Well, the former Suede guitarist and producer of Partie Traumatic didn’t say that exactly. But he did tut-tut at the spate of Britpop-era bands that have been giving one last show a try lately, saying that such attempts at mining nostalgia fiends’ dollars had “no relevance to what’s going on at the moment.” Which means that you probably shouldn’t get your hopes up for a Suede reunion tour anytime soon—although to hear Butler tell it, no one’s been interested! Wait, what?
“I’ve never had an offer to do anything as Suede.
“I’m obsessively opposed to nostalgia. I hate the idea of it. It doesn’t work. And it doesn’t interest with me at all.
“What’s important is not what I did last week, it’s what I’m going to do next week. I made great records – I love them. My kids play them now. But that’s for them and everyone else.”
Of the raft of current reunions, he said: “I know it’s good fun and everything and sure, you can’t deny someone a good night out but personally I just feel uncomfortable with nostalgia.
“If I could dedicate six months of my life to one thing, would it be somebody who’s doing something that’s interesting and totally new, or something that reflects something I did 15 years ago?
“You couldn’t possibly be a human being and be motivated by that.”
This burn-down-the-past sentiment is kind of a strange one to come from the man who produced Duffy’s Rockferry, but I guess the difference there is that he wasn’t the one who engineered “To Sir, With Love”?
If I could dedicate six months of my life to one thing, would it be somebody who’s doing something that’s interesting and totally new, or something that reflects something I did 15 years ago?
In almost any other year, this would make sense. But nostalgia is going to be huge in 2009 and probably into 2010, because it will be convenient and, most of all, reminiscent of “the good times” more than ever.
Bernie’s a year or so late in his comment.
I made great records – I love them. My kids play them now.
Thinking back to when I met him and the rest of the band back in 1993 before he had kids is…weird.
Anyway, his odd choice in productions aside, it’s a damn good sentiment he has. (Now here’s hoping he’ll stick to it — I admit I’ve been a little annoyed at the Jane’s reunion because it meant Eric A. finally gave in, when he was the one I admired the most for not doing anything like that until now!)
Wait, hold the phone, he produced Rockferry? I had no idea.
Between that and giving the Libertines a helping hand earlier on, he has a lot to answer for.
Rock on, Bernard.
I think the sticking point here is nostalgia for one’s own past vs. cultural nostalgia. I get that.
And for the record, I severely hate band reunions of all stripes. But I’d seriously consider revising that opinion in the case of a Suede reunion.
Well they did form The Tears…sort of nostalgic and reuniony.
@Ned Raggett: I still treasure an autographed promo pic of Suede from their first (only?) U.S. tour back in the day. They were all really cool, especially Brett. I know Bernie’s all anti-nostalgia, but those were good times indeed.
@Ned Raggett: I still treasure an autographed promo pic of Suede from their first (only?) U.S. tour back in the day. They were all really cool, especially Brett. I know Bernie’s all anti-nostalgia, but those were good times indeed.
@Nicolars: Only four tracks (to make it easy, it’s the ones that sound like McAlmont and Butler).
@moomintroll: and terribly boring. horrible latter day suede lyrics, and short on the fancy guitar wank that made suede interesting.
Oh, and I’d be perfectly fine with Bernard not doing the reunion thing if he’d release another People Move On.
@kajsa: Lesser? What if they improve on what they did fifteen years ago? Damon and Graham have both become more musically adept since the “split”. Not saying it’s impossible that they’ll just do a regular run through of hits, but I’m interested to hear Damon’s 2009 vocal ability do “The Universal” and “This is a Low”.
anti-reunion? not a knee jerk position at all…
@eriq78: I kinda love “Apollo 13″
My opinion, which doesn’t matter: it shows a dire lacking of imagination to be unable to tell the difference between a performance now and a record 15 years ago. Not that I could possibly afford a Blur reunion.
And, to jettison any credibility I may still have; I love the Black Kids record. It’s always more fun to show up to the party late.
Obviously the Blur we are going to see this summer is going to be lesser in comparison to that of fifteen years ago, but that doesn’t make me any less excited for Hyde Park.
re: Blur- love them on record but every time I saw them (4 times) – they were absolutely terrible. Maybe now that they’re older, it’ll better this time?
@Ned Raggett:
Was that at a Sony college radio lunch in Irvine, before KROQ Weenie Roast way back when? A few of my friends and I showed up uninvited, as we were mad about the band. LOL.
:)
That was really your experience? Every time I’ve seen them (always indoors) they were terrific. As good as the CD, even… weird.
@the rich girls are weeping: See, I’m all anti reunion too, but I seriously reconsidered that for Blur. I do wish it was going to be an actual new Blur album instead of a greatest hits thing though. I really love Blur’s b-sides and non-single tracks best…probably won’t hear those. Eh, I’ll obviously still try really hard to see them though.
Anyhoo, it’s kinda hard for me to be snarky to Bernard, Suede (with him in it) were pretty damn perfect.
@Ned Raggett: What happened when you met them? Do tell…
@kityglitr:
Yeah, trust me, I’m a faithful and forgiving concert goer, too (understand bands have up and downs bands while on the road) …
With that said, I’m VERY excited for this reunion. Especially after seeing the effort Albarn put into Gorillaz.