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Lillian, Eve and Bosh Berlin Recorded by Steve AlbiniNEW YORK, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- "One of the most ferocious straight-ahead rock albums since Nevermind," wrote Brian Raftery in Spin magazine last April, describing the work of Living Things, a band of three brothers from the socially conservative suburbs of St. Louis. They are Lillian (vocals, guitar), Eve (bass) and Bosh Berlin (drums). Living Things will release their debut full-length album, Ahead of the Lions, Oct. 4, 2005, via Jive Records. Recorded by Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Pixies), Ahead of the Lions was tracked and mixed in St. Louis, Chicago and Stockholm. "Bom Bom Bom," the lead track from the album, will be supported by a video directed by the much- respected Floria Sigismondi. (She has also directed videos for two other tracks on the album.) Living Things released an EP called Turn in Your Friends and Neighbors (DreamWorks) in March of 2003. It was followed later that year by a 10-inch EP, released in the U.K., titled The Blackout Generation (Loog). Both were recorded in Chicago by Albini. During the past two years, Living Things have crisscrossed the U.S. and Europe, opening for bands as diverse as Velvet Revolver and The Libertines, Melissa Auf der Maur and The Vines. Along the way they picked up Corey Becker, a friend from St. Louis, to add additional guitar on the road. Living Things are distinguished, in part, by their lyrics, written by Lillian, the band's chief provocateur. As noted by Robert Christgau in the Village Voice: "Lillian Berlin is Johnny Rotten with politics. His art would be nothing without his rage; he's so possessed by the need to get his point across that he grabs his brothers' music by the throat and makes it bellow his tune" (May 10, 2005). In addition to Ahead of the Lions, Lillian has authored a book, "Post Mortem Bliss" (Apocrypha Press), due this fall. It explores his life from 13 to 19, a period marked by his being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, his subsequent addiction to anti-depressants, and his tenuous coexistence with an anarchist mother and homosexual father. Excerpts will be posted on the band's Web site: http://www.livingthingsmusic.com , to be re-launched soon."Mainstream culture is a bigger threat to anarchy than anarchy is to mainstream culture." -- Lillian BerlinEPIMAG: How would you describe LIVING THINGS musical attitude?
LILLIAN: Anxious and ill at ease
EPIMAG: In case people don't know you guys are all brothers, lets say that one of you decided to leave the band. Would you find a replacement or break up the whole band?
LILLIAN: Living Things is Lillian, Eve and Bosh. Without the triangle, it's a broken heart.
EPIMAG: First punk show?
LILLIAN: Fugazi, with Jawbox
EPIMAG: How did you guys get signed to DreamWorks's records? Did they approach you, or did you go to them?
LILLIAN: They stumbled upon us in a pitiful bar in L.A., playing a show that was, lets just say a little bit of out of control and desperation
EPIMAG: What was your parents' first reaction when they first heard your music?
LILLIAN: My mother threw away all our records and replaced them with books.
EPIMAG: Out of all the bands that have broken up over the years, which one would you like to see get back together?
LILLIAN: None...every band has a moment and you can't recreate what was lost....once you take a step forward, you trip if you take two steps back...
EPIMAG: What were some of your influences while writing your album?
LILLIAN: Malcolm X, JFK, Castro, Muhammad Ali, Tupac Shukur, Sylvia Plath, Arthur Rimbaud, Noam Chomsky
EPIMAG: A lot of people feel that we gave peace a chance and we got 9/11? What are some of your views on the war?
LILLIAN: War is not healthy for children and all other living things... Lennon said it best "all we need is love"
EPIMAG: Favorite guitar player of all time?
LILLIAN: Bob Marley
EPIMAG: Any last words?
LILLIAN: Whatever the gods say to you in the night, speak it in the daylight
Photos Credit Karyn Maginity
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