Interview with John Craven, July 1981.

Evan Paris finds John Craven huddled in a fake-stone tomb on a stage in Monmouthshire.

EP - What are you doing, John?
JC - Ey? Oh. Hello.
EP - What are you doing?
JC - I'm practicing my stage entrance.
EP - Oh.

JC continues to lie down and slowly rise, vampirically, from the coffin. He seems never completely satisfied with his efforts.

JC - Shit.
EP - Was that not good enough?
JC - No. It were bollocks.
EP - Oh. I see.
JC - Are you going to ask me some questions?
EP - Aren't you busy?
JC - I can answer you while I practice.
EP - Oh, right. So what's all this in aid of?
JC - We're launching the new LP with a sort of musical version of the two Craven Angel albums.
EP - Right. Who's idea was that then?
JC - I think I was drunk.
EP - It was your idea...
JC - I can't remember. Probably.
EP - Right.
JC - Fuck it!
EP - So this new album follows on from the last one does it?
JC - Sort of.
EP - Sort of?
JC - Yes. Did that look alright?
EP - Seemed fine.
JC - No. It was too quick.
EP - Looked fine to me. So what happens?
JC - You'll have to watch tonight.
EP - Oh. You could just tell me. Save a lot of trouble.
JC - Agh.
EP - I mean I've heard it.
JC - When's this article going out?
EP - After tonight.
JC - Alright. Well the Craven Angel rises again, and he er... sort of appears to everyone as god, and they kind of get into his cult, and build a big temple.
EP - Right.
JC - Only, it turns out to be a weapon... they built it to the Craven Angel's spec, and it's a big weapon which he uses to take over the world.
EP - I see.
JC - And then an irate telephonist kills him.
EP - Riight... Cos it's called Death of the Craven Angel.
JC - That's right, Evan. You've done your homework, I see.
EP - Yes. Why does he come back?
JC - Dunno.
EP - Cos last time it was an environmental crusade.
JC - Probably is again.
EP - Right. So given that he killed a lot of people last time, why do they all want to worship him now.
JC - He's probably got Saatchi and Saatchi in or something.
EP - Ah, of course. I see.
JC - It'll all be equally well spelt out tonight.
EP - Will it? How's it run tonight? If you're in a coffin and what have you?
JC - Well, we do Craven Angel as act one, then we have an interval and then we do the new album.
EP - And are you going to play any instruments? Or are you just singing?
JC - I'll start off in the coffin, and then I'll be out of the coffin, and then I'll be running around stage with a guitar mainly. And I've got one of those fantastic keyboard guitar things that you hang around your neck. Have you seen them? They're great.
EP - Oh.
JC - It's not a proper one. I made it myself. Glued a bit of wood to it. That sort of thing. Does the job, and it means I can set it on fire too. Without having to buy a new one.
EP - Will you be doing that then?
JC - No. It might melt the casing.
EP - Riight.
JC - Mm. Hang, on. Let me try it this way.
EP - No. It looked better before.
JC - Did it?
EP - Yeah. I see your new band are on this album.
JC - Yup.
EP - You working well then? They haven't tried to sacrifice you or anything?
JC - Not yet. It's fine. They're not quite so menacing when you're not around. I think you scare them. Put them on edge.
EP - I see.
JC - Mm. No, they were very handy. Saved me a lot of work.
EP - Yes. Well the drums are better certainly.
JC - Yeah.
EP - The album's co-written by you and Steve Hillage. It seems very Hillagean.
JC - We were taking the piss out of his seventies stuff. He's a bit more disillusioned these days. Probably comes of working with me.
EP - He did do some dodgy stuff after Gong.
JC - Fish Rising were ok.
EP - Hmm. It could be said though, that quoting Hillage just makes your album sound like a dodgy Hillage album from five years ago.
JC - Only bits of it. It's a sort of parody.
EP - Do you think it works?
JC - Maybe not. It's only one or two tracks. I'm not too bothered.
EP - Fair enough. This album is less scary than your others on he whole. Would you agree?
JC - Less scary?
EP - Well yes. I mean Constance Inseptica is positively twee.
JC - Yeah. Well, it's a more jokey album, I think. We're taking things less seriously. I think I'm trying to get back to Craven "A".
EP - I see what you mean. Do you think you're succeeding?
JC - Do you?
EP - Not really.
JC - Oh. Did you not like the album?
EP - Well. Um... I liked the fact that the first five minutes or so were exactly the same as the last album, near as damnit.
JC - Good...
EP - And Plague of Goths is great, I think, really...
JC - Thankyou.
EP - But the rest of it, I wasn't so mad on.
JC - Oh.
EP - You?
JC - Seems alright to me. It'd better be now. I'd best not dwell on it. <bela lugosi> I am Count Dracula...
EP - Yes, that's really coming along.
JC - Good.
EP - So what are the plans for the future?
JC - Tour.
EP - Steve Hillage with you?
JC - Not after tonight. No. We've got someone else lined up.
EP - Anyone I know?
JC - Warren Smith from the Seed.
EP - Aren't they recording a new album?
JC - Yeah, I think so. He's gonna be helping us out for the gigs though. He's probably got a hectic few months in front of him.
EP - Is it a big tour?
JC - Nah. Couple of gigs a week at the most.
EP - Ahuh. How'd he get involved then?
JC - Petra - Maggie - she goes out with their keyboard player.
EP - I see.
JC - Yeah. Do us a favour.
EP - Mm?
JC - Lift that cloth there and under here there should be a bottle.
EP - I see it.
JC - Pass it us, will you.
EP - Here you go.
JC - Ta.

