye!

1. John’s second solo album, known as the Japan Album
2. Dreamhome Heartaches, a Roxy Music tribute album released through B5 Records with contributions from JT, Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode and many others; proceeds from the album went to a charity for homeless children
3. The EP referred to is AutoDidact
4. Hein Hoven
5. Andy Schilling - JT's European publicist
6. Small prestigious concert venue in Amsterdam
7. Medazzaland