Nick Oliveri – Interview

Leestijd: 5 minuten

Het was een mooie dinsdag in maart toen de ondergetekende een avond aan de zijde van Nick Oliveri doorbracht. Hij speelde daar in het kader van zijn death acoustic tournee in de kleine zaal van Paard, in Den Haag. Het was een mooie gelegenheid om onder het genot van een uitmuntende kwaliteitstequila hem ook nog wat vragen te stellen in het kader van een interview.

Het interview

WRR: ’Welcome Nick, how are you?’
NO: ‘Good, I am doing allright.’

WRR: ‘What about the Netherlands, do you like it here?’
NO: ‘I love Holland. It is great coming here. I mean, people are cool and there is good beer and as I am a simple guy about music, people and food and having a good time. So here is nothing to complain about.’

WRR: ‘This year started a bit different with not one but two released records (N.O. Hits Volume 8&9). Why did you pick those songs?’
NO: ‘Well, we did a new Mondo (Generator) record, We stand against you, and I did two N.O.-hits-records and also a Dwarves record. And EP. That is coming out. It was really hard to come out the months we have been in business after the lock down. There was so much music ready to go. We had to record that. Mike wrote songs and we had a lot of ideas. For Mondo, for Dwarves. We tried to stay as busy as we can. It was pretty cool to do that. I wanna do an acoustic record and we are recording some live shows as well.’

Live record

NO: ‘I want to do a live record with the peoples reactions and a traditional show is boring. Acoustic is boring, but I like acoustic music, but had to do it in another way. Death acoustic. Death punk on an acoustic guitar. I sing really hard, like with a band. People could think: ‘That was the weirdest acoustic show I ever seen. And I am a bass player you know. The high E and the high B, I don’t know what those strings are for.’

WRR: ‘(Laughing) Why you won’t cut them off?’
NO: ‘(Laughing) Yeah, I don’t need those string.’
WRR: ‘Maybe you should cut them off on stage.’
NO: ‘Yeah, it could be a big way to start the show.’

Nick for president

WRR: ‘This year in your home country are presidential elections. What if you were the next president? What will the first thing you will change.’
NO: ‘Oh my god, that is a hard one. And not an easy one too, because there is so many I want to change. I am not a peace-love-guy, but I like to have all people have in peace. But that is an impossibility, right? So I think policemen should get seriously an every month evaluation. If I was in charge we have to evaluate their behaviour every month. They have to treat people like humans. They are bullying people and that needs to stop. Killing by police absolutely needs to stop. That is what I want to change immediately. The cops really have to realize they are hurting people for nothing. And when people die with no reason… There are really some psychopath cops out there.’

WRR: ‘You did experienced it yeah?’
NO: ‘Yeah man, I experienced it once. That was really hard.’

Patron Tequila

WRR: ‘Why do you think the Dutch people needs to buy Patron (Tequila)?’
NO: ‘It is so delicious. Hi, I am Nick Oliveri from Patron Silver,.. haha. It is so delicious, it is from Mexico. It is never been boring, it is so good, you know.When you could get Patron Silver in Holland, go for it. So, it is so good to be here, in Den Haag, in Paard. This helps me sing, this makes me play better. I like to drink tequila and I have it on my rider for every night. I enjoy it, and of course I like to party. This makes me breathing because I sing as hard as I can.’

On stage alone

WRR: ‘What is the advantage of being on stage alone?’
NO: ‘Oh, well, all my friends in the bands, I play Bl’ast, I play Mondo Generator and Dwarves, I go out to do death acoustic because I don’t have kids and all my friends have kids. I am uncle Nick. Whenever I see those kids, they love me. We do games and I love them. But, I love other peoples kids, you know. I won’t have a kid, don’t know if I can, I love my girlfriend very much. Playing acoustic is my kid. It is different from normal acoustic sets and different from my bands. I can keep my name out there while the guys can enjoy their family.’

‘So, over three days I am back home and then one day off. Then the drummer comes over to prepare the tour and go to the studio to record. And do some mini tours, like weekends, with Dwarves. In April there are a couple of weekends with them and meanwhile have to get my drummer ready. I have to keep myself going, keep myself busy. With this I make also sure my guys get paid, because now I make also money. So it is also for them.’

QOTSA

NO: ‘I made money with Queens (of the Stone Age), you know, twenty years ago.’
WRR: ‘I think you still get money from that period?’
NO: ‘Yeah, still get because I did some songwriting, which is good. And it was a great time, man. I just saw Queens playing in LA, Josh put me on the list. And it was good, man. But, we were greater.’
WRR: ‘Songs For The Deaf, the best Queens-record, is with you.’
NO: ‘How is it possible to compete with a record where Lanegan is on, Grohl is on, and then Josh and me. And al those you came in the studio. But Joey and Alain are also amazing. But people love Grohls drumming. It is insane. Sometimes people say: ‘you were in that.’ Yeah, that was insane, after all. Some kind of super group, without being called supergroup. The new guys now are doing great, and Josh picked some great guys.’

Go?

WRR: ‘Looking at the time, final question. Something special in the set tonight?’
NO: ‘Like?’
WRR: ‘A surprise?  ‘Go With The Flow?’

Op dat moment moisten we richting het podium om het publiek niet langer te laten wachten. Niet veel later in de set speelde Nick Oliveri bij hoge uitzondering ‘Go With The Flow’. Een betere spreuk is niet van toepassing op deze levensgenieter. Op naar 21 mei, want dan speelt Nick Oliveri in Musicon, Den Haag, met Mondo Generator.

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