Headless Chickens keep feet on ground

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 27

Headless Chickens keep feet on ground

by

NEVIN TOPP

The Headless Chickens are now on the block. As a result of winning the Rheineck rock music award late last year, the Auckland band went into the studio to record an album. They are now on the road promoting the record. The Headless Chickens are aware that there are those who believe that the members should not have accepted the award in the first place, that this leftfield band had sold out to commercialism.

But for Chris Matthews, a guitarist and vocalist in the quintet, the award has not changed what the group have been trying to do.

“It hasn’t affected our attitude to our music,” he said.

The award gave the Headless Chickens a chance to record an album, something that they had been wanting to do but could not because of one inhibiting factor — money. “We were broke and we’re still broke as ever,” said Matthews, explaining that they had gone over their $30,000 budget in studio recording time, which was part of the award. The band hope to make up the deficit from royalties from the album,

called “Stunt Clown.” “Stunt Clown” will feature 11 tracks, although both the cassette and compact disc will boast a bonus with 19 tracks, including the songs from the'group’s first EP, and “King and Me,” a song by Johnny Pierce. However, the compact disc release date has not been finalised. The Headless Chickens began as a three-piece in 1986 comprising Matthews, Michael Lawry, and the late Johnny Pierce. Matthews and Pierce had extensive experience in bands, both having played in Children’s Hour and This Kind of Punishment before the Chickens were formed. The three-piece gained some notoriety after supporting the Nico and The Faction tour in 1986, and also from their first self-titled EP on the Flying Nun label. But for the Headless Chickens it was a step up when it came to recording for the LP. Previously, the band had used the eighttrack studio at Radio BFM, the University of Auckland’s student radio station, but for the LP it was the 24-track studio at Mandrill, at $llO an hour. Although the band might not have had the same spontaneity as in the

BFM studio, “it was good for us to have that money to record in the studio.”

Suggestions that the Headless Chickens might be compromised by the award were rejected by Matthews. When it came to recording Rheineck left the bank completely alone. All but one of the songs had been organised before recording started, he said.

However, Matthews did reveal that Rheineck wanted to see the album come out first, ahead of three songs that had been recorded for a second EP. “Donka,” “Do the Headless Chicken,” and “Cyclex,” were the three songs for the EP. These were re-recorded for “Stunt Clown,” and turned out better than the originals. “Donka” would be the first single from the album, although the track had been called “Donca” on the videotape screened on “Radio With Pictures” last Sunday, Matthews said.

Flying Nun planned to release the album in Britain and Europe, and was also negotiating with Blast First, the independent United States label, for a realease in that country.

There was no reason why the single and the album should not be fea-

tured on commercial radio in New Zealand, but Matthews believed there was little chance they would get to air. The programmers followed overseas trends; Shona Laing was a good example of that. The main source of airplay would be the student stations. “Campus radio is very supportive on New Zealand music.” Although he is uncertain whether Rheineck will be prepared to support another award this year, Matthews has no hesitation in recommending bands to enter. Ardijah were playing around South Auckland until they won the 1986 award and it had helped them immensely. The Headless Chickens will be taking their noted film and slide show on their tour, which includes a date at The Playroom, MacKenzies Hotel, Christchurch, on Wednesday, and Timaru’s Old Mill, on Thursday. Not Really Anything will be in the support slot. Besides Matthews, the other members of the Headless Chickens are, Michael Lawry (guitar, bass, keyboards), Grant Fell (keyboards, bass, guitar), Rupert Taylor (vocals, percussion), and Bevan Sweeney (drums).