Dark Entries presents Julianne Regan (an English translation)

This interview written on23/12/2010 by Didier Becu appears in its original Flemish form on the Dark Entries website here:- http://www.darkentries.be/nl/interviews/?iid=365

Using Google Translate, Babelfish & Nicetranslator as well as my own logic and common sense I have produced what I hope is a fairly decent English translation for people who dont read Flemish.

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Since I've worked at Dark Entries, I have had the honour of interviewing many musicians who I looked up to, but this lady is special.

I do not know why but most of my heroes are men, but luckily I have two heroes in my life. One (Nico) is dead and the other is not gladly on the forefront and is not so fond of talking, but for Dark Entries she did it. Her name is Julianne Regan.

Even though she is modesty itself despite being awarded a title like goth icon, but the frontwoman of All About Eve (later Mice, Jules et Jim and now La Femme Verte) made many boys hearts beat faster and to this day I cherish their records next to The Sisters, The Fields and The Mission.

This but to tell you that Julianne had played a prodigious role role in musical life (and mine) and talked to us about what she was, what is and what she hopes for.

Dark Entries presents Julianne Regan.

Hi Julianne, you recently announced that you had enough of the music industry. Understandable, but in hindsight would you have done it all again to be where are you now?

I have left the music industry, simply because I am not the person for it. Some people love it for dinner in prestigious restaurants, for example, I do not .... I do not like the endless palaver about this and that. I also noticed that you are facing liars, egomaniacs compared to a decent human being to place nine idiots, or just questionable individuals. I think it's just not worth it...

But what I recently tried to do was simply to just say good-bye to the music. I noticed quite quickly that I could not, why I wanted to I do not know. ... I just think I only had to realize that you can have music without having to be confronted with that business. Should I start now I think I'd do it all again, simply because I was 19 and still that ridiculous self-belief would hold me and I would not be aware of evil in the music industry .

But I'd probably be smarter and sell my music on-line without having to do all the appearances and publicity with those terrible things that must be specific to the music industry ....

You were a journalist, Julianne. Weird because musicians hate journalists!

I tried to be a journalist. I went to college in London but after 6 months I gave up because I wanted to play in a rock'n'roll band . I've written a few reviews of performances, including some records and even a few articles but I was just too nice. I could not get it into my heart to write something negative about someone. Also, I soon noticed that when I interviewed a group I actually wanted to be a rock star.

I would have to add that I also know good journalists, and do not hate them all, there are some who are passionate and they are good at what they do ... I just hate the idiots.

I suppose you know Everett True, he was the editor of Melody Maker for years. He announced recently that journalism is dead because everyone on the net thinks they are a journalist....

It's just so fantastic, I think. It simply means that someone who has an opinion can put it on the net and we the readers, can decide whether we will read or not. Today it is no longer the journalists who extol or break groups; from the three major newspapers (NME, Melody Maker and Sounds) there is only left NME and they have lost all power. I think most people do not care about what the NME has to say any more. People are now forming their own opinions based on what others say in cyberspace.

Of course you also have the disadvantage that there are too many opinions, or people who think they know a lot about music and are spouting the greatest nonsense simply because they have a PC and Internet connection.

Julianne, you were one of the reigning goth icons. How does it feel in 2010?

Personally, I dont think I deserve the title of goth icon. When I hear that then I think people like Siouxsie, Nick Cave or Peter Murphy ...but not me. I made music with inspiration from goth, I have goth friends and I did things that were goth. ... But really in 2010, I am a middle aged woman wearing "normal" clothes and who leads a happy life and hopes that she obtains a diploma in 2012 graduating from university, to be something in the health sector.

When I was a young goth, I could never imagine that a time was coming when I was going to stop dyeing my hair or dress. ... The time has come (laughs).

All About Eve for me was a group for dreamers, people who felt a part of Mother Earth. ... Julianne least, I feel so when I listen to All About Eve.

Yes, I think you're right. I was a naive and innocent girl for a very long time. Admittedly, I felt so very happy with a rock 'n roll life but I felt attracted to things like space, nature or even the occult. There was indeed a lot of escapism which I frankly admit. As I grew older, it disappeared but now its back. I will always be the woman who gets a kick from staring at a big fat white moon. I think many people are so put together even if we get up early every morning to work so we can pay the rent.

They said that All About Eve were goth, and that is true but was it not a curse?
Take the wonderful album "Touched by Jesus", I think this album never had a chance because the media saw you as a goth band... ..

Goth is indeed both a blessing and a curse for us at the same time. Sure there were elements of goth interwoven in our music, but there were other things ... sometimes with us you had folk, blues, pop or heavy rock.

I remember very well that the American record society told us that they could not push us into a box, at one point they wanted the two of us make the new Fleetwood Mac!

I also think that the term goth is used more as time has progressed. Goth is a lot that are The Doors, Iggy Pop, Led Zeppelin, Bowie, Banshees, Cure, Dead Can Dance, Mission, Sisters, Garbage, Curve ... ..

There are many types of goth and the percentage is always different. Siouxsie & The Banshees are for example 50% goth and 50% hippy-funk.

What about Garbage? 20% goth, new wave 20%, 20% rock, 20% and 20% electro pop!
Goth is a complicated thing and regardless of the how twists and turns, it is not an exact science!

