An exclusive interview with Mark Williams

NP: I AM NEON PHOSPHOR.

MW: hey neon

NP: MY READERS WANT TO KNOW: DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTROYING INSTRUMENTS ON STAGE?

MW: i do not. i know arta offered to put his old lp out to pasture for the first lava lounge gig, but didn't. so i guess the specter of instrumental destruction hangs over the band. keep in mind that we'd need to be booked to play on a stage to smash any instruments there

NP: DO YOU GO THROUGH ANY RITUALS BEFORE OR AFTER A CONCERT?

MW: i drink at whatever point the band lets me. that's more of a habit than a ritual, though

NP: WHAT'S THE BEST DRINK TO HAVE BEFORE PLAYING?

MW: whiskey, it makes you want to yell. that's a lie: of course i drink a gin and tonic

NP: DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF PLAYING OLD SONGS LIKE "THANK YOU" AND "DISTANCE" WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE NEW SONGS IN THE PIPELINE?

MW: yeah, of course. i never play old songs by myself for enjoyment or practice, though maybe i should, especially for the latter. once we arrange a song as a group, it's not something i feel compelled to work on again, outside of the group. though maybe i should. having said that, it'd be a blast to play "old mcdonald" with the band

NP: WE KNOW YOU LIKE OLD MUSIC. BUT ARE THERE ANY NEW BANDS THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE, AND WOULD RECOMMEND?

MW: no... well, that's not entirely fair. i think the kings of convenience are all right, if a little quiet. and i think the new cat power album might be ok, but who knows. that's about it. i like the replacements, too. they're relatively recent.

NP: WHAT'S THE LAST CONCERT YOU ATTENDED?

MW: sheesh, it's been a while. i went to a student recital in june on campus. the last rock kind of concert, in a venue, was when george clinton and the p funk gang played at the fillmore in may

NP: OKAY, MARK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MW: take it easy neon