March 2nd 1999: Cia and Jon from Whale sweep into the RaftTalk studio and lay into your questions like there's no tomorrow. They even insist on doing their own typing...   Ton Erling: you call yourselves Whale from Sweden. are you theonly good band from Sweden or just the best? :) Cia: Yes, we are after Backyard Babies, Hellacopters, Teddybears STHLM but we're absolutely much better than Bob Hund! Jon: We're not even narly the best band from Sweden. But we might be one day. Swedens best bands are Fiesta, Bob Hund, STABB, Teddybears STHLM, Broder Daniel and Cerial Cynic. Chris Bentley: Will you be playing at any festivals this year? Cia: We would like to but for the moments are we concentrating on songwriting instead. But if a lot of people ask us, then we'll come. sylvia n'bubble: hi there guys. caught your show over in london last week - i came over especially. your best show ever, i swear. anyway, do you think your music has been marginalised because your not from the uk or the usa? or am i just biased? Cia: You're the second person in twenty minutes telling me that. I have never thought about it but maybe it's a little bit harder for us 'cause we're based in Stockholm. Michel: what is a slobo babe? Cia: It wa our dear guitarhero Henrik who had a bad memory and he thaught that Slobo was the name of the snobby area in London that actually is called Sloane. But it really doesn't matter and I think Slobo is better to sing! Jon: There is in fact no such a thing I am afraid. Burt: Do you know the way to San Jose? Cia: No, can you show me? Kelvin: What's next in Whales plan for world domination. Cia: We're already there, haven't you noticed? Jon: Like Busta, stop hanging out with the greatest and become the greatest uorselves. Reni Schart: Cia what color is your hair today? Cia: It's still blue, purple, grey, brown and white but I was thinking of changing it to orange. Do you have any other suggestions? Jon: Kind of like Vannessa warwicks evil twin sister. Brad: Jon, WEED - legalise it? Jon: It is a hard Q. I personally dont use it. But i thing it someting quite unfair to lock people up because they do it. Henrik: what bands do you take influence from? Do you like Cream? Cia: Usually I don't think we know where our influences comes from. It's not that obvious. If you're talking about Cream that raps on our album then I say that I love her. Dairy cream - absolutely not! It's disgusting! Jon: I am a huge fan of the person Cream that raps on our album, the band Cream, however, have never been able to cut it for me. Rupa Klee: does the lack of sunshine during the winter months in sweden have an effect on the music you make? Cia: I heard a theory about us people living in the dark north and that we suffer from sever depression because when the sun don't shine we loos our shadow. And the shadow is the proof of our existence. i.e. I think the dark winter month has an effect on the music. But there's also the fact that there's nothing else to do. Jon: I think it is a safe bet that very few of the greatest rock tunes were written in broad daylight. trish: do ya get pissed off always having to speak english ? Cia: It's great exept for the moments when I lost both languages and can't talk at all. The plus is that I have got such a bigger choise of books and films now adays. Jon: Not at all. DJ Rock: JON - What's your all time favourite riff? Cia: Ted Nugent "Cat Scratch Fever" is his favourite riff to play Jon: Thats right. In fact i think it outrocks anything zeppelin ever did. Whenever i play it i fell like i am becoming one with the god of rock. and its so simple. anyone can play it. So what Ted wants to tell us is that we can all be part of the rock n roll creation! Janet Ford: You were brilliant at the Improv last week - but you left so soon! Where did you go and when will you be back in the uk? Cia: Thanks! It was great fun for us too and come back anytime you want me to! Afterwards did we get back to the hotel and throwed up all night. Jon: Thank you so much. That was nothing really. Wait until you see a truly brillant show. Graham D.: Who are your music biz buddies or can you not stand other bands. Cia: The trick is to meet other bands and try to make them reveal their secret riffs and melodies that they haven't released yet. Or if that doesn't work, at least try to make them buy me a drink. Pencil: Your new album is much more mellow than We Care. Was that deliberate? When you play the songs live they are much more like "old Whale" Cia: We have grown up, I guess. Then we have regressed again for the live shows. Jon: I think you are right. It was not relly deliberate however. Ask the god of rock. He is the one that makes us do all this and the one we must obey. Forever. edgar stein: Are you working on your next album yet? Jon: In a way, yes. And the direction? That is for the god of rock to know and for us to find out. Chris Bentley: Who is better, Spiderman or Superman? Why? Cia: Spiderman is much more sexier. I was in love though in Superman when it was in black and white and I sneaked in to my older brothers room to read all his superman comics. Then one day did I discover Spiderman and..... well, I can't tell you any more Marcus Tardry: Oi! Cia : where do you hang out when your in the UK...Maybe i could buy you a drink? Cia: Are you intelligent? Are you funny? What's your interests? Shoe size? Income? Are you nice to kids and animals? Do you like taking long walks? I move around quite a bit but if you happens to see me - Yes! Jan: Cia, have you got a favourite Whale track. Cia: I have two. From the last album is "Go where you feeling free" and then there's a B-side on the old "Hobo humpin' Slobo Babe" single that's called "Lips". I like that track a lot it's just that