Infivictims :: Bruce Lee Mani - THERMAL AND A QUARTER
By VineethThermal And A Quarter was formed in 1996, and the band, over the last seven years or so, has firmly established a reputation for itself as one of the best, (if not THE best) rock bands in India. They have acted as an inspiration for quite a few bands as far as writing, playing and recording original music is concerned. Infinity Music correspondent Vineeth caught up with the extremely talented, and equally modest frontman Bruce Lee Mani (yes, that is his real name) for an exclusive interview…
What are you currently upto? This is your chance to promote the latest happenings in the band…
TAAQ will be recording its third album in May. We’re still working out details of distribution, etc. but hopefully this one will be available everywhere.
From being the guitarist of a small time college band, to being one of the most respected musicians in the country… you’ve come quite a long way, haven’t you? What do you attribute to your success?
Hmmm. ‘One of the most respected musicians in the country’, eh? Where did you get that idea, I wonder. I haven’t really come a long way, man. I’m still in this city doing pretty much the same thing I was doing seven years ago. Maybe I’m a little better at it. Maybe some of the numbers have gotten bigger. More than anything, I think it’s just perseverance. You just have to keep doing your stuff.
What advice would you give another guitarist on keeping the show going when playing live?
Advice for guitar players?? Me?? I was once perhaps on a very chops-driven guitar trip (TAAQ circa 1997-1999—we’re planning to release our recorded stuff from that era sometime. It’s way different from what we do now—heavier, progressive, and like I said, very chops-driven). I’m sort of keen on doing different things now. If there’s one thing, well, do your bit for the song. Stay out of everyone else’s frequencies. Pay a lot of attention to your sound. (It’s amazing how much gear is available now, and how few people use it properly.) Just KEEP ON doing it.
Over the years, how has your technique of guitar playing evolved?
Like many others, I was initially influenced by the Satrianis and Vais and John Petruccis. Chops-driven, like I said before. I sort of got out of that—maybe because I figured I couldn’t have chops like those anyway. Presently trying to get a whole lot more understated, textural, more harmonically involved. I’m a sucker for weird chords. I’ve always tripped on Steely Dan, and I guess Walter Becker’s playing is something that kicks me a lot now.
Which environment is most suitable for you to write songs?
Nothing really specific. Though a cabin in the hills with an Easy Boy, super Hi-Fi, six vintage guitars and amps, and one passionate groupie would be cool.
Talk us through the following Thermal And A Quarter songs:
“One Of Those Days”: Written after one of those days when nothing goes right. ‘Woke up morning felt like a lemon squeezed on somebody’s gin’ – I’m guessing you have the words around somewhere – a severe case of the Monday morning blues. Lonely too (‘Wish I had a Lucille…’). Traffic. Work you don’t enjoy. Etc.
“Sanity In Gravity”: I’ve believed for a while that a certain measure of insanity is essential to keep oneself sane in this weird, weird world. And sometimes the lines get a little blurry (as lines have an annoying habit of doing), and if you’re ‘crazy or wise’—the answer is always a surprise. There’s also some existentialism thrown in—‘Who am I / What am I doing here / Why do I believe what I believe / Who are all these people / Can I make them disappear / Can I stop the world and leave.’ The music sort of mirrors the words, full of weird time signatures, stop start riffs, off-kilter solo, etc. The mad voices at the end are a nice touch, I’ve always thought. Some people have complained that they’re irritating, though!
“Brigade Street”: Written by Rudy, this is a quintessential Bangalore song. Sort of sums up the so-called ‘happening’ parts of the city and our own little part in it (we used to rehearse on the 6th Floor of the Barton Centre building on M G Road, one street down from Brigade Road). The little intro bit with the street noises was actually recorded on Brigade Road. We walked down with a stereo mic hanging from a boom and taped about an hour of street stuff, and were lucky enough to capture that car going by with the blasting stereo (piya, piya...).
“That Day This Morning”: Whoa! Really old song. Sort of a love song written by a young man (I must have been 19-20) who hadn’t REALLY been in love. There, I’ve said it. Bits of The Door’s imagery (screaming butterflies) creep in. I was probably tripping on them at the time. A lot of the words are actually written more for their sound and rhyme than for any real personal experience. I’ve done that more than once, too.
“Jupiter Cafe”: Doesn’t everybody know this story? One of the band’s friends was from IIT Kanpur (or was it Kharagpur?), and had a friend that had a board up outside his room that said “Jupiter Cafe. Regular shuttle services to Jupiter and beyond”. What went on behind that door is anybody’s guess. But it was inspiring enough to concoct this jam-epic-song.
How representative is your music of the lifestyle of the members of the band?
Pretty much. Much of our music reflects our current states of mind with various things. Work. Love. Politics. Intergalactic Drug Dealers. Evangelists. Perception. Reality. Offensive journalists (no offense intended), etc.
Which band, according to you, is the most overlooked band in the world?
Thermal And A Quarter! We need that Grammy NOW!
How would you assess the following bands / musicians?
Alice Cooper – Never heard enough.
Def Leppard – Liked a few songs. Too 80s for me.
Bon Jovi – One really hardworking band. Liked their 80s stuff more than what they’re doing now.
Eric Johnson – What a guitar player! What a tone!
Indus Creed – One Indian band that should have stuck around.
They were really going places.
Strange Brew – Really like these guys – good music, great attitude.
Dave Matthews Band – What can I say. Miss the madness of their earlier recordings, though. ‘Everyday’ didn’t have half the histrionics of ‘Before These Crowded Streets’.
Jean Jacques Goldman – Who??? So shoot me.
Petra – Haven’t heard enough. What I have was cool.
It’s now time for the last of Bruce…
When was the last time you signed an autograph: Signed about a hundred at this Trichy gig we did recently. Really weird.
When was the last time you were offered to act in a movie: Ha. With my ugly mug?
What was the concert you went to: Oikyotaan at Zero G, Bangalore.
When was the last time you considered writing a commercial Indipop song: Haha… Not that I have anything against it. I just think I couldn’t do it.
When was the last time you were a judge at a Rock fest: NLS—Strawberry Fields. I don’t do this much.
TAAQ has toured quite a lot. You must have some interesting stories to tell about your touring experiences at the following venues…
Vellore: Muggy place—we’ve only played at the CMC, and they’ve always been a good crowd. The last time we played there, some folks drove down from Bangalore to watch and that felt really good.
Chennai: Whew. The sweat!! Done some good gigs here, at the Unwind Centre and at Museum Theatre.
Calcutta: Haven’t played there—yet. Somebody listening?
Delhi: Only for GIR. We had a ball.
Cochin: Whoa. Mallu land. One weird place. We’ve had some great shows and some completely weird ones. Our new year gig has to take the cake for weirdness (and bad aftertaste—we’re still owed some money).
Are you happy with the developments in the Indian Rock scene in the past decade?
Things are just beginning to get cohesive now, thanks to the new gods of the Internet. Nothing to be gained by griping about the ‘scene’ or whatever. Just get your shit together and keep doing what you do best.
Any message to the readers of Infinity Music?
Ah! Shameless plug time!!! Buy Album III!!! It’s going to be great!!! Come to our gigs!!! Give us all your money!!! (We’ll give you stock options.) Support Indian Rock!!! Believe in little green men from mars!!! Vote!!! Don’t forget world peace!!! Express your distaste with too many exclamation marks!!!
Pictures courtesy Thermal And A Quarter Official Website: ThermalAndAQuarter.com
