Dunedin punk/noise/pop band Die! Die! Die! might be from the south, but they do love our city. Guitarist and vocalist Andrew Wilson interviewed drummer Michael Prain on the subject.
You have been quite vocal about Wellington being your favourite place to play in NZ. Why is this?
I find Wellington always very open and receptive to new things...Also I like that shows are much later than everywhere else in the country.
In seven words what was your first visit to Wellington like?
Dreadlocks, multiple level buildings, wind, bar Bodega.
In eight words what was your experience of living in Wellington like?
Dreadlocks, Newtown, Weta guitars, blue meanies, Ollie Labone.
Not much is mentioned sometimes about the greater Wellington suburbs, what are some experiences you have had in these neighbourhoods?
We had a practice space in a storage unit in Taita. That place was like the Mad Max of the Hutt Valley, you could do possibly anything you wanted there from burning all found objects in the compound to playing ridiculously loud any time of the night. The guys next door used to convert stolen cars, what goes on in Taita Storage King stays in Taita Storage King, right?
If this music thing doesn’t work out, would you consider becoming some sort of Middle Earth character and what was your real opinion of the suggested Wellywood sign?
I’ve already looked into this and I am too tall to be a hobbit and too short to be an Orc. It’s a real drag because being an extra is great in my experience, catering/coffee cart/getting to hang out with the other extras.
The Wellywood sign totally sucked; thank God Wellington never got it. What is really cool is the Mosgiel sign just outside of Dunedin.
What do you think Wellington’s love affair with coffee is? Social or do they just really, really like their caffeine kick?
Who cares. I LOVE COFFEE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do you think Wellington has had so many eccentrics over the years?
Maybe it’s Wellington’s liberal leanings or maybe because it’s in an enclosed space and everyone’s wackiness rubs off on one another, which can lead to the creation of some of the best most interesting freaks ever. Don’t get me wrong I’m not insulting freaks, they are my people; we embrace each other 100%.
If you were bored and had the afternoon to do anything in the capital, where would you go?
I would go out to Red Rocks. It’s quite spectacular there on any day no matter if it were rain or shine. You can find really neat creatures in the rock pools and it’s a great view over the Cook Strait. I would love to rent one of those shacks that are out there and write bad poetry about the southerly gale and what being alone really means to me.
Do you think Wellington suffers from the middle child syndrome of New Zealand?
This is a role-play perhaps touching on some deeper issues Wellington has.
Auckland: OH I just got this GREAT new car!
Wellington: Oh...I have to wait until my sister wrecks hers...then I can have that and they will get her a new one.
Auckland: Oh Middle Child Syndrome, I see.
If you were going to purchase reading material in Wellington to fit in which would you choose from the multiple choice below?
A) A Dictionary.
B) Dub: Soundscapes and Shattered Songs in Jamaican Reggae.
C) A guide to Melbourne.
I would choose all of the above of course.
Die! Die! Die, The Garden Club, December 16.