Wild Billy Childish & CTMF Failure Not Success

The new studio album by Billy and CTMF features Billy at his song writing best! Includes covers of Richard Hell and Jimi Hendrix songs, along with a newly recorded version of 'Bob Dylan's Got a Lot to Answer For'!We asked Billy a few questions about this mighty fine album_Q: Great album title! It will seem counter-intuitive to some but why do you favour failure over success?A: If the Pop Rivets (the first group I was in in 1977) had been "successful" in the formal sense, then it would have been a disaster - no learning about sound, growth, and independence. Luckily, we considered ourselves successful from the outset by doing what we wanted the way we wanted. We believed the hype of punk rock - do-it-yourself and lived it, unlike the "successful" leaders of the movement. I've always wanted small gigs where your open and exposed. The same with recording - excitement, mistakes, humour, and hopefully joy. The reason to become "successful" is to cut yourself from your origin and roots. In short, we'll decide what success is, not a critic, the world, or public opinion.Q: The album opens with a cracking cover of Richard Hell's 'Love Comes in Spurts'. You've previously recorded this with Thee Headcoats on Brother Is Dead_ But Fly Is Gone! from 1998. What made you want to revisit the song? Has Richard heard it? If so, what did he think?A: I forgot that we did it with Thee Headcoats. If I had that LP, I'd give it a listen. I do remember covering it live with The Pop Rivets in 1978. Richard said he liked it a lot and told his girlfriend he only wants my tunes at his funeral. I said, "not too soon I hope." He assured me he's well.Q: We're digging the instrumental track 'Walk of the Sasquatch'. Is this track in honour of the North Kent Sasquatch Research Group? What do you know about that mysterious organization?A: The track is more about the pacific Northwest cousin of the English version (the Woodwose). The North Kent Sasquatch program has gone a little quite of late, but I believe they are still tryi...