Andy Cooper from Ugly Duckling joins the party – one of the best live acts on the Hip Hop circuit for years…
Thanks to take time out Andy to speak to DMC, obviously big fans of the band. How’s Long Beach in Los Angeles today?
“Well you know, I’m sitting here doing a crossword puzzle, it’s the focus of my life at the moment, two a day! I am slowly turning into an old man, all I need now is a blanket on my lap and a pipe…”
Hmmm, well Ugly Duckling started kicking the shit out of it in 1993, what where you all doing before?
“Well we had all been in groups before, nothing of note or reputable, Justin was even in a group called Ugly Duckling before we all met up. We were chipping away at it, getting nowhere really.”
So how did yourself, Dizzy and the guy we know as Young Einstein first team up?
“We had mutual acquaintances, the other two knew each before I met them and one day this friend just said, man, get on the Dizzy chain, he’s gonna be massive. It took us a good five years to get it rolling though.”
So the name of the band Ugly Duckling – stolen from the Canadian band of the 60s or something else?
“No not at all, it was a lot to do with the fact that at the time we kicked off, being a white rap act was so unusual. And also, there were lots of ‘Dog’ bands – Snoop, Dogpound and the like – we weren’t dogs man. Not sure about the name now, but it’s like when you’re 18 and you get married, you just got to roll with it and stick with it…”
So your musical sound, famous for the humour side of Hip Hop – obvious similarities to De La Soul…
“The whole Native Tongues collective obviously were amazing, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Tribe Called Quest – ‘De La’s Balloon Mind State – wow. “
So tell us about the new album ‘Audacity’ out on January 12th – a new direction, I’ve heard it – it’s brilliant. what’s the story?
“It’s Hip Hop’s Sgt. Pepper’s man – only joking!!! No we have tried to encompass classic song writing alongside the usual Ugly loops and rapping but also working on vocal harmonies – it’s experimental for us. I mean I am only a mediocre singer and it took us a year to complete and finding the material. Pharcyde’s ‘Running Away’ and his ‘Passin’ Me By…big influences again – influential, authentic hip hop.”
So I know you’re a single guy so I’m not gonna upset anyone here. Who would you most like to take out for dinner, Beyonce or Rihanna?
“Well Dan, Rihanna is younger huh?”
Yes she is…
“Well Rihanna obviously. You’ve got to go younger man. I’m telling you, Beyonce’s hips are getting bigger by the day – by the time she is 45 she’s gonna have a rear end like a Dumper Truck coming at you. Seriously”
So 2001 saw you release your album ‘Journey To Anywhere’, 2003 ‘Taste The Secret’, 2006 ‘Bang The Buck’ and now ‘Audacity’ – your best work to date?
“I don’t know really, it’s different sounds for different times, we make different attempts at these stages of our career. The thing about Ugly Duckling is that it’s all about making a good song – sure you’ve heard that before but it’s true. We never wanted to be an icon or superstars or celebrities…this album is simply in the development of the band. I mean will this record touch people’s heart the way some of the past seminal albums have? I doubt it, we aren’t pretentious, we’re just doing what we’re doing…”
You have done remix work in the past, what one song would you like to get your hands on in the studio and remix?
“Easy one, Steely Dan’s ‘Peg’.”
So Einstein, pretty cool scratcher, you’ve appeared at two DMC events before as I recall?
“Well to be honest, we hosted Shanghai in 2002 and it was pretty lame, the standard wasn’t up to it and they were so far behind Japan. It will be interesting to see what the scene is like when we go back, hopefully next year. And then there was the Final at London’s Brixton Academy, when I nearly died. Half way through the set, as you well know, a huge chain fell from the ceiling and landed like five feet from where I was on stage. To this day, I am sure it was a breakdancer who snipped the chain, once these kids get a wristband on they just want to dance and not see a band up front! Great night though.”
So you’ve done a gig, on your way home, what CD is sitting in your system at home awaiting the press of the button PLAY?
“Bossa Nova every time dude.”
What is the state of the Hip Hop scene like in California right now?
“Long Beach ain’t strong, there’s some good places in LA, really looking forward to the ‘People Under The Stars 10 Year Anniversary at The El Rey Theatre with Marc Luv and Cut Chemist on December 19th – a very special event.”
What country that you’ve been to and played at has given Ugly Duckling most love?
“It changes over the years, we’ve had amazing times in Australia, the UK in the early 90s was about as good as ever has been, then Germany – the way it works is this; The people who first came to our gigs when they were in their early 20s are now married, kids – who knows what they listen to now. It’s about generations, we have some real cool young kids on board now.”
Best festivals you’ve rocked?
“Reading, Leeds, Splash in Germany, Essential on Hackney Marshes in London and you know, we’ve played Bristol for you guys like 15 times, this one Festival with Ice T was just incredible. There was so many hip hop luminaries there I just sat back and listened and maybe learned a little from these guys.”
So, Andy, I’ve been to Germany with you. Have you still got a thing about shit German pillows in their hotels?
“Ha ha. I have my own pillow now that i take EVERYWHERE! I should get it it’s own passport, it’s been all over the world. And you know what really riles me about German hotel’s, these Comforter room units you have over there. The mist just drifts out all night, I have to sleep with one leg over another and always wake up in a sweat. Imagine if they won the War, we would all have to sleep with these in our rooms!”
What are the plans for after the Tour?
“Just doing shows really, looking at Japan, back to Australia..the thing about Ugly Duckling is that we are not massive in one place, we are liked to a level of degree in many places and that’s okay for us.”
So, have you a message for your High School Teacher Miss Carrol?
“You know your shit. That woman was venomous, boy, I’ll tell you the story. It was the day before Christmas Break, we were all in high spirits in class. Everyone was into skateboarding. I never got beyond the point of doing 180s, I could turn around – that was it. I begged for one of those Air Hosoi skateboards that was my Christmas wish. But the day before Christmas vacation, at school, it’s really loose in the classroom and the teacher writes my name on the board and puts a check like “Andy you’re talking too loud” and I said “Miss Carroll I don’t care if you put 10 checks. I don’t know what I was thinking but she sent me to the Principal’s office and I got thrown outta school that day and my dad was real adamant that you have to behave, and so I didn’t get the skateboard, I got this basketball thing.”
So a huge worldwide tour you’re embarking on, the UK, Germany, Holland and beyond – over 35 dates in fact promoting the new album. You’re even playing a gig that I can walk to from my house in ten seconds. Who is the crazy one on tour?
“Dizzy man. He’s the guy pouring the drinks backstage, if you want an intellectual conversation about music grab me Dan, Dizzy is The Party King. By the way, if it get’s a bit much after the gig, can I swing by your’s and do a crossword puzzle?”
