STARPOLISH: Was it hard to make a record with [former
Black Flag bassist] Kira --- someone you care about so closely and
personally?
Watt and wife Kira, 1996 - courtesy of Mike Watt's Hoot
Page
WATT: I recorded with her before
we were married, I recorded with her after we were married, I recorded
with her during marriage [chuckles]... we're working on our fourth
album now. We were married years ago, but we're still very close,
we're good friends.
STARPOLISH: I think a lot of artists find themselves attracted
to people who are also artists.
WATT: We toured [with Kira when
she was in Black Flag]. Now she isn't in a big band, but she's still
very attractive. Kira is a powerful person. You know, punk was a
catchall for crazy people like me, but for other people, especially
the girls, they didn't have to play tambourine - they could be bass
players, they could have their own band.
STARPOLISH: Any advice for someone who's working with
a girlfriend ---- things to watch out for?
WATT: It can get really hard.
With us, with Dos [Watt's double-bass band with Kira], it was always
a side project. It wasn't that hard, it was very creative, not a
lot of pressure. Dos was about victory. With bass playing, especially
in the older days, there were big inferiority complexes. You know,
bass is where they put the lame guy, like right field in the little
league. And so Dos for us is like victory. We did not have to compete
with anyone, 'cause we were the only thing.
But I see a lot of rock bands, and there's a boy-girl thing, and
I think there's a lot of strain put on the relationship. Just the
other day I heard of another musician couple breaking up. I think
it's hard. But man, I gotta say there's a lot of pressures caused
by marriage wherever you go [chuckling]. I see it here in Pedro
with my longshoreman friend, my plumber friend and so on… I got
so many buddies from high school-my 25th anniversary thing is coming
up -- and there's hardly anybody who's still married.
STARPOLISH: That's a good point, that it's hard for everyone,
not just musicians.
WATT: I wonder why? My mom and
pop didn't stay together. My pop was 17 when I was born. He never
even understood what I was doing in music. I mean it's all about
perceptions, you know, and stuff like that.
[My] advice for people in relationships that are in bands is that
I think it's a pretty incredible thing if you can make it work.
There are some people who can handle it like champs. Kim [Gordon]
and Thurston [Moore, of Sonic Youth] are like an inspiration to
everyone as a couple that can work together and have babies together
and stay together. I always spend Christmas with them.
[Pullquote:
"I would rather have somebody married in a band than have
a heroin addict - let's put it that way."]
There are connections you can make -- like when me and Kira talk
about music, it's not like I do with any of my guys, you know? I
gotta tell you, there's something about being in bands with people.
This is what's neat about music -- and what's great about punk,
which said anybody could be in bands -- because you do get to relate
with people. I mean, if you're not being a rock star about it or
trying to be a fascist. You can get these inner kinds of languages
with people. There's something about the human experience when you
play with people. It's like sailing a boat, and everybody's working
their sails and lines. And maybe marriage helps out big time with
that. Funny how they call it "playing" music, too. Because you're
having fun at it, but you're trying to make it work, especially
if you're trying something that's kind of difficult. It's hilarious…you
know, I found that I like to make eye contact as I've gotten older.
When I was younger I was so scared -- I'd just look over at D Boone,
and he was a very inspiring guy to play with. I think that connection
gets lost when people use the word "musician." Musician, like everybody
is some kind of technician. It's also about friends. And there are
personal things in music. That's why I would not want to discount
marriages, because that's kind of the most personal kind of thing
you can have. It's intense about bands that way, you know.
I would rather have somebody married in a band than have a heroin
addict. Let's put it that way.
