AMPLIFIER: First the inevitable - where did the name Seafood come from?
DAVID LINE: Seafood comes from the Chevy Chase film Caddy Shack...it’s the name of Rodney Dangerfield’s boat!
AMPLIFER: Please give us a brief synopsis of the band's origins.
DAVID LINE: I started the band at college and after several line-up changes I placed an ad in a local paper and Kevin and Caroline answered. In fact, they were the only ones that answered and the rest, as they say, is history!!
AMPLIFIER: What were your earlier influences? Who, if anyone, influences you now?
DAVID LINE: Personally, I love everything, but at the time I was really into Big Black, Neil Young, GVSB, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, Beach Boys, Fugazi, Drop 19's, Lemonheads et. al. Now, well, it’s pretty much the same plus a whole new host of other bands. I really like Jet Plane Landing, Mogwai, Townes Van Zandt (he is /was amazing), Wilco... and I adore the Belgium band dEUS.
AMPLIIFER: How is the new album different than your previous efforts?
DAVID LINE: It is a more focused album. It is a true seafood album. It flows, it’s got my best vocals and more importantly, we recorded it all ourselves and got Eli Janney from GVSB to mix it for us in Brooklyn.
AMPLIFIER: What led to your collapsed lung? Was there an injury that precipitated it? And was there a fear that this might end your career?
DAVID LINE: I have a strange lung condition, but I also used to smoke. I don't anymore! It collapsed seven times in all and I’ve had three operations. It was a year of personal hell and a lot of time to ponder life and all it throws at you. I got to have a lot of valium and morphine… which was nice!
AMPLIFIER: The new album strikes a distinct balance between angst and optimism... or so it seems. How did you achieve that balance? Was there a definite attempt to convey themes that mixed the two elements? And is there an overall theme?
DAVID LINE: The overall theme is one of hope and escape. It’s a mad crazy place in which we live and I love it and hate it in equal measures. Sometimes I just want to get out and hide in a hole somewhere.
AMPLIFIER: Why do you think the band has resided below the radar up until now?
DAVID LINE: I have no idea. We are Britain’s best kept secret and now we are the USA's secret...with a bit of luck we shall no longer be a secret.
AMPLIFIER: Will the loss Kevin Hendrick affect the band in a noticeable way?
DAVID LINE: With no disrespect… No! I love him like a brother but he has moved on and as a band we are the best we have ever been.
AMPLIFIER: What's next for the band?
DAVID LINE: Tour, tour, tour, record. Come to the USA?!
AMPLIFIER: Anything you'd like to add?
DAVID LINE: Forget anything you have read about Seafood and go out and get this new album. It’s the best thing you will hear all year... Twilight noise seduction!
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Interview by Lee Zimmerman
SEAFOOD's PAPER CROWN KINGis out now on Cooking Vinyl Records.
http://www.cookingvinyl.com
Buy Album from CD Universe
