Fu Manchu
Words: Caught in the Mosh
With a career spanning over twenty years and spawning in excess of ten albums complete with numerous singles and EP’s to boot, California’s Fu Manchu are on the eve of returning to Australia and New Zealand for a national tour through April and May.
In the midst of tour preparations, front man Scott Hill took time out of his busy schedule to let Caught in the Mosh know what Australian audiences can expect form Fu Manchu when they hit the stage; what goes into heading out on the road; and what the future holds for a band that’s still happy just to be “able to get in a room and turn up the guitars and bass and have the drums loud”.
What’s going on in the Fu Manchu band camp right now? It’s been a while since your last studio album; any new tunes on the horizon?
We will start working on new songs in the summer for a hopefully early 2013 release.
What goes into preparing for a tour? Do you spend much time rehearsing tunes and nutting out setlists, or is touring just a spontaneous process that all comes together whilst on tour?
A lot of preparing is happening now. We split for Australia in 2 weeks. We need to get strings, guitars tuned up, new cables, press up vinyl, CD's and shirts, practice about 60 different songs… It usually gets hectic and out of control on tour. We need to get everything happening before we leave.
Are Australian audiences in for anything special live? You’ve been playing In Search Of… in its entirety during shows, any chance of that album or any others popping up in full during sets?
If we have time and the crowd wants to hear all of "In Search Of..." maybe we will do it. We will mostly be playing songs from 1990 to 2011.
How do you find playing an album in full during a live show? Has it become predictable and therefore a bit boring to perform, or is it a buzz to relive classic albums?
Its fun. I thought it might get lame doing the same exact set over and over but its fun. Some songs have never been played live or maybe just a few times so its kind of like playing new stuff.
In the midst of tour preparations, front man Scott Hill took time out of his busy schedule to let Caught in the Mosh know what Australian audiences can expect form Fu Manchu when they hit the stage; what goes into heading out on the road; and what the future holds for a band that’s still happy just to be “able to get in a room and turn up the guitars and bass and have the drums loud”.
What’s going on in the Fu Manchu band camp right now? It’s been a while since your last studio album; any new tunes on the horizon?
We will start working on new songs in the summer for a hopefully early 2013 release.
What goes into preparing for a tour? Do you spend much time rehearsing tunes and nutting out setlists, or is touring just a spontaneous process that all comes together whilst on tour?
A lot of preparing is happening now. We split for Australia in 2 weeks. We need to get strings, guitars tuned up, new cables, press up vinyl, CD's and shirts, practice about 60 different songs… It usually gets hectic and out of control on tour. We need to get everything happening before we leave.
Are Australian audiences in for anything special live? You’ve been playing In Search Of… in its entirety during shows, any chance of that album or any others popping up in full during sets?
If we have time and the crowd wants to hear all of "In Search Of..." maybe we will do it. We will mostly be playing songs from 1990 to 2011.
How do you find playing an album in full during a live show? Has it become predictable and therefore a bit boring to perform, or is it a buzz to relive classic albums?
Its fun. I thought it might get lame doing the same exact set over and over but its fun. Some songs have never been played live or maybe just a few times so its kind of like playing new stuff.
Any plans for things to do in Australia in your downtime?
Surfing!!!!
What has the reaction been to re-issuing Fu Manchu albums on vinyl?
Great! We have been selling out of about 2000 / 3000 of each pressing. The vinyl versions were very limited back in the early 1990's so a lot of people couldn't get it back then, now its a little easier.
Many of your albums have been out of print for a while. Do you see the vinyl reissuing of Fu Manchu albums or simply issuing vinyl in general a reinvigorating process for physical music releases?
I would love to have all of our releases back in print on vinyl, but its kind of expensive to press up large amounts. Doing different coloured vinyl keeps it interesting, plus we can improve the sound by doing a better mastering job.
What are your thoughts on file sharing and the digital methods in which music is distributed these days?
I like records. I like looking at a big record jacket. I like studying the artwork on the record jacket. I like the smell of the cardboard sleeve and new vinyl. It's a big deal to me to buy releases of bands I like on vinyl and for us to keep putting stuff out on vinyl. Digital stuff smells weird.
You’ve been in the music business for over 20 years. Much has changed. What's your take on the future of the record industry? Are record labels still relevant? Could you see yourself going down the road of people like Trent Reznor, giving away your music for free?
I don’t think we could ever afford to give our music away for free. If we could get our gear, practice room, recording studio and time, engineer, producer, mastering and pressing paid for, then we could give our stuff away for free. Trent Reznor sells about 1,000,000 more records than we do so...
