THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Thom Burton of Wilberforces

Thom Burton is the mainman in the Auckland-based band Wilberforces (clearly he grew with Under the Mountain) and their stark, bristly sound is captured on their second album Vipassana (named for the meditation technique I guess, although a more meloow Barton wouldn't make much sense).

He takes time out to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire and clearly there is as much wit as rage in his soul. 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Shout by Tears for Fears. I walked around my kindy belting that shit out. So yeah. Either that or the Transformers theme song, which I mistook the lyrics for: ''Transformers, Morganespi-eye''

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . .
Oh man..um..Vanilla Ice? Seal? Billy Joel? What I like I was supposed to be into cool shit when I was 7? pssh. Oh wait! Miles Davis, when I first learned trumpet. YESSS!!

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Neither, Neither, Neither, Jacko.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
Making films. Or Chef. Music as a 'career choice'? Interesting concept...

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
Field [live version] By Mount Kimbie
Heartland- by The Sound
Thank You Ladies For The Spread- By Sharpie Crows [Look out]

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
I've got Courtney Love's Guitar that she gave to my girlfriend, onstage at the Auckland Big Day Out in 1998. Because she was going psycho up the front and had bright red hair. Shot girl. xx

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad is pretty good read, about early hardcore in the U.S. or England's dreaming by Jon Savage, absolutely comprehensive history of punk in the UK.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
To play guitar with Godspeed You Black Emperor! or Portishead would be pretty neat eh? But I did play with Damo Suzuki once. BRAG.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
1.The Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky
2. Burden Of Dreams - Werner Herzog [Well -ABOUT Werner Herzog making Fitzcarraldo]
3. Gozu by Miike Takashi

I don't know if anyone would understand me better though...

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Last CD I bought was Mount Kimbie's Crooks and Lovers. First CD I have bought in about 5 years! Last vinyl was Smokey Robinson. Last download was Nguzunguzu, from LA, out on Mad Decent I think.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

Probably Right Here, Right Now by Jesus Jones, what with the Feelers doing that amazing RWC rendition and all ----- wait, what just happened to my penis?

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
The Polish Film poster for Vertigo I guess.

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .
Starscream, the Decepticon, Yakuza style, all over my back.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?
Everywhere I possibly could, doing everything I possibly could. But hopefully banging David Bowie's wife.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
Because it's got subliminal messages that whisper in a seductive coercing manner 'put skivvy's on your pets' and more importantly 'buy our other albums..'