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By: Chris Ball
When, earlier this year, Mos Generator released yet another storming album in Abysinnia (reviewed here) we decided it was time to catch up with main man Tony Reed. We asked long time fan Chris Ball to compile some questions and we sent them off to Tony, who was at that point out on a U.S. tour with the band. Partly as a consequence of that, the answers were a long time coming, but then again Reed is not a man to do anything half-heartedly. That has lead to him recently making the biggest and hardest decision in the band’s history. Read about that, exploding heads, Bowie, Baby Metal and much more here.
(((o))): Hi Tony, thanks for agreeing to talk to us. This is, yourself apart, a whole new Mos Generator. So how did new line-up come about, had you known the new guys long and was the split with Shawn and Scooter amicable? Did the new guys play much of a part in the writing process for Abyssinia, or is it pretty much your baby?
Tony: Hello Chris, nice to speak with you again. The lineup change was necessary for the band to make any real progress. After 14 years of making records and not being able to tour much I finally had to make a change to a band that could do a lot of touring. It was a very hard decision for me to make because I was leaving behind very important elements in the foundation of the band. Shawn and Scooter were very hurt and I felt guilt for a very long time after the split. Sean Booth (bass) is who I found first. He was a big fan of the band and had been coming to see us for many years. I had seen him play at a show many years back and thought that I would like to work with him at some point. Jono Garrett (drums) was referred to me by Henry Vasquez, the drummer from Blood of the Sun and Saint Vitus. Henry has seen Shawn Johnson play many times because we toured with them for a month in 2013. I have also worked with Henry writing and playing with Blood of the Sun so he knows what kind of work ethic I have and caliber of musicians I like to play with. He was definitely right about Jono. All three of us get along great and have a good time on the road. It’s all I could hope for.
Only one song on the album was a group effort and that is ‘Wicked Willow’. Other than that, I had already had all of the songs written and had make demos. The last three songs were actually recorded in 2008, that is why they have a different feel on them. Two of them are Shawn Johnson on drums.
(((o))): One of the highlights of the album is the closing ‘Outlander’ – were there any particular influences at play or vibes you were trying to get across in that number?
Tony: To me ‘Outlander’ sounds like soundtrack era Pink Floyd mixed with a little Beatles and Chris Squire solo album. It took me many years to finish it. I would just revisit it and add new parts here and there over time. We have been rehearsing it as a three piece, but have never played it live that way.
(((o))): As such a connoisseur and collector how do you self edit your ideas – lots of great music must lodge in your subconscious, so how do you make sure you’re not unintentionally ripping stuff off?
Tony: I intentionally borrow ideas or musical feelings from artists I like so I’m sure that a lot creeps in unintentionally. I feel like as long as my influence as a songwriter is stronger than the idea or feel that I am borrowing then it’s ok to take a bit here and there.
(((o))): The last time I interviewed you (read here), you mentioned that Prince was one of your favourite producers – how did his death affect you, if at all?
Tony: It didn’t effect me as much as Bowie’s did. I don’t usually get sad over the deaths of people I don’t actually know, but about a week after Bowie’s death I came to realize how much he influenced me and helped guide me through my years as a musician and a musical chameleon. The death of Prince was much more of a surprise and all though his genius is no less than Bowie’s, he didn’t have the same effect on me as a songwriter.
(((o))): Has death been on your mind a lot? There’s quite a lot of lyrics on Abyssinia that seem to deal with ageing and dying.
Tony: You are correct, there are a lot of heavy lyrics about time, self loathing, and death. Not just the death of the body but the death of things inside and the killing you do to other people when you betray them.
Abysinnia artwork
(((o))): What’s the idea behind the surrealist album cover and it’s title – ‘Abyssinia‘ ? I have heard it mutated in conversation into ‘I’ll be seeing ya’ – is it another death reference?!
Tony: ‘Abyssinia’ is an American term of farewell that means “I’ll be seein’ ya’”. I think what I’m trying to say is farewell to things of the past. Band members, musical boundaries, personal demons. It’s also a cool sounding word.
When I first saw the artwork I was attracted to it because the exploding head felt like me and what I was going through while making the record. It was a very difficult process to make this record.
(((o))): It’s weird not having Lemmy around too. Would he make your fantasy band line-up from those who have left us?
Tony: Probably not. Although I’m a big fan of Motörhead I don’t think he would make that list. That would be a hard band to put together.
(((o))): Did The Lost Chronicles of Heavy Rock Vol. 1 bring any new Mos Generator fans into the fold? Is part 2 coming anytime soon?
Tony: I’m not sure if it did. It did get a lot of attention and I’m now in the talk with a label about doing a vinyl release which would be really cool. I never expected these songs to come out. I just recorded them for my own enjoyment and as a learning experience. Vol. 2 may not happen for a long time. I’m too busy with Mos Generator to work on anything like that. I also only do it when I feel it and I haven’t felt like it lately.
(((o))): As someone who really appreciates the history and heritage of hard rock, what’s your take on Baby Metal?
Tony: Because I appreciate that history and heritage I decline to comment.
(((o))): You have a U.S. tour coming up! (at time of writing)… But are any European dates in the pipeline?
Tony: We just finished a U.S. tour and we have been doing some regional shows to celebrate the release of Abyssinia. Soon we will be announcing a month’s worth of European tour dates scheduled for October 20 through November 19th. We are really looking forward to coming back.
(((o))): Thanks again for your time Tony, we love the album!
Tony: Thank you so much for the great questions Chris.
Abyssinia is out now on Listenable Records and available here.
