You know when you've made it as an influential publication when you start receiving unsolicited mail from bands. This happened to the Baggage as far back as issue 3, when our smiling postman delivered a seven-inch by the Sutton Coldfield-based Death Metal / R 'n' B combo Mud Fuck. It was released on their own label, Earache, which has since been forced to change its name to Nosebleed to avoid confusion with Earache Records, home of bands such as Napalm Death, Carcass, and Godflesh. They recently released their debut LP, 'Foetus Pullover', and Tim and Malcolm spoke to lead singer/baritone sax player Jeff Kurad and drummer Beng on their recent tour.
You started life as a covers band, didn't you?
Jeff: Well, a sort of semi-covers band. We'd cover songs, but completely rewrite the lyrics and the music to give them a different slant. The first single was 'A Hard Day's Rite'...
Beng: ...which was 'A Hard Day's Night' by the Beatles...
J: ...given a sort of Satanist twist. Then we did 'Burn, Burn, Burn', which was 'Turn, Turn, Turn', by The Byrds...
B: ...given a sort of Satanist twist. Then we started writing our own stuff. I suppose the first real Mud Fuck record was the 'Multiplikation' EP, which contained our tribute to Kurt Cobain, 'Off Yer Face', and our plea to Richie Manic, 'Give Us Your Car'.
The Death Metal/R 'n' B hybrid isn't really very common, is it?
B: Well, it is, it's just heinously ignored. There's a whole host of bands like Deviant Donkey Sex and Poosmell, who are supporting us on this tour, who are helping to bring some of the soul back into Death Metal.
J: The problem with the Death scene is it's just lost its way. The new crop of bands think that all you have to do is play your guitars really loud and fast and grunt about the devil. But there's more to it than that. They don't pay any attention to melodies, or subtlety. I mean, if you look at someone like Deicide- there are some beautiful moments on some of their albums. Harmonies that almost make you cry. And I think that's where we come in.
But how did it come about?
J: The Rhythm and Blues direction? Well, I'm not sure. It just seemed like the obvious thing to do. We used to just be a straight Death band, but we started hanging out with a band called Seepage, and they really turned us on to the R 'n' B thing.
B: Yeah. Seepage are more of an Industrial Motown kind of thing, but they inspired Jeff to pick up the baritone and we've never looked back.
Tell us about the album.
B: Well, it's got twenty-six tracks, and it was recorded in one take in a studio in Sutton Coldfield. We did the whole thing live, to try and get that live vibe and that continuity.
J: It's a sort of concept album, it tells the story of five guys who are in a band, and they're recording an album. And the later the day gets, the more tired they become. And we thought the best way to do this would be to just leave the tape rolling. That way, as we get more tired, we start getting pissed off with each other and making mistakes.
B: Well, you do.
J: Fuck you!
How do you react to people who say that your lyrics are in poor taste?
B: I'm not sure that that's a criticism that's ever been levelled at us. Or indeed could be. All I can say is that if you're easily offended by lyrics, you shouldn't be listening to a band called Mud Fuck.
J: People get too precious about things. For example, when I wrote 'Off Yer Face', it wasn't consciously about Kurt. But then, while I was performing it one time, it occured to me that the lines "Better shoot up than fade away / Off yer face / Off with yer face" could only have been inspired by what happened to him and I realised that his death had affected me more than I'd realised. It was the same with the Richie Manic song. I mean, I'm a great fan of the Manics and I hope to God that he's okay, it's just that I realised that he wasn't using his car anymore and my motor's a bit knackered. And it just seemed like such a waste.
B: And besides, he did shit all, didn't he?
So, what does the future hold for Mud Fuck?
B: Well, after this tour, we're going to have a well-earned rest before we do our first European dates.
J: We're spending six months on the continent, in Luxembourg, Belgium, Finland and Norway. There'll probably be a single to coincide with that.
B: We're going to be joined by a keyboard player for those dates, hopefully. We're holding auditions at the moment.
Anyone wishing to audition for the post as Mud Fuck's keyboard player should apply via the Baggage. Previous experience is not essential.
Mud Fuck were talking to Tim and Malcolm, in January 1996.