We’re delighted to present the video premiere of ‘Come Back Jonee’ by R.O.C. The video is for their cover of the Devo song that featured on last year’s ‘Bile & Celestial Beauty’ album. In addition to the video, on December 10th R.O.C will also release a free remix of the song and a film of their London show on the eve of the first national lockdown back in March. Both will be available from www.rocmusic.com

We got the chance to ask R.O.C a few questions ahead of the release.

The new video accompanies a song from last year’s ‘Bile & Celestial Beauty’ album. Why is now the right time to revisit this song?

Patrick: In truth the song visited us. We were asked to contribute to a covers album, but it became part of the picture for our album. The freeway is a very American scene and Karen grew up in the Midwest so it all feels real. From recent time you might think we are de-evolving and about to break out in civil wars but I see some hope-springs-eternal.

Fred: Originally thought of it as very escapist, timeless, unfettered to any here and now situation, though as the surreal has become the new real, the whole DEVO idea casts itself in a different light. Rebellion from extinction, new green deal pioneers. Hard to tell!

On 3rd March when you played the sold out Paper Dress Vintage, Boris Johnson announced that despite COVID-19 “For the vast majority of people, we should be going about our business as usual”. How usual has your last eight months been?

Patrick: Of course live performance with an audience stopped and the timing was bad for us since we had our band rehearsed and ready for more. But the story of R.O.C live is about one-offs so no change there! One day we’ll note down our live history – our first professional engagement was a festival in Warsaw in 1987. The other non-Eastern bloc band playing was Swans, who were unforgettable.

Karen: From a perspective of ‘work’ and such, I am doing more or less what I did before which is entrepreneurial in nature. I haven’t seen many of my friends or family. A great deal of them do not live in London…so that lack has been bridged with Zoom calls…but nevertheless, I miss seeing them in person and hanging out with them.

Fred: Anything but! From globetrotting to self introspection. Outer space to inner. Up until September I was kind of ok with it all. Furloughed, paid to do whatever. Winter inevitably puts things in the shade. We all know, instinctively, ‘sunshine is the best disinfectant’! Ironically that was a possible title for the album.

Has having Danton Supple become an official member of the band had an impact on how you work together?

Danton: I’ll recuse myself on this one.

Karen: So far so good, but COVID has put a damper on being able to get together and seeing each other….so yet to be explored more.

Fred: Was very much looking forward to us all sitting down together and trying some epic Miles Davis type sessions, and then piecing together, cutting up, themes, movements, feels, etc. Or would that be considered minglin’!

Patrick: To me it was a natural evolution (not de-evolution). Danton co-produced and mixed our first album and it was amazing to hear all these demos lifted to a grand level. We’ve always thrown loads of ideas at our music and we were lucky to find someone to accommodate that. That album was well-received and I’m sure that’s a lot to do with Danton’s presentation.

Over time it just felt natural that we were constructing tracks with a view to handing them to Danton and not feeling precious in that separate ‘band and producer’ way. R.O.C was never about individual roles, it was about everyone throwing ideas into a cauldron (and occasionally fighting) but what came out came out, however and with whoever it was done.

Do you think having visuals created to go along with your music enhances the experience?

Danton: Yes. It’s perfect camouflage.

Karen: Yes, very much so. It’s an idea we have had for years but it all seems to have come together in recent years.

Fred: Always felt son et lumiere go together. Along with artwork etc. Organic, in house.

Patrick: That’s the idea. We’ve always had images in our heads to go with the music. It’s now doable without loads of budget. These are just moods, extensions of the songs. Also we like finding kindred spirits – we’ve been working with Oleg Rooz who’s in Ukraine and does these mad beautiful edits and post-productions.

Should we expect R.O.C. live shows to return any time soon?

Danton: I will defer to science. But will wear appropriate PPE.

Karen: Not in 2020…let’s hope for better things in 2021.

Fred: Never having got a buzz from playing live, too many things can go wrong. Because it’s predicated on the opposite of free form improv. Kind of like the idea of playing in empty venues and recording for posterity. What do all those places do when they’re not being used?

Patrick: I refer to my answer above – it’s frustrating to be rehearsed and then have to stop. If we did a run of shows I think we’d be good.

Is there anything else you think the world should know?

Danton: Xyella is killing the Olive trees of Puglia. That’s a bigger deal than it sounds.

Karen: When you can, and if you can afford it, donate, add to the tip jar – for artists of all walks of life, musicians, actors etc… all doing their thing with increased ingenuity online. I’ve been enjoying John Doe from X doing Facebook lives from his house and on the odd occasion when he plays at small venues. He is trying to raise awareness for the small venues he has been doing some of his livestreams from. He is doing a livestream ‘tour’ starting November 19, 2020.

Fred: If prostitution, gambling and illegal drugs were decriminalised and regulated, the world would be a far better, safer place. Happy Holidays!

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