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 ROCK PREVIEW The Twilight of the Empire Is Bobby Conn: a) an instinctive pop genius, b) a debauched devotee of '70s culture, c) a threat to conservative religiousvalues, or d) the Antichrist? The answer may be all of the above. BY JOHN GRAHAM 243-2122 EXT. 253 |
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Bobby Conn, Manchild 4, the Moops EJ's, 2140 NE Sandy Blvd., 234-3535 10 pm Wednesday, March 17 Cover Bobby Conn's latest album, Rise Up! (Truckstop/Atavistic), is a delirious spin through arty, apocalyptic pop that somehow entwines everything from funky '70s disco and David Bowie's cosmic characterizations to operatic arena rock and Broadway musical extravaganzas like Godspell. His belief that he may be the Antichrist--a prophecy to be fulfilled on his 33rd birthday (June 13, 2000)--is only one fascinating aspect of this truly unique musician. WW phoned Conn while he was at a tour stop in Los Angeles. Willamette Week: I know you were raised Christian and later discovered Jewish roots. Do you have any plans for Passover? Bobby Conn: Well, I like Passover.... I like the fact that God has rules, specific rules, for who's going to get in, and who's not going to get in, what you have to eat and what you can't eat. If I was God, that's the kind of thing I would do, but I'd have clothing restrictions. You can only wear short sleeves on Thursdays, and there'd be no casual day on Friday. That sort of thing. But as far as me following those rules personally, being the Antichrist, probably, I think I'm exempt. I kind of make my own rules. That's one of the fringe benefits. Now, what happens if, on June 13, nothing happens? Well, I'm a little ambivalent about that. On one hand, it'll be a great sense of relief, because then the pressure will be off. The biblical prophecy for the Antichrist--considering what I'm supposed to do on a geopolitical scale--it's a tall order, and frankly, I'm not really close. [But] there's a few things that would be nice. I mean, I get a white horse, because I'm one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. A white stallion would be fun to ride around on stage and wave to people--I could have a parade every day. On the other hand, I have to lead the armies of Gog and Magog against the Christian armies. Frankly, I really don't know if I'm all that qualified to lead an army, at this point. Maybe that's the whole thing of being the Antichrist: I'd just be sending thousands of people to their slaughter because I didn't have a clue what I was doing. So when you first came to the realization that you were, potentially, the Antichrist, was it a moment of empowerment, or did you suddenly feel like it was a heavy responsibility? Well, it was kind of sinking feeling, actually. It was when I was a kid. Here I was, watching The Omen with my friends at military academy, and in The Omen, Damien is at a boys school. He shaves his head and there's a 666, and while I didn't have the 666 tattooed on my head, nor do I now, I did have the sense of like, "Oh, boy...." And just the more experience I have with organized religion, the more I realize that the only way to be with Christ is to be against the Christ portrayed by mainstream Christianity.... I think that the whole Christ/Antichrist thing is very confused--confused in scripture, and confusing in my own head. Frankly, I'm probably one of the worst people to have an opinion about all of this. My own head...it's not all that logical, really. That's exactly why I'm the Antichrist--because I'm so fucking cynical and ironic. Because I'm the ultimate relativist. Because I'm the ultimate secular guy. Speaking of contradictions and cynics, what do you say to detractors that say that your music, which seems based in '70s showman kind of tunes, is a sort of cynical, kitschy appropriation of that? I understand why they think it's kitschy. Unfortunately, it's the music I really love. It's not hip music, basically. People that think it's hip think it's hip for cynical reasons. This new material that I'm working on right now is...more uncompromising in terms of its offensiveness. It's more pop. What I liked about the '70s, what I remember from childhood, is that, on the one hand, the music was really generic...there was something for everyone to love. At the same time...there was also something for everyone to hate. This weird compromise music--where it can't appeal to or displease everyone. It's a paradox. Its intense desire to be likable is what makes it so despicable. Exactly. And that's me! The desperation of the entertainer. That's why I'm the Antichrist, man. It's not a calculated thing. It's just a compulsion. When I write a pop song, I want it to have everything. I want it to be its own little universe. That's why the arrangements and the production tend to be overblown.... I like to see a man on stage sweating and singing his heart out and crying. If people see that as kitsch, fine. What isn't kitsch these days? No one believes in a god damn thing. I believe in a beautiful melody, and I want it to be your friend.... Truth be told, I think everyone loves a snappy melody. It's human nature to like a catchy little number. The whole idea of irony is something that our generation has brought to bear on music. It's really a shame, actually. I think everyone is just loath to create something new-- Well, they're afraid. Basically, it's fear, John. It's fear. You've said you doubt the capability of people today to rise up because of their fear. So why do you continue to sing that song? I've got to give people the option. It'll make my prophecy that much more bittersweet. When the Armageddon comes, it'll allow me to say, "I told you so. Look, you had your chance, and you blew it, and it wasn't because I didn't say anything...." So basically you're saying, "Even if I am the Antichrist, it doesn't mean I'm not giving you a fair chance to beat it." Exactly. On my first album, I have a song where the lyrics go, "Kill me now, or pay me later." And there you go.
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