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TONY WAKEFORD - THOUGHTBITES FROM 'ABOVE US THE SUN' (1994 TURSA 009)

A compilation of extracts from letters and interviews first published in this form in Above Us The Sun (1994 TURSA 009) and reproduced with permission.

ORIGINS

I formed Sol Invictus because I decided that if I was going to get involved with music again after Death in June it had to be on my own terms. I do not believe creativity's a democratic pursuit. I believe music works best when it is a vehicle for the soul of the artist, of the individual rather than expression by a committee.

Sol Invictus came about in 1987. I had continued to write even though I had left music for a number of years. I came to the conclusion that music and words was the way I could best express myself. It seemed pointless to write material that no one would ever hear. So Sol became a way to express my obsessions.

OBSESSIONS

The "obsessions" come from my being a product of European history and culture. It has always been fashionable to look abroad for some supposed answers or enlightenment (I am very dubious in looking for either anywhere) i.e. the east, Red Indians etc. There is much of interest in all these things and they should be respected but I think if we can learn anything about our selves or the Universe it comes from our own roots in things specific and personal rather then from some pseudo New Age universalism.

I think certainly in art and culture most eras have produced more of interest than now. I really think we are producing little of worth as a civilisation, but as national and ethnic cultures are being replaced by an international mass culture that can be sold and consumed regardless of where or what you are, this is hardly surprising.

I think we have forgotten our place within Nature and that we do not have a divine right to exist as Mother Nature may well remind us. The victory of Industrial Capitalism has meant that we are now ruled in reality by a faceless and honourless plutocracy. As the sole basis for its existence is in the amassing of wealth and power this means the levelling of humanity into easily manageable units. Modern culture is aimed at the lowest common denominator, the under-class, the lumpen proletariat. This is why books and, by implication, ideas are becoming less and less important. The masses are scared of thinking, they just want entertainment.

The older I get the more I realise that there probably is no hope or answer to the way we are. We have made this world a mess because the vast majority of humanity are greedy, vicious and stupid and will continue to be so at every possible opportunity.

SOL'S NAME

The name comes from a pre-Christian Rome-based cult. Many of its trappings were taken over by the church. The name means 'the unconquered (or victorious) sun', and it was brought back by the Legionaries returning from Persia. The sun has always been an important symbol and as the cult of Sol Invictus nearly defeated Christianity at one point it seemed a good name to use. I also love the sound of Latin.

Although the cult was popular with soldiers, I have no interest in glorifying war. Too many Europeans (and non-Europeans for that matter) have been slaughtered in the interest of cliques hiding behind and exploiting flags, for militarism to interest me.

CATEGORIES

I find it hard to define what I do. I am somewhat amused to be called Gothic and even Industrial but some people must give everything a label - such is life.

INSPIRATION

I often have a lot of pieces of music and lyrics which originate separately but eventually by the use of the blackest magic and brain destroying narcotics they come together. Usually to the sound of thunder and lightning and the weeping of the Gods!!

I never deliberately plan the sound. It gradually comes together. The diversity could be seen as a weakness. I like to think it is a strength. It stops it becoming boring - I hope.

I am lucky that the people I am working with in Sol nearly all have classical training and are very professional. The basic material is all mine. I then tell them what I want, which they play with nauseating ease. I must add that they also put in a lot of ideas of their own that I either accept or reject. I am very happy with the present line-up, I think it's the best so far.

AUDIENCE

I don't know why people are attracted to my lyrics. I find it hard to look objectively at my work. The things I write are very personal. Perhaps because much of my material is an implied criticism of the modern world from a emotional and spiritual rather then political standpoint this strikes a chord with some people. 'Against the Modern World' was a phrase that appealed to me as soon as I heard it. I am not against everything the modern world has to offer. This is being written on a computer for instance!

JUST GOOD FRIENDS

I get the impression that some people think Sol Invictus, Death in June and Current 93 are all joined at the hip. Certainly, Death In June and Current 93 (whose work I enjoy and admire) are more closely linked because of their line-ups. But each band is an expression of our different individual preoccupations. We are on the same label but that does not mean we are the same. I would think that Sol has evolved in a more Classical vein. This runs through the music especially in more recent releases. This marks us out as separate. Well, at least I hope it does.

RELIGION AND MAGIC

I suppose I am very influenced by religion. Sadly, often in a rather negative and perhaps juvenile reaction against it. I find elements in both the Catholic and Orthodox faiths attractive and much that is repulsive. My criticism of organised religion is the same as my criticism of other institutions. That in the end they are elements in a mass culture that on the one hand oppresses and yet also panders to the masses. But religion is dying which may be a good thing, but it is sad if it is only usurped by shopping.

