Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends (+ amazing interview)

Let us take a closer look at this very interesting band. Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends was formed by, who would have thought, Conan Neutron. He formed this band in 2015 with Dale Crover ( Melvins drummer and his solo project) and Tony Ash.

Conan Neutron himself is not really a person that sits still, he has a weekly podcast on Radio Nope called Protonic Reversal that invites guests from the world of noiserock, punk rock, post-punk and experimental genres.

Next to the radio show Conan played such bands like  Replicator, Victory and Associates, Mount Vicious, Household Gods (with David Pajo of Slint and Vern Rumsey of Unwound) and ofcourse he plays in Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends wich I will share music from.

Now The band Conan Neutron & Friends has been making music since 2015 and have released some albums together and recently the Protons and Electrons Compilation. A gatefold double vinyl compilation of all of the Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends singles, and Electrons: A compilation of the various artists that were on the other side of the 7″s.

To start of you can listen to the latest single (not from the new record) called ‘We Were Wolves’ (it is on the Quarantimes Vol 1 NIVA Benefit on Learning Curve Records too,), this is quite a lot of music to work through so in the meantime you can read some questions I  asked Mister Conan.

Question 1: Are Dale and Tony really your friends or do you like add them to the band because they are good with musics? and which one is your bestbest friend.

First of all: how dare you?!

Secondly: we are actually friends as far as I know.

Thirdly: why, what have you heard?

I know both through music, and both are amazing world class players. One of them is (justifiably) very well known for it.

But yeah… music, that’s really how I know most of my friends. Whether they play with me or not.

It’s my lifeblood and my culture. i’m in a weird place where it’s way more than a hobby, but less than a career, but the people i’ve met along the way and formed these lasting and deep connections with are the best thing about it.

Which one is my best friend?

I love Dale dearly, but Tony is my ride or die.

In music and probably in life.

Question 2: All these people you have met, interviewed, wich conversation or anecdote stayed  with you the most?

For Protonic Reversal, speaking with Jerry Casale of DEVO was a pretty big deal. They pioneered so much stuff and were such a defining part of my ethos. It’s really crazy, so just talking to him at all was a big freaking deal to me.

They forged a path for a lot of us weirdoes. The fact that he enjoyed it so much he invited himself back from a second part kind of blows my mind. I treasure that.

Tad getting incredibly real about his depression and being in a place where he considered taking his own life blew me away.

Same with Dave Pajo, being very up front about his suicide attempt.

Both of those fellas have done so much, but they didn’t have to be that open and honest and I think it’s valuable that they did. The world is dark as hell, you know?

I really admired Steve Albini talking about the legacy of choosing the band name Rapeman. I found his forthright explanations to be very refreshing. “I have not been held to account” will always stick with me.

Kind of a masterclass in accountability. He can’t take it back. Even with the rationale explained he made it very clear that people should be mad about it. That struck me as important.

On the rare times that i’ve had people on that don’t play anymore, hearing about the moment where they just knew they were done always hits me pretty hard.

Question 3: You need choose one product to live on + water, you get nothing else, what do you choose?

Is this space? An Island?

Some new game show?

I guess a really varied Trail Mix?

i’m thinking about vitamin deficiencies and scurvy and stuff.

If that answer doesn’t work, or is considered cheating, then I guess i’ll go with potatoes.

I heard some dude lived off of potatoes for a really long time or something.

 

Question 4: If you were in a fight to the death against Dale and Tony, who would win.

So violent! I suppose it would depend on if there were weapons involved?

Maybe Dale will be so pissed at my answer in question 1, he’d come at us with big Crover energy?

Plus he’s a powerful drummer. Sure, let’s say Dale. With the drumstick, in the conservatory.

 

Question 5: What are your favourite books? if you think books suck, what is your favourite movie.

I love books!

The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Man In the High Castle by Philp K. Dick

1984 by George Orwell

Post Office by Charles Bukowski

Cash by Johnny Cash

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Surely You’re joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

I am Legend, by Richard Matheson

The Shining, by Stephen King

I guess that’s 11.

My favorite movie is Paddy Chayefsky’s Network

.

Question 6: Can you say 5 of your favourite bands.

Of course! Will omit Melvins (because, Duh!)

The Birthday Party, fugazi, Wipers, Unwound, DEVO

 

Question 7: Best live show ever?

Three way tie: 3rd to last Unwound show at Justice League in San Francisco (3/2002), fugazi/the Ex/Shellac at the Congress Theater in Chicago (6/2001)… 2nd night, Tom Waits, paramount theater in Oakland, California. (02/1996)

I took away something very special from all three of those.

Weird that the most recent one is 18 years ago I guess, but there you go.