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Golden Years: The
Snatches Of Pink Interview With Michael Rank! |
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 The usual tear...okay, so once upon a time, I lived with a whole houseful
of crazies, as you might remember, it was sort of like an east coast
artist's colony, alrite? I think we were still calling the perennial hack
acoustic ramshackle glittercide rock group December's Children, back
then. We were
drunk all the time, on wine-women, whiskey, and song, there was music in
the cafe's at night, and revolution in the air. So one of these
extraordinary women I lived with, was this shy daisey of a girl, and
early in the wee, wee hours, when all the firebrands and moodswingers had
all passed out and
quieted down, she and I would stay up late, sipping these heavily spiked
(well mine was, anyway) coffee drinks, that tasted like warm milkshakes,
and she played me records I'd never heard, and we'd talk and talk. Okay,
I'm trying to spare you every gaudy detail here, but this beauty was
responsible
for turning this angry little heathen wolf child from the backwilds of
Ken-Tuck, on to all sorts of soul soothing and life altering art and
music-from the sixties beats and Woody Guthrie, to Nick Drake, Gram
Parsons, Bob Dylan and on to the self destruction blues side of things I
could more easily identify with. We loved the Suicide Twins, the Jacobites,
the Wallflowers first album, These Immortal Souls, and
Snatches Of Pink. I
was skeptical about Snatches Of Pink at first, until she told me that my
king daddy rock emperor songwriting idol Andy McCoy had, in fact, lent his
talents to one of their glimmery albums, and gradually, I started warming
up to "Bent With Prey" and "Send In The Clowns", but I wasn't even old
enough to drink legal when I first met these dames, I was still into teenage angst
and the harder rock groups from back then, Guns N Roses and Circus Of
Power. It was Michael Rank's resplendent solo album, "Coral", that really grew on
me initially, and alongside only a handful of other singer/songwriters at
the time (Chick Graning, Mark Lanegan, Tyla) he really had the ability to
captivate my wild, little heart. Michael Rank steadfastly became one of
ourhousehold's favorite poet troubadours of the early nineties "ragged
school";
and "Coral" remains one of the most stirring and sentimental artifacts of
that era. When everybody else was having their honeymoon with grunge, me
and
my liquid gang of thrill-seekers and would-be Super 8 film-makers, we were kinda having a sort of whacked-out glammish folk
renaissance all our own.
Everybody was shufflin' round lookin' like Spiders From Mars, and early
conversations were taking place about decades in the making, "Love Rock
Revolutions", still to come. Everyday was a blur of T.Rex,
Manic St.
Preachers, Jim Carroll, and Drivin' N Cryin' records, saxophones, loud and
mean women, Cold Duck Champagne, drugs, and Maker's Mark, and pheeweee,
Mama! There were some half-assed cool bands still hangin' round town, that we'd
occasionally still stumble onto the redline to go and see, like the
Voodoo
Dolls, Black Snake Moon, Two Saints, the Bristols,
Sugarbitch, and Facts
About Rats. We hung at Foley's with Aimee Mann and Peter Wolfe, or at
Bunratty's with a bitchy Mono-Man begging to hear Stiv
stories, oblivious
to
how insulted he was. Or at the Rat with Mark from the Unattached, who
apparently wrote Alice Cooper's "Poison" when it was still just another
one
of his countless dope songs, called "Downtown Prayer". "Coral" was one of those sacred records like "All The Heartbreak
Stories"
or "Beggars Banquet" or "Blonde On Blonde", that was always reserved for
those special, twi-lit, endless A.M. hours when I'd hole up in my beloved
confidante's candle lit bedroom and in hushed, excited tones, talk and
talk
and talk. So needless to say, Rank's starkly poignant and yearning,
neurotic, rainy day laments will always have a special place in my heart,
not
only because everything about it is nearly perfect, but more obviously,
because those songs are all wedded to alot of really precious memories I
have, of a golden era, before things went bad again. My whole life's been
a
roller-coaster, believe me. So when my longtime patner-in-crime, the Great
&
Terrible Eater Of Planets, Sleaze, told me about their new album,
"Hyena",
I
knew I'd have to seek it out and testify to you people that it's the best
heartfelt tortured romantic rocknroll you're likely to hear these days,
aside from a small handful of other genuine article underdog songwriters
we
ended up discussing in the following interview. We at Sleazegrinder World
Domination H.Q. talk alot of shit about alot of bedraggled, scarf wearing
rock groups on here, but few, if any (Okay, maybe the Hangmen, or
Lazy
Cowgirls, someday?) are likely to deliver a record destined to be a true
classic like "Hyena". I was apprehensive about communicating with
Michael
Rank, cos I already know too many fookin' people, but the Sleazegrinder
assured me he is "just like his songs", and I guess that brings us up to
now, when this authentic purveyor of our dwindling art-form, and
thoughtful
gentleman, Michael Rank, so kindly responded to the following
questions...If you love the real rock'n'roll, rush right out and do whatever you have to, to acquire this one, it's holy lightning. Pure Magic. Ain't nothin' like the real thing, babies... -The Mystery Tramp _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Q. What's the social climate like
