The dwarves interview with blag dahlia

INTERVIEW WITH BLAG DAHLIA INTERVIEW BY EMAIL / COURTESY OF MELANIE KAYE PR J.B: So years of listening to the Dwarves and thrashing multiple boards I finally get to catch up to the iconic no holds barred the legendary Blag Dahlia. You’re most recently back touring briefly then heading up here in Canada after a more extensive tour in Europe. Do you feel the open mindedness over there is more acceptable to the atmosphere of the Dwarves?

BLAG: We’re in Europe right now, heading to Canada next week and looking forward to it. I liken the fact that European girls will do whatever we tell them to. Is that what you mean by ‘open minded’? I could do without German’s complaining about the length of the set or English people pretending they serve food over there.

J.B: You’re touring with the release of “The Dwarves invented Rock N Roll “and the latest 7’ Inch which always satisfying and full of magic with a happy is ending

“Gentlemen Blag” that came out across the table on January of this year on Fat wreck chords?

BLAG: The Dwarves Invented Rock & Roll is the full length on Recess/Burger and Fat put out the 7” with some bonus tracks. Both feature lots of hot naked girls, and one of theme even has my penis on it. We needed to make it an 8” record for that actually.

These recordings were really fun because they feature all the new Dwarves guys (Fresh Prince of Darkness, Chip Fracture, Shartacus, TGI Freese) with the middle period guys (Rex Everything, Nick Oliveri, Junior High) and all the old school Dwarves, too (Sgt. Saltpeter, Vadge Moore, HeWhoCanNotBeNamed).

It’s got the whole family in there ruining your earholes.

J.B: The notorious chaos is part of not only the music and sound but also about the interaction do you ever feel that there’s moments that make you “Go holy shit”?

BLAG: Indeed! Getting stabbed in London, Ontario was one. So was having a gun pulled on me in Rochester or almost getting shot by Jerry A. It’s always fun and surprises!

J.B: Fast loud and full of energy and good times goes a long way in this scene do you feel that old-school sound and lifestyle is fading away back to an even older roots of folk based infusion?

BLAG: I like folk and roots based stuff. All music comes from that basic spring of stuff, but where you go with it is what counts. There are always a lot of dick biting imitators and often they get the glory, if by glory you mean lots of boring people loving them. The Dwarves are unique, there’s only one of us.

J.B: The Album cover as always is subjective to interpretation most view as

shock or offensive yet they go home and glance away at a playboy or another adult themed literature. Yet although subjective still remains classy and notable, there several variations what made you decide with the pose the record and the gramophone?

BLAG: JR Doty did a great job on that shoot, she is one of my favorite photographers out there. With the 25th anniversary of Blood Guts coming we wanted to do a variation on that Dwarves theme. But when our fave dwarf Bobby Faust died recently we knew he could’t be replaced. Now, it’s all vaginas all the time and the dwarf can just rest in peace.

J.B: In the past the shows had a heavy influence of G.G Allin and the “Hellride” with the mutilation thing but now it’s more antics sex, booze ,drugs and Punk Rock. Do you think the crowd has changed and it’s more about the music now?

BLAG: It’s always been about both. You can’t separate Elvis from his hair and his Cadillac. You have to be able to get fucked up, fuck sluts, make cool music and look good doing it. Or else, you’re Incubus.

J.B: The video for “ Sluts of the U.S.A” you have the girls from the shoot but also some shots of live performances and Fan pics where notoriously you have your dick hanging out. Is that always a common request for those who know what you’re about or is it a at the moment thing?

BLAG:My penis is the most important thing to me and I want it to be a big part of everyone else’s life, too. Touring with Nick Oliveri is difficult because he often plays nude and his cock has been described as looking like a grumpy old man in a sleeping bag. I really need to sing well to keep folks eyes on me.

J.B: Salt Peter wrote “Trailer Trash” which reflects the overall scope of things at times and the view of society that thinks within the norms. What other tracks that were hammered out on the weekend but you really wanted to finger for a

year on to make it right?

BLAG: It’s always great to rock with Sgt. Saltpeter and he is great songwriter.

All the Dwarves are great songwriters and I’ve been lucky to get all the credit for many of the great songs these guys have written. Trailer Trash is about that subset of sleazy yet attractive white girls that don’t get enough praise from more timid rock bands than ours. Don’t fear the Funyons, ladies!

J.B: You finally released on the most iconic Punk label Fat Wreck Chords how does it feel to be part of the family?

BLAG: I’ve been doing drugs with Fat Mike for decades, so it just felt right. If he ever listens to record he probably won’t like it, but it’s too late now!

J.B: What kind of track list do you have in mind for the tour or does it change given the venue and the feel of the crowd?

BLAG: From the new record we do the stupid gardcore tune Get Up & Get High and the vaginal anthem Sluts of the USA. Old faves include Everybodies Girl, We Must Have Blood, Drugstore, Speed Demon, Way Out, You Gotta Burn and tons more. We switch it up just to see if anyone is paying attention. They are!

J.B: You have “Rex” and “Hewho” on this tour and coming to Pouzza fest again this year in Montreal one of the most notorious cities in Canada for beautiful women and a subculture of fetish and sex clubs throughout the night. Is there some kind of rider request you give them to send back to the room?

Maybe a few extra’s throwin in to make the night feel right?

BLAG: HeWHo and Rex are indeed Dwarves for life, but neither of them can get into Canada anymore. Too much weird shit in their respective pasts. Therefore, I’ll have to claim all of the errant genitals the city has to offer. The sex drugs and bottomless pancakes of Poutain City will be mine, all mine!

J.B: The lyrical content as usual is hard to “swallow” for some and enjoyable for others what inspires the content during the writing phase?

BLAG: I like to use common phrases people say and then turn them into little anthems like Who’s Fucking Who, Lucky Tonight or Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.

J.B: What would be the perfect lineup and tour mates if you ever had your choice?

BLAG: Cab Calloway, Connie Boswell and Cole Porter.

J.B: Is there any possibilities of a new full length after the tour? Or maybe some BLAG: new tracks that might appear?

I just wrote one about school shootings call Forget Me Not. There are always new songs that need to be written about the underside of modern life and the Dwarves will always be there to write them. And the ones I don’t write, I’ll still take credit for.

J.B: Do you think it’s hard to break away from the crowd recklessness and violence that sometimes comes back to reflect on the earlier days?

BLAG: I hope we always inspire thrills and fear and outrage. When we don’t, it’ll be time to retire. And how will I sleep with teenage girls then?

J.B: Is there any famous quote or book that inspired you that come to mind?

BLAG: I like Confederacy of Dunces, it’s my favorite book. Muy favorite quote comes from…me! “If you can’t be good, be forceful.”

Au Revoir, BLAG

DWARVES

GENTLEMAN BLAG / 7 INCH Gentleman Blag is a flawless slap of punk mayhem that only THE DWARVES can deliver.

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