WANG CHUNG INTERVIEW!!

FRESH OFF THE PRESSES!
NICK FELDMAN SPEAKS!!
OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH WANG CHUNG!!
Thank YOu for taking the time for this interview!

1) 80's artists are enjoying a resurgence of popularity, especially in the U.S.. Does this surprise you?

Nick Feldman) In a word, 'no'. I think the music of that era has become ingrained in US culture over the years since, for better or for worse. It never really went away and the fact that it is on a bit of an upward curve is pretty consistent with that, i reckon.

But, if you'd asked me back in the 80's whether I'd be surprised if 80's music would still be in significant demand in 2009, then the answer would have been a resounding 'yes!!'.

2) In your opinion, what are the differences between U.S. audiences, and the U.K. audience?

NF) In the 80's, there seemed to be more difference than there is now. What struck me back then was the awareness and integration of pop music into general American culture. So you got the sense in the US that people of a wide age range broadly knew at least something of what was going on. This was really magnified by the advent of MTV, which wasn't as established yet in the UK in the 80's.

It seemed more specific in the UK then but now with the advent/spread of music channels, cable tv, the sense of pop and rock celebrity now , there is a broader feel here in the UK more like the US. I think this is reflected in the live audiences, who are more similar now in both US and the UK.


3) you have enjoyed hit songs, successful soundtrack songs, and a career of almost 30 years.
Is there anything that Wang Chung still aspire to do?

N.F.) To become the first 80's English pop duo to be US President. If Arnie can make it to be Governor of California, then why not Wang Chung as President!!! We'd make it legally compulsory for Everyone to Have Fun!! What do you mean we're delusional and a bit bizarre?!!!!


4) Do you enjoy touring?

N.F.) We haven't for a long time (toured that is). We became successful in the golden age of MTV, so it always blew me away that wherever we went there was such high recognition factor in even the most out of the way places in the US. For example, I remember jack and I getting mobbed by autograph hunters in of all the most unlikely places, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, which we had escaped to for a bit of higher culture on a day off from touring in '87. Generally speaking, it was nice to be recognized and appreciated by people in the US after years of slogging around small Uk clubs to mixed responses and tiny audiences (I don't mean the height of each member of the crowds were tiny, haha). America seemed more geared up for live bands than the UK, with better venues etc and was much more enjoyable to play.

Yes touring was fun in the 80's particularly in North America and I hope it is as much fun again in 2009. It is very gratifying that there is still so much interest around the world in Wang Chung after all these years and especially in N. America. You Americans always had great musical taste!!!!!

5) Having been in the Music business a long time, you have seen many changes. What are your thoughts
on the State of the Music Business today?

N.F.) I could write a book as an answer to this question (luckily for all of you, I will refrain just this once!!!!). I have worked in so many different areas of the music biz . . . . as a musician, performer, writer, producer, manager, A&R man for Warners, Sony and SonyBmg, and other stuff, and i am therefore acutely aware of how much it has changed from so many different perspectives.

What's most notable is the shift in how people consume their music. We are progressively in the age of the iPod and the Internet where people more and more listen to or buy music on a track by track basis in a pick n' mix kind of way. Because of this and illegal file sharing, the emphasis is less and less on album recorded music sales and complete album listening . . . . . and live performance has become more and more important again, which is a good thing i guess.

There are also far more forms of entertainment now than in the 80s and pre 80's, and it is much harder to achieve cross media and crossover success these days . . . . . how many people for instance, know any tracks from the last Eagles album, apart from Eagles fans? Not many I'd guess, even though it was one of the biggest selling albums of that year!!! TV as well as radio, is less influential as a unifying force, with the advent of choosing what you want to watch/listen to when you want on for instance Youtube and Myspace. Things are therefore more fragmented, niche, specialist and specific, which in some ways is quite healthy and more committed. Of course the other end of the spectrum is the American Idol, reality TV platforms for pop music, which have taken over from other TV shows and from radio, but these shows are more about the personalities of the judges and general showbiz than being about music. There have been only a few lasting music stars to come out of these shows which are so dominant on TV, that if it was the 80's, the effect of these shows in establishing true lasting music stars would have been much greater.

6) Who are you listening to?

N.F.) Just about everything. I have been using Spotify, the fantastic streaming music site and have been checking loads of music all the way back through my musical life, as well as contemporary stuff. Its been a lot of fun. I've been recently listening to a lot of Burt Bacharach, Byrne/Eno, Talking Heads, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, Led Zep (who i saw play in London recently-ish) and Bob Dylan as well as a bit of Uk 70's blues from Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac, early Eric Clapton, as well as some jazz namely Charlie Mingus and Thelonius Monk. Contemporary stuff i've listening to . . . . Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Tings Tings, Bullet for my Valentine (who as it happens, I signed to Sony when i was A&R there). My son is really into 90s American music and has it blasting out a lot of the time, which is cool . . . . so I have been listening, whether i like it or not, to a lot of Nirvana, Screeming Trees, Pixies, as well as his other favourite bands Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein, amongst a bunch of other stuff. . . . fortunately I do like it. To my pleasant surprise he and his mates really like the new Wang Chung album!!!!

7) What can fans expect from you on the Regeneration Tour?

N.F.) Huge shoulder pads, rolled up jacket sleeves, loads of embarrassing make up and unfortunate hair-don'ts and a bunch of 80's hits,. . . . . well maybe not the first few categories but definitely a bunch of 80's hits and tunes played by some guys who can still remember how to deliver them well (hopefully!!!). Oh and maybe even the occasional new tune here and there.


What does the future hold for Wang Chung?

N.F.) We have been in the studio and have a new album of tunes almost ready to go. The album is called 'Abducted by the 80's', some tracks of which should be available digitally by the time the tour is underway. it's turned out really well and we're pretty pleased with it, thank goodness. It definitely sounds like a Wang chung album, but it also has a contemporsary feel to it as well . . . . kind of a modern antique, whatever that means!!!! We will also be doing other touring around the world later this year and early next and will be doing some further recording by the end of the year.

Thanks again, for this interview! We look forward to seeing you guys on the Regeneration Tour!
WANG CHUNG'S NEW ALBUM IS TITLED "ABDUCTED BY THE 80'S", IN STORES SOON!!