Dirty, Dirty Boys

Rip It Up, Issue 204, 1 August 1994, Page 16

Dirty, Dirty Boys

When Prince was interviewed by UK magazine Q last month he laid down three rules — no tape recorder, no note pad and no questions. Getting to speak with Auckland band Figure 60 is almost as hard. They demand to be plied with alcohol and reserve the right to

break wind in very enclosed spaces (ie. the interview room). Not only that but their guitarist insists he has been crowned the “King of Firps” and wishes to be addressed accordingly. Drummer Nick Clarke and bassist Darren McShane have their egos a little more in check.

Collectively they have just released a three-track seven inch single entitled ‘Six Days On The Road’ on Crawlspace Records. Each cover has been individually screenprinted and the first lucky 100 buyers can purchase their copy on purple vinyl. Obviously this is a major achievement for a band who first took shape in Grey Lynn three years ago just for fun. Firps: “Using the game of rugby as a metaphor for the band, basically Figure 60 started off as the boys going down to the park on Sunday to kick the bail around and have a few beers and smoke a few joints. We’ve played a few away games, a few tests, we’ve won a few and lost a few. We’ve had our ears bitten, had a few nasty moments in various rucks, but at the end of the day rugby’s been the winner.” Are you in the game to be winners and make money? Firps: “No we’re not in it to sell loads of records, it’s just nice to have one out.”

Nick: “I’m in it to fall in love.” Are you in a band to get girls? Nick: “No, women.” Firps: “Don’t get all P.C. for god’s sake, let’s talk about poontang!” Nick: “Firpo’s written some songs about women.” Firps: “All my songs are about not getting fucked.” Darren: "Firpo has the least contact with

women so he’s able to think about them more." , Surely the main reason why boys get in a band, even if they won’t admit it, is to meet girls.

Firps: “Well it hasn’t worked for me so far but these two get them.” Nick: “Yeah but that hasn’t anything to do with the band.” Firps: I’m a misogynist and I don’t care who knows it!” Darren: “I think you’re a wannabe misogynist cause you smile when you say it. If you really were you’d be hammering your fist on the table, you lack conviction.” Where did you get your sex education Firpo? Firps: “My mother and father — I used to watch them at it.” Nick: “My father and sister — I used to watch them at it.” Darren: “I can’t answer that John. I like to keep my private life private.” As the tone of this conversation speeds rapidly downhill we end up studying a copy of Playboy featuring Shannon Doherty on the cover. Darren: “You wouldn’t expect they’d be that big from watching Beverly Hills.” Firps: “I think I’d rather ‘Shake!’ off to Janet Jackson.” Darren: “Perhaps they’re silicon.” Let’s get this thing back on track shall we. What’s being in a band like? Firps: “Being in a band is like stamp collecting it’s pointless. Figure 60 make disposable music.” Are you getting bored Firpo? Firps: “Yep.” Ok, what are your musical influences? Firps: “Pot, pot and pot.” Nick: “Pot, pot and Supergroove.” How do you feel right now Firps.” Firps: “Right now I’m as happy as a dog with two dicks.” He burps. ' .

JOHN RUSSELL