Art Brut answers 8 Really Stupid Questions!

Art Brut [noun]:

The term Outsider Art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an synonym for Art Brut (which literally translates as “Raw Art” or “Rough Art”), a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane asylum inmates.

-Wikepedia.org

Art Brut’s lead vocalist Eddie Argos says he’s not being ironic; that in the song “Formed a Band,” where he excitedly babbles “Look at us! We’ve formed a band!” he really was just super stoked that they started a band. You can check out the song in the latest Snobcast.

EHS’s Second Snobcast: an Ode to Childhood

See, he doesn’t so much sing as gesticulate, informing you earnestly of the simple truths of his life: that he has indeed started a band, that his little brother recently discovered a new musical genre, or that on Sunday nights he just likes to stay in and eat and watch the telly. Because he has a British accent, a Proustian porn star look, and rabble-rousing backup, it comes off as arty and punk rock and even Brechtian. In fact you could say he’s doing for lyrics what punk rock did for the song structure.

But when he originally tried to form a band at a party, he surprisingly couldn’t sell them on his routine. Rolling Stone described his persona as thus:

“He sports a Seventies porn-star moustache and bushy eyebrows that nearly form a unibrow, and he stammers and stutters when he talks. (He’s been diagnosed with dyspraxia, a learning disability that affects speech and coordination. ‘That’s probably why I’m not so good at singing,’ he laughs.) And sometimes during a gig, Argos will wander into the crowd mid-song.”

Photo taken at Hi-Dive 5.5.06 by Nina Barry

So he convinced a handful of musicians that he could sing like Aretha Franklin. Now he’s joined onstage by Jasper Future, Ian Catskilkin, Freddy Feedback, and Mikey D, a motley bunch whose penchant for preposterous names might have inspired us here at EHS. Art Brut is wildly famous and touring across Europe to promote their newest anthology of Everyday Eddie, “It’s a Bit Complicated,” but the songs have stayed awesomely simple. And in the spirit of simplicity, we asked lead-talker Eddie Argos…….

8 Stupid Questions!

1.) What is your most ironic fashion accessory?
I have both a keyboard guitar and a clarinet. I can’t play them, so all they’re good for is fashion accessories.

2.) What is the new black right now?
Danny Prescott

3.) Please make up a fictional story of how your band met. The only requirement is that it is purely fictional, and completely preposterous.
We replied to an advert in the NME which The KLF had put in, they write all our songs.

4) What are you addicted to?
The internet/cake.

5) How long did you work at Starbucks/Gap/Pottery Barn?
Still there.

6) What was your first girly magazine?
Maedchea, it’s german.

7) Would your mom approve of what you are wearing right now?
Both my parents are poets,so no.

8) Have you and the band ever, you know, gayed off?
Jasper and Mike live together, “Top Gun” is Mike’s favourite film, and I knew they’d watched it together so I asked Jasper if he liked it, he replied,”I couldn’t really concentrate, Mike had his cock in my mouth.”

You can see Art Brut play Monolith this September.