So yes, since All About Eve was seen as goth it also meant that many doors remained closed, but there were many open ... no, I'm not complaining.

After All About Eve you formed Mice with another great hero of mine (Bic Hayes). Such a brilliant group & you never got a chance.

It was indeed a pity that Mice was a flop. We made an album, I loved it and I'm still happy ...even though I regret that we never made a

second Mice CD. I thought at some point we were the ultimate line-up: Tim McTighe (brilliant pop writer, multi-musician, great bass player ... in fact Paul McCartney), Dominic Luckman the drummer of the Cardiacs was incredible ...

And yes, that Bic is without doubt one of the most intriguing musicians I've worked with ... a terribly creative person and simply a devil on the guitar. Those three were really brilliant people, real friends and people I love for all time. All for nothing. Sad.

You also made it difficult for yourself, Julianne ... then you were in Jules et Jim. Genius to use the word again, but unfortunately also a character who would not listen. Was that frustrating?

You should follow your own heart. It was an interesting experience: all the TV appearances, being on the radio, the record label that comes with their big bag of money, the overly fancy expensive studios, the limousine that came to my home to take me to the airport even when I begged them that I wanted to have a normal taxi.

And yes, they have managed to get my face on the cover of the weeklies, I even went on TV but if you reflect then there was time for the music but no spare time to yourself. Now I have time I want to occupy myself with my music but the other truth is that very few people left who will listen to me.

I know it's arrogant but when me and my friends are happy that is sufficient for me ... I need it but the fans make you. God, I hate that word "fans" so much. But it makes me happy and that's worth something....

I'm not sure you know Jo Casters, a Belgian musician. He told me that the problem in 2010 is that people will not listen ....

He's right. Jean-Marc (from The Weathermen and La Femme Verte) and I are much concerned about that and we are also forced to that conclusion. When I was younger you had to choose between music and sport and I chose music because I'm not really sporty.

But today they choose between music, computers, video games, DVD, Blue Ray, Pink Ray, Man Ray or whatever!

Music is no longer as important to people as it once was. I remember very well when a favorite group released an album then I went to the store to buy it and I played it day in and day out until I knew it, until that record had become a part of my DNA even though it was so that I just knew a song. Then you could hear no pieces on the net, you could not illegally download but the anticipation was immense.

In 2010, music has no value, not as far as the masses are concerned.

The person who will not listen to me there I'll do nothing to ....

Now you are back with La Femme Verte, Jean-Marc I suppose you would not really get?

Did you ask this question to Jean-Marc, he would certainly say that I am good at putting myself down. Whether I sing, record something, be part of La Femme Verte or whatever, I will always be somewhere in a pocket or another green light.

People who work with me know this all too well .... They are also only with such people that I want to cooperate. Jean-Marc knows me very well, I do not even know how he does without ..

Julianne being Julianne she opted for "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails which had already been covered by the legendary Johnny Cash ....

My motto of some covers: "Do not be afraid of the singers or the songs".

Once look at a track from a fresh perspective and if you really want to put yourself there then I think you have nothing to fear.

Sure, there are still people who find a better version of Johnny Cash or just would prefer the original, but this is our cover and it should be judged on our merits. It is no problem as long as you believe the words that you sing or you feel connected to them.

Did you know the covers of La Femme Verte that were chosen?

Frankly, I have a terrible memory, so let me think ...

If I remember correctly, Jean-Marc and I have had songs that we like to hear from there and we have chosen a selection. I do not remember which ... except I will sing those that I love.

There is a lot of Belgian talent on that CD. I think of Sam Devos or what did you think of Raya's version of "Enjoy the silence"?

I also love what they have done and what Sophie has done with Dark Poem. I know that here in England all ignore what is not here.

Sure they are interested in the Americans and the Swedes were popular for a period in time ... I'm not talking about Abba, but more things like The Cardigans.

The United Kingdom believes today that they are important, I find that amusing ... such arrogance that they have!

It is scandalous that they do not look further than their noses and not even look in the gardens of their neighbors because in Belgium many beautiful flowers grow when they hear music!

I ask everyone, including my heroine. What is your favorite album of all time, Julianne?

Let me think, I will take one from my youth: "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks, this is a perfect pop song.

A special message?

If you still can read before the year is: Merry Christmas!

Many musical discoveries in 2011 and as Shakespeare said: 'If music be the food of love, play on "... In today's language, "Music feeds love, so do not stop playing it!" xxx

Julianne Regan wanted to tell us something, and we do everything for her.

Maybe you know The Cardiacs. This is a British band that more than twenty years prog rock with a gothic touch and made more than once was cited by John Peel as one of his favorites.

The founder of this great group, Tim Smith, was recently the victim of a heart attack but the musician could not pay his medical expenses and is living on the edge of poverty. One of his fellow musicians Bic Hayes (who was in Mice with Julianne) has recorded a CD where Julianne has worked with Tim and the intention is to assist in his medical costs. Info here:- http://www.thegenepool.co.uk/items/597.htm

Dark Entries owes plenty to Julianne Regan for this wonderful interview which might present a special light on this very powerful woman who captured the imagination of everyone who was involved in goth.

Also, I would strongly like to express my thanks to both Sam Devos and Jean-Marc Lederman who made it possible that I could take an interview with my hero. Thank you, guys!

23/12/2010, Didier Becu
English Translation 27/12/2010, Ray Daley