Roman jugg - No I do not miss the damned at all

The13th AÑO: 2

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NÚMERO 17

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINA RIA

ROMAN JUGG PIANO MAGIC | EL PRÍNCIPE IDIOTA | COSAQUITOS EN GLOBO MÚSICA AMBIENT | PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | TWIN PEAKS LITERATURA | Y MUCHA MÁS MÚSICA

[ Interview with Roman Jugg by Diego Centurión. Translation: Bernardo Jimenez Mesa ]

NO I DO NOT MISS THE DAMNED AT ALL

I’ve been a huge follower of a particular era of The Damned and also of the Phantom Chords (Damned´s side-project). Today I have the chance to interview someone that was, and still is, part of my life as a music fan. With you all: Mr. Roman Jugg Thank you very much Roman for giving us the opportunity to send you these questions over.

Before you were in the Damned, you had played with Victimize. How did you start as a musician?

From an early age I was attracted by music especially the Rolling Stones so I experimented on any musical instrument I could borrow.

Bryn Merrick has been your partner-in-crime throughout the years,even on this present year you have been together taken part in the film “The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead”. Was he the one who brought you in to The Damned? How that happened?

Paul Gray and Rat had a falling out and knowing Bryn as a very good bassist I suggested him. It worked very well.

Whilst being part of The Damned, back in 1984, you took part, using the nickname Sphinx Stenson and Ulla, of Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, Bryn Merrick´s side project “Naz Nomad and The Nightmares¨. What

are your memories of that project of cover versions?

We were all big fans of American psychedelic music. Captain sensible was busy doing his solo work and big beat offered us a small deal to record an album of that type of music. Of course we jumped at the chance.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of that amazing album called Phantasmagoria. Any memories from the recording sessions? Was the success of this album a surprise for the band?

Phantasmagoria was a statement of intent as much as anything else. The Damned had not had a deal like that before. It had its advantages and disadvantages. A major label gives you more exposure but you are not as free as say someone like Big Beat!

Then afterwards, the underrated “Anything” followed, and i t was actually your last work with The Damned. Please tell us about that time.

Not a great time to be in the damned. We were tired and relationships between the members were strained.

When you depart from The Damned, there comes The Phantom Chords, that is, somehow, your last work along with Vanian. Was this project something you had previously thought about?

Out of the ashes of The Damned came the Phantom Chords.....Now I feel it might have been better to just bury the whole venture and kept the whole project firmly locked in the vault of The Damned.

In 1992 the long-awaited reunion takes place (Final Damnation). How was this show for you?

This show marked the end of The Damned I loved.

“David Vanian and The Phantom Chords – Big Beat Presents David Vanian and The Phantom Chords” turns 20 this very month. Tell us a bit about this era and the band at the time.

Really! Is it that old already. I guess it has a certain charm. I am not very proud of that era, besides my friend Bryn had left as well.

If you have to pick a few songs up, from the album, which ones you they be?

This House Is Haunted.

I´ve come across you being credited as guitar player in some Nurse With Wound´s albums. How that collaboration came?

Nurse with wound was just a session I was offered. I was always keen to experiment musically. Great stuff.

Later, you´d publish “Papá Loco”¨. Tell us about it.

I made Papa Loco purely to prove I could make an album in a bedroom.

What are you doing these days?

These days I still dabble with production… At the moment producing Andy J Gallagher. One day there might be a follow up to Papa if I get time.

Do you miss The Damned and the related projects?

No I do not miss The Damned at all.

Thanks a lot for your time. Cheers.

Cheers, Roman.

The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA