Tom from St. Louis, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: What’s next for circus devils?
Dear Tom: An album is in the works for 2013. Circus Devils has recently become
fascinated with new technology. The band also keeps in mind that whenever artists
of the past have become enamored with new technology and have gone through a
crisis of identity in the context of an ever-changing world, their creative output has
always been of the highest caliber. Think of Neil Young’s TRANS.
Tom from St. Louis, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: What’s up with the I RAZOR movie? Is is
turning out well? Will uncle Bob play a part?
Dear Tom: As of summer, 2012, the movie I RAZOR is being whipped into shape and
should be finished for October viewing for the donor community.
Be advised that
NO members of circus devils appear in the movie. As to how it’s turning out, I
would say it’s almost as good as Christmas on Walton’s Mountain. To see a
preview, visit youtube and search for “I Razor movie trailer.”
Dan Thomas</b> from Mayfield Heights, Ohio USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: 1) Was the
puking sound in "Double Vission" really necessary? 2)Any chance you'll record
another epic like "Sgt. Disco"?
Dear Dan: In the original version of “Double Vission,” diarrhea was a central part of
the song’s unfolding drama. When we played the album for a test audience, they
laughed uproariously during the section of Double Vission when the protagonist
suffers from his affliction. This was NOT the effect the band was after, so the
change was made in favor of vomiting. I would go as far as to say that the puking
in Double Vission was as necessary as puking is in any situation where the body
rejects food. Haven’t you found that to be true?
With regard to the term “epic,” if by that you mean “long and drawn out,” it’s not
likely that another album of that sort will be made.
Admiral Fatbottom from East BamBamBamington: Dear Sgt. Disco: Recently, I find
myself whispering to strangers, "those boxes over there on the floor contain
paralyzing secrets." This is not as well received by the strangers as you would think.
Thoughts?
Dear Fatbottom: You seem surprised by the reaction of strangers to your remarks. I
suggest you start with “Hi.” Nobody wants to hear about that box. No matter if it’s
sitting there in plain sight.
Chris Warner from Dayton, Ohio, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: Thanks to Circus Devils for
writing such creative, spontaneous, scary and rocking music. My question is: How do
they make the magic happen? Meaning, with band members in different locations,
do the guys write the music first and then the lyrics? Or do they write songs based
on the mood of the lyrics?
Dear Chris: At long last, a question about music! If you don’t want to be
disillusioned about what you call the magic, then please cover your eyes as you read
the following description. Circus Devils has two distinct factories, so to speak. Both
factories are in Ohio. Factory North produces the music, and Factory South injects
the vocal melody and lyrics. These factories operate without knowing what the
other is up to. To put it another way, the right hand knows not what the left hand
is doing. For circus devils, this is the way things must be. This is what makes the
creation of the albums exciting for the band.
In terms of the process, the music comes first. Sometimes Bob informs the music
writing process when he has a particular concept prepared before work begins on
the album. More often however, a large (usually very large) collection of
instrumental pieces are written first, and then auditioned to Bob, who then makes
his selections. The mystery involved is part of the excitement of making the records.
The result is indeed magical to those involved directly with the process. We are
glad that you have also found it to be magical.
Some view this particular
songwriting process as somehow less “authentic” than the conventional manner of
writing. Say that to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Gringito-San from New Zealand: Dear Sgt. Disco: When does the Capsized! tour
start? Is it possible to book the Circus Devils for our company's holiday party? I
believe the presence of the band would increase the awesomeness of said party
googleplex-fold. Something to consider.
Dear Gringito-San: Any reason to go to New Zealand is a good one. But playing
live has proven too risky for Circus Devils, in any context. From police balls to
monasteries, it’s always been the same story. Hospital bills have far surpassed
performance earnings.
Ruth from Cross Village: Dear SGt. Disco: It has saddened the children of many that
the once fruitful and much beloved tales of the Sgt. and the Devils seem to have
gone fallow. Is it all the newly acquired attention from the ladyfolk? Come back.
Dear Ruth: Pardon the inattention as of late. Ladyfolk have a way of making men
believe that when they go to their basements and carry on with their hobbies -whether it be ham radio operating, or music recording, or tinkering with models –
that the men are somehow involved in activities less important than “real life.” This
kind of thinking will never stop men from doing what they must do.
Fats from Texas, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: What is your take on 2012 as the end of time
according to the ancient Mayans?
Dear Fats: The end of time is not a cinematic event. It is a slow leeching of our
humanity over a period of decades, culminating in the rise of a programmed human
race indistinguishable from the technology we have created. 2012 is the pivot year,
where those on the path of darkness fall to one side, and those on the path of light
fall to the other. Now is the time Fats to make your decision about which path you
wish to take.
Here is a simple quiz to help you determine on which path you feel most at home.
Question #1) Does the idea of going on a picnic or reading classic literature, or
building something with your hands seem taxing and pointless when you consider
the alternative (staring at screens, indulging your selfish appetites, or passively being
entertained)?
Question #2) Do you enjoy staring at screens all day, the way you are
doing right now? Question #3) Do you smugly take the side of skeptics whenever
something unexplained or mysterious is brought up? Question #4) When
confronted with an apple and a cupcake, do you immediately go for the cupcake?
If you answered YES to any or all of these questions, then there is little doubt which
path you are on.
