Ivan Julian on Quine
IRT: Re: the song "You Is Dead", one of the great highlights of The Naked Flame and your tribute to longtime friend and bandmate Robert Quine...where were you when you first heard about Robert Quine's passing?Via
Ivan: Richard [Hell] called me at home. I sat down and played the piano as I do when I get this kind of news. One never gets used to it.
IRT: Did you stay in touch with Quine through the years? Did you guys ever get together to jam or record?
Ivan: Bob and I were close until the very end. He told me he was going to do this (off himself), because of the pain he was feeling over the loss of his wife. My response was, "Please don't Bob!" He was never one who could tolerate much discomfort and this was all too much for him. Richard and I even discussed ways to help him, as did his other friends but his friends couldn't be there all the time. For anyone who's been through something like this; it's hard to judge someone's actions when they hurt so much. However, you do feel a small tinge of anger because it is ultimately a selfish act. You wanna say, "Hey man, we have to deal with all this shit, too. Why can't you?" And now, "You is Dead". Neither of us were the jamming type. We would get together and trade riffs, listen to records or check out new/old effects pedals and see what kind of sick sounds we could get out of them. It was always major fun!
IRT: What is your favorite memory of Robert Quine?
Ivan: We knew each other for such a long time so there were many but I have to say one sticks out... In Derby, England on the Clash tour, when he slowly took his guitar off and full throttle smashed this guy upside the head that was gobbing on him. Completely out of character and completely Brilliant! There were also the times when together we would go out to the Mudd Club or Danceteria and they wouldn't want to let him in because they thought he was a cop. The person at the door would say to Bob, "You look like his truant officer." Oh, if they only knew...
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Brought a tear to my eye. Very sad. Was just thinking that one of my first Exile comments was on a Quine story. Then I clicked on one of your links and there was a comment from me!
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