Self-declared Shanghai-based ‘experimental freak punk outfit’
Round Eye are set to release their latest album this month, and to do so on Sudden Death Records no less –
the renowned long-running punk label led by DOA’s Joey Shithead. Entitled
Monstervision, the LP features the
single ‘Billy’ (which you might remember from
its politically-charged video)
and also contains the final recordings of Stooges saxophonist Steve Mackay.
Here, Round Eye frontman Chachy shares some of his favourite tracks...
The first album that you
ever bought
The first albums I bought
with my own money... I'm not entirely sure but I think it was either Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Michael Jackson's History, or Offspring's Smash. I can't really remember as
at that time me and my friends were transitioning into CDs from cassette tapes.
I can certainly tell you the first 7" single I ever owned: Harold
Faltermeyer's ‘Axel F’, the theme song from Beverly
Hills Cop.
The record that made you
want to start a band
The Stooges’ The
Stooges or Agent Orange's Living in Darkness. Those
two I distinctly remember immediately wanting to try and emulate the minute I
got my first guitar. In fact, the very first time I performed live for an
audience we played a drumless version of ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’. We had a
friend of ours play a fucking bucket in lieu of drums. The first time
we played with an actual drummer we did ‘Bloodstains’ like eight times in a row
for a high-school party. I remember after the show getting points
with the girls there because they'd thought we'd written the song! Thanks Mike
Palm!
The one track everyone
should listen to if they only hear one song from Monstervision
I'd say
‘Pink House’. Not only is this tune fun to dance to, has a message and
plays with several genres successfully, it's the last song we recorded
with Steve during a session in Beijing with [PK14 frontman and leading
Chinese rock producer] Yang Haisong. It's us saying goodbye to our
friend.
Your favourite Round Eye
song to play live
At the moment
incidentally it's ‘Pink House’ but ‘Commie Blues’ is a close second. With ‘Pink
House’ it's up to me to animate the dialogue of the song by interacting with
audience and personifying the narrator of the tune. It's straight up like
getting to be an actor for three minutes and for me that's always a hoot. I
always approach it like I'm the talk show host for the end of the world.
Your favourite Sudden Death Records or DOA song
The Pointed Sticks Perfect Youth album is fucking incredible. DOA: 'New Age' 'World War 3' or the album Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors with Jello Biafra singing. THAT was tittays.
Your favourite Round Eye video to date
The song by another band or artist that you wish you’d written
'月亮代表我的心' by Teresa Teng, 'Oh Where Can My Baby Be' by The Cavaliers or 'Let Her Dance' by Bobby Fuller Four.
