"An Interview With Sack"	Pepperhead Online
Andy Duffy	August 1997

Sack are a five piece from Dublin, Ireland who take some parts of bands like A House and mix it with American noise bands like Sonic Youth. Renowned Irish comedian Sean Hughes allegedly even used to feature Sack songs in his celebrated "Sean's Show" on television. They received great critical acclaim ("Single Of The Week" in the NME and the Melody Maker") for their controversial epic, "What Did The Christians Ever Do For Us" which culminated in award winning video director Eamonn Crudden receiving his first award and after three years away are back with a new album and a new record deal with Dublin-based label, Dirt Records (home of The Idiots, Tension and other such greats). We spoke to guitarist and principal songwriter John Brereton a few days after their Aidan Walsh support slot and before their headlining show at Whelans on 28th August 1997... How did Sack meet and start out? John : Ermm, well my brother's in the band - he's the drummer. And [we] just started off as a local band then eventually [we] got different people from different bands. Martin used to be in another band. Derek, our bass player, was in another band and we kinda just eventually merged. That was really it, so just from playing around Dublin y'know, we just eventually came together. Your original name wasn't Sack was it? It was something very bizarre... John : Lord John White?! Lord John White - it was the B-side of an Edwyn Collins single. That was where we got it, we were just stuck and we just said, "That was that" but then...so we had a song called "Sack" in the set and when we were changing the lineup and the whole sound had changed and whatever so we started to use that as a kinda short punchy name. We had a keyboard player (Simon Quigley-Ed) for the first album but he's since moved on. So we've Adrian now, our new guitar player. He's from Newry in Northern Ireland, so he's been with us since Christmas so [we're] just waiting to...We've recorded a new album which Paul Tipler produced, he's done Stereolab and Elastica and lots of indie English bands. Didn't he also produce your first album? John : No no, he worked on two of the tracks on the album and then he contractually couldn't do the rest. He had to do...It was Moonshake or something - a Too Pure band. So he couldn't do it. So we'll get him for this time though, he came over to Dublin and we recorded. So it'll be out in October sometime. We'll see what happens when it comes out. Will some of the stuff that was supposed to be released on Dead Elvis last year turn up on it? John : Yeah, exactly, yeah. Any stuff I'd know? John : Like, what kind of songs? Yeah, like the last single "Latitude"... John : Yeah, "Latitude", ermm "Latter Day Saint", "Climb Mine Power House", "I've Heard You Singing", "Sleeping On The Floor", "Laughter Lines" which is gonna be the next single. What was that one you did the other day when I saw you supporting Aidan Walsh? John : That was "Sleeping On The Floor". Did you do any demos before getting signed to Lemon Records? John : Ermmm yeah, well what happened...we done a demo with "...Christians" on it and it was "...Christians", "Omni Lust", "How The Stars Became Stars" and "Superweirdo" and we just sent it to a few kinda indie companies and got a few replies but Lemon was the strongest one like. Like, Mark [Hobrough] from Lemon loved it, so they flew over to Dublin to see us and just said, "Yeah, we wanna work with you's" and he was a cool guy so he put out the stuff and it got "Single Of The Week", the first release. Then we released "...Christians" then as a single a year later and that got "Single Of The Week" in NME and Melody Maker and then the album came out, and unfortunately we didn't follow it up with another single after the album. We were gonna release "Colorado Springs" and... What's that song about? Where is Colorado Springs? John : Colorado Springs? It's a town in the state of Colorado that's basically a centre...it's kind of an old town where army veterans an' all go to kind of retire and it's become a very kind of right-wing town y'know as you can imagine with old old ermm a lot of Christian or Fundamentalist groups reside there as well. So as you'd imagine it's not a fun place to be, so I thought I'd just write a song that I couldn't believe there's a town like [that]. Well, I suppose [in] America anything can happen. [I] just thought that was probably the most racist, homophobic, anti-whatever you want place in America y'know - so I wrote a song about it. So that's it. Would you ever apply some of that to Ireland? Seeing as it is run by the church... John : Oh yeah, well that's what like, a song like "Ar Nos Na Gaiothe" , the last song on the first album. That's... What does that title mean? John : It means, "As quick as the wind". It's just a term, like. Irish is taught very badly in Irish schools y'know, it's like "Oh no, you've Irish!", y'know? Most people learn to do f*cking Maths or something than do Irish 'cos it's just taught really badly. It hasn't changed, the way it's been taught. The main story that you're taught in your 'A' and 'O' Levels is "Peig". It's about this old Irish woman that lived on an island off the coast of Kerry and it's just the most boring story ever