As The Skids sang, The Saints are coming!.......Storming North America!
The Saints ’73-’78 land on North American soil in early November and will feature original Saints members, guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay, and filling out this lineup is singer Mark Arm (Mudhoney), guitarist Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party / The Bad Seeds) and bassist Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys). The Saints - (I'm) Stranded is often lauded as one the greatest punk debuts and they are regarded as one of the more important bands to come out of Australia. This tour is much anticipated by many -- remaining dates are posted below.
I had the opportunity to converse with Ed prior to the start of the world tour. Here is what transpired.
Scene Point Blank: In putting together the Saints box set (I’m) Stranded, a large part of the ephemera, I believe, was culled from your archives. Were you always the archivist of the band, or was this happenstance? Is there more in The Saints' cannon fodder to release? Are Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds going to get the same deluxe box set treatment in the future?
Ed Kuepper: We're hoping to do something with those LPs. It's all a bit tangled up in contractual issues at the moment, but fingers crossed.
Scene Point Blank: Mark Arm was suggested to you as a possibility. Were you familiar with Green River, Mudhoney or Mark fronting MC5(0)? Although different than Bailey, from what I have heard, Mark’s vocals lend well to The Saints' material. Were there other possible vocalists considered or approached?
Ed Kuepper: There were, but I'm glad we went with Mark.
Scene Point Blank: How were Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, Bad Seeds) and Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys) brought into the fold?
Ed Kuepper: I asked them, and they're both excellent, knowledgeable, and like the material. Plus I've worked with them before.
Scene Point Blank: How many guitars do you currently own, and is there a particular one you favour or would love to obtain? Essentially, what would your holy grail guitar be? Were there any guitars you resented getting rid of?
Ed Kuepper: I've got around two dozen. I can't say I really covet anything, but it would be nice to get my early '60s SG back, which was stolen in 1980 or so at a Laughing Clowns show.
There are a couple I've sold which I regret a bit, but such is life...
Scene Point Blank: I believe you were a self-taught guitar player. Any early influences that helped plant the seed?
Ed Kuepper: Hank Marvin, John and George, George and Harry, Bo Diddley, Ron Ashton, Elmore James, Chuck Berry and so on -- pretty much everyone I really like in sometimes hard to define ways... I always forget someone really significant.
Scene Point Blank: Have you ever considered putting out a retrospective/snapshot/box set of your life's works, i.e. Aints, Laughing Clowns and your vast solo material?
Ed Kuepper: It's been talked about, but I've been resistant... Hey, you're not my manager, are you?
Scene Point Blank: Were there any early Australian bands that resonated with you? Easybeats? Did the Sharpie scene ever inspire you?
Ed Kuepper: Sure, the Easybeats were massive for me as a kid, loved them... I also really liked Master's Apprentices, Loved Ones, Tony Worsley and the Bluejays, etc.
Scene Point Blank: Early glam played an integral part in the early UK punk movement. Was this the same for you and The Saints?
Ed Kuepper: I loved the Glitter Band and Electric Warrior. I'm not sure how much they influenced me but, yeah, it was around and it was better than a lot of other stuff on the radio.
Scene Point Blank: Any memories of your initial reception in the UK? Was it much different than the Australian scene?
Did that move to the UK help in the recognition of the band in your home country?
Ed Kuepper: It was much more fashion-oriented than Australia, and the response was mixed, but it did help with the band's popularity in Australia over time.
Scene Point Blank: Like any purveyors or pioneers, The Saints essentially were more popular or appreciated after their initial breakup. Seems the world now has caught up to the importance of The Saints' output. It took society years to catch up with The Stooges, MC5/ New York Dolls, etc, so really it shouldn't be that surprising that the legend of The Saints followed the same path. Sometimes I think it needs to ferment in the collective brain of civilization.
Are you comfortable with The Saints' placement in music history, and would you have done anything differently?
Ed Kuepper: Musically, no, but our business decisions could have been a lot better.
Scene Point Blank: I’m curious about the decision to do the Aints releases. Was this a reaction to Chris taking The Saints in a different direction?
Ed Kuepper: The Aints really just started as a fun couple of shows playing songs The Saints recorded or maybe covered back in the day. After doing those shows, I thought I'd like to develop it into something of its own, using a similar freewheeling approach and do some new material in the style -- a kind of alternate universe approach -- hence the two studio albums 'Ascension' and 'Auto-Cannibalism, both of which are planned for reissue in the new year.
Scene Point Blank: How does a band find it sustainable to tour the USA as an international artist and the large visa fees?
Ed Kuepper: It isn't easy or overly profitable, but it was an opportunity and the time was right in everyone's schedule.
Scene Point Blank: Would the current lineup consider recording new material?
Ed Kuepper: Not sure, it hasn't really come up at this point...
I wouldn't like to attempt to write things in the style of my younger self, it seems a bit shallow... but, who knows? Maybe the band could look at some of the stuff which I recorded on The Church of Simultaneous Existence, which is stuff the Saints and Clowns didn't record back in the day, which might work a treat.
Scene Point Blank: Do you own a copy still of your initial “Stranded” single on Fatal Records? Perhaps a number of them still sit in the Greg Shaw Archives? Do you still have a record collection? Any recommendations on what LP everyone should own in their collection?
Ed Kuepper: Yes, I have a copy. I still have most of my collection, but I don't have the time to collect at the moment.
The Hits of The Shadows or More Hits by The Shadows are a good start for any collection.
Scene Point Blank: You have stated in the past that Tony Bennett's album, The Beat of My Heart, was influential to you and the sound of the Laughing Clowns. Why did you find this LP influential -- the multiple drummers? Do you remember how you were turned on to this release?
Ed Kuepper: I came across it by accident, actually. It was part of a budget double LP packaged with a greatest hits LP. I loved the starkness of it and the fantastic drums.
Scene Point Blank: What are your current listening habits, and is your ear to the ground for new music, or do you tend to explore the past?
Ed Kuepper: I tend to listen fairly broadly, and I like to hear new stuff. Old stuff can be nice when I want to feel a bit cozy!
Scene Point Blank: Was there ever a time when you were ready to hang up the guitar and stop creating music?
Ed Kuepper: I've given up a few times, but it usually only lasts for a few weeks -- though that can feel quite long at times.
The Saints ’73-’78 – 2025 Tour Dates
October 31 – Auckland, NZ – Powerstation
November 1 – Wellington, NZ – MeowNui
November 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
November 6 & 7 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
November 8 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
November 9 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
November 11 – Chicago, IL – Cabaret Metro
November 13 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
November 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
November 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
November 16 – Washington, D.C. – Union Stage
November 21 – Bristol – Trinity
November 22 – Leeds – Project House
November 23 – Glasgow – Garage
November 24 – Manchester – Academy 2
November 26 – London – Electric Ballroom
November 28 – Stockholm – Debasser Strand
November 29 – Malmo – Plan B.
November 30 – Berlin – Astra