JC swigs from a flask.

JC - Want some?
EP - You're alright, thanks.
JC - You're alright or yeah alright?
EP - You're alright.
JC - Ahuh. Very confusing is that.
EP - Yeah. So when can we expect a new album?
JC - We've only just done this one.
EP - Nothing in the pipe-line then?
JC - Nah. We just killed off the Craven Angel. It'd be insensitive to make plans so soon.
EP - I see. You could do a spin off with Constance if you were so inclined.
JC - It'd be insensitive to make plans so soon.
EP - Yes. Things are quite quiet at Clustcwyr at the moment.
JC - I guess there wouldn't be all this grandiose fuss if owt were going on.
EP - I guess not.
JC - What's lined up then?
EP - The Seed and the Margarets have got albums due our before christmas.
JC - Oh yeah? I look forward to the Seed's effort. Anything else?
EP - The Cookie Crumbs have a single, I think.
JC - Oh.
EP - Did you hear their last album?
JC - The Cookery Club thing?
EP - Yeah.
JC - No. No. I never got round to it. Was it any good?
EP - Your influence seems to have rubbed off.
JC - In what way?
EP - Well it was quite scary.
JC - Ooh. I don't think they'll make another.
EP - I was surprised enough when I heard about this single that's in the pipeline.
JC - I was surprised that the last album got made. But I think this'll be their swansong. Otherwise there might be deaths.
EP - Right.
JC - It's the impression I got anyway. I don't know. I've kept a wide berth really.
EP - Yeah. So what have you found time to listen to?
JC - I was enjoying Joy Division until he died on us.
EP - You heard the New Order single?
JC - No. You?
EP - I'll lend you it.
JC - Ok. Is it any good?
EP - It's alright.
JC - Ahuh.
EP - Anything else?
JC - Fall, Crass... Just bought the new Raincoats album, but I've not heard it much yet.
EP - Ahuh.
JC - I bought the Empire Strikes Back soundtrack the other month. The bastard's ripped off Deuteronomy on it. I'd not realised in the pictures, but he has. He's stolen my arrangements. Git.
EP - Are you sure it isn't just a coincidence?
JC - Well it could be, but it's pretty weird if it is.
EP - Maybe he's been spying on you.
JC - He's probably a big fan. I've cracked America without realising it.
EP - Yeah. What did you think to Empire Strikes Back?
JC - It was alright. Wasn't keen on all the stuff with the muppet though. But the big dog things in the snow were great.
EP - Some of the dialogue was lousy.
JC - It was, yeah. I wanted to hit C3PO.
EP -Yes.
JC - I think we've strayed off topic.
EP - Have we?
JC - Never mind. I need a pee anyway.
EP - Ok. Ta then.
JC - You coming for a drink? The pub over the road's ok.
EP - Go on then.
JC - Right. I'll be back in a minute.

Death of the Craven Angel is out now.