| »The Left Banke Talk About Their Music |
|
From Song Hits Magazine November 1967 One thing about the members of the Left Banke: it's easy to get them to speak out on almost anything---especially each other! Not to imply that they don't get along, but, to these four, membership in the Baroque - inclined quartet ends once the act is off stage or out of the recording studio. To a man, they insist that, being in the forefront of the pop scene, retaining their individuality is a 24-hour-a-day struggle. Unlike the members of many other groups, the boys who are the Left Banke refuse to run around with strange photographers, chat "politely" with curious magazine editors, or have any part of the publicity stunts which have vaulted other groups to the top. During the year that they've been together, they've been to only three photo sessions (hated all of them) and have been interviewed only four times (each interview resulting in a heated and unrestrained exchange of individualism and self-assertion). After having had the opportunity to speak to the boys for several hours, it appears that it's not because they are "publicity shy" that their life-stories and faces have not been run an endless number of times in the fan mags --- but because they are just a bit disillusioned with the superficial and contrived images that have somehow become attached to many other groups. The Banke stands firm in its refusal to have any part of what they term "such nonsense." Lead vocalist Steve Martin explains the Banke's seeming aloofness as "...an honest attempt to be a legitimate group. We all lead ourselves. We're doing our own thing, and if we make it, we're going to do it on our music (and nothing else)." Bass guitarist Tom Finn has a similar outlook: "I think publicity is something a group like the Banke can more or less do without; we're trying to feature our music over our personalities. We're serious about it (the music). If people will just listen to what we have to offer musically, the Left Banke will become a monster group!' Drummer George Cameron: "Maybe we're lazy. It's just that every time someone from a magazine gets us, we have to answer the same questions for the thousandth time. Do you really care what I eat for breakfast, or what my little brother's middle name is? Do you? No one ever asks us about our music. There are a lot of things I'd rather do in my spare time than stand around in a circle and smile sweetly." Lead guitarist Rick Brand, though, is a case-in-point of how different the motivations of Each Banker are: "Me? I'll pose anytime! Nude, if you like! I'm me, I'm Rick. Here's my phone number. Just give me an hour to get ready. You can load your camera in the meantime!" (At which time Rick, who, ironically, is the "wise old man" of the group despite his wisecracking wit, leaped out of his chair, ran through the door, and disappeared for nearly an hour without saying a word. When he finally returned, he proudly held up a bright gold token he had won as a prize in the electric bingo game across the street from the office.) So much for their opinions of their thing-the Left Banke. But, with this group especially, a visitor gets the impression that here are five sincerely individual people. Some uncensored opinions each has of his three partners - in - sound: From Steve: "I'm pretty close with everyone in the group, but I guess I'm a loner at heart. I started out with Tommy and George down in the Village. Tommy used to be real shy and never pushed his will on anyone else, even when he was in the right. Today he's come out if his shell 'cause he's finally convinced of his talent, so he's not afraid of telling people where they're at. George is pretty stubborn, he's got a temper, and he wears an innocent smile on his face all the time. Rick is an outasite guitarist. He's a showman. But sometimes he's a kid -- like, when he doesn't get his way, he turns his back and walks off without saying anything. He knows how to make you feel like a heel when he wants to." From Rick: "Steve? He's an aristocrat at heart with deep rooted ideas of right and wrong that don't necessarily conform with today's world. He's a frustrated, misunderstood perfectionist who wishes everyone could keep up with his terrific talents. They can't. Tommy is a shy little boy --- or he was, at the beginning, anyway --- but he's starting to realize what kind of talent he has. He has more potential for greatness than the rest of us put together. He could play bass for Wilson Pickett, he's that good! George is a stubborn, pig-headed, one track-mind ladies' man, who, through the combined efforts of the Almighty and six armies of scholars, has brought himself to becoming a fantastic drummer in under a year. And he has the potential of being a great music writer." From Tom: "Steve is a born winner. He's a great talent and could go out and make it alone as a sex image, but he doesn't dig publicity. He could quit right now and run off and get his pick of a hundred millionaire countesses on the Riviera. He's that kind of a guy. Rick has a good education. He invests his money. I spend mine. He dresses like a million dollars, and throws tantrums when people run up to him and ask if he's Peter Tork of the Monkees. We all almost got killed a few days ago when some lunatic sped up past our limo (limosine) in Ohio and yelled out to Rick, 'You're Peter Tork, aren't you!' Rick smiled and replied, 'Does he look like me? I'm RICK!!!' George and I are real close. He's one guy who's really settled down since the band started making money. Rick grooves on people a lot. He can stand and talk to strangers for hours and never be at a loss for something funny to say. He can see good things in some of the most worthless people you'll ever meet. Sometimes I wish I could be like him --- in that respect, anyway!" From George: "Steve has a good head, but you have to know him for a long time before it shows. He tries to be hard, but he's been through a lot and it's made him weary of some people. Rick spends hours with kids after shows --- the rest of us are usually well on our way to the next gig when Rick leaves the last one. He answers his fan mail every day and has a line of girls after him wherever the group goes. Tommy never gets on your nerves, and he'll do anything for you if you come across to him as an honest cat. He'll be successful in anything and never be at a loss for friends." Though they'd probably tell these sentiments to each other face to face, this will be the first time, probably, that any of the boys will see or hear these feelings, and you're sharing them! The Left Banke is an unusually talented group --- but more so, they really are four individuals who won't join the wagon of commercialism and fantasy. It may eventually prove to be their undoing, but the future of this unique quartet will attest to the vailidity of the expression, "Honesty pays!" |
