Richard Hell on live music as told to Kurt Vile

I’m not into concerts. I’m not into live music. I’d rather listen to a record. I don’t like being in crowds, and live shows don’t usually sound good. Plus they’re usually fake; bands pretend that it’s spontaneous but they’re doing exactly what they did the night before. It’s hot and smelly and unpleasant. When I toured, I found the clubs so depressing. The whole thing would be depressing. You’d get to the club and it was usually painted black inside, and the sound system is terrible, the people who work there are usually completely indifferent or are actively hostile to you as a musician. It’s unpleasant when it’s filled up with people who are looking at you, with like “what do you have to show me?” And it’s even worse at sound check, when it’s empty and the lights are on. [Full Interview]