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Reverend and the Makers

July 2009 | Alternative

Reverend and the Makers are ready to take on the world. Their new album, "A French Kiss In The Chaos" takes a swipe at everything from celebrity culture, consumerism and global warming,

Always outspoken, frontman Jon "The Rev" McClure chatted to we7 about his new album, the Instigate Debate project and those Jade Goody comments...

The Interview

Hey Jon how are you today?

I'm good man, sound man, sound.

First things first, what's this Instigate Debate project all about?

We're starting the Instigate Debate panel at Latitude Festival, which should be pretty good I reckon. On the panel, there's the Minister for Sport, Culture and Media, a playwright, a Page 3 girl and me. It's all about starting a debate amongst the people. We're gonna be doing a tour of universities and stuff. What's really encouraging at the moment is that there is more music coming out and new artists wanting to talk about important issues. There's an exciting scene of things happening.

You've always had a lot to say on a number of issues, which should help the project...

I'm just honest. You know, I'll say the same to you, the Queen or a tramp. I'm not someone who says one thing to one person, and not to another. I have to be honest. The aim with Instigate Debate is to bring an end to this vacuous celebrity f****** nonsense that we've had lately. Let's be honest, the vast majority of celebrities over the past 10 - 15 years have been meaningless; pretty, vacuous individuals without anything of any value to say.

Is this the beginnings of a new counter-culture?

I think this country has been denied a counter-culture for far too long, really. The corporate world of the mainstream is s*** - like all the supposedly "indie" bands are on major labels. We need to use technology to start a new debate. Twitter and Facebook are gonna help us. You know, rather than being in the street chanting [about] Cuba. That limits the agenda.

"A French Kiss In The Chaos", the new album, has been described as an attack on celebrity culture, consumerism... it's quite an angry album, wouldn't you say?

It is, but I think musically it is really interesting. On a pure song level, people are buzzing about it. On the other level there are a lot of issues addressed on the album. Do you really want to know how orange Chelsey Davy looks today? Is that more important the icecaps melting? Afghanistan? Iraq?

That kind of stuff sells a lot of newspapers and magazines...

I'm sure the majority of people don't think like that though. The majority are now looking on it with disdain, thinking that is a bit crap. It's unhealthy. The majority of people who would normally let it happen... they are suddenly thinking its b******* man. Why do we continually celebrate these celebrities?

Those comments you made about Jade Goody earlier this year - you don't regret them? [Jon called Goody a "talentless racist' while she was suffering from cancer, earning himself much criticism]

I'll tell you what I said; you say if you agree me. I said it's sad she died, very sad she died. Don't wish that on anyone. If girls went for smear tests as a result, then good, 'cos that's serious and that's something positive. But was she not a talentless racist...

Don't you think those comments were a bit poorly timed?

The comment "talentless racist" is rooted in fact; she had no talent that I was aware of and she was a racist. What I am saying is, when we're at war in two countries and the polar ice-caps are melting, and the MPs are fiddling the expenses, do you not see why they want you to focus on Jade Goody? They're going "Suck on some of this, and keep f****** sucking on it. And in the meantime we'll be fiddling the expenses and f****** making dodgy deals with bankers and starting wars". You know what I'm saying?

Last year you threatened to quit music after this album...

Well I did get down in dumps... you know when you're getting death threats and s*** and you know people who should be supporting you saying that you "don't mean this"... You get down, in a bit of a bad place. So yeah, I went a bit loopy for a bit. I'm quite candid about it, 'cos it's not nice them saying those things.

So you gonna carry on with the Reverend and Mongrel, your side project...

Well Mongrel's kind of done now. I'm going to Venezuela to see [Venezuelan President] Hugo Chavez and I'm gonna do a film. I've done a track with Lee Perry.

What do you think of the state of music at the moment?

Everyone is being really cautious, when actually fortune favours the brave. Music sales are down, we all know that. My response is to do loads of stuff, try loads of things - Mongrel, the Reverend, films, Instigate Debate.... I don't buy into all your trendy s***. Let people judge me on my body of work.

I think that people want to put you in a box. If you believe what you read about me, you think I'm in a band that's like the Pigeon Detectives or something...

It's too easy for journalists to group bands from outside of London together...

Oh yeah, especially from Sheffield. I mean there's only eight people who live up here anyway!

I don't f****** live in London, and I don't want to. I'll show them what I am through me actions. Our own little movement is coming, from all over - London, Yorkshire, Manchester... It's less about style and music, more about a feeling about this world that we're living in.