As for magic, for me it can be the most important thing there is or totally irrelevant depending on my mood. I have to admit I do not hold the Occult "scene" and most of the people involved in it in high regard.

Some people think that we have been influenced by Aleister Crowley, but to be honest Crowley means next to nothing to me. And his influence on me (in my opinion) is negligible. I used the quotes 'The Law of the Strong' and 'The Joy of the World' because I liked them. My idea of "the strong" was about creativity and not macho posing. I think Crowley was interesting as a character. I can forgive a multitude of sins if someone has a sense of humour as he did. As for people who turn him into a deity, they are very sad.

SYMBOLISM

I find the power of cultural symbols, myths and archetypes very interesting. I am drawn towards them and like to use them in my work. I am attracted and interested by the irrational (in myself, in others and in the world in general). The two cranes as used on the King & Queen CD were Gold and Silver, i.e. Sun & Moon, King & Queen, God & Goddess. They are separate but as in the design on our CD they become a whole (the earth, or sun or full moon). They become more than their separate parts. They are in balance, in harmony. Sadly we as individuals and as an alleged civilisation are not. We have to find and recognise the male and female within us. And we have to renew our partnership with nature and the earth and realise that although we cannot do without her, she can do without us.

Myths and archetypes interest me. And not just Nordic ones. But for good or bad I am a European and I am a expression of that culture and civilisation. So there is bound to be elements of Nordic and Celtic culture in my work.

LIKES

I listen to a lot of Early Music, as well as Classical and Ambient Music. At the moment I am very impressed with the work of Arvo Part. I also like Eno, some Nyman and even early Tamla Motown and also Bowie before his sad decline.

I like some Futurist and Surrealist art. I also like the work of Edvard Munch, Otto Dix and Gilbert and George, and I hate almost all abstract art.

I like David Lynch's films, especially Eraserhead and Blue Velvet. I loved The Draughtsman's Contract by Greenaway although I am not so keen on some of his other work. I also like the work of Stanley Kubrik especially Clockwork Orange, and the films of Martin Scorsese. I also admire Woody Allen's work. I like Bogarde and Depardieu. I also like animation especially Svankmayer.

I read quite a lot. I especially like English murder mysteries. It is one of the few things we English are still good at: writing about them and committing them. I also like the genre of Noire fiction such as that of James Ellroy and Raymond Chandler. I also love the ghost and horror stories of M.R. James (I have to thank David Tibet for introducing me to this writer's work).

As much of the present age and probably all of the future will consist of quiz shows and shopping malls, it's personal cultural icons such as the above that keep me sane. Although I am not sure sane is the right word!

DISLIKES

The masses and those who pander to their bread, circuses and shopping Zeitgeist.

SELF

The world is full of contradictions. I have my fair share (some may say more them my fair share! ). Anyone living in the modern world is surrounded by contradiction and compromise. I sing about spiritual values yet I can be incredibly materialistic - such is life.

MASS CULTURE

Man as an individual and as a collective force has been removed from reality and to a large extent from his/her instincts. The idea that the world is not simply here to pander to our whims and may indeed have her own agenda that could quite easily not include us does not seem to be understood by most. We live in a mass society with an increasingly cretinous mass culture. Mankind seems to have given up the idea of being or attempting to be creative and would rather be a passive consumer. Very few seem to wish to break out of this, those that do I consider the real elite.

THE MOB

The older I get the more cynical and pessimistic I become. The more I see of humanity the less I like it. Time, and time again humanity has chosen to embrace various collectivist ideologies. To throw away their individualism and will for slogans and banners. For me the mob is always ugly, regardless of what banner it decides is fashionable to march under. I think we are probably beyond redemption.

As for overpopulation there seems to be a rule that the more ugly and stupid people are, the more children they have. Many people who have children should not. They're not fit to. A lot of them cannot look after a cat or dog properly, let alone a child.

EUROPE

I think it would be sad if the old blind petty nationalism of the past comes back. What Europe needs is a recognition that the old Nation-States have had their day. Many of them are just products of 18th and 19th century economics. We need to build a Europe based on cultures and regions rather then these worn-out states.

If the old states continue they will almost certainly drift in the direction of less individual freedom and individualism and towards some kind of centralised collectivism, none of which I want.

COLLECTIVISM

I do not support Fascism, Communism or any other form of collectivism. The one constant thing that runs through all my interviews and writing is the promotion of the individual and thinking for oneself. Not mouthing mindless slogans. For me the mob is always ugly regardless of what banners it chooses to march beneath. Collectivism is the alibi of the weak, the vicious and the stupid.

Links updated: 14 November 1995