What you get is what you see interview to jay aston by diego centurión
A couple of back issues ago, we had the possibility to have the words of a Gene Loves Jezebel James Stevenson. Today we have the opportunity to have the word of one of the Aston brothers, the most involved with the band. While he is working with his new project “Ugly Buggs” (with another Gene Loves Jezebel, Peter Rizzo), paused for a moment to answer my questions. So, with you, Jay Aston! How were the days of “Slav Aryan”? It was very free form. I made a lot of noise with a few pedals Flange / Chorus / Echo & a drum machine. My friend Steven Davies played bass & my brother moaned about “White Walls” over the top of it all. We were pretty “artsy” I guess. We hung out at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff & hustled a couple of gigs. Our first gig was in a Porthcawl Pub & we got switched off a few times, but we were happy to lose our virginity as it were. Our second gig was “Rock Against Racism” benefit with a few other bands in Cardiff. We were received well & we got to open for Crass in Barry as a result. That was it for us in Wales. Next stop was London.
The first formations of Gene Loves Jezebel have included several musicians, Julianne Regan, Steve Goulding, until 1983, when editing “Promise”. What do you remember of those early years? Julianne is a naturally gifted musician. I asked her to join & gave hera bass. Not her first instrument, but she was great. Very creative. I’d have to write a book to cover that period, but I would say that there really was no one else quite like us & we grew quickly thanks to people like John Brand {Producer}. How was the decision to replace Ian? was painful? We were very worried by Ian’s decline. Of course it was a harrowing time & painful for us all. I felt guilty for bringing him into the band. He had to return to the U.K. after a couple of dates on what would prove to be a very hard first tour of the U.S.A We were very fortunate to get James Stevenson. James is very, very reliable & obviously, a great guitar player/writer. Thank God he was available. Saved us. I’ve seen Ian a couple of times since {as recently as April 2013} & he was in good spirits.
The band explodes (in a good way) with “Discover” and arrives consolidation with “The House Of Dolls”. They come to Latin America for the first time, what do you remember that? We were in top form by the time we got to Latin America after so much touring. I remember loving the gigs, but I was also quite sick by the time I got to Buenos Aries. Ended up staying a few days longer than expected in order to recover. We had a big road crew & it was all pretty mental. Michael is leaving the band. How did you feel with that separation? Glad to see him go. Having to pretend I didn’t sing in GLJ videos just give him something to do had become tedious. And then edit one of the best albums “Kiss Of Life”, how was the recording process, more relaxed? There’s a lot about the “Kiss of Life” sessions in our official facebook page. Then another great album “Heavenly Bodies”, “VII” and “The Thornfield Sessions”. How were those years? “Heavenly Bodies” is our best record I think. The only album I really enjoyed making. “Thornfield” was also great fun. A lot of wine... Again I’d need a lot of time & space to go into detail & I’m so busy with Ugly Buggs as I type this. “Ugly Buggs”, how this project was formed? I was going to form a new band with Peter “Bugg” Rizzo after the “House of Dolls” album. I’d written most of “House of Dolls” & my brother managed to credit himself generously & I ended up with less publishing than him. He had little to do with the album, apart from the title {It was supposed to be called “Suspicion” {he’s miming to that song
in the video. It’s my voice} & choosing the cover {the photograph we were supposed to use was beautiful, but he didn’t like his nose in it or something}. I’d had enough & Pete & I were just about to quit when Mike left. So we stayed on in GLJ. My brother has destroyed GLJ’s reputation, so Pete & I formed “Ugly Buggs.” What you get is what you see.. James told us about a new album of Gene Loves Jezebel, what can you say about this recording? New GLJ album unlikely right now. Financially, it’s difficult for us Do they return to Latin America? Does who return? GLJ? I hope so. We love playing together & we love playing Latin America. The audience sing along with us so passionately. There is always much laughter there. Ugly Buggs will be releasing new songs soon. We’ve already had a great reaction to “The Man That Time Forgot” & we’re just about to release “Summertime Song” & do a video for it. We have two mrs songs to finish & we’ll put them all on an EP. That’s the plan! That should say “We have two MORE songs to finish.” Spelling auto correct did that! Regards, Jay