08.20.06
Interview with: MANTRA II
By Stacy Sardelli
Editor in Chief

Pop Punk / Electro / New Wave

Mantra II are: Cat Mantra (aka Catboy), Double G, & Terry Lee Miall.

Mantra II is described as a “dark cartoon band”. "Some say they are the saviours of pop. Others say the NEW new romantics." Former Adam & The Ants drummer, Terry Lee Miall, recently joined the band. Marco Pirroni (Adam & The Ants, Siouxsie & The Banshees, & The Wolfmen) and Chris Constantinou (Adam Ant & The Wolfmen) teamed up with Mantra II for their new album ‘Werewolves Of London’ (released 8/21/06).

Interview

Babble & Beat - Cat Mantra, being a longtime Ant fan, what’s it like having Terry Lee as a bandmember of Mantra II?

Cat Mantra - Fuckola-ness! Unbelievable. And fantastic. Well, ya know, I’m a LIFETIME Ant-fan pretty much, so yeah it's cool!

I don’t really get "star-struck" and all that, but when it comes to people who have inspired me since childhood, well, that's another thing altogether. The first time Tel (Terry) came to our studio, he started going through a few of the old ANT-beats, and yeah, it was pretty much "hairs on the back of the neck" time for me. But actually, I think he was more nervous than I was! These days we're getting to be good mates as opposed to "punk god", & "prodigy". We generally have a laugh, talk football, and drink a lot of JD!

Babble & Beat - So, this was the first time Marco and Terry Lee have recorded together in 2 decades!

Terry Lee, what was your experience like (working with Marco again)?

Terry Lee Miall - We didn’t actually get to meet as we recorded our parts separately.

Babble & Beat - Really? You know, it's fantastic how recording has come along, technology wise, but what a bummer socially.

Are you and Marco at least "shooting the shit" more often now (or have you always kept in touch)?

Terry Lee Miall - We speak once in a blue moon.

Babble & Beat - Cat Mantra, what was your experience like recording with Marco & Chris?

Cat Mantra - Well, there wasn’t one! Marco & I record in a "virtual" fashion … sending wavs back and forth, and gradually building tracks. It's pretty cool actually and would have been impossible 10 years ago. Marco & Chris started 'Werewolves', I think it was originally intended to be a Wolfmen track, but I nabbed it!

Babble & Beat - Cat Mantra, I understand Marco’s been very helpful, a bit of a mentor. What have you learned from him?

Cat Mantra - Well, he's very wisened in all areas of the music industry. Obviously he's been there and done it, and continues to do it! When I first got in contact with Marco I was just another bloke uploading MP3's to websites and shouting "OI! CHECK US OUT, WE ROCK!!" etc., etc.

In fact, that's how I did first get in contact with Marco, I posted a couple of tracks on the old ant-rap forum on a thread called "Hello Marco!" They got a lot of positive feedback, and eventually Marco posted something along the lines of "How much have you paid these people then?!" Haha!

Anyway, back on subject, stuff like dealing with record labels, getting good PR, direction on some of the music. It’s all been a great help, and the influence was already obvious. 3 years later and we're on the second album. That'll do!

Babble & Beat - Terry Lee, tell us something we don’t know about Cat Mantra. What’s he like?

Terry Lee Miall - Matt’s a great guy, mad and loves a good curry.

Babble & Beat - Terry Lee, it’s so great to hear you on drums again! I especially enjoyed the drum beats on ‘Those Crazy Demons’.

What is your favorite song on the album? Why?

Terry Lee Miall - ‘Angels’ because it reminds me very much of the 80s.

Cat Mantra - I love them aaallllllllll! ;o) It's a tough one that though. It probably changes from day to day. I’m particularly fond of our Ramones tribute 'Don't We Miss You Now.' Mainly because I’m proud of the way it turned out. I hope Jonny, Joey, Tommy, & Dee Dee would've liked it. Maybe one day I'll get to find out if Tommy does. It's just a 2 minute punk blast of mayhem!

