Tony Wakeford is of course known as the frontman of Sol Invictus. Recently the compilation “The Giddy Whirls of Centuries” was released, which gives an overview of the 15 years that this apocalyptic folkband is active now. Not that a reason was really necessary to ask Tony for some reactions…
Tony: Lots, but as it would probably get me a prison sentence, I shan’t elaborate.
Tony: Well the evil that is World Serpent mentioned the idea ages ago. At the time I was not too keen but thinking about it and getting advice from friends I decided it would be a good idea. It?s a good inexpensive way for someone to get an idea of the group, then hopefully dash out and buy the back catalogue, he says with childish naivety.
Tony: Good question. At the moment it does feel a little like an epitaph, but I think that is because I have been under the weather for a while. I still have some ideas–time will tell.
Tony: Well it would be very sad if I had not moved on from the first album. Obviously I have changed and my music has changed with it. The music, thanks to the musicians I am working with, has matured. However my voice is still… my voice!!!!!!
Tony: Well the baby-eating Nazi rubbish gets a tad boring. “In The Jaws Of The Serpent” was perhaps not a high point.
Working with Matt and Eric has been at the high end, as has my work with ex-offender Blake. Meeting and working with Tor Lundval has also been a pleasure.
I could have done without being rushed to hospital… oh yes and getting married was ok I suppose!
Tony: They were demos recorded at “the Blade” sessions, but I was not happy with them. They later turned up re-recorded on “Thrones”.
Tony: I was on holiday with my wife in Cornwall and there was an art exhibition with a throne made out of driftwood. I went back to the hotel and wrote the title song.
And I am not an enthusiastic monarchist!
Tony: Yes, I have since being a precocious and macabre youth. I like Barbara Vine a lot and Chandler of course. The whole Noir genre really. There is a whole tradition of murder ballads that I hope to shamelessly plunder in these twilight years.
Tony: On a personal level I am a lot happier. That?s love for you. I will stop before all your readers drown in there own vomit. On the question of the future I am even more pessimistic, I just don’t bother writing about it as much.
Tony: I listen to some jazz. I am the first to admit a lot of jazz is crude. But Davis, Coltranie, Mingus and Chet Baker are often played. Eric wants to do a joint Jazz album.
Tony: Quite into lounge and moody Jazz and of course people like Arvo Part. We have two cockatiels that like 70’s music. So its been Sweet, Slade and Boney M. That?s birds for you!
Tony: I don?t like playing live much, although it’s less of a pain when playing with the present line up.
Yes, there have been plenty of live releases. They have often been small pressings for die-hard fans. I try to keep the quality up rather then leaving it to crap bootlegs.
Tony: Yes, they lock me in the basement and only let me out when it’s been mixed.
Tony: I hope so. I am playing around with a couple of ideas.
Some songs based on some short stories and music based on the work of an architect.
Tony: Pretty good. In general I am not over keen on tributes and there have been some terrible ones, but I think this one was good.
Tony: Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Jethro Tull. I won’t of course.
Tony: Well the promoter received some threats and decided to cancel, as he was worried about security. I can see his point, but I think it sets a bad precedent for all bands. There are some rumours that it might not have been a left wing thing at all–but who knows. With the far right doing well all over Europe, you would think these people would have more important things to do.
Tony: I would like to release others, but at the moment such is the state of things I can not afford to risk something not breaking even, so for now it?s a matter of playing safe. Which is a bit depressing.
Tony: No, you feel free to criticize. Ren?e is very busy being a modern high-powered business girly so has no time for Tursa. Sob!
Tony: Well she only plays one-fingered piano when I can’t play it. It’s not a problem.
Tony: Well it’s something that will be with me for the rest of my life, but I am a lot better. It just means I have even less energy then before. I was lazy to start with, but now I am a human sloth.
Recently I changed medication, which knocked me out for a while. Anyway it’s hardly of much interest other than to my doctor or undertaker.
Tony: At the moment we are thinking of releasing it as a CD-Rom and CD.
Tony: These are ever changing. The Faust Tapes, Larks Tongues in Aspic, Aqualung, Mozarts Requiem, The Nick Drake Box set.
Tony: Thanks for asking the questions; please give me good reviews. I thank you–drum roll!
