In the Chair is a regular feature on Eventalaide, highlighting artists from across Australia and occasionally overseas. Everyone gets the same questions. It is just meant to be a bit of fun so please treat it as such.
Questions by Geoff Jenke
In his 30-year music career, Ben Lee has been gloriously prolific and unpredictable. The 4x ARIA award winning artist boasts an enviable catalogue which is now represented by Warner Music Australia, including ‘Grandpaw Would’ [1995], ‘Something To Remember Me By’ [1997], ‘Breathing Tornados’[1998], 2x ARIA Platinum album ‘Awake Is The New Sleep’[2005], ‘Ripe’ [2007], ‘The Rebirth of Venus’[2009], ‘Deeper Into Dream’ [2011] which have collectively spawned a multitude of chart hits, including “Cigarettes Will Kill You”, “Gamble Everything For Love”, “We’re All in This Together” and “Catch My Disease”.
Name: Ben Lee
Alias: That fucking guy.
In less than 50 words describe your music
and yourself. I’m a songwriter. Smart-arse. Nice guy. Believer in goodness.
Professional adventurer. The Forrest Gump of Indie Rock – at every key moment
in pop music over the last 30 years, I was lurking around the corner.
_________________________________________________________________________________
What was the first record you bought with your own money and where from?
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet. Some money I got for finding the Afikoman.
70’s or 80’s Music:
70s. Production was better.
What music are currently listening to?
McDermott & North, Julianna Barwick, Camp Cope.
The Best live artist/band you’ve seen:
The Avalanches in 1996 before they started using samplers.
Your “In the mood for love” song:
Surprise Me – Mallrat
Your favourite Saturday night party
record?
African Electronic Music 1975-1982 – Francis Bebey
Your favourite Sunday morning chill out
record?
Anything by William Tyler
Which song do you wish you had written?
Isis – Bob Dylan
Roger Daltry once said “Rock N Roll has
no future”. Do you agree with him?
True. It only has a present.
Vinyl, CD or Streaming?
In theory vinyl, in reality streaming, in no way CD.
If you could record or play live with
any artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
Sun Ra.
What is the most useless talent you
have?
Picking things up with my toes.
Your finest recorded moment?
New single “Parents Get High” I recorded it with the genius Jon Brion. I cried
when I first heard it mixed.
Who is your musical hero and what one
question would you ask them?
Jonathan Richman. I’ve met him and was so starstruck I couldn’t really get a word
out. It’s best not to ask too many questions of your heroes. Let them say what
they feel comfortable saying.
Dying, peacefully on your death bed,
what song would you like to hear?
“Sleepwalk” – Santo & Johnny
Stuck on a desert island for a year and
can only take three albums. What would they be?
First 3 Teenage Fanclub albums.
Favourite all time movie;
“The King of Comedy” – Martin Scorcese
If you drove an ice cream van, what
music would you play?
Amyl & the Sniffers
Best show you have ever played in your
career:
They all blur together. All the best experiences
are marked by a complete inability to recall them with any accuracy.
Any backstage incident that makes you
laugh?
Writing “Catch My Disease” backstage at the Glass House in Pomona. The genuine
joy and giggles that emanated from playing that silly song over and over.
Neil Young or Paul MacCartney?
Neil.
Who is the nicest person in Rock n Roll
at the moment?
Georgia Maq.
What do you hope the next 12 months
holds for you?
Pure creativity. Working on lots of projects. Growing my podcast that my wife
Ione and I are doing together “Weirder Together”. Making lots of music. Being
inspired.
Today, beloved Australian musician and producer Ben Lee and acclaimed actress, painter and director Ione Skye have revealed their brand-new podcast, Weirder Together – a step inside the fun, bohemian, loving marriage of the two eccentric artists living in California’s Laurel Canyon.
Following in a similar vein to their hilarious, intimate, and often bizarre variety shows at Largo in Los Angeles and Giant Dwarf in Sydney, Ben and Ione take the listener into their personal lives and relationship, philosophising on the world around them…and each other. From a couple with a natural sense of non-stop witty banter, with a sprinkling of celeb music/comedy guests (never to promote anything, always to explore some tangential theme) the podcast is funny, weird, warm, inviting, and aspirational.
Listen to the podcast via
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/71A0FtBSIR7RKwTvocrBWF?si=be27f104a81746d6&nd=1
Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weirder-together-with-ben-lee-and-ione-skye/id1623436896
The podcast launch comes ahead of Ben Lee’s highly anticipated new album I’M FUN!, which features the singles “Born For This Bullshit” and “Like This Or Like That”.
Ben will also be hitting the road next month for his “Parents Get High” Australian Tour, which will see him perform to audiences in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth.
BEN LEE’S “PARENTS GET HIGH” AUSTRALIAN TOUR
with support from Suzi
Fri 17 June – The Espy Live, St Kilda VIC
Sat 18 June – The Night Cat, Melbourne VIC
Sun 19 June – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD
Thu 23 June – Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst NSW
Fri 24 June – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide SA
Sat 25 June – Rosemount Hotel, Perth WA
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