Mark Sultan/BBQ
A long, long time ago, back when a little e-zine called Blank Generation still existed, I had a chance to interview Mark Sultan, who at that time was just embarking on his career as one man band BBQ, and talk about his illustrious career as both a Spaceshit and Sexareeno and just rock'n'roll in general. Now, eons later, he's wrapping up up his tenure as BBQ after two LPs and two singles, and is continuing to make with the authentic r-n-r along with his pal and fellow ex-Spaceshit Blacksnake as the King Khan and BBQ show. After hanging out with Mark on both one of the first dates of the BBQ & Blacksnake tour in Buffalo (an ill-fated one) and one of the last in Toronto (an incredible one), I figured it was time to catch up with him in print after picking his brain and hearing some great stories (and he's got some good ones). Regrettably, the drunken conversation (well, I was drunk) we had in Buffalo wasn't recorded for use in TB, so I caught up with him via e-mail when he got back to Montreal to touch on some of the finer points. If you haven't kept up, you can read the older and super-informative interview I did with him here. One of the true good guys in rock-n-roll these days, Mark's an extremely funny and friendly fella, and you should get in touch with him at [email protected] or scope out his new website here: www.marksultan.com . And jump on that BBQ & King Khan LP as soon as you get the chance...
TB: So you just got done with the BBQ & Blacksnake tour. How do you think it went? Any moments that stick out in particular?
Mark: I am very happy about the tour� It really was the best US tour I�ve ever been on. Nothing sticks out in particular, really. It was incredibly chock-full o nonsense. We played with great bands, had fun and people seemed to dig it.
TB: Will we be seeing more of the BBQ & Blacksnake thing, or was it a one-shot deal? Any more recordings coming out from you two?
Mark: Well, The King Khan & BBQ Show album is on its way out both on Goner and a Euro label called Hazelwood, so that should be around for a bit. Then there�s a single coming out on Solid Sex Lovie Doll. I don�t think it�s a one shot. We�re really into recording some more stuff that we have. I�d like to do more. I enjoy it. And as far as touring is concerned, we�ll be doing Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the US and hopefully Japan all this year.
TB: The second BBQ LP just came out recently as well. How is it dealing with/being on a legendary and somewhat large label like Bomp? Did you get a chance to deal with Greg Shaw directly before he passed away?
Mark: I dunno. I guess I don�t think about it. Is it that big? It�s cool, cuz I dig a lot of stuff they�ve done. When I see the record, I�m proud and happy. But I don�t really have a relationship or whatever with them. They just seem to have put the album out. To be honest, I�ve had my share of problems with them. Oh well. But I�m certainly grateful. And, ya, I was dealing with Greg before he died. He �signed� me, which was really cool. Seemed like a real cool guy. He knew exactly where I was coming from and dug the shit for the right reasons. I�m kinda pissed that I never got to meet him. I�m sure I would have learned a shitload from him if we had ever hung out.
TB: Do you think being on Bomp got you any more exposure than what you already had?
Mark: The record just came out, so we�ll have to see. I�m pretty sure more people will hear this record than my first, just because the distribution is bigger and there is a fan base for the label itself. We�ll see. I�m not really that concerned. If people wanna find something, they will. If people wanna dig on my shit, they will.
TB: I�ve heard you mention this will probably be the last BBQ record. Why?
Mark: As I�ve stated before, I�m just bored of it. And when I play with King Khan and see how much better the songs sound, it makes me pine for a band � a real band. I hate being seen solely as a �one-man band�, and having the music disregarded cuz it happens to come from one guy, you know what I mean? Like when people are like, �Great show, man! Sounded like Bob Log!� Now, I love Bob Log and all, but I don�t sound like him. It�s like people can�t get beyond the fact that I�m one guy. It sucks.
TB: Why the title �Tie Your Noose�?
Mark: Honestly, I needed a title cuz the artwork was ready. I gave the artist 3 song names� I guess that one was more aesthetically pleasing. But I like it. �I�m coming to your town, to your turntable, get ready to hate me!�
TB: Any more BBQ material due to be released?
Mark: I might record something for Savage Records next month when I�m in Sweden. Probably a single, but I�m not sure if I�m gonna recruit other people to play on it. But I think that�s it.
TB: Will we be seeing you in another band any time soon (BBQ & Blacksnake aside)?
Mark: I hope so. We�ll see.
TB: How did you end up touring Brazil/South America?
Mark: That was about a year ago. I have a friend from Brazil who used to live in NYC. Marcelo from the great Sellouts. Anyway, we were talking a lot, and he finally suggested that I come down. He set up a tour with a band he had. It was the best. I�m going again with King Khan later this year.
TB: What�s it like playing there? Do people know of you? What�s the crowd reaction like?
Mark: It�s great, man. People go crazy. And there isn�t as much cliquey cool-guy shit, y�know? People seem to enjoy music as music. I was known by the fringes to a certain extent, but people just came out. All sorts of folks, just out to see a show and have fun. Great times, man. Apparently, people know me now. I�m excited to go back.
TB: Any �City of God�-like moments while you were there?