Babble & Beat - I really like your version of Warren Zevon’s song ‘Werewolves Of London’. You really make it your own, instead of just covering it.

I understand that an animated video is in the works for this song. Can you tell us a bit about it and when it will be released?

Cat Mantra - Ha! Well, funny how you should ask that cos earlier today I was giving the animators a bit of a mouthful. Well, actually a LOT of a mouthful. Because it was supposed to be done and dusted already. I mean what's the point in a promo video coming out two months after the album?? It looks like that's what’s gonna happen, and I’m a bit fucked off about it to be honest! Still, when it turns up we'll make it available for the fans as promised.

Basically it depicts London being over-run by werewolves. Funnily enough. I bet you wouldn’t have guessed?! ;o) The footage I have seen is great. Big-Ben exploding, helicopters, a coupla Wolfmen lurking around, and some Mantra-folk!

Babble & Beat - What’s the next step for Mantra II? Will you be touring? Making more videos?

Cat Mantra - We'd like to tour, but we need a Gorillaz size budget for that, with the animated thing going on. I know Tel's bursting to get out playing live.

The next step for me personally is a big fuck-off holiday, as I've basically been living and breathing this project for 18 Months now. In fact, I’m going on holiday on release day (Aug 21st)!

Then, yes, definitely more videos. We want to expand the visual aspect of Mantra in a big way. Maybe an hour long film, stringing several of the tracks together would be cool. We'll have to see if we need a new animation company tho...!

And come the autumn I'll be holed up writing new material, we plan to do ONE more album. Start recording next spring. It's a trilogy. ;o)

Juicy Tidbits Section

This is where we ask personal questions for the fans. Yeah, they're often stupid questions. We like reading the answers though!

Babble & Beat - Can you please tell us about the two worst Christmas presents you’ve ever received?

Cat Mantra - Well, I can't think of any particular gift I’ve "hated", but I tend to get a lot of crap clothes off relatives, which I then exchange in the January sales for cooler clothes. And I NEVER give crap gifts, I give EXCELLENT gifts!

Terry Lee Miall - An empty bottle of Jack Daniels and a copy of ‘I just called to say I love you’ by Stevie Wonder.

Babble & Beat - Do you have any phobias? Afraid of heights, clowns, germs, spiders,...?

Terry Lee Miall - I used to have a phobia about moths but I feel ok about them now.

Cat Mantra - Yeah, heights get me a bit. Even though I used to love ab-sailing! Me and my mates would be at the top of some cliff or other, and I couldn’t go within 10 feet of the edge. But as soon as I had the rope on I was fine, Id jump straight over!

Also, I’m a bit claustrophobic. Small spaces with lots of people = BAD. I never ride the tube (in London) anymore. I cant fkin stand it if it’s packed, break out in sweats and all sorts. So now it's expensive taxis all over the place.

Babble & Beat - Do you cook? What’s a dish you’re known for (whether good or bad)?

Cat Mantra - Yeah baby, my cooking rocks! I can do a good Sunday roast, spag bol, chilli, or even a Paella if you fancy it! My girlfriend only cooks things that you can ping (microwave), so I cook for us when we want something proper. I enjoy it so that's cool.

Terry Lee Miall - Love to cook but my wife Paula is a brilliant cook so I don’t as much as I used to. Best dishes are a full English breakfast and a lamb roast dinner.

Babble & Beat - Do you collect anything? If not, any accidental collections of something?

Terry Lee Miall - I’ve collected t-shirts for the last 25 years. Sad I know.

Cat Mantra - Well... I accidentally collected far too many points on my driving license in my wayward past! These days I’ve started to collect 80s 7" singles. I’ve still got a nostalgic love of vinyl; even though I rarely play them. It is most cool occasionally though to have a few beers and play records. I'd like to get Mantra on vinyl. Ah! There ya go, another future project...

In Closing

We're loving the new cd and really looking forward to the release of your 'Werewolves of London' video. Thank you so very much for talking with us! We wish you all the best.

Links:
Official site
Official MySpace - music clips!