It has happened again, just when you thought the 80's were dead, more bands keep popping up from that era. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about it. It's nice to be able to see bands from your childhood, especialyy when they put on an impressive show like Gene Loves Jezebel. I was hanging around the club they played at one night and was able to get their consent to an interview. And it went something like this...

RAD

What the hell have the both of you been up to, it has been years since anyone has heard from you!

Michael

Had a family, a couple of kids, did a couple os solo things. Haven't been touring at all except for last year I did about eight shows....so essentially I dropped out. Jay's been doing the Gene Loves Jezebel thing a couple of years after I left, and he has made another solo record.

RAD

So Jay you wenton to do Kiss of Life?

Jay

Well Kiss of Life and Heavenly Bodies and some other things in Europe. After that I went to New York where I just finished my solo record, then Mike and I decided to do this because we had not done it in a long time.

RAD

How has the tour going, how receptive has everyone been?

Jay

Well we expected this to be like "Well hey look at the flashback band", you know--people bringing their kids. But it has not been like that at all. We have seen all kinds of people here, alternative crowd, gothic crowd, etcetera.

RAD

So are you glad it has gone this way?

Michael

We thought people would just come out to hear songs like Desire. They have been asking for more of our obscure songs like Shave My Neck and stuff.... We went through different stages and different lineups, so we always thought that being together we would have better luck you know and right now we have no label, but we are touring and we are enjoying it.

RAD

Have you ever thought about putting out another album together?

Jay

We are taking it as it comes, but we thinking. We probably will put something out real soon because it has been so exciting and different every night. Our relationship is so.... What's that word, Mike?

Michael

...so Volatile.

Jay

It just always something to watch and it's very real and it's theatrical. I had forgotten how amazing it was to watch life, because there are some great things happening with us and it's fascinating for us to come back after all this and to see the kids having their haircuts looking about the same it was fifteen years ago--shaved heads, way long black hair wearing dresses-- because I always thought it was a bit polarized, you know. I thought the gothic kids were pretty asexual,and then there was the faddish kids who were the other way, but it seems to have come together much more. And we're a better Gene Loves Jezebel for them because there is a massive sexuality generation out there I think, besides the spirituality that has always been there.

RAD

Well I hope this has been a positive experience for both of you.

Michael

It is because we have no record company, we have no agency as such we just wanted to do it. It is great to go out and meet people who are truly into what you do and appreciate all the times we died for them--all that sweat and blood. This tour right now has been the ninth I have done in the states alone. It's great to get that energy back, I mean you just don't know what's going to happen and that's what I love about it. It's a truly moving thing you just do not know where it's going.

RAD

The last time I saw you was in 1987 when you opened up for Echo and The Bunneymen. Has a lot changed since then?

Michael

Fortunately we haven't aged since then and we are grateful for that, well we are Vampires you know.

RAD

What made you want to get into this business?

Jay

Well, you know, I suppose being twins you're aware at a very young age what it is like to be an individual, because were always being thrown into couples all the time so you always fend for indentity, and I think music and art is all about indentity and how articulate you are on this planet. And that is the reason why we are here--the two of us thought that we had something different about us.

Michael

What we do independently is very different from what we do together. It has been that way ever since we were little. On an artistic level, from painting to signing or whatever we had ever done, we were quite separate and it is amazing how we always chased our independence. But then haveing said that, what we do together is pretty weird and unusual. but when people see that, they seem to be drawn to it. It's fascinating, but that is a lot different for us than it is for other people.

Jay

But ten years ago it was too much for us. We needed tp break apart because, if you remember when we split we were at the height of our popularity and still racing for the stars. It's amazing how difficult it was for us, I think, that we could let it go despite all the advice. But we are happy to be back together. We are much more mature--we had to deal with a lot of things and we are still working hard at it, too.

RAD

If somebody came up to you after the show or on the street and wanted to get some advice from you about this business or what you thought of it, what would you tell them?

Jay

You have to push on, you know, and really articulate who you are and what's unique about you and stay with it, because you will be pulling from pillar to post.

Michael

You have to check your motives, if you listen to the radio, all the bands sound the same. That's very synical and very corporate. When we were around, there was truly an alternative scene and there were people who wanted to check you out and there was energy.

Jay

There are individuals doing it on their own now. I guess I would say if you could manage in some way to creat your own college industry do it! If you want to go the other route for the major labels and with head fucking shit that goes on, then good luck! It destroys you as a human being and your artistic spirit because to them it's a business and they will throw you away! Now if you're wise enough to handle both, you're a supreme diplomat, then by all means be careful and keep checking your head, it's bizarre for us because we came totally from the left--left--left side of it. It was very exciting scene and it's very exciting to be touring again. If you look around a a lot these bands, you're basically going to get the same thing. Now, if you come to see Gene Loves Jezebel, you're to get just like when we started. That's the clue for anyone else starting out as well, just use your own language and just push on and stick with it. When that wheel spins, then it becomes fashion and the trousers become shorter and longer but ultimately it's your heart that will shoot you through it.

RAD

What do you really think about the music today, do you think it's a lot different?

Jay

Mike and I always hated the pop music scene. We did likes songs and things. But we never did watch England's Top of the Pops or America's MTV. We just listened to music. It's weird for us to have to do photo sessions and interviews and things. I mean, it's nice to do it but ultimately I like going, "Hey, there's the song do I like it?" I mean what's the big deal! I mean, you have to be good live you do not know what always is going to happen. But why do I have to kiss Everyone's ass to succeed? and that's a lot of pop bands do now. We have learned life is short just do not take it seriously but be serious about what you do.