A ROMAN SCANDAL interviewed [February 2001]

A ROMAN SCANDAL are three people - Tyler and Alex of OMD 20/20 and one Jason Reece also of Trail of Dead. Jason does the singing and Tyler and Alex do the electronics. The end result has been described as darkly aggressive suicidal synth sounds. They've had a 7" out on Paintcan Chandelierier Records from Austin, Texas and another release is planned on Spoilt Records in the UK. We've got Tyler and Jason here to tell us some stuff about The Scandal.

How long has the band been going and how did you get together?
Tyler: I opened my eyes after a two month drinking binge, and realized I had just put out a 7in. That was about 1 to 5 years ago.
Jason: I think we found you in some gutter in L.A. or something...I was trying to get off X at the time...my habit was destroying all the best traits of my personality and Alex tried his best to intervene...He suggested starting a chemical dependence group called A Roman Scandal...I think that was sort of the inception...I don't know...shit...those L.A. years are really blurry in my mind...where is my mind?...shit...

Can you tell us a little about OMD 20/20?
Tyler: That was formed as an anti-project. All of the members were bitter about being expelled from art school.

What have you done so far in terms of gigs/records etc.?
Jason: I would have to guess...We have played at least two thousand and one shows...including Rock in Rio...Rock the Vote...Rock for Choice...and Rock in Reykjavik with Bjork...Strange how this is so possible to do when you take a shit load of acid...

How did the record with Paintcan Chandelierier come about?
Tyler: A strange person named Ellicot LeMook took a liking to us. She has big plans, big plans, indeed.
Jason: Ratty is her other name and she started this label when her high school guidance counselor told her that she would amount to nothing...this is her mission statement to a fucked up world.

What are your upcoming plans?
Tyler: After our next release and UK tour, I figured we could sit back and live off the profits for a while.
Jason: Yeah...do some yoga and eat healthy...Kick it with Madonna.

Can you tell us about the forthcoming record?
Jason: It is like your mother giving birth to a Brian Eno.
Tyler: We started by recording live on a four track. We took the tape out of the cassette and cut it up into little pieces, then fed it into a PDP-11/23 Terminal. That was output in the traditional punch card form. Additional sequencing was performed on a Melcor 360 pocket calculator.

How would you describe your music?
Tyler: No-logical Monotony
Jason: A punctured bicycle on a hilltop desolate.

Jason, what are the differences for you between playing in A Roman Scandal and Trail of Dead?
Jason: Trail of Dead are a rock band and A Roman Scandal are a goth band. So when I play with The Dead...I feel like Pete Townsend...And when I play with The Scandal...I feel like Pete Murphy...You dig?

Is it a problem having a famed international rock star like Jason in the band?
Tyler: Jason?...You're in another band? Oh, so that's why you are always out of the country and hanging out with Hollywood stars...I should unplug you more often.
Jason: You didn't know this?...You don't mind...Tyler?...Do you?