Martin Atkins is one of the most central figures in the evolution of post-punk and industrial music: drummer for PIL, Ministry, Killing Joke, Damage Manual; founder and leader of evolving collective Pigface; founder and owner of Invisible Records and Underground Inc.; producer, remixer.
Pigface will be touring the US in March and April in support of their new release on Invisible Records, Easy Listening. Check out the Underground Inc site for more info and updates on the tour.
We spoke to Atkins about his 25 years in the center of the storm:
EO: What was the original impulse behind Pigface?
MA: The idea that the 12 people who made up the Ministry '89 tour could be really interesting doing something else.....we went straight into the studio the day after the tour ended with Steve Albini.
Do you have a favorite unit? [heh - he said unit]
The newest one is always my favourite ALSO, just the bare bones idea of it semsto keep growing.......i love the idea
What is the Pigface legacy?
Errrrrrrr, the idea that you can change and re-create your immediate creative surroundings and cross-pollinate, that labels will allow you to do that if you ask and that it is all GLORIOUS if you want it to be + it's a fucking great live band!
What did you gain from the PIL experience?
The ability to say "I was in PiL - fuck you!" an understanding and total respect for what is real charisma (John had a bucketload of it) conviction in my own beleifs and (after I left piL because i had had enough - at a time when we had a #3 world wide HIT) the ability to rely on my internal barometer and gauge my own path.
You are musician, producer, remixer, label owner: what do you derive from each role?
Well, not getting bored with one, not losing too much in the translation and filter groupings of each individual + each individual's agendas, etc.
Do you ever regret spreading your energies over such a broad range of activities?
Always and never!
What led to the conglomeration of indies under the Underground Inc. rubric?
Any one of the russian propaganda posters will work here: solidarity is strength, unite and crush the system, etc., etc. I wanted to gain leverage at the distribution level, help my friends, not watch my friends go throught the same horrible shit I have had to go through, etc., etc., create a shared learned history of knowledge which doesn't exist within independant music at all, I dont think. I might be wrong.
Article comments
1 - Luis Beltrami
como hago para contactarme con Martin Atkins, a un mail
Gracias
2 - Eric Olsen
unfortunately, no hablo
3 - Mac Diva
Do you know he can reach Martin Atkins? His mailing address, preferably.
4 - Douglas Mays
Wow, glad someone pulled up this article. I like Martin Atkins. My old band I managed (X-15) opened for PIL in Seattle and Portland. Then in 1986 he had a band called BRIAN BRAIN (Anyone remember the "Fun With Music" E.P.? Great stuff) which I promoted a couple of times in Santa Fe, NM.
Anyway, seeing this article pulled up gave me great memories and had to bring up Brian Brain.
peaceloveguidance
5 - Eric Olsen
just go through his label, Underground Inc, in Chicago
6 - Mac Diva
Luis, solamente pase por su etiqueta, Inc subterráneo, en Chicago. Bien?
7 - DM
Martin Atkins is simply the greatest drummer on the planet.
Check out EXTREMETIES, from the 1990 album of the same name. AWESOME.
Also, Martin speaks in the interview about 'Digital Drums, Samples, etc.'
Well check out INSIDE THE TERMITE MOUND from the same album.
8 - Leo Wieger
For all the Martin Atkins fans out there, from the early to mid 80's I was the lighting director for a club called City Gardens in Trenton, NJ. PIL was touring at the time when I met Martin, Johnny keep calling him Brian Brain, it turns out Martin had a band based in New Brunswick, NJ. called Brian Brain, Dance/Funk music. He had a nice little tune called Funky Zoo, and a pretty good set list.