Having been in the industry as long as you have, are there any career highlights or times throughout Fu Manchu’s life that you especially treasure which you’d care to share with us?
Just being able to get in a room and turn up the guitars and bass and have the drums loud is all we ever wanted to be able to do. Everything outside of the practice room is stuff we never take for granted!
What’s the key to Fu Manchu’s longevity?
Stupidity!
What are you listening to at the moment? Are there any artists, performers or albums your finding especially outstanding presently?
Black Flag / SSD / Minor Threat / Cactus / BL'AST! / Circle Jerks / Blue Cheer / VOID / Negative Approach / Government Issue / Deep Purple / Articles of Faith / Adolescents / Sir Lord Baltimore / Discharge / (early) DRI / Bad Brains / Wasted Youth / Monster Magnet / Clutch / COC / TAD / Jerrys Kids / Koro / Devo / The Cars / Poison Idea / Barkmarket / Quicksand / Reagan Youth / CH3 / The Hated / Gang Green / FU's / DYS / Battalion of Saints / Fear / NOTA / Rare Earth / Tinkerbell vol3.
Fu Manchu Australian tour dates and tickets :
Sunday 29 April - Melbourne, Cherry Rock Festival - tickets from Cherry Rock Festival
Wednesday 2 May - Adelaide, Fowlers Live - tickets from Moshtix
Thursday 3 May - Sydney, Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom - tickets from Moshtix
Friday 4 May - Brisbane, Hi Fi Bar - tickets from Moshtix
Saturday 5 May - Perth, Rosemount Hotel - tickets from Oztix
Sunday 6 May - Melbourne, Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom - tickets from Moshtix
Surfing!!!!
What has the reaction been to re-issuing Fu Manchu albums on vinyl?
Great! We have been selling out of about 2000 / 3000 of each pressing. The vinyl versions were very limited back in the early 1990's so a lot of people couldn't get it back then, now its a little easier.
Many of your albums have been out of print for a while. Do you see the vinyl reissuing of Fu Manchu albums or simply issuing vinyl in general a reinvigorating process for physical music releases?
I would love to have all of our releases back in print on vinyl, but its kind of expensive to press up large amounts. Doing different coloured vinyl keeps it interesting, plus we can improve the sound by doing a better mastering job.
What are your thoughts on file sharing and the digital methods in which music is distributed these days?
I like records. I like looking at a big record jacket. I like studying the artwork on the record jacket. I like the smell of the cardboard sleeve and new vinyl. It's a big deal to me to buy releases of bands I like on vinyl and for us to keep putting stuff out on vinyl. Digital stuff smells weird.
You’ve been in the music business for over 20 years. Much has changed. What's your take on the future of the record industry? Are record labels still relevant? Could you see yourself going down the road of people like Trent Reznor, giving away your music for free?
I don’t think we could ever afford to give our music away for free. If we could get our gear, practice room, recording studio and time, engineer, producer, mastering and pressing paid for, then we could give our stuff away for free. Trent Reznor sells about 1,000,000 more records than we do so...
Having been in the industry as long as you have, are there any career highlights or times throughout Fu Manchu’s life that you especially treasure which you’d care to share with us?
Just being able to get in a room and turn up the guitars and bass and have the drums loud is all we ever wanted to be able to do. Everything outside of the practice room is stuff we never take for granted!
What’s the key to Fu Manchu’s longevity?
Stupidity!
What are you listening to at the moment? Are there any artists, performers or albums your finding especially outstanding presently?
Black Flag / SSD / Minor Threat / Cactus / BL'AST! / Circle Jerks / Blue Cheer / VOID / Negative Approach / Government Issue / Deep Purple / Articles of Faith / Adolescents / Sir Lord Baltimore / Discharge / (early) DRI / Bad Brains / Wasted Youth / Monster Magnet / Clutch / COC / TAD / Jerrys Kids / Koro / Devo / The Cars / Poison Idea / Barkmarket / Quicksand / Reagan Youth / CH3 / The Hated / Gang Green / FU's / DYS / Battalion of Saints / Fear / NOTA / Rare Earth / Tinkerbell vol3.
Fu Manchu Australian tour dates and tickets :
Sunday 29 April - Melbourne, Cherry Rock Festival - tickets from Cherry Rock Festival
Wednesday 2 May - Adelaide, Fowlers Live - tickets from Moshtix
Thursday 3 May - Sydney, Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom - tickets from Moshtix
Friday 4 May - Brisbane, Hi Fi Bar - tickets from Moshtix
Saturday 5 May - Perth, Rosemount Hotel - tickets from Oztix
Sunday 6 May - Melbourne, Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom - tickets from Moshtix