written. If Irish was taught through kind of good stories you'd be interested in it y'know or even sixties or seventies kind of literature, like you'd be...It's kind of like doing Shakespeare but Shakespeare's kind of classic y'know like it's...there's lust and revenge and death and murder an' all in it like, and this is like, the whole chapter might be about her going down to buy a loaf of bread y'know! It's not exciting. It's just like, you're trying to do this in Irish and it's like, "Errrr!" and it's kinda like a commentary on the whole way Irish is being taught and then "...Christians" obviously is...it's not anti-Christian but it's just anti-organised religion. I mean, everyone has a sense of morals really, y'know? They know kinda what's right and wrong really but it's just with Ireland they tend to force [it] down your neck and you can't do this and...then abortion, and condoms are only on sale the last few years, y'know? Things like that, and yet they're going mad over teenagers getting pregnant and yet you're not allowed to buy condoms y'know? It's just the whole anomaly as a thing, y'know? So I mean, that's quite strong as well, so. What happened to Lemon Records? John : Er, they just...basically they were just two guys with their own money...they have another company called Revolution which is going very strong. It's a kind of regional PR company, they do like Oasis and Blur and all. They're coming on strong there but they just kind of ran out of money really, and that was that y'know. I mean we're still good friends...they still handle all our press in England and our regional radio and all so we're still very close to them. We played at Mark's wedding day a few weeks ago in Portsmouth, done a few covers and all for 'em. So we're still very close y'know, but just physically and financially couldn't do anything more for us y'know? So we came back to Dublin and now we're signed to Dirt, which is an Irish independent label, and it's getting ready to bring out the album. What bands do you like around Ireland? John : I've always liked bands like The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney, Cathal Coughlan. I like Rollerskate Skinny at the moment - I really like them. What about the Blunt, Independent, Dead Elvis etc. bands? John : I like Sunbear. D'you know Sunbear? Yeah! John : They're on Dead Elvis. In Motion were good. Well, Sunbear aren't really on Dead Elvis - they're on BearBones... John : No, yeah. That's right. Er, I dunno. There's a few bands I think are good. Like, Mexican Pets are good, The Wormholes are good. I'm not mad into them though, but like they're good. They're good, solid gigging bands y'know? Erm, I dunno - who else is there? Jubilee Allstars? John : Jubilee Allstars - nah, I'm not mad into them. Pet Lamb? John : No! (laughs) The Idiots or Schroeder's Cat? John : Er, The Idiots are good. I haven't heard Schroeder's Cat actually. How about Luggage? John : Yeah, Luggage are good, yeah. Dunno, you probably know more actually than I do! I haven't really been seeing many bands - Eva Dallas are good, Brilliant Trees are very good. There's a lot of very good bands out there it's just more of them should have albums out, really y'know? Female Hercules? John : [I] haven't heard them in a long time, I don't really know what they're at. How about the old Independent bands like Engine Alley and Swampshack? John : Er, I used to like Engine Alley alright yeah, I must admit. Ermm, Whipping Boy. That was really strange when lots of indie bands were highly rated came out and then vanished and Whipping Boy seem to be in that category... John : Like, I dunno like. I suppose like a glut of bands get signed like. I mean, there's a lot of bands that are getting signed recently but they're getting huge deals and it's like, [there's] so much pressure on them to have hit records I think. Y'know like, and I think it's unrealistic like. If a band forms in Ireland, if they have a manager that's in the know they'll be signed within a year but that's too early I think. They should really learn about gigging, and get a really good body of songs together, like more than one albums worth, y'know? 'Cos they tend to have a few good songs that they're signed on and then they come to release a full album they're quite weak. Like, they've a good single or two and that doesn't transfer. Do you like Rumble? John : Rumble are good, yeah. Kinda cartoon punk but good for it. How about The Floors? John : Yeah, well I mean a lot of them are quite diverse y'know? And I mean, all the bands are very good at what they do. I'm not personally into some of the more hardcore bands but I mean, that's just my taste but I mean they are very good at what they do and I mean it's great that there are Irish independent labels putting our records by them and it's just a pity really that they're not getting enough support from the radio stations. How about The Great Western Squares? John : I haven't heard them at all. I haven't heard them. Did you ever hear Pincher Martin? John : I did yeah, I know the guy alright from... ...Pincher Martin? You mean, Gary? John : Gary, yeah. [I'll] probably come here on Monday. They're playing with The Floors. Have you had any high profile support slots? John : Well, in England we played with The Fall, that was great. That was brilliant, I love The Fall so that was a bit of a thrill. Ermm, who else? We played with a band called Compulsion. Our bass player's brother... Yeah, he's the guitarist. Do you get a lot of people mentioning Compulsion to you for that reason? John : Yeah, yeah! What did you think of Compulsion? John : Ah yeah, well I mean they were doing very well until they broke up really, y'know? When did they break up? John : It must be over six to eight months ago. Where were they all from? 