Ian from Montreal Canada: Dear Sgt. Disco: Am I in Canada because I don't like
circus devils, or do I not like circus devils because I'm in Canada? Thanks in advance,
and I like the music even if circus devils is objectionable.
Dear Ian: Never thank anyone in advance. That’s a rule that even Canadians should
follow. Now, do you like Circus Devils or don’t you?
Your remarks are conflicting
on this matter. Or has your Canadian imperative for politeness overruled all other
considerations, including making sense?
Andre “Poodle” Lussier from Outer Syracuse: Dear Sgt. Disco: Are the Circus Devils
also unreal?
Dear Andre: Yes. Everything that is real is also unreal, by virtue of its reality. On
the other hand, purely unreal things can never be real. Nothing can be purely real
unless time is removed as a factor in its examination. And as far as I know, no one
has discovered a way to extract time from existence in any way, shape or form. We
are stuck with time, so we are forced to confront the inherent unreality of all things
which are real today, but were not real yesterday, and will not be real tomorrow.
The act of speaking about a thing and calling it unreal affirms its reality. Let’s
stretch out this idea. To be unreal is the starting point of all real things, including
the universe in the whole. Nothing is the starting point of something. To say that
something is real is an affirmation in the face of eternal unreality. Unreality and
nothingness can be seen as a cosmic negation and a horror in the light of a
transitory human life and human creative endeavors. On the other hand, taking a
less grim view, unreality can also be seen as an immense empty canvas upon which
absolutely everything has been painted.
Cast your mind back into primordial time, to the very beginning of all that has ever
existed.
If you stretch your imagination that far, you will come to realize that
Nothingness has allowed for Something. Nothingness, as the foundation for all that
has ever been or ever will be, could easily have prevailed, and remained true to its
own absolute supremacy for all eternity. But instead, nothingness yielded and
passively gave way for something to exist. We don’t know how or why this came to
pass, but here we are. <br>
We participate in the eternal life of humanity by proceeding from nothingness. We
find ourselves here, a mystery within a mystery. So we take our small stake in reality
a step further by making things ourselves. Being creative is how we struggle against
the nothingness that underlies our existence, and at the same time, this is how we
affirm and celebrate the nothingness back to which all things go.
Angry white male from Illinois, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: I have two words for circus
devils. UNCLE TOM!!
Dear Mr. White Male: Okay. That’s not so bad.
Mr. Boh from West Slamerica: Dear Sgt. Disco: Do the Circus Devils support
SLAMMING IT?
Dear Mr. Boh: Slamming what? A brew? A basketball? A finger in the car door? A
face on the table? We mostly think these are good things, but you need to be
more specific.
Braga from São Paulo Brazil: Dear Sgt. Disco: What about Todd, Tim, Bob and any
drummer on a Gig, here in Brazil, in the next Rock In Rio?
Dear Mr. Braga: A splendid idea. Todd is the drummer. Any guitar player will do.
Neal from Close but Far Away: Dear Sgt. Disco: Capsized! Rules! Any truth to the
story that Bob made the band take an ill-fated boating trip out on Enon Beach?
Dear Neal: never do this yourself. Your stomach will regret the decision.
Freeman Krauthammer from Crockett, California, USA: Dear Sgt. Disco: FWIW, a
friend recently asked me about prog and psych music.
He bascially hadn't heard
any of it or even heard of any of the bands/artists I mentioned, other than Jimi
Hendrix. So, I pondered for a moment and came to the realization that the best
place for a total noob to start would be with the Sgt. Disco album. It's like one
long medley of the cream of the genres, with most of the naivete and inefficiency
trimmed like extra fat. Then, one can delve into the past from there based on one's
favorite tracks on the album.
However, this so-called "friend" wanted me to burn the album for him. I told him it
wasn't corporate rock and he needed to actually go to the store or online and buy
it. Long story short, I stood on general principles and you guys probably didn't end
up with an extra fan. Plus, he probably thinks I'm a dick now.
Dear Freeman: Being a dick for justice is a sign of your nobility and integrity.
Continue to stand your ground against parasitic, penny-pinching freeloading, miserly
music consumers like your friend. Unpopular acts like circus devils need fans like
you. As to your generous evaluation of Sgt DISCO, my humble thanks in particular.
John from Hartford, Conneticut: Dear Sgt. Disco: I need to know how to seduce a
woman. Please advise.
Dear John: Which woman? How old is she? Did she have a happy childhood?
Was her relationship to her father distant or damaged?
Has she dabbled in same
sex activity? Does she have a poor self-image? Does she exhibit spiritual leanings,
or is she a common, everyday drone? Your answers will depend on the individual
woman in question. Women are not like men (ie: predictable).
Without detailed
knowledge, your best bet is to perform a generic seduction. We advise that you
leave this delicate work to a professional, but if your budget is tight, do the
following: Write a discreet note to this woman and make her understand that she is
ravishingly beautiful and that you think of her night and day, and dream of nothing
but cuddling with her long into the night. Statistically speaking, this message will
likely hit the target in a sampling of women over the age of 30. However, for
younger women, or women over 30 with an athletic build, you simply have no
chance. All you can do is wait and hope that somehow you will catch her eye.
Otherwise, we suggest you do the sensible thing and hook up with that nice girl you
routinely overlook who actually enjoys your company. Good luck John!