where you live? Do people ever give you guff about your appearance? Are
you a hometown hero? Is it expensive? Is it preciously cool, you know,
like nauseatingly "music-scene" oriented or more laid-back? Do you go to
bars anymore? Is it expensive to live? Liberal or conservative, etc? |
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But you know there must be
some kinda dark halo that's always with you cause I still get the looks
from the ladies at the grocery like I stand accused of pillaging and
violating the village. Snatches of Pink has been at constant odds with the music scene here
since the beginning of time. In Chapel Hill they're bred with a fear of true rock & roll and cling to a pretentious, indy sweater like a
security
Q. What was your first introduction to real rocknroll? Were your
parents supportive of your early aspirations? Any siblings? Any Kids? |
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Q. Describe each of your bandmates
personality wise, how you met them, etc. Michael: Marc and Kevin are both princes. I'd be honored to date either one of em. Marc's been with me longer. We needed a bass player after Andy left and I asked Marc. He turned me down but said if I ever wantd to add a second guitar player to give him a call. So I gave him a call. He had his own band at the time called El Dealer. I fucking love that band name. |
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Kevin is one of a kind. Period. They
broke the mold. Probably with him still in the mold!! He's been a huge kick in the ass
for me. They both have. I'm lucky as hell to know both of them. Q. Does everybody ask you if Sara's your girlfriend? Michael: Sara and I were romantically together for twelve years. We played together for seventeen. It aint a secret. She retired from the rock and roll life a couple of years ago. We're still great friends and I know she's got my back if things turn ugly. We forced her to fill in on a couple of shows just last week. You never really escape. Q. Whatever happened to Andy McMillan? Michael: Andy retired about six years back. He's my fellow founding father. We've been forcing him lately to get behind the wheel and road manage. Like I said, no escape. Q. Discuss Coral and what you felt you expressed/achieved with that landmark album... Michael: I really appreciate that you dug that album. All my influences and heroes had a strong acoustic side to their work. Thunders, Sudden, Keith... So CORAL was intended to be my acoustic album. It sorta became something else though in the process. But the groundwork is there. I wrote every single song on every single album prior to HYENA on acoustic. Doing it that way will separate you from the pack. There's no faking it with an acoustic. Time to step up. Q. Discuss the differences between Clarissa and Snatches Of Pink?  Michael: Snatches of Pink is what I've done with my life. It's the truest
form.
I think with Clarissa, although honest and with pure intent, I was trying
to get the band a commercial success I felt we had earned and were due. It never came my way, but to this day I feel with the album "Silver" it should have. I'm one to hold a grudge.Q. Tell me about playing with Rockets and your interactions with Cheetah Chrome... Michael: Oh, man, fucking Cheetah. What a hero of mine. I was in full fan mode. I got him to sign anything that wasn't nailed down. He was very kind and seemed genuinely interested in the band. They even made a point to get back and catch the tail end of our set. That was a funny scene. Cause you had all these icons like Cheetah and Richard Lloyd and David Thomas. But it's sorta like with the Stones. There's Mick's camp and then there's Keith's camp. And I'm always gonna be hanging out in Keith's camp. And I'm always gonna be hanging out in Cheetah's camp. You know? Q. Will Snatches Of Pink be opening up for Hanoi Rocks on any of their American tour dates? What was your conversation with Razzle like? Michael: Well, I can always dream. But I'd file that one under longshot. But you know, we've gotten to open for Johhny Thunders, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, The Cramps, Rocket From the Tombs, and Nikki Sudden, so... Razzle was just so friendly and genuinely open and giving. He was a treasure. We talked about Thunders and the most recent Heartbreakers' reunions. I also tried to explain to him where North Carolina was. Hey, he asked. |
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Q. Discuss how you were affected by Stiv
Bators and the Lords Of The New Church? Michael: Lords of the New Church are one of my favorite bands of all time. Huge fucking deal to me. A brilliant, brilliant band. So unique. They sounded like no one else and no one else has ever sounded like them. Stiv was truly one of the greatest frontmen in the history of rock and roll. My live memories of Stiv always seem to include bubblegum manipulations and his head in the kickdrum. You all know what I'm talking about. But as personal influences go, Brian James is a very big deal. Q. What did you think of Thee Hypnotics album produced by Chris Robinson? |
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Michael:
Chris has always been very kind to me. They were big fans of Sara.
