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Rating: "The problem with music at the end of the '60s was the hippie caravan and all its load of crap, ok? The damn Peace and all that free love stuff, the acoustic folk fashion and the whole go-to-San-Francisco-with-flowers-in-your-hair business. But let's try to imagine the '60s just as wild and murderous times, as much as the strange days of today: what if they had been all a Charlie Manson, and napalm and drug addicted freaks and a gigantic fuck-the-world-bastards? Well, then in all likelihood, only 5 bands would have stood: the Stooges, the MC5, Hendrix, Blue Cheer, and... Orange Sunshine".
(free translation from http://www.sleazegrinder.com)
A: Enough with this bullshit, now tell me a good one.
OS: We started playing together in 1999, in that Dutch hole in the ass called The Hague. Each of us three comes from the independent scene of the '80s, and I mean hardcore, surf, punk and... bands like Top Gear, Twin Earth, Sunwheel. Besides this, we are united by the frantic consumption of the same amounts of opium, or LSD or amphetamine. Really, if I run to Mehdi's house now and open his shoe rack, I already know I'll find the exact same supply of substances that I have at home. This is true friendship.
A: I agree, they don't make friends like that anymore! So, do you have any pets? Dogs, cats, I don't know...
OS: I have a cocker spaniel named Eddie (like Cochran), Mehdi has two cats, Suzi Q and Lucille, while Guy has a Siberian hamster farm.
A: Uhm... Beatles or Rolling Stones?
OS: Blue Cheer, without a doubt.
A: A-ha. And... what about your albums?
OS: We're on our second LP ("Homo Erectus" and "Love=Acid, Space=Hell") plus the three mini albums. The latest EP ("Bullseye Of Being") has just been released, nothing more than the expanded reissue of our first recordings. Mostly acid covers of the songs that marked us: Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream), Speed (Ron Allen Light Show), Demon's Eyes (Deep Purple) and Ruler Of The Universe (Terry Brooke's Strange). We are very satisfied with the new mix.
A: And how are you doing with 'balls'?
A: Enough, I'd say. We try to stick to that mood, to that white heat that thrilled us while listening to Blue Cheer as kids. We jam as much as possible in the rehearsal room and sweat like beasts. Live, we want those with us to enjoy the trip, space out in complete tranquility, and go back to 1969.
A: So you're a De Lorean powered by synthetic drugs?
OS: Yeah!
A: You make an impression and I personally love you but... don't you think you're slightly behind the times? I mean, no offense, what's the point of playing this stuff today? I mean, if I take "Love=Acid, Space=Hell", cover the recording date, and play it to any MC5 fan pretending it's a 1971 record, I can make them believe it without problems. Someone I know says that if you don't care: it's fabulous. If you think about it, it's half bullshit.
OS: Honestly, that's what we want. All our gear, equipment, amplifiers, and recording mixers do not exceed '72 as a production date. We don't give a damn and we're stuck in this damn limbo and that's fine. Our fans come to our concerts for this! To hear that fuzz. And we have it, got it? (Buddy, that De Lorean thing... Write that up because it's really cool!)
A: Sure. And okay, you said the magic word. You said "fuzz". I'm convinced...
OS: Ha ha ah.... maaan!
A: Indeed! Okay guys, for me that's it. That's enough, thank you.
OS: ...
A: ...
OS: But are we so behind fashion?
A: Definitely yes, you are hippies without appeal and with hands tied, doomed to push huge bales of marijuana in a circle only with your chest. Forever...
OS: Oh well, that was our starting idea, after all. The bale of marijuana thing, I mean...
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