we didn't finished it properly, it gives me a feeling of half made and i like that. Karem: HI CIA ... I want to know what you'd have done if you were in Monica Lewinsky's shoes. Cia: Bite! Beth Harris: Cia....Girl Power or down the pub with the lads? Cia: Hard question. Seriously I can talk about that for hours but if I have to make a quick choise I go with the lads if they have a Pinball machine and some good vodka at the pub. Paul D: Hi Jon and Cia, If you could put any 3 performers on one bill, defunct, dead, or alive as the case may be, whom would you have play. Thanks. PS you rock my world Cia: 1. Mina 2. Hanoi Rocks 3. Einsturzende Neubauten Jon: 1. Busta Rhymes 2. Rob Halford 3. Yma Sumac Pat Mahone: What's your favourite place in London? Can I come? Cia: I love going by tube around London so we can meet there. It's also quite nice around Nottingh Hill gate. Maybe because I have my favourite restaurant there. Jon: I only know my way around Ladbrook Grove. I usually end up walking aroun aimlessly, evently getting lost. I is turning into my "when Im in London hobby" You can most certanly come too! Mike Nesbitt: Your drummer kicks ass ! Where did you find him? Jon: He was part of the rythm section of notorious rockers Ingo & Floyd. lars ericsson: when will be your new album Jon: vete fan. Vi far se. takis: why is it that 99% of british music is whiny crap? Cia: That's where the money is! Jon: Becaus whiny crap is what people want. Tomo: We wanna see you kick ass live in Japan!! When will you be comming? WHOOOO! Cia: That's on the first place on my Wishing List. Let's see what's Santa Clause say about it. I would love to come to the country where they did the film Tampoopo - The Queen of the nudles. Jon: Say hi to Cornelius, Shonen Knife and The boredoms for us! david: I think your videos are marvelous, especially the one done in the style of a comic strip. Do you come up with the ideas for the videos yourself? Cia: It's a collaboration between us and the videodirector. But we're very much involved in it because we like it. Martijn: When will Whale come to Holland? Last tour was such fun!! Cia: Last tour was very fun indeed exept for the food that was horrible until we got to Nijmegen where they cocked for us at the venue. We don't have any tour planned for the moment but Holland has a great place in my heart. rONN: WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO CINCINNATI,OHIO *WE WANT YOU TO VISIT US Cia: It depends on you out there! For the moment are we working on new songs and haven't any plans on touring. Andy: Bought the Albam, want to buy the ticket for Whale live at Tokyo Shinjuku Liquid Room! 'Nowere but here' Jon: Good luck! Chris Bentley: Why did you decide on 'Hut' records and what are the advantages of being with them? Cia: They are really nice blokes! Chris Bentley: If you could describe your band in one sentence, what would it be? Cia: Confusion, sex and a third ingrediens that we can't reveel. Stefan Svenson: were you surprised to win the swedish grammy? what kind of competition were you up against? Cia: Yes, it was a big surpirse. We were all convinced that Jonas Akerlund should win it for his Cardigans video or Petter or Cesars Palace. pete: anyone here? Cia: No, this is just your own imagination tim benwell: are you going to play with tricky again? Cia: I would like to 'cause it turned out quite well on the U.S. tour. I had some doubts in the beginning about the setup but it was a really interesting mix and it was nearly crowded every night. Jon: Loved it. The american crowds were FANTASTIC ingo maurer: when are you coming to austria? Cia: Anytime! Jon: nar kuken ar rund i hagalund doug bear: you've got such great videos - you're obviously really into the movies. what are your favourite films? Cia: For the moment I'm into the Dogma films. "The idiots" and "The party". Jon: Check out Pusher! Blu Velvet is a bit underrated as well. jane leaner: who had the idea about the burger stuff going on in your last video? Jon: A guy called Thomas Skoging. roger: How serious are you? Cia: I'm the one in the band without any humour at all and I'm deadly serious. i.e. You can't doing this without being serious but that doesn't mean that you can't have a good laugh too. Jon: 100%. squidgy: cia - are you married? i want your children! i'm prepared to be the first pregnant man to make this happen! Cia: Finally! I have been waiting for this! Jon: What kind of a name is squidgy anyway. Didnt you use to be in the first Marilyn Manson lineup? Rick Striker: I LOVE THESE WEB CHATS. YOU GUYS REALLY INTO THE INTERNET? (SORRY - I'M NOT REALLY A NERD!) Cia: Love and respect! Jon: So do we its a true pleasure sharing this special afternoon with all of you. thomas bangalter: I think your sense of humour is quite unique - like on your website - and I wondered if you'd ever considered doing comedy instead of music? Jon: Dear thomas. Music IS the media you should know that. Richard Brautigan: Do you believe in extra-terrestrial life? Cia: I'm trying very hard. I try to beleive in that and in trolls, gnomes and whatever. Jon: I beleive we should all stop to search for intelligence in space and try to find it here on earth instead. Littleblue: what would you ask yourself in an interview? Cia: I should ask|: Why? Jon: I'd do reseach for days. And in the end Id be too nervous to interview myself. Pete Ng: Do you still hav other careers back in Sweden? Is Whale just a part-time thing? Cia: This is a full time job. But sometimes we try to do something else to get some new angles and ispiration and to talk about somenthing else than music. Jon: Rocking, however is a lifetime task.   That's the lot. Hope you enjoyed it.

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