He's a good friend of a good friend. There was a little talk of him
producing the first Clarissa album but it never came to be. That doesn't really answer your question, does it? Q. What's your relationship to Baltimore punkroll superstars, The Beatings? When my ship comes in, I'm gonna commission Adam T to make me up a Snatches Of Pink t-shirt- that old shot of you guys in front of the pirate flag... Michael: I'm not a big rock t-shirt wearer but one day on ebay I saw a Hanoi shirt with the greatest shot of Andy and Michael on the front and I just had to have it. I won the auction and called the phone number to pay for it and Adam T answered on the other end. That's how we met and now I consider him one of my very best friends. We're partners in crime. I don't run into many folks who know more about this shit than me. I've been asking Adam a music related question a day for the past four years. And he ALWAYS has got an answer. He's like a national treasure. And an amazing fucking artist on many, many levels. In 2001 S.O.P. and The Beatings hit the road together for our Summer Romance Tour. I think it was the last time they ever played together. Probably our fault! (actually, probably not!) Q. Proudest musical achievements to date? Michael: You know, I'm pretty fucking proud that after twenty years since starting S.O.P. I still haven't quit once and I'm still a loud as hell guitar player. I'm proud of the fact we shared the stage with most all of my heroes. And I'm proud of the fact that I still listen to all of the exact same music that I did in the Seventies. I'm one consistent boy. Q. What songs have you liked from David Bowie, POST- "Let's Dance" from various albums? Michael: None of em. I'm sure there are a couple, but I haven't heard one yet. But that's my problem not his. 'Scary Monsters' was my last favorite album. I just wish every year that he would get a band of young, raw, rock and rollers. Hell, they don't even have to be young. But they do need to be raw. I could write some great fucking songs for David Bowie. But again, my problem not his. Q. What do you think of the Hangmen? Heard their new one yet? Michael: Always dug the Hangmen. Got the new album on order. They did a brilliant version of Russian Roulette. And that's sacred ground. Wish someone would send me their mythical, unreleased Geffen album. Q. Jacobites/Bounty Hunters, etc.? Michael: Ahh. More heroes for me. The greatest album photos ever. And that's a big deal to me. A good portion of my life's record buying is based on the cover photo. What can I say, I'm visually inclined. Nikki Sudden and Kusworth. I have all of it. And I'll always buy all of it. A lot of folks complain it's just the same song over and over. Well if that's the case then I must really love that fucking song! Nikki's an icon and should be treated as such. Last time he played here I bought his band a hotel room for the night. You gotta repay that debt whenever you can. 'Robespierre' and 'Groove' are probably my favorites. 'Groove' is just lethal. One of the greatest opening tracks ever. But the one most dear to me would have to be 'Kissed You Kidnapped Charabanc'. Which brings us to.... Q. These Immortal Souls? Michael: Exactly. Rowland S. Howard is one of my favorite artists of all time. His 'Kiss You Kidnapped...'album with Sudden is one of my top seven ever. I say seven cause that's my favorite number. Love Rowland S. Howard. Love his guitar playing. Love his voice. Completely unique. No one like him. |
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Q. Fetchin' Bones/Hope Nicholls? |
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Q. Favorite Hanoi related stuff? Michael: Man. That's the motherload right there. The final destination. I imagine everyone knows how I feel about them. If you don't, then go to www.sleazegrinder.com/teensleazehanoi.htm Although I love aspects of all their albums my favorite would have to be 'Self Destruction Blues'. Another album that sounds like nothing else on the planet. That aint an easy thing to accomplish. And in that top seven list would surely be found The Suicide Twins release 'Silver Missiles and Nightingales'. My all time favorite 'acoustic' album ever. I could listen to Andy McCoy and Nasty sing all day long. I also actually really dug those last Hanoi demos like 'Lips of Love' and 'Playing with Myself/Marcel'. Andy's tune 'Menaced by Nightingales' is also brilliant. Q. Did you ever hear Claude from Smack's solo stuff or that record he did with Jyrki from 69 Eyes? Michael: Huge, huge Smack fan. 'On You' is one of the best rock albums ever recorded. And one of the greatest album covers to boot. I've got the Fishfaces material and the 'Yours Truly' EP he did with Jyrki. Is there more?? If so, someone PLEASE send it to me.
