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NEWBEATS

I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE Sure, I’m a tad spooked about meeting Swans’ Michael Gira. I’ve heard his monstrous, tortured throat emissions on records like Filth (’83), Cop (’84), Raping A Slave (’85) and Greed (’86). I’ve trembled to his band’s austere, grinding, slow-motion rock, a hellish noise that makes Joy Division sound like A-Ha.

November 1, 1986
Dave Segal

NEWBEATS

I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE

Sure, I’m a tad spooked about meeting Swans’ Michael Gira. I’ve heard his monstrous, tortured throat emissions on records like Filth (’83), Cop (’84), Raping A Slave (’85) and Greed (’86). I’ve trembled to his band’s austere, grinding, slow-motion rock, a hellish noise that makes Joy Division sound like A-Ha. I’ve recoiled at his lyrics of extreme self-abasement. And now Gira is seething over the poor sound during a Detroit show. Hell yes I’m frightened. I’m nobody. He’s nothing. Should be a good interview.

To my relief, the post-performance Gira speaks softly. I meekly tell him I get a sense of overwhelming angst and bleakness from Swans’ music. Gira disagrees.

“Maybe there’s some unfamiliar or exquisitely sexual states of mind. But nothing bleak or angst-ridden. That’s too selfsatisfying. I don’t like that attitude at all ”

Your lyrics present extreme or desperate situations...

“I wouldn’t say desperate. I never feel desperate. Sometimes weakness. Possibly extreme is a good word.”

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