#90 The Saints in Brisbane in the years 70 : Interview with Ed Kuepper from his first meeting at school with Chris Bailey and Ivor Hay until their first album I’m Stranded Podcast part 1
I recorded that interview with Ed Kuepper a long time ago, in fact in August 2007 just after Pig City but there always were new interviews to publish with Ed like about his last album’s release Jean-Lee and the Yellow dog then his European tour with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and I always put that interview off until later. So now after the All Tomorrow’s parties festival where The Saints reunited for a few shows with the original members Chris Bailey, Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay, I thought it was the good time for a little history !! In this first part we started when Ed met Chris at school in the first years of 1970 until the Saints left Brisbane for London with their first album self-produced in 76 “I”m Stranded”.
The Saints in Brisbane in 1976 (pic Joe Borkowski) : In front on the left Ed Kuepper (guitar) above him Ivor Hay (drums) Kym Bradshaw (bass) on the right Chris Bailey (vocals).
This interview is pretty different from the ones I recorded Live at Berlin with Ed; we spoke more about their life as a band in Brisbane and the political background which sometimes crossed their music.
I played some songs to illustrate our talk : Nights in Venice, Wild about you (recorded in 74), Story of Love, Brisbane security city, Demolition girl and a song called “Untitled”.
In the second part Ed gave his feeling about his arrival in London in 77 in the context of the punk movement explosion, their second and third album’s recording with EMI until the band split in 1978…stay connected!
Meltingpod Connections : Update January 23th
If you want to spend one hour comfortably at home with Nick Cave speaking about his 25 years carreer from The Birthday Party to the Bad Seeds to Grinderman and how the Saints with “I’m Stranded” were a revelation for him, go to TripleJ abc.net and listen to that great broadcast recorded in 2007 by Richard Kingsmill : a pro job !! Hoping Nick will made up with the journalists ! (thanks Lars for the link!)
Nick Cave in Mt Buller ATP January 2009 : check more great pics on Carbie Warbie ’s website, a passion for the rock photography he shares with us at Flickr !! Fantastic pics from X and the Saints in Melbourne by the way !
Another news but pretty sad, Mick Harvey announced he quits the Bad Seeds : check his message yesterday at abc.net.au/news
janvier 21st, 2009 at 14:26:40
Now I’ve had a chance to listen,
fantastic pod, some stuff Ive never heard Ed talk about before and in more depth than I’ve heard before, Esp about the social and political landscape of the time in Brisbane.
I love all the Brisbane band golden period history,
of course the Saints early history is the greatest.
I was fairly young in 1977 it was the year i started high school so this time was before my time and i suppose that just adds to the mystery.
So great stuff and right up my alley.
Can’t wait for part 2.
Ciao bob
janvier 25th, 2009 at 20:41:19
Annie! What a perfect timing!
I’m reading the biography “AC/DC Maximal Rock’n'roll” right now and have come to the period around ‘77 (Ed Kuepper is also quoted in the book) Very interesting to hear Ed’s memories from the time, and again what a wonderful band The Saints were/is, they were always interesting, they just like The Clash did take the music to other levels, i love all the albums I have with The Saints (nearly all I think, ahhhh vinyl lp’s)
Great podacast as always!!
Kisses,
“Lazy” Tom
janvier 27th, 2009 at 01:34:13
Just came across your site today through That Striped Sunlight Sound, looking foward to some great listening. Lot’s of Australian stufF!!!
I ran a link your way on my blog - prehistoricsounds.blogspot.com.
Cheers
bazzil
janvier 27th, 2009 at 11:25:58
Welcome to Meltingpod Bazzil !! hey your blog has a nice name ! I will check it ! thanks for your link, I added yours ! btw : I checked in your blog there is a link to another blog called “Eternally yours”…The Saints’ children…:)
Hello Bob and Tom : happy you appreciated the podcast part 1 !
janvier 27th, 2009 at 16:58:04
Hi Annie..Enjoyed immensely..listen to podcast .Ed..Brisbane..
I am thrilled I knew them and was there..
great guys..Even special have the original Fatal (I’m Stranded) got chris to sign it when I seen him at the Zoo..
Will listen to second podcast..London tomorrow
Thanks Annie
février 8th, 2009 at 09:12:45
When “the rehearsals become parties”… something is bound to happen : the Poppies grow very tall and the sheep gets blacker ! Click click goes the Queensland shearers…
Excellent stuff, Annie ! Very good description of the social contex by Ed. I landed in Brisbane in jan ‘77 and YES, the police seems notorious and absurdly over-confident in that dead paranoid town. I didnt hang around with my 20 bucks but hichhike to South-Australia straightaway.
février 11th, 2009 at 18:45:48
Welcome to Meltingpod Annette and thanks you for your Live report about that period as well as Christian’s…hoping you will appreciate the part 2 !