Q. What are yer fave pastimes? What d'ya do
for fun? |
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Q. All time worst "gig from hell"? |
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Q. Undiscovered comets, favorite unsung heroes of rocknrolll, who do youlisten to for pleasure? what modern day artists do you respect? Michael: This past month's rotation pile next to the stereo has been: 'Night in the Ruts', Aerosmith (that's actually been there for several months). 'Kings of the Wild Frontier', Adam and the Ants (some unbelievably claustrophobic glam blood running towards the middle of that one. if you haven't heard it in a while you'll be surprised.) |
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The first 'Joe Perry Project' album (but only the songs Joe sings) and a 70's Aerosmith bootleg called 'Just Sorted Enough' which contains an unbearably cool version of 'Lord of the Thighs'.... I see a pattern developing. On the modern artist front, there was a band called Verbena, from Birmingham, that I really dug alot. I believe they have since disbanded. I think he's a real talent. We also are doing some upcoming dates with another band from Birmingham, more patterns developing, called Universal Joint that would make Andrew Wood proud. And the great Kevin Clark from Snatches of Pink also fronts his own band, called The Man, that will kick your ass. Q. What do you hope to accomplish with Hyena? Current operations, goals, action plans, etc.? Michael: Man, for me HYENA was a return to sender. It was completing the circle that began with DEAD MEN. Mission Fucking Accomplished. Snatches of Pink are heading into the studio in June 2004 to record the follow up, titled STAG. And yes, I've since been told the Melvins also had an album called 'Stag' but so did one of the chicks from the Indigo Girls. So in my world you gotta figure Melvins and Indigo cancel each other out; leaving the name wide open for me to use. Make sense? Q. What else would you care to rant about? What have I forgotten to ask you? Michael: I was a huge Tex and the Horseheads fan. Huge Mike Martt fan. They were just a badass band. Incredible live. Especially when they were awful. At the time, we told our label we wanted Mike Martt to produce DEAD MEN. So when the Horseheads came to Raleigh I asked him if he'd do it. He was drunk and thought I was kidding. I was drunk so I kept asking. He never bit though. Woulda been cool. |
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* Always loved that first
Flesh for Lulu self-titled album. Incredible
album. I never could get into any of their others though. It got too bubblegum for my tastes. (that EP 'Blue Sister Swing'(?) was pretty cool though.) * Will ALWAYS love Aerosmith 1976-1979. That was some of the most beautiful decay ever heard. The true lizard kings. * The early Alice Cooper Band, the Billion Dollar Babies. One of the greatest rock bands EVER. * Long live the fucking Stooges! * ALL MY HEROES ARE FROM KEITH RICHARDS' PUNK ARM. YOU KNOW THE SUSPECTS, JOHNNY THUNDERS, ANDY MCCOY, BRIAN JAMES. GOD BLESS THEM ALL. I OWE YOU EVERY DAY. |
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Q. And if you want, please feel free, to riff on any of the following? Chamber Strings - * Kevin Junior's a friend. The real deal. Replacements - * Back in the day, everyone in S.O.P. had different tastes. But there were two bands that we all came together on and would climb into the van and take little rock and roll field trips to see play live. One was Jason and the Scorchers and the other was the Replacements. The Replacements were like role models for us. Wilco - * No. Ryan Adams - * My favorite thing about Ryan Adams is his tour guitar player, Brad Rice. Brad used to live in Raleigh and he was hands down my biggest local guitar hero and influence. Thank you, Brad. I owe you too. * If anyone out there has any rare Brian James goods w/Lords, Iggy or solo then please contact me through the S.O.P. website. Same goes for any live audio or visual Suicide Twins. I know you're out there. Come on! ____________________________________________________________________________ - Pepsi Train Snatches of Pink website Sleaze Home |
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