Questions for ...

[sisterlondon]

Ohhh I have a question! Just came to me listening to Heaven Taste. It would be: "how was the experience of colaborating with No-man and touring with them for a while (even if a short time)?"

Also (if this hasn't been asked), "what's your favourite collaboration?" and "who would you like to collaborate with in the future that you haven't before?"

[anortherncod]

I knew you'd think of something Sis

Natasha

[sisterlondon]

A bit late, but I did! 8and with horrible typing, just fixed some mistakes! )

[Astronaut]

Thanks for those questions Tallulah!

I think it might be an idea to have a kind of 'closing date' for questions, and then by that date we can submit the ones we have. Just because the thread is not seeing that much activity and I think it's better to ask a few - or ask them if we can ask a few - rather than let it drop.

Astronaut, my spacetravellinDuranlovinalwaysofMickdreamin friend, what do you think about that?

Natasha

LOL! Gosh - my nickname's getting longer by the day!!! Good idea Natasha. How about Friday 11th April for a cut off date? All questions from interested parties to be posted on this thread by that date? OK?
BIG Thank You to all of you who have taken the time to post questions

[anortherncod]

Thanks for those questions Tallulah!

I think it might be an idea to have a kind of 'closing date' for questions, and then by that date we can submit the ones we have. Just because the thread is not seeing that much activity and I think it's better to ask a few - or ask them if we can ask a few - rather than let it drop.

Astronaut, my spacetravellinDuranlovinalwaysofMickdreamin friend, what do you think about that?

Natasha

LOL! Gosh - my nickname's getting longer by the day!!! Good idea Natasha. How about Friday 11th April for a cut off date? All questions from interested parties to be posted on this thread by that date? OK?
BIG Thank You to all of you who have taken the time to post questions

Welcome back, space travelling one! It has been quiet without you...

11 April sounds good. I also propose that we post a list of the intended questions on that date, Astronaut, do you want to collate Steve and Mick and leave Richard for me? (That sounds a bit ruder than I had in mind ). Then everyone will know what the 'crack' is.

Natasha

[Astronaut]

Sure, no problem Natasha! Ruder than you had in mind? Surely not! I wouldn't dream of taking Richard away from your loving embrace! Hee-hee! I'm quite happy to deal with Messrs Karn and Jansen. I'll collate their lists (such as they are ...)

DEADLINE: FRIDAY 11th APRIL 2008.

[anortherncod]

Hi everyone!

As you will have realised, it's Friday 11 April, which means it's the closing date for questions for JBK.

I previously offered to email Richard, so here are the questions for him, based on responses earlier in the thread:

1. Which contemporary artists do you like?
2. Does the Internet make it harder or easier for niche musicians?
3. We've read that you and the other Japan members felt music was one of a few limited career paths for working class kids, do you still feel that's true today?
4. What do you think you would be doing if you weren't a musician?
5. Is it right that there will be an anthology of your work coming out? (YES PLEASE!)
6. Any chance of another album (GO ON RICH, YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE)?
7. In retrospect, how do you feel about the Dolphin Brothers album? Were the lyrics written first, or the music?
8. What was the experience of collaborating with No-Man like?

Many thanks to Melaszka, Tallulah and Sisterlondon for these.

I am now going to proceed directly to Hotmail and email Richard initially to see if he is prepared to answer questions. (Fingers crossed he doesn't reply with "are you that ker-azy Northern Cod?")

If he is, and there is a question you would like to ask which is not listed above, please post them by midnight tonight (British Summer Time - or so they say. It was hailing earlier!).

Natasha

[anortherncod]

D*mn and blast, I knew there was something else.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the following question, my own:

Whereabouts in Italy do your family come from and how's your Italian?

(Bamboo readers may recall a picture of Richard clutching a copy of Buongiorno Italia!, a textbook aimed at learners around GCSE level.)

But is that too personal?

Natasha

[Astronaut]

D*mn and blast, I knew there was something else.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the following question, my own:

Whereabouts in Italy do your family come from and how's your Italian?

(Bamboo readers may recall a picture of Richard clutching a copy of Buongiorno Italia!, a textbook aimed at learners around GCSE level.)

But is that too personal?

Natasha

No, I don't think it's personal at all. It might be a refreshing change for him to be asked something relating to his ancestry!!!!

Questions for Steve and Mick: I will collate these this evening (11th April) and post them on Friday night, e-mail them Saturday - unless there are any objections/additions to the lists. Astronaut

[anortherncod]

Astronaut, my partner in crime, I have a question for Mick. Sort of. I've heard, here and on Pioneers, that he lives in Cyprus. I don't mean "can you ask him if he lives in Cyprus?" but something a bit more, well, subtle than that. Maybe along the lines of "you're spending a lot of time in Cyprus, how does that fit in with recording new material?" possibly.

Oh, and: when are you going to reschedule that flaming tour?

Natasha

[Astronaut]

OK, here's the list of questions for the guys. Please add any questions, corrections etc by Midnight as Natasha suggested. Last chance folks!

Steve & Mick’s Questions: (** = a question to be sent only to Steve ## = a question to be sent only to Mick!)

**What kit and cymbals do you use at present?

**What was the thinking that made you opt to go with Thomas Feiner's contribution of lyrics and melody for what became Sow The Salt rather than the beautiful melody and intriguing lyrics that Tim Elsenburg devised for the same music (that particular composition initially being titled Amina and then later renamed White Man Hex)?

Which contemporary musicians do you rate?

Have recent developments in music (e.g. internet distribution, things like myspace etc) made things easier or harder for musicians?

How do you feel about Britain politically now and do you think there are more or fewer opportunities to working-class young people now than then?

Do you still think that music is the only viable cultural opportunity open to working class youth?

What would you have been doing now if you hadn't become a musician?

**Re: Dolphin Brothers album – is it true you were dissatisfied with it’s lyrical content?

**How was that album assembled – were the lyrics written first or the music?

What's your favourite collaboration so far? Who would you like to collaborate with in the future that you haven't before?

##You spend at lot of your time in Cyprus these days. Does the island inspire you creatively? How does living in Cyprus affect the recording and distribution of new material?

##Do you have any plans to tour this year?

##You’re in the process of writing a book about your time with Japan? Can you tell us anything about it? When is it likely to be published?

##You’re known not only for your talents as a bass player, but also for your work as a sculptor. Do you have any projects in progress at the moment and if so, do you have any plans to exhibit them?

10 Questions for Steve. 10 Questions for Mick.

Astronaut x

[Astronaut]

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS THREAD BY ASKING QUESTIONS.

I hope we get a good response!

Huge thanks to Natasha for helping me out with this - when we meet up there will be a large glass of wine with your name all over it !!!

Astronaut

[anortherncod]

Huge thanks to Natasha for helping me out with this - when we meet up there will be a large glass of wine with your name all over it !!!

Astronaut

Oh, it was nothing. When the meetup happens I think we might have to buy each other several glasses of wine anyway...

Now all we have to do is wait!

Natasha

[Astronaut]

How true - about the wine I mean! Also true that all we can do now is sit and wait.

[iledef]

D*mn and blast, I knew there was something else.

I'd appreciate any feedback on the following question, my own:

Whereabouts in Italy do your family come from and how's your Italian?

(Bamboo readers may recall a picture of Richard clutching a copy of Buongiorno Italia!, a textbook aimed at learners around GCSE level.)

But is that too personal?

Natasha

If I remember quite well, I read on an italian website an interview with Rich in which he said that some relatives of his live in Milan and that he can understand Italian but not speak so well...
I hope this can help you, someway...