20 QUESTIONS ( OK 18 )
JOHNNY DOWD
ARTIST FACTS

http://www.johnnydowd.com
wire flowers
2003

1.IN 1999 YOU SAID
'I'm not much into duplification..like if I say somethin three
times, I believe it the first
time, not sure the second time, third time sounds like a lie'
AND YET SOME SONGS BEING PRESENTED HERE ARE ON OTHER ALBUMS -
ARE THEY RADICALLY DIFFERENT AND WHY?

These are the original versions of the songs. They are pretty different.
That's a nice thing about songs. There are a million ways to do them.

2.I JOKINGLY CALLED YOU THE FORT WORTH FLYER - YOU HAIL FROM TEXAS
BUT SPENT MOST OF LIFE IN NEW YORK YET I DETECT QUITE A LOT OF THE
TEXAS GARAGE BAND SPIRIT IN YOUR MUSIC ESPECIALLY LIVE - YOU A
FAN OF 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS AND PEBBLE COMPILATION TYPE BANDS
AND IF SO ANY IN PARTICULAR?

I love the Elevators and Roky Erickson. They are a major inspiration.

3.WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR FOR A GUITAR?

It depends on the color of my shirt, the mood I'm in, lighting, weather, etc.

4.IF YOU HAD TO SPEND TIME ON A DESERT ISLAND WHICH FIVE ALBUMS
WOULD YOU TAKE?

-- Roky Erickson and Elevators greatest hits
-- Modern Sounds In Country Western Music (vol 1), Ray Charles
-- Tjuana Sound, Charlie Mingus
-- A Link Wray compilation
--Trout Mask Replica, Captain Beefheart

5.IS WIRE FLOWERS 'MEMPHIS' PART TWO AND IS THERE ANY MORE STUFF
IN THE LOCKER OR IT ALL BEEN CONFESSED NOW?

Yes. The well is dry. My soul is cleansed.

6.DO YOU PLAY SOLO LIVE MUCH OR ALWAYS WITH BAND

I've done a few gigs with just me and the voices in my head. Right now
I'm touring with a drummer (Willie B.) and myself.

7.WHY THE MUSIC STAND DO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS REMEMBERING LYRICS

Yes indeed.

8.IF YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN THE ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES AT THEIR
HEIGHT WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I would never join an English band (except for the Mekons).

9.WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CHEESE?

Velveeta.

10.WHEN MOVING FURNITURE EVER COME ACROSS RARE VINYL/
INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER HIIDDEN MUSICAL GEMS?

Yes. I got up to a hundred or so records from a foreign college student
who had died. Also a nice bass head made by York.

11.ARE YOU A HAPPY FELLOW?

Yes and no.

12.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF REVIEWERS?

I like the ones that write nice things about me.

13.DO YOU HAVE A DOG?

My wife and I have 14 cats: Harold, Juliet, Chloe, Fred, Bobby, William,
Squeaky, Romeo, Sammy, Teddy, Trixie, Katrina, Mickey, and Patrick.

14.ANY PLANS TO MOVE OUT OF ITHICA?

No. Never. I'll be buried here.

15.DO YOU EVER BET ON LOTTERY?

Only once a week.

16.HOW MANY GUITARS YOU OWN? ARE YOU A TECHNICALLY MINDED
PERSON?

One. A bright red Steinberger.

No. But I do have some nice stomp boxes.

17.HOW WOULD YOUR MUSIC SOUND IF WE HAD NO ELECTRICITY?

Boring.

18.WHAT EQUIPMENT WAS FLOWERS/MEMPHIS RECORDED ON?

Fostex X28H four-track and Shure 57.
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