Ed: The Interview

by Christopher Wiberg, 2/10/96

(Interview conducted in Ed's stinky, dingy apartment on Damen Ave. in Chicago.)

Let's get straight to it, Ed.  What are you trying to accomplish 
with Strap-On?

I want to bring music to a higher level.

In terms of composition, lyrics, what?

No, I mostly just want to get really wasted when I'm playing.

Okay, then moving right along...  Who would you cite as your 
influences?

I listen to one band and one band only:  Throbbing Gristle.  My parents 
raised me on Throbbing Gristle.  I've never listened to any other band.  
I've never heard any other music.  All other "industrial" bands are 
poseurs.  You might ask how I know this if I've never listened to them.  
Well, let's just say I have my ways.

So what work of theirs in particular has influenced you?

Oh, just about everything.  The whole Rio album.  "Hungry Like the 
Wolf" is a great song.  I also really dig that rap song they covered 
recently.  And the newer stuff is--

Um, excuse me, but you seem to be talking about Duran Duran.

Oh yeah, that was the band.  Yeah, Duran Duran.  Never listened to 
anything else.  The rest is all for pussies.

So what's your collaboration with Al Jourgensen like?

Well, you know, I write the songs, come into the studio and record them.  
He comes in and plays middle 'c' whenever I need it.  Then I produce and 
mix it.

I'm sorry, but I have to ask:  Why do you have him playing only 
middle 'c'?

I hate middle 'c'.

That's it?  You just hate middle 'c'?

(Gets up threateningly)  What, you got a problem with that?

No, no, no problem at all.  So, um, anyway, how'd you come up 
with the name "Strap-On"?

Well, I wanted to call the band Skinny Puppy.  I mean, they're not 
using the name anymore, but for some reason they seemed a little upset 
when I tried to use it.  So Strap-On was the next logical choice.  I'm a 
big proponent of strap-ons.  I think everyone should own one.  I myself 
have a collection of half a dozen.

So what are your plans for the future?

Well, there's this album of Cyndi Lauper covers I want to do once we 
finish touring.  I've already done a four-track demo for "Girls Just 
Wanna Have Fun."

I can just imagine--is it heavy on the industrial noise?

(Ed is taken aback.)  God, no!  That would be an insult to everything 
that song is about.  It's about pure teenage fun, and everytime I hear it 
it makes me want to jump up and frolic joyously, and THAT'S the feeling 
I'm trying to inject into my version of it.

Well, any advice for up-and-coming young industrial bands?

Yeah.  Try to sound a lot like Skinny Puppy, because then they won't 
accuse me of ripping them off if I sound just KIND OF like them.