From engh9401@Stratus.HGS.SE Tue Jan 3 06:02:30 1995 From: Anders Wahlbom Subject: Re: interview translations Schlager #38, 23 mars 1982 (translated from Swedish) RUPERT HINE STUNT SOUND Caption: Do you think this picture is too small? Wait until the next issue, where stuntman Rupert Hine and photographer Baecker have prom- ised to make something really smashing. Rupert Hine is a stuntman. He's the one who does the stunts in reality, he's the one who pro- vides the effects, what you think the hero does. Rupert Hine faces danger. Rupert Hine is a record producer. He's the one who does the stunts in the studio, he's the one who provides the effects when he produces Cafe Jacques, The Fixx or Saga. Rupert Hine is a songwriter and a singer. He's the one who plays solos with crying babies, who all on his own records majestic solo albums with moods of danger, uncertainty, ten- sion, anxiety. Rupert Hine became a name to most Swedish listeners with the album "Immunity", which was released last year. Some songs, mainly "Samsara" were heavily played on Eldorado (Kjell Alinge receives a dedication on the new album "Waving Not Drowning"), and Sweden was the first country where the album got any attention. But Rupert Hine has many years behind him in the game. First as a solo artist, with two albums on Deep Purple's record label in 1971 and 1973, and later in the studio constellation Quantum Jump. "We were never a real band. And when we had completely quit playing together - that's when we got a hit. "It was 'The Lone Ranger', which I wrote in 1974, that was a hit when it became the theme music for Ken Everett's video show five years later. We got the band together for some pictures and gigs, but we were never a real band." After Quantum Jump, Rupert Hine worked with producing other bands, and preparing his solo strategy. The first result: "Immunity", which is performed entirely by Hine with lyrics by his wife Jeanette Obstoj. "I write all my songs on a piano, but in the studio it's unnecessary to limit yourself to the traditional setup of drums, bass, piano, guitar. The only limitation with sounds today is - imagination." After "Immunity", Rupert Hine heard that the sound wouldn't be able to create on stage, that the album was a pure studio product. He took it as a challenge. "We did a small tour last year, and maybe I can come to Sweden too this summer. But I only sing on stage - it's impossible to play six or seven keyboards and sing with feeling at the same time. I've thought about standing on stage alone with just pre-recorded tapes, but I guess it wouldn't be very fun to watch. A touring producer..." On 26 March, the new album is released in Sweden, first in the world. Rupert Hine also visited Stockholm to present "Waving Not Drowning" and to try and get a place in Mandagsboersen. "The new LP is an extension of 'Immunity'. The last album was never meant as an integrated piece of work, a concept album, but in retro- spect I see it turned out that way. This time I'm completing it with some bits that were missing, 'Waving Not Drowning' has more attack. "On 'Immunity' the lyrics were more introvert, 'spiritual', while we on the new album bring up things in society around us. "I don't make music as pure entertainment. Jeanette and I have some things we feel strongly about and want to say. 'Innocence In Paradise', for example, is about the riots in England last summer, but I don't want to bash the message into the heads of the listeners. We want to show the frustrated rage in youth's rebellion, a rebellion we don't think leads anywhere." In England Rupert Hine hasn't had the same level of success as in Sweden, Holland, France. "In England only singles count. It's so essential to get a hit. In the USA, very little music isn't wallpaper. There rock music isn't an artistic power anymore. "As soon as people in the USA hear music that's serious it's thrown aside. When it comes to movies they're more open. I can't under- stand how Americans can go in their thousands to see 'Deer Hunter' or 'Apocalypse Now', but at the same time run away from music that's not a quarter as strong." Fights apathy At the release of the new album, Rupert Hine and representatives of A&M in England go around and present it with video. "Of course I want as many people as possible to buy this album. I've worked in this business for twelve years, I like it hear. If it works I can say what I want even more clearly, become even more 'pol- itical'." On "Waving Not Drowning", Rupert Hine is helped out by some percussion by Phil Collins and drums and guitars by some other musicians. Other than that he plays everything himself. The music creates a feeling of anxiety, of fear and danger. "I want to fight apathy. We want to create the feeling after the danger, when you have learnt to master your anxiety. People must dare to search within themselves, within their problems and face them." Rupert Hine has been compared to Neil Young (!). "Yes, it has happened a couple of times. But I don't know... I perceive him as a more tragical person, deeply depressed." Do you think your music is as good on video? Doesn't for example "The Set-Up" lose a dimension with ready-made pictures, instead of letting the listener project associations himself? "It might be, but... Video is nothing new to me. I worked a lot with it in the late 60's, and it's something I'm turning back to now. Nowadays I always use the same clothes at different promotional arrangements to keep a special image. But... what have clothes got to do with it?" Jens Peterson Mats Baecker/photo Rupert Hine is a stuntman? To be continued next week! [Although it was never continued. And anyway it was a biweekly magazine at the time.] [Note: "Maandagsboersen" was a very popular TV show in the early 80's.]