Tim Ennis Interview

Page 6:

Who were your influences (in music and other art)?

At the time, I think my influences were probably:

Music -

Jimi Hendrix
James Brown
Lee Perry
George Clinton
Burning Spear
Iggy Pop
Bowie
Eno
Roxy Music
Louis Armstrong
Gene Vincent
Eddie Cochran
Chuck Berry
John Cage
Schoenberg
Philip Glass
Ennio Morricone
Yardbirds
Who
King Crimson
Kraftwerk
Devo
Screamers
Patti Smith
Jonathon Richmond
Sex Pistols
Versus
Noh Mercy
Tuxedomoon
Pink Section
Dead Kennedys
Dils
Mutants
Bags
Germs
Weirdos



Art & culture -

Duchamp
Rauschenberg
Cornell
Tristan Tzara
Ben Vautier
Fluxus
DeForest
Mondrian
Hundertwasser
Van Gogh
SF Mime Troupe
Kesey & the Pranksters
Bowles
Ginsburg
Kerouac
Snyder
Borges
Celine


What did you think about:

Tuxedomoon? Inspired madness, obviously. Enjoyed playing in their band immensely. The artistic and personal conflict between Blaine and Steve made the band. That and hiring great sidemen...

Nervous Gender? Riveting performances, dramatic confrontation. Phranc could really break through the ennui.

Screamers? The greatest. Totally inspirational. We stole some technical ideas from them, like what stomp boxes to use and how to get certain instrumental sounds. Gotta buy a painting from Tomata!

Chrome Dinette? I think we played some shows with them, I liked Robot Love.

Devo? Changed my life. They had the total package. There would not have been a Units without Devo. Pure genius and real nice guys too.


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