'Cos I heard they were from Dublin but some people said they weren't... John : Well, yeah. Only one of them...well two are from Dublin, one from Sligo which is in Ireland and the other, the drummer's from Holland. So I mean, we know them all really well. Garret actually, Derek's brother is kind of... He produced the last single or something like that didn't he? John : Yeah, he kinda done some programming on the new album and it's kinda just... Are you happy with it? John : Yeah, I'm just dying for it to come out y'know? So I mean, the plan basically is...we've played London a few times recently but the plan basically - release the album, try and get as much good press as we can and then tour England y'know? Get up around, especially up in Liverpool again! Was the gig you did there good? John : Ah yeah, we played there in the Lomax. It was great to play Liverpool, y'know? [We] just love touring around England. Obviously [we have] the release of the album in October and then the single "Laughter Lines" after that, I'm not sure when and then [we'll] try and do as much touring as we can. We're gonna start kinda writing a new album now and then [over] the next few weeks. 'Cos you have been away from the public eye for a long time - three years almost! John : Yeah! Three years, yeah! So we wanna get another one out as quickly as possible and have another one ready to put out this time again next year. Did you ever have any controversy when "...Christians" came out? John : Well, RTE wouldn't show the video 'cos there was a video show on - and it used to be on Sunday morning and they just thought it was a bit too kinda sacrilegious showing a video like that on a Sunday morning. Was that because of the homoerotic element to the video? John : Yeah well I dunno, I mean the video won "Best Video" in the Hot Press Awards. It was a good video but RTE...they wouldn't show it early Sunday y'know but I don't think Ireland has kinda changed a bit over the last few years y'know. If U2 had released it there probably would have been more controversy than us releasing it y'know? So I mean, we've done well out of it, y'know? It got good reviews and all, so. It's still a good pop song. So would you say that most of Martin's lyrics are about religion and growing up in Ireland? John : Well, the first album - I wrote all the lyrics for the first album. So what would "How The Stars Became Stars" be about? John : "How The Stars Became Stars" is really about...it's kind of about mystery and about fame. Nothing to do with me 'cos obviously I'm not famous but the kind of demystification of stardom. Y'know just the way people pry into...like, during the sixties an' all, like stars were... So it's not about the stars in the sky? John : It'd be about that as well d'you know what I mean? It's kind of double edged y'know? It's about the way in the sixties and all if you had a bit of mystery and mystique about you, you were in a band, y'know like? Nowadays like, everyone knows everything about the pop stars and you end up, you don't care about them anymore 'cos they're not really that interesting when you go too deep into it y'know? How about "I Am Lazarus"? John : Well, "...Lazarus" is kind of...I dunno, that's one of my favourite lyrics on the album. It's just kind of an imaginary scene about all these people like when they go to the afterlife, not that I believe in the afterlife or anything, just like a dream - kind of all these inventors and politicians - people who kinda basically shaped life as we know it today and just kinda [them] getting together and having a chat about what they've done and what influenced their invention. Like John Logie Baird who invented the television, look what has happened to the television, communications and all there. It's a double edged evil y'know like? Y'know, television is great but still there's a lot of television kids [who] are just square-eyed basically, y'know? There's things like that. It's a kind of a joke song but it's funny in a way. What's "Omni Lust" about? John : "Omni Lust" is about...in Ireland a few years ago they brought out a dictionary - an Irish/English dictionary. Not like Irish or English/French dictionary or whatever. And they translated 'lust' as 'A bulls desire for a cow'! Instead of just translating it as a primal urge to have sex whatever they were too, like pussyfootin' around. That's the way they operate. So I just...it was a joke but why couldn't they just say what it is. What lust is, y'know? What everyone knows lust is so they defined lust as 'a bulls desire for a cow' so I just come up with a list of things that fit into each other... Like a brick's desire for a wall! John : Yeah, things like that. And kinda taking the p*ss out of their entry for it y'know? What's "In Absentia" about? John : "In Absentia" is about just basically two people being in a relationship and kinda not having the courage to end it. Just kinda sticking together just for the sake of it, basically. Just kinda steaming on along and both being unhappy y'know instead of just saying. "Y'know, don't be afraid to take a break". If you get back together again - great! If you decide that you did miss each other y'know - fine! But don't just be going through the motions because there are a lot of unhappy people out there y'know that are doing it, y'know? So end a relationship if you're having doubts as soon as possible basically... John : Yeah, well actually the new album's much more relationship based really. It's not as political as the first. Like Martin wrote a few lyrics for the new album, and basically some of the songs are about when we were living in London - I was living away from my girlfriend and just things like that, y'know? The title track of the first album, "You Are What You Eat" seems a lot more experimental? John : Yeah, my ma went to a sale at work and she bought this "Oliver!" album - it's y'know, the soundtrack for the musical "Oliver!"? And I was playing "Food, Glorious Food" and it got caught in the groove and it went, "Der ner ner diddle iddle" and I just said, "Jeez!", and then just brought it into the studio and just basically jammed it there and then. Just kinda came up with it and came up with the "You are what you eat". It's good. What's "Albino Ray" about? John : "Albino Ray" is just about the death of a kid who's...basically a couple have a young child that dies of cot death. What's "Climb Mine Power House" about? John : "Climb Mine Power House" - that's gonna be on the new album. That's kind of about where I grew up and all like. Behind where I live there's a big field behind the estate. It's like our kind of playground like, we used to...as soon as we'd get back from school an' all we used to all head up there. It's all hills and we used to kind of sit up there and that's where we first drank and smoked and that's where we'd bring girls up and...Y'know, just...but it's gone now - they've now put a big motorway now. Now it's gone. What's "Latitude" about? John : "Latitude"'s about freedom in a relationship like if, how can I phrase it? It's just about like...well, I'm in a very good relationship where I don't have to...we're together, we're a couple but we're both individuals as well y'know? Like, we're not constantly clawing at each other all the time. You mean, you're at different levels? John : No, not really. I mean we're on the same level but we both understand our own sense of space as well in and outside of the relationship. It's just that freedom where if one person wants to stay in and the other wants to go out like, it's grand you know what I mean? It's not like, "Oh no, everything has to be done together all the time" and all that. We can be our own people in the relationship. That's basically what "Latitude" is - basically it's kind of freedom. Y'know if someone...what's the phrase? "I gave him a bit of latitude on that kinda point" - like a bit of leeway basically. Basically, if you come in and you're in a f*ckin' foul mood or whatever they say, "Right, go on like. I understand. I love you as well. I understand you're having a bad time an' all. I still love you even if you smash every plate in the house! It's just that bit of freedom - "we're in a relationship" y'know? Are you doing any singles soon? John : We're gonna be doing a video for "Sleeping On The Floor" for RTE. It's basically about going to a party and spending all your money on drink and drugs and the lyrics are self-explanatory. It's a bit about touring as well like, when you're touring around England and people are putting you up and you just really want a bed but obviously they give you the floor and you're f*ckin' in bits the next morning and then you've to get back in the van and then you drive three hundred miles up to Newcastle or something like that. But the chorus is "If you truly am my friend, please please give me a bed", it's like "Jesus, just give me somewhere BUT the floor!" and then when you go to parties as well - people are all over the shop. Someone's on the couch - just kind of that whole thing. Just a really party kind of song - youth growing up, y'know? How many videos have you done so far? John : Well, Eamonn's...we done one for "Albino Ray". Eamonn (Crudden, Dead Elvis label boss) did that. That was his first video as well. That was great that. We done one for "...Christians", one for "Superweirdo" and we done one for "Latitude", "Indian Rope Trick". Did Eamonn do "Latitude" as well? John : No, he didn't no. So that's the only one he's not done of all your videos? John : Yeah, I think Eamonn might be doing the one for "Sleeping On The Floor" actually. So yeah, we've done a good few, already. Have you been happy with the ones you've done? John : Ah yeah, they've been like no budget at all but I mean with the film we've used and for no budget they've been quite funny at times you know what I mean? But we've used them fairly well so. So you're just waiting to put this LP out now. Any idea of the title? John : Not really sure yet. It might be called "Butterfly Effect" - I'm not sure of "Butterfly Effect" yet.