Tex Perkins has a career cloaked by tales of such notoriety and so steeped in music folklore that it is difficult not to approach this interview with (at least) the slightest trepidation. To interview the Beasts Of Bourbon front-man over the phone can be a hard task as his lackadaisical nature and tendency to err on the side of sarcasm is, at times, quite disorienting.
However, having spent the better part of last year doing publicity and shows for his most recent musical incarnation – Tex Perkins and His Ladyboyz – I find Perkins in a laid-back and typically laconic mood. Over our fifteen minute chat he expresses his affection for cabaret, reveals that another album with Tim Rogers is – œvery likely’ and rules out another album with that “bunch of cunts” the Beasts of Bourbon.
Tex: Hello Sarah
FL: Hey Tex, I hear you’ve recently gone under the knife [for a hernia operation] how are you feeling?
Oh that was five weeks ago. I tested it on the track yesterday and had a bit of a kick. My pins are a bit sore, but my groin area seems to have come through with flying colours.
Well that’s the important thing. You are about to do a run of shows with the Ladyboyz again – how did you find the initial response to – œCabaret Tex’?
Well there have been an array of responses. People are more informed about what it is all about [this time]. Most audiences on the last tour were flabbergasted for a little while and then embraced it whole-heartedly.
Did you find that many of your traditional fans were not understanding what was going on?
Ill give you two examples of the extremes of the responses that we have had. At our Launceston show we finished our show and a woman burst into our band room afterward screaming. She was the most irate person I have ever seen. We couldn’t get a word in, she was just hurling abuse at us. She was saying – œHow fucking dare you do that to those songs, you call yourself the fifth best covers band in the country – well you’re not!”.
[On their Press Release the Ladyboyz, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, claim to be the 5th best cover band in Australia]
Haha. And what was the other extreme response?
Well, we played the Apollo Bay Festival a couple of weeks ago. One of the other acts on was this Englishman called Robert Hitchcock. And playing with him was a fella called Peter Buck who is in REM – and they absolutely loved the show. We actually received an email just today from them. I’m not sure what they are proposing -.maybe they are offering something to us. Maybe we’ll be touring the states with REM.
The fifth best cover band in Australia and REM hey?
Maybe, maybe.
You are about to play the Adelaide Cabaret Festival which is art directed by David Campbell [son of Jimmy Barnes who appears on the track You Make Me Feel Brand New on the Ladyboyz album] was it through his Dad that you came to playing the festival?
I don’t know, maybe. It’s not what you know. I have to say it is probably the perfect event for us to be involved with.
Do you feel like a cabaret band now?
We see ourselves as an experimental cabaret act. We certainly are a cabaret act. We like to expand things a little – we are a progressive retro act. We give you want you want but not the way you want it.
Jimmy and David are doing a show called Dad and Dave together at the festival – is there any chance Jimmy will join you on stage for You Make Me Feel?
Did you just say they are doing a show called Dad and Dave?
Apparently.
Perkins giggles , dare I say it, like a school girl. Oh that tickles me. But yes, I imagine we would have Jimmy at our disposal and I’m expecting to get Jim up on stage.
Have you had a chance to get many of the people who have collaborated with you on the album?
Everybody except Suze DeMarchi.
Isn’t she in Australia right now with the Baby Animals?
Really? Maybe we could fly her down just for the cabaret festival.
I think you should.
Shit I’m glad you’ve alerted me.
I’m surprised you didn’t know Tex.
Geez, I’m sorry. I’ve got kids – I know what The Wiggles are doing.
Do you find it liberating not having to be Tex Perkins the bad guy in The Ladyboyz – there is room for you do be, well, a bit more of a pansy?
A bit of a pansy? Cue tone of utter horror . Have you seen the act?
I have. Fuck, did I just call Tex Perkins a bit of a Pansy?
Was I a bit of a pansy?
No, hmmm wrong term. But you weren’t as – œscary’ as you were at the front of The Beasts.
Pfft. I’m pretty bloody scary when I sing the lyrics of Dr Hook. Goodness gracious. Can you remember when I sang ‘CUM’ said the boy. Pretty fucking frightening!
OK pansy was definitely the wrong word. But you must find it liberating to be able to play up a bit on stage in the Ladyboyz?
I have always seen myself as a bit of a clown, bit of a Larrikan, bit of a stirrer. I think I’ve got room to do that in the Beasts. I would do that in the Beasts Of Bourbon its just I’m fighting for breath in between each song so I don’t get the chance to express myself in any other way than what is absolutely necessary.
You know, I see myself as a very kaleidoscopic character and there is many parts of my character that I’m yet to expose to you.
Speaking of kaleidoscopic characters what are the chances of another album with Tim Rogers?
There is every chance. We went to footy training yesterday together.
The idea of Tex and Tim going for a casual kick amuses me somewhat . Do you play together often?
We play for the Rock Dogs [The team of Melbourne musos who face off against the Megahertz in the Community Cup each year]. Although I really don’t know whether I’m going to do it this year- it took me a long time to recover from the last one. It can be brutal, even if you don’t really get truly hurt. I’m in my forties for fucks sake. I do enjoy to have a kick and run around. Rogers will probably be there he is a gun.
Didn’t he get injured at the last one?
Last time he was actually playing with a hamstring injury before the game and he kicked three goals. It was great example of self management, he would be on for five minutes, kick a goal then take himself off. He was brilliant.
And the chance of another album?
Very likely, but it’s not in the works.
And what are the chances of anything ever happening again with The Beasts of Bourbon?
I really doubt it, I think I’ve had enough. They’re too much of a bunch of cunts. We really don’t like each other, they are just really horrible people. Not all of them, I work with Charlie all the time. The rest of them are just fucking hopeless, just really despicable human begins. We don’t like each other at all and they’d say the same about me.
Actually I’m only saying that now because I hear that Brian Hooper has been slagging me off in the press.
Really, what has he been saying?
I don’t know but he proudly told me he was slagging me off in the press – so here I am!
So, I’m allowed to print this slag?
Well – I guess saying he is a despicable human being is a bit of a slag…
Good luck with the cabaret shows..
They will be beyond anyone’s normal expectations of what entertainment should be.
I hope to see you at the Community Cup.
Even if it is just a cameo?
Just run on for a minute.
Ill just show them my legs.
That’s all we want to see Tex.
Tex Perkins and his Ladyboyz play the following shows this June:
June 5th – The Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
June 6th – The Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
June 12th – Adelaide Cabaret Festival
June13th – Adelaide Cabaret Festival
June 14th – Adelaide Cabaret Festival
