Below is an email interview with Don Campau. All interviews are published unedited.
- You have begun a massive project – cataloging and writing about the early days of ‘Mail Art”, “DIY Recording” and the “Cassette Culture” scenes of the 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond, would you give us a little insight into the project and explain a little about what you are doing?
For years I have been thinking about my role in cassette culture/underground music. How could I contribute my experiences to the history of this narrow but important do-it-yourself movement? Finally it came to me. Instead of trying to do some kind of comprehensive history of this scene I could only give my experiences and my perspective. Of course I have enlisted other people to help me and chip in with their thoughts and that has been revealing and interesting to me. This is not about me, but it is mainly from my viewpoint.
- How do you think Internet networks compare with the postal networks of back then? (ref. MySpace et al.)
The biggest difference to me is immediacy and effort. Then,I had to write a letter, post it and wait for a response and maybe get a tape in trade.This could take days, weeks or months. This became second nature to me though and part of my schedule then. It also made me consider my responses perhaps a bit more. And, as everyone knows, it is efficient, easy and immediate now. Thats a good thing I’d say although sometimes I wonder if the spirit is the same. It seems more superficial somehow to me and less of a community.Maybe thats just me.
- You are a recording artist in your own right, when did you begin recording and what equipment did you use?
I began recording collage material in the late 60s fiddling with the family’s open reel tape deck.Household sounds and broadcasts off the radio. Then, my first musical group started recording our own bizarre avant garde offerings in about 1969. Our group was called The Roots Of Madness and we did an actual LP in 1971. That was also done on an open reel, two track recorder. We were inspired by Capt Beefheart,. The Fugs, Stockhausen and Albert Ayler.
- You also host a (fantastic) radio show (“No Pigeonholes“) how did you get started in this?
I started in non commercial radio in 1971. My friend, Geoff Alexander, had a radio show even when in high school and he brought me in for an interview and I became intrigued by this type of freeform expression. Soon afterward, Lorenzo W. Milam, bought this station ( KTAO in Los Gatos CA) and became a lifelong mentor influencing me ( and many others) with his vast knowledge of literature, music and personal relations. My KTAO experience ran from 1971-4 ( the station was sold), continued for a very short time at KUSP in Santa Cruz ( I was fired for being too esoteric) and then in 1978 my show at KKUP in Cupertino began. For a few years I did a program of avant garde, punk, jazz and ethnic music. Then in 1985 when I got enough home tapes, I started the “
No Pigeonholes” format which continues today.
- Do you think the future of the Independent Artist is assured or do you think the best times have gone?
Well, I think “independent” means something different today. In the 70s and 80s it meant totally underground and almost unobtainable. One had to search it out at libraries, record stores and through rare mentions in small publications. There really was no such thing as independent rock bands then. Of course the landscape has changed dramatically now. Almost everyone calls themselves independent now. The distinction seems to be the fact that almost no band gets signed to a major label anymore. And major labels themselves are dinosaurs on the brink of extinction. I think Facebook, MySpace and all the other social networking sites have been a godsend for artists. It is easy to connect now. However, I have seen a trend of what I call “one way” communication these days. For example, I get quite a few emails now ( many times sent to dozens of other people) of “here’s my mp3s, play them on your show, no time to ask you how you are ( my words here)”. I can understand people trying to spread the word of their art but how about at least a small dose of civility and caring toward others?