Mark: It�s pretty roughneck, for sure. But, it�s got a rhythm to it. Once you settle in, you�re cool. I could get into a bunch of violent stories or impressions, but I think that�s being an ignorant North American. That country is way to beautiful for generalizations.
TB: Are Brazilian girls really as hot as we imagine?
Mark: Absolutely unbelievable. I have NEVER seen so many astonishing girls. Never. And I�m from Montreal!
TB: You seem to constantly be playing/on tour somewhere. Do you ever get tired of performing? Or is it more of a necessity, that you feel the need to be out there playing all the time? Ever think you�ll stop?
Mark: It seems as though I�m constantly touring, but I�m not playing that much more than a lot of bands. Because I�m one guy, it all gets compounded. That being said, it is a lot, I guess. I love doing it, but this last stay in Montreal made me so happy that it�s hard leaving yet again. I would love to get an apartment and settle down, but I�m a transient. I�m just outmaneuvering that cardboard box on the street-side, but it�s catching up. I just love playing music. The money ain�t hot, the lifestyle hurts my back sometimes, but it�s what I love to do.
TB: Do you ever get that �What the hell am I doing?� feeling when you�re in some remote European outpost and you�re playing for a bunch of people who don�t even speak the same language for next to nothing, I�m assuming? I mean, you�re obviously not in it for the money and fame, what is it that�s driving you?
Mark: Hey, music is music. If you can dance and drink here, you can do it anywhere. Language barriers are fun. When you�re gesticulating to a bunch of people and understand more than you would talking bullshit and fronting, it�s great. The moment I question my enjoyment of the music, I�ll stop. I�m seriously driven by people who listen to my shit, buy other records, start a band and keep it alive. Nihilist traditionalism, baby.
TB: A lot of people use the words �real� and �authentic� when describing your style of rock-n-roll. How do you do manage to get that genuine, no-bullshit sound/feeling to your songs all the time?
Mark: I don�t aim to sound a certain way. When I pick up a guitar, certain songs come out. What you guys hear with �BBQ� is pretty much anything I�m capable of doing as a one-man gang. I have a million other songs that I�m saving for a band, just cuz I can�t do them myself. That �no-bullshit� style is just how I sound. While I appreciate those kinds of comments, I do stress that I�m not some purist dude � I�d do a grindcore song if it felt right falling from my hands and was good.
TB: What would you be doing if you weren�t playing music?
Mark: I dunno. I don�t care. I live for today.
TB: That video for �Fish Fight� is great. (Click here to go check it out.) Is that milk you guys are spitting in each other�s faces? Who shot it and where was it filmed?
Mark: It�s a mix of our jizz and some cream. Nah, it�s like milk and corn syrup and water, I think. Our buddy David did it at his place in a few hours. That guy�s great. He�s making another video for �Waddlin� Around� as we speak. Check his shit out: www.safetypin.ca
TB: A friend was listening to the new LP and said you had a �Freddie Fender thing� going on. Any comment on that?
Mark: Ouch.
TB: How�s playing in Montreal these days? Any better than it was during the Spaceshits days?
Mark: Ya, it�s great playing here. There have always been a surplus of cool bands here, but I think the �scene� is finally getting a bit more respect. Lots of people turn out to shows. I�m proud. God knows we all worked for that shit. But, unfortunately, because of this new fake hype bullshit in the US media, Montreal is �the new Seattle�, whatever the fuck that means. This city is already pay to play, so I fear now the prices might skyrocket and when the hype blows over, we�ll still be paying out the ass. Montreal rules, though.
TB: Are we getting any closer to seeing some unreleased Spaceshits stuff on record?
Mark: When everyone was here a few months ago I tried to consolidate everything from everyone, but couldn�t succeed. Me and Choyce are planning on restarting Sultan Records (bands can e-mail me: [email protected]) and we were planning on doing some Spaceshits stuff. But I can�t track down everything that, a year ago, was at my fingertips. Soon, though. But Greg Lowery doesn�t get back to me anymore. He has a whole fuckin album!!!
TB: What was the deal with that �Radioshits R-N-R� LP? Did you guys know it was being released, or is it an outright bootleg/�fan club� release?
Mark: That was released by some Italian label. As far as I�m concerned, it�s a bootleg, as he didn�t have permission and didn�t even ask. Tongues (Spaceshits) sent the guy a tape, cuz he �wanted to hear it�. Then he just released it! Cunt. At least be sneaky! We knew it was him and I called him out. His olive branch? He sent us 5 copies!
TB: What can we expect as far as unreleased stuff on the upcoming Sexareenos CD on Sympathy?
Mark: 28 songs. All the singles, but some tracks have been replaced with alternate versions. Then there are alternate LP tracks, unreleased songs recorded in Seattle and Japan, and a live cover of �White Light, White Heat� from France. It should be out in weeks.
TB: Since �Death-A-Reenos� will probably never happen, can you at least tease us with some of the songs that would�ve been on it?
Mark: Nope. I�m using mind-control to make sure it happens one day. It�ll put a smile on your face.
END INTERVIEW
Interview by Rich Kroneiss
Live pic by Dale Nixon
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