Interview with Richard Ramirez

(Black Leather Jesus,Last Rape, Fouke, Werewolf Jerusalem, An Innocent Young Throat-Cutter etc.)

What get you into noise?

When I was a teenager, I was into the gothic/punk/post-punk/industrial scene. I loved it all.

I think bands like Throbbing Gristle, SPK, Skinny Puppy, Legendary Pink Dots, Nurse with Wound were all a gateway into seeking out more obscure “music”. I then discovered “noise”. I first heard artists like The Haters, NON, Merzbow, The New Blockaders, Hijokaidan, etc.

How do you see the noise scene now?

I think it’s always been active. I think artists come and go, but there are some that remain and keep creating. There’s a lot of support out there for this genre. It’s small but devoted.

You use a lot of homosexual sadomasochistic images for your covers.Alot noise musicians use this kind of cover but with women, is this related to you homosexuality?

Yes it is. I constantly was seeing women used in this way and I wanted to see men in the same position. It wasn’t about exploiting, but presenting male eroticism. Another viewpoint. I don’t apologize for using such images in my work. It’s something that I like.

Any new releases this year?

I’m always doing new work. I keep busy and love doing so. Some may think I do too much, but I’ve been here since 1989 and still continuing. My project, Nuits Rouges (a project I do with my husband, Sean Matzus) just did a collaboration with Legendary Pink Dots frontman, Edward Ka-Spel. Earlier this year my live collaboration with The Rita and Vomir came out on vinyl. I am doing more work with them under the name, Threesome Slitting.

An old split release I did with the late Atrax Morgue may be reissued on vinyl at some point this year.

 

I heard that you are a big fan of horror movies? Are they a source of inspiration for you?

Yes I am a huge fan of horror films. We collect them. I think we have over 3,000 horror films in our collection. I am specifically in love with giallo thrillers. It is a great source of inspiration for my work since the beginning. Some of my favorite horror films are THE FOG (I saw this when it came out in the theaters. One of my first horro films to see. I was around 6 years old), SALEM’S LOT, TORSO, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, DEMONS, BLACK CHRISTMAS, BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA, NOROI: THE CURSE,  FROM THE DARK, PHANTASM, NIGHTMARE CASTLE.

 If you could make a collaboration with somebody who would you choose? 

I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH JSH, JOHN WIESE, PEDESTRIAN DEPOSIT.

What are you usually listening to?

IN TERMS OF EVERYDAY LISTENING, BANDS LIKE BAUHAUS, COCTEAU TWINS, RED TEMPLE SPIRITS, THE FALL, GENE LOVES JEZEBEL, LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, PALE SAINTS, THE WOODENTOPS, THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS, SWANS, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, DEAD OR ALIVE, ERASURE, THE TELESCOPES, X, etc. As for experimental/noise, I like to listen to MAUTHAUSEN ORCHESTRA, WHITEHOUSE, NURSE WITH WOUND, THE RITA, TRERIKSRÖSET, LE SYNDICAT, MB, INCAPACITANTS, THE HATERS, KAPOTTE MUZIEK, CHOP SHOP, THE NEW BLOCKADERS, VOMIR, LUSTMORD, & OTHERS.

Tell me your vision about harsh noise? What do you personally think about this kind of music?

For me it’s relaxing.I’m not always a big fan of noise that continously shifts/changes.I like noise that is dense and builds. I grew up near industrial plants/factories, so those sounds are quite nice to me. I’d love to perform in abandoned factories. That would be amaizing.

I don’t like racist, sexist, homophobic noise artists. That crap is so ridiculous. There are artists that presents a scenario from the past (I.E THE HOLOCAUST) without the hatred towards groups. Then there are groups that are about hate. I don’t have time for that nonsense.

Do you think the noise scene will be more popular?

No. It appeals to a small group and it should remain that way. It’s not for everyone and that’s ok.

 Any last statements? 

Thak you for the interview. I appreciate you asking.

 

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