Conny Bloom & AC/Electric Boys

Bad motherfunker (but otherwise incredibly nice guy) Conny Bloom and his band Electric Boys greet me backstage at Gothenburg’s Lisebergshallen, the venue in which they are about to support Alice Cooper’s 'Theater Of Death’ show later that evening. As I’m a huge fan of the Boys, it’s an exciting (if slightly unnerving) moment when I finally meet my rock hero and his band for the agreed interview.

The first thing you notice about Conny Bloom, who’s dressed in jeans, grey pin-stripe waistcoat and a black shirt with psychedelic silver pattern, is that he really does have proper rockstar looks, head to toe. The next thing you notice is the amount of jewellery he wears, in particular his trademark Navajo turquoise-set bracelets and rings, as well as assorted kauri shell and oriental-style necklaces. Bright-eyed, polite and with a warm smile, Bloom seems to possess an underlying vulnerability that somewhat contrasts with his 'bad boy’ image.

Sitting next to him is bassist and Electric Boys co-founder Andy Christell, an observant and well-mannered guy with a Chinese-style ponytail, who’s wearing a red T-shirt, patchwork flares, a black pin-stripe waistcoat and wearing almost equal amounts of jewellery. If his sartorial style seems uncannily similar to Bloom’s, then Christell’s persona seems attached to Bloom by an invisible umbilical cord. During the interview it becomes evident that both musicians complement and inspire each other creatively, after all, they’ve played together in various bands and are friends since their youth. It should therefore come as no surprise that Bloom refers to his buddy as 'the brother he never had’.

After some polite exchanges, the interview begins with some questions to Conny.

Music News:
Conny, you’re recording new material at the moment – is it more hard rock or more funk-orientated, or other styles as well?

Conny Bloom:
It’s a mixture of lots of things, but then again, that’s how we used to do it in the early days as well. I mean, the three main components have always been melody and good riffs and grooves, but then you can exaggerate it into different directions. It’s gonna sound like an Electric Boys album, but there will be some new elements in it – though we’re not changing direction on purpose.

MN:
One of your big inspirations is Rory Gallagher. What’s your favourite Rory track?

CB:
I really like 'Shin Kicker’ actually, because at the time when the album came out, I saw him at the Concert House in Stockholm. I was in the first row right in front of Rory and when he pulled his hair back, his sweat hit me. That’s how close I was. He opened that gig with 'Shin Kicker’ – so that was a real rock 'n’ roll moment. I still smell of Rory.

MN:
How do you go about your song writing? Do you write the lyrics first and then think of a tune to go with, or the other way around?

CB:
It’s usually the music first, or the music and the lyrics at the same time. But very seldom it’s the lyrics first and then I write the music to them. Normally the music is the first part that happens.

MN:
If you had the chance, which song by which artist would you like to do a cover version of?

CB:
Oh my god, I’d have to think about it. Just because you like a song it doesn’t mean that you can make a good version of it. It would probably be a song that is not a huge favourite of mine, but something you can tell would be really good if it would have been done this way.

MN:
If you don’t wish to make a cover version of a song that IS one of your favourites, is it because you’re worried you might not do it justice?

CB:
Yeah, exactly – because if it’s a big favourite of mine, then I probably like everything about it and don’t wanna change it. Or something that I really like, but play it in a different style of course. There’s a song I heard a few days ago but haven’t told the guys about it yet. It’s called 'The Quintessence Of Hip’ and it’s a song by Betty Davis, which is really cool. It’s actually quite rocky, so it could be cool to do a version of this.

MN:
One of the first LP’s you bought was 'Killer’ by Alice Cooper. No doubt you must feel excited about tonight.

CB:
Sure! It’s real great for us to do the opening for Alice. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager.

MN:
Conny, I’m now quoting one of your lyrics: 'Life’s A Bitch Called Rock 'N’ Roll’, that true or false?

CB:
Of course it’s true. It sucks. Until you die. (Laughs).

Music-News:
Andy, I have some questions for you as well, so here's the first one.
In the school of funk – would it be Bootsy Collins or Larry Graham for you?

Andy Christell:
I would have to say Larry Graham, because he was the guy who started it.

MN:
How much creative input do you have in Electric Boys songs?

AC:
I do come up with little bits here and there, but obviously I’m not the main songwriter. But I do have some input in the arrangements of songs. Actually, when we work on songs, then the lot of us will have some input. Like, how we should arrange songs, and what should be in it, and how we should play it, and so on.

MN:
What are your musical influences?

AC:
Alice Cooper, haha. Actually, I have older sisters, so I was listening to the Beatles and Stones and stuff like that when I was really small. Of course, I also like 70’s stuff like David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and bands like that. Too many to mention almost. Later on, I started to listen more and more to soul and funk. I’ve never really been like 'Oh, I just like this kind of music’. I like all kinds of music, but it’s gotta have melody and great riffs and groove, otherwise it’s not interesting.

MN:
You’ve been playing with Conny for so long now, are you joint at the hip?

AC:
Oh, I can’t get rid of him; he simply keeps popping up all the time.

MN:
What made you decide to become a musician in the first place, and if you wouldn’t be that, what would you be then?

AC:
Oh, that’s interesting. Well, maybe work within the movies. I love movies, I always have. But well, when I was really small I wanted to be a drummer, so I actually started to take lessons but it was really boring. I just wanted to play the whole drum kit and stuff, but I wasn’t really talented at that either. So the next thing was of course bass, because it’s also about rhythm. I guess I just really love music, so for me that was the whole thing.

MN:
Ok Boys, that’s a wrap. Thanks for the interview. I really look forward to the show!

(Please read my Music-News review of the Electric Boys gig).
Check out Electric Boys on:
www.electricboys.com and also on www.myspace.com/electricboysofficial