FAN SITE

Q You mentioned that you've been in seclusion for the past two years or so - can you elaborate on the reasons for this self-imposed isolation?A To be honest....it's a combination ov a relationship collapse & my battle with heroin addiction. both branch off to a nice collection ov other problems....like depression, sleeplessness.....financial problems, etc.I tend to be a loner anyway. So when I'm overwhelmed with money problems, boredom and sexual frustration, I dissapear from everyone everywhere. Its easy to stay inside and sleep. And watch TV. And do drugs. I can't even say I write musick. Or read...or rekord musick. I feel bad sometimes...because the phone rings off the wall. The phone machine sometimes haz 20-25 messages and I don't even listen to them. Its not that I don't like my friends...its that I want to be alone. Alone with my thoughts and feelings. There are weeks that go by where I don't leave the house. The longest being about 14 days where I don't even look out the windows its like the twilight zone...I wake up and have no idea ov what time it iz...what day it iz....and the thing about it all iz I don't care. I only look at a clock when I have something to do. Like go to the store. Or the Post Office. Or if I have a doctor's appointment or something - 80% ov the time...I have no place to be, nothing to do and no one to be with. The phone still rings off the wall. I only answer it occasionally -My friends do call a lot. It just gets overwhelming to have to supply the demand for my attention. I know its not intentional but....I get drained from the demand ov my attention constantly. Especially when friends bekum territorial over my friendship - its hard to figure out....I don't like being alone but find myself iceolating myself constantly.
Q Even though you've been in seclusion, Sleep Chamber has not stopped - in the past two years you have put out "Sonorous Invokations Ov Brian Jones Vol. 1" and "Sentinel Serenade" on Cleopatra among other things, plus there are several upcoming releases on the Funfundvierzig label. Where do you get the time and the energy to continue to be so productive? Is Sleep Chamber a full-time job for you? Are you able to live off your merchandise sales?A Well, I haven't rekorded anything new since 97. The Brian Jones sessions lasted about 2 weeks. We had many long sessions and rekorded about 53 trax! Some ov it waz jam/trance sessions. The other releases are rekordings from unreleased sessions.Sleep Chamber iz more than a full time job - I live SC full time. Its almost like I've bekum the concept I created....or designed. Its hard to describe in a way to eazly understand - I don't know.... Some years I can live off SC merchandise...it all depends how hard I work. I get so burned out on working around shipping, ordering, packaging...taking orders, calling distributors & stores I don't want to see a CD or videotape! Other times we (me & a secretary or two) get a lot done. Then I can live off it. It took years before it waz possible. But once it happened I new it would always be possible.
Q What is going on currently with Sleep Chamber? are you recording new music or doing any live performances?A Nothing! Its sort ov in hibernation...(laughs). I'm in the middle ov moving again! 3 times in 2 years!! Its impossible to get any privatcy...I'm doing some planning...I want to do a completely different live show....I think the barbitchuettes have seen their best days...so...I know...I know....don't put them away yet....but I have to...I want to retire them in their prime. Not wait till it starts to slip away. Or it will start to bekum routine....I want to leave the concept with best memories. It can not go any higher. Or better. Time to move on...But the impossible transision iz to something az intriqing. I know people will automatically compair a new show to the barbitchuettes and thats a hard act to follow. There will be a lot ov poor critism on whatever I do for a new live show. So...its got to be something az exotik or az sexually surreal to follow at all. Its not something I have kum to be comfortable with. I guess I haven't really found a replacement concept that excites my adrenalin emotionally or sexually. I have to see an atmosphere that haz an affect on our audience. It haz to be powerful...it must provoke emotion. It must touch you. And if it makes you think...or wonder....or worry than...my will haz been done, this iz satisfaction and accomplishment to me.
Q With the release of "Sentinel Serenade" on Cleopatra (a relatively major label for underground music), do you think awareness of Sleep Chamber's music and vast history will be increased among listeners in the experimental / industrial genres? what influence will being on Cleopatra have on the future of Sleep Chamber?A Yes...thats what I wanted from Cleopatra Records. They could eazaly give me the exposure that would take me forever to do. The exposure I can't afford. Thats why its a greatest hits release. I think a lot ov people that may have heard ov SLEEP CHAMBER (always in all capitals) will think about purchasing this release. Its hard to go wrong buying a "greatest hits" release. Its saying that this iz their best work....a good place to start. It also helps that its a domestic release. The retail price (about $12-$15) makes SLEEP CHAMBER affordable to those who can't pay $20-$30 for the majority ov our releases ov which are either German or Italian imports.The influence on the future ov SLEEP CHAMBER from the Cleopatra Records contract will be a larger audience ov Sleepers. And you will probally see this release in all the musick shops. Where most of our CDs are impossible to locate or buy because ov our distribution. Many distributors for some reason shy away from stocking SC releases. Not because ov bad sales. Because ov personal opinions. Attitudes...and fears. Really! You would really be surprised at how SC evokes people. They can't wait to voice their opinion on the way they see SC politics. I mean...sexuality and occultism usually provokes strong emotional opinions from even the mildest mannored person. This iz not our intention....only a responce to SC politics by most onlookers.I would hope so ....the distribution ov our product iz very poor. Its really hard to get your musick out there. So many dead-ends and frustrations. I am hoping that their distribution will help us get our musick and attitude to people who are interested. Cleopatra's influence will be getting our musick to places we can't reach. They are great with promo copies to radio stations & magazines.
Q I've read in other interviews from the early to mid 90s that you were signed to Cleopatra a while ago - why is it only now that a Sleep Chamber release has been put out on that label?A Because the first deal fell thru. They wanted an exclusive and I waz not in the position to give an exclusive to a lable that would only release a CD a year. Well, about 4 years ago Cleopatra Records waz interested in SC. But az and exclusive. We went threw more contract changes than I can count. We both could not kum to an agreement. Plus an exclusive on SC haz to be able to release more than 1 CD a year...which iz what they were offering. 1-CD-a-year? This iz too restricting for me. I spend a lot ov time in the studio and if I waz limited to only one CD a year I would be rejecting most ov the material I would be rekording. Its just too restricting for me. I reject too much material az it iz now, and we release nothing less than 2 or 3 CDs a year. I probally rekord around 4 CDs ov material theze days...and usually reject 1/2 ov the material...only because it would be too eazy to glut the market with too many SC releases. I mean its hard to put the extra trax on the shelf for a later time....some musick gets lost, some forgotten about...and some ov the musick haz gotten stolen! Just last year a bootleg CD surfaced with "Some Godz" Demos and unreleased mixes waz being sold for $50. Ov which I don't see a penny ov its sales...not to mention they had a few versions I really didn't care for!But getting back to Cleopatra...they recontracted me with another contract for a one shot deal and they left out the "exclusive" part. It waz a pretty fair offer. I'm glad they didn't give up on me. I really admire their distribution and promotion. They are probally one ov the best indie lables to date. And reaproaching me with a new contract showed me they go out ov their way to get something done. They don't give up eazy. I like that. Its the way you have to be to survive in the musick bussiness theze days.
Q What do you envision as the future of Sleep Chamber?A Ummmm....I take one day at a time...I will continue SC az long az there iz a demand, az long az there iz interest....SC will be 23 years old this October 2006. I don't see it kumming to an end anytime soon. I get burned out from time to time but always start things rolling again after a break. Sometimes when I think on giving it up I get a letter from a fan or admirer that really helps me focus and inspires me to continue this insane way ov musick and lifestyle.

PHOTOS