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The Rabbit In Wonderland - Tim Jones interview (published in Atropos)

ATROPOS: Is The Rabbit's Hat a band with much history? Have there been many changes in the line up of the band? What previous groups have members of The Rabbit's Hat been involved with?

TIM: The Rabbit's Hat was formed in England in 1994. It started with just two of us, that's Terri B who had been singing in a progressive rock band called Vagrant and myself. I had previously been a member of Punishment Of Luxury which the NME described as "Quasi theatrical mutant heavy metal", Neon which had two singles out and Somebody Famous who released two albums and a single. Basically, the music we had been playing in these bands was progressive. We later teamed up with Martin Holder who had just left Jah Wobble's band and who I had previously played with in Neon. Martin had also been an accomplished jazz rock guitarist who had done many sessions in London. We augmented the line up with keyboard player Steve Ellis who had been playing in various bands around Newcastle. A sax player called Spook joined us for a while but he left under mysterious circumstances and we don't exactly know where he is at the moment. We have had a succession of bass players and drummers and generally keep that on a sessional basis.

ATROPOS: It is difficult to describe The Rabbit's Hat's music. I think it is more West Coast than typical new psyche UK. Do you agree?

TIM: It depends on which release you are talking about. I would agree that there are a lot of West Coast influences on our last album, "Take Good Care" but the new album "Outsiders" is very different and has many diverse influences. We basically play whatever comes "out of the hat". We don't plan on things sounding a particular way.

ATROPOS: Give us some names of classic bands that have influenced your group. Do you know Phish? I can see similarities with them but without long jams.

TIM: There are many, many groups that we could say have influenced our music. Basically we like anything that's good, no matter what the musical style. Music is music. You could say everything from Charlie Parker to The Ozric Tentacles.

ATROPOS: There is a lot of activity at Stone Premonitions. Can you describe a typical day in The Stone Studio?

TIM: At the moment we are very busy with three new albums due to be released on CD by the three main bands on Stone Premonitions, that's Body Full Of Stars, Mr Quimby's Beard and The Rabbit's Hat. This is apart from the solo projects by the various members of the bands. We work on a rota system and nothing gets more time than anything else. I am generally in the studio seven days a week these days, engineering. Much of the music by the bands is written in the studio and we pride ourselves on a creative working environment. The right atmosphere in the studio is one of the most important factors in the making of the music.

ATROPOS: Do you play live often? Is there due to be a live K7 album?

TIM: We only do the gigs which we know are going to be organised properly. Every time we send out a tape or a CD we think of it as doing a gig in someone's living room. Last year Terri B and myself went to Holland with just an acoustic guitar and performed in some radio stations out there and this is an excellent way to play live and reach more people. We are currently putting together an album of our acoustic live set and the highlights of the radio sessions we have done to date. There are many excellent underground radio stations these days who have been very supportive of our music.

ATROPOS: Is "Locus Of Control" your first K7 solo album? This album includes an excellent version of "Devil's Answer" by Atomic Rooster, one of my favorite groups. Can you tell us something of "Locus", I love it!

TIM: "Locus Of Control" basically consists of a lot of ideas which had been hanging around for the last four years and which were not being used by The Rabbit's Hat. The theme of the album is that everybody is in charge of their own destiny. We all make choices and the result of these decisions dictates the outcome in our lives. The "Locus of control" is within each individual. It is so easy to constantly blame others for the misfortune in our lives. As regards Atomic Rooster, I have always loved this band and "Devil's Answer" is a tribute to the vastly underrated Vincent Crane whose death came as a great shock to his fans.

ATROPOS: On Terri B's solo album "Open The Box", most of the band are playing on it but it does not sound like The Rabbit's Hat. Is it possible that this marks a significant musical change in direction?

TIM: On Terri's album, members of The Rabbit's Hat are guesting but Terri knew exactly what she wanted them to play. I think it does mark a significant change and I think as our ideas develop the Stone Premonitions' sound will hopefully become more unique and individual.

ATROPOS: What is the difference between The Rabbit's Hat and Body Full Of Stars?

TIM: Body Full Of Stars is a project instigated by "Wild Dance" drummer and bass guitarist Mark Dunn who writes nearly all of the words and music. It is Mark's personal vision and he is not a member of The Rabbit's Hat. Terri B, Martin Holder and myself play in both bands and this is the link between the two. Also Paddi Addison is the permanent drummer in Body Full Of Stars and he does not play with The Rabbit's Hat.

ATROPOS: What are the future plans for the band and the label?

TIM: As I have said, we are due to release three more CDs this year and it is our objective to have all of the Stone Premonitions catalogue on CD. It all depends on whether we can set up the right distribution and whether we can achieve the financial stability to be a truly independant underground label. It is only through the interest of magazines like Atropos that this will be achieved. Thanks for being there.