Crusaders of Love aren’t just an excellent band
that take tips from past rock n’ roll royalty like Marc Bolan, Johnny Thunders
and Alex Chilton, they’re a force that struggles to preserve a time in rock n’
roll history when music mattered, a time when people took pride in their record
collection and actually knew a little about the band that was emblazoned on
their T-shirt. I may be preaching to the already converted and it might
sound like a terrible cliché in the world of underground rock n’ roll, but evidence
seems to show that this ideology is dying in popular culture. Art has been
reduced to “entertainment” and consumed like a fast food cheeseburger. Music
like what the Crusaders of Love play deserves to be savored. Only then will
your soul receive the sustenance it needs and deserves to carry on.
Interview by J Castro
Let’s start out with some introductions. Who are the Crusaders of Love and what do you all do in the
band?
ALEX: I'm Alex, I sing and play rhythm guitar.
Fabrice is my co-captain, he plays lead guitar and sing backups, then comes the
rhythm section with Didine on bass and Max on drums.
You guys are based in Lille, a beautiful city in northern France
rich in history. In fact, I read that there are records that the area has been inhabited
as early as 2000 BC! All that is well and good but what’s it like playing in a
power pop rock n’ roll band there?
Is there a good, supportive scene in Lille?
ALEX: It looks like you know more about Lille
than I do ha ha. But yes it's a very old city though not much of a rocking
place. I don't know any other band here that plays the same kind of rock n’
roll we do. Some people here like us, some don't, and some don't get it I
think. Sloppy reverb drenched garage rock is the popular thing these days in
France. So yes we feel a little alienated but, we play the music we like and
won't compromise so it's all cool.
You guys came out with a new 12” EP titled Sacred earlier this year.
I want to ask you about the title.
Are you referring to anything in particular as “sacred”?
ALEX: Sometime I feel like people and especially
young kids don't really give a shit about genuine rock n’ roll anymore. It
seems like we live in a world where nothing is sacred anymore, everything is
artificial, disposable, from corporate music to movies... etc. You know, when they make a new
Robocop movie, what's the point, the original was great. Why can't we just
stick with it and come up with new ideas?
You guys have toured a lot, all over Europe and even The States a
couple of times (including a house show in my hometown of Phoenix, AZ) How are
American and European audiences different?
ALEX: I feel like the American audience is more
committed, from what we experienced. Maybe it's because we were a French band and
were kind of “exotic” to them, I don't know. There's not really any difference
except everyone is covered with tattoos in America. We loved it and we really
want to come back, it's been four years already since the last time. I remember
the Phoenix house show well, we all got very drunk and smoked weed with some
people. Some guy interviewed me and Fab in his truck. That was a fun night, and
I saw a scorpion.
There
is a folk story about the first time John Lennon met Bob Dylan. Lennon was a
huge Bob Dylan fan and he asked him what he thought of the Beatles and Dylan
said “It’s good but you guys aren’t really saying anything in your music” and
of course John Lennon was devastated by this comment. Do you think music has to
“say anything” to be significant or poignant?
ALEX: I don't like when music goes political and
shit like that, it bores me because I always thought the music comes first. I
think you can be touched by words sometimes because it makes you feel like
you've been there or it takes you somewhere, kind of like when you read a book,
it stimulates your imagination. But I don't really like when it gets too arty
or poetry shit. I think The Beatles were more popular than Bob Dylan; he was
jealous and just wanted to depreciate John Lennon.
I was reading an interview with Keith Richards and he said that
anyone that buys digital music is getting “short changed”. Do you agree?
ALEX: I only bought digital twice. I didn't
really feel like I got ripped off but I didn't like it either. It's cliché to
say that but, yes I think the object is important. When I was a young kid just
getting into music I would always look at the pictures in the booklet listening
to Guns n’ Roses, the object was definitely important to me. So yes I agree
with Keith!
When people walk away from a Crusaders of Love show, what do you
hope they take away with them?
What do you hope they are feeling?
ALEX: T-shirts and LPs... Ha, ha, ha! We want people to have a great time, we
want them to be surprised and leave with our songs stuck in their heads at the
end of the night.
If Crusaders of Love could tour with any band in the history of
rock n’ roll, who would it be and why?
ALEX: Guns n’ Roses! Because they're the reason I pick up a guitar when I was 11 years
old.
Where can people go to hear or buy your music?
ALEX: Bandcamp, I ship all orders myself so let
me know if you want me to write you kind words in French. Amandine can spread
perfume on your LP too. All good record stores should have our records, ask for
it! Or come to shows! Otherwise I think you can get the digital stuff pretty
much everywhere, iTunes, Amazon, Deezer... you can find our LPs pretty easily
on lots of online stores too.
What lies ahead for Crusaders of Love for the rest of 2014?
ALEX: We are currently working on new material
for our next full length. We may also start recording some of it. I'm not sure
we'll be touring much for the rest of the year apart from shows here and there.
But we're planning a big tour for 2015, possibly America!
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