The Dandy Warhols Talk Musical Past, Present And Their DIY Future

By Michele Lenni in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 3, 2010 5:40PM

Image via gonzai.com

For almost two decades now indie-popsters The Dandy Warhols have been making genre-bending music for the masses. They've gone from a big music label [Capitol], over-produced music videos directed by slick and controversial directors like David LaChapelle and then back to their indie Portland roots releasing material on their own record label, Beat the World Records. In the process they've transformed from all-night partying, carousing with the celebrities, and playing shows in the buff to moms and dads that have mortgages to pay. In the process the Dandy's have become a staple of indie-pop-dom. We took some time to talk to their jack-of-all-trades musician Zia McCabe about life during their rise to fame and what has led them to join the legions of the DIY music scene.

Chicagoist: You guys have been playing as a four-some for almost two decades now, when most bands these days are lucky if their personalities gel enough to stick together for one record. What is your secret?

Zia McCabe: We're going on 17 years actually. There was a time early on when we where fighting a lot, van tours can be rough, and we came to a conclusion that we all had basically the same goals and with music being our top priority we needed to set our differences aside and focus on our music. It's really easy to get caught up in those petty issues but with a conscious effort to only paying attention to the good in each other and our art we've made it work.

C: Since you guys release your debut album, Dandy's Rule, OK? in 1996 to the release of your latest effort of new material, Earth to the Dandy Warhols, in 2008 your sound your music has ranged the gamete from Jay Spaceman/Stereolab wall-of-sound worship to Iggy Pop/ Bowie disciple-dom to just plain balls out pop music. What has influenced each change in your musical journey?

ZM: We have always make music for each other; doing our best to fill a void that's present in the music world. We also love experimenting with production techniques so even though our song writing has remained basically the same over the years, our albums are able to stand apart from each other when you listen to them.

C: With all the touring you guys have done over the years you must have seen some crazy shit. What is the most interesting and/or wacked-out thing you have seen on the road?

ZM: Our van breaking down in Point Of Rock, Wyoming, yes that was the name of the town, and hitching a ride with a crazy truck driver was super nuts...Courtney [Taylor] wrote a whole song about that day. Listen to The Legend Of The Last Of The Outlaw Truckers on Earth. Oh, getting in a bus accident years ago in the snow was pretty crazy, luckily no on was hurt....ummmmm, watching Bowie perform at Glastonbury from the scaffolding about the stage was incredible. Looking down on the band and out at 120,000 plus people. Literally humans as far as the eye can see.

C: What was the motivation, besides financial, to release a collection of your recording during your three-album-stint with Capitol records? Is there some sort of nostalgia for that particular time in your career?

ZM: Actually, it's in the contract. They said it's time, we said okay, easy peasy.

C: Like I mentioned earlier, you guys have been a band for a long time now. Some of you have matured into full-blown adults with kids and stuff. How has your attitude toward making music and touring changed? Have the days of partying until the sun appears on the horizon ended?

ZM: Ha, I wouldn't say ended just diminished...time and a place for everything right? Big differences are that we practice earlier in the day. I gotta pick Tildy [my daughter] up from school and stuff. Other than that I guess we're more involved in the business side of things. Not sure if that's good or bad, it just is.

C: Besides switching gears musically over the years you guys have gone from big label release to a more DIY indie approach with your label Beat the World. Does the change have anything to do with your personal experience with big labels?

ZM: Well, we appreciate more what they do for us, things like backing us financially, radio promoting and stuff. Having ones own label is very hard and mostly a big headache. I think we're ready to split the difference and find a nice little Indy Label to work with. Will be nice to have someone else to blame again when shit goes wrong or doesn't get done.

C: With blogs like Pitchfork and Stereogum making indie bands and smaller labels into big business do you feel like the opportunity to make money doing something you love has opened up for newcomers to the independent music scene? Do you guys market yourself differently now?

ZM: Yes, I do. I think the world of the mid-level band is growing while the massive band reality is shrinking. The more musicians that don't have to work second jobs the better. Marketing? It's all a crap shoot these days. We're trying out all kinds of ideas and seeing what works for us. All musicians are looking to each other for guidance in this department. Hopefully we can save each other some trouble by sharing our ideas, successes and failures.