Mixmaster Mike is a legend in the world of DJing but not necessarily for all the right reasons. He’s won world titles, he’s been part of the most famous DJ crew in history (the Invisibl Skratch Piklz), he’s been the Beastie Boys’ DJ since 98, he introduced Qbert to scratching yet he’s also known as a crazy motherfucker, responsible for some of the most mental turntable music to date and for using his scratches to talk to aliens and other cosmic entities (and that’s not even the half of it). But it would seem that time has had a soothing effect on Mike as demonstrated by his recent solo LP, Bangzilla, a sharp contrast to his first solo outing, Anti Theft Device, an album still regarded to this day as one of the weirdest and most singular pieces of turntable music and production ever released. So has time really soothed the Serial Wax Killer or is just a ploy? We headed down to meet him after his London gig with the Beastie Boys in December 04 to try and find out, be warned this interview contains non-sense and irony.

First thing I was gonna ask you was about the tour you’re doing with the Beastie Boys at the minute. How is it going so far?

M: It’s going amazing, it’s fun. Lot of people are enthusiastic about it so… we’re enthusiastic also…

So far which place have you had the best reception at?

M: London, England. Not just saying that but London was popping off!

Show was good last night then?

M: Yeah was fun. Dope.

As you’ve got your new LP out and are touring with the Beastie Boys for their new LP, are you incorporating anything from Bangzilla into the show? Doing little segments like you used to do before?

M: Not really, I’m doing different shit. I do play parts of Bangzilla songs and they rhyme over the beats. But I’m kinda saving a lot of it for the Bangzilla tour when I come back out here.

Oh so you’re coming back solo?

M: Yeah

You doing most of Europe again?

M: yeah definitely. I’m going to go all over the place. Album comes out in March officially so I’m going to back out here. Push the album to everyone…

Do you still do the little solo segments in the Beastie Boys show, like you used to for Hello Nasty?

M: Definitely. I’m doing a little more then I used to. I’m opening up the show, doing solos in the middle… the whole show kinda runs through my turntables. But then we’ve also got a full band thing going on too, with Alfredo Ortes and Money Mark.

Oh so it’s not just you four anymore?

M: No, we’re all together. Incorporating the live element more.

And was there a reason why you didn’t produce that many tracks on the recent Beastie Boys LP?

M: I guess because I was in the process of making my own album, the schedules were clashing a bit so I didn’t end up doing that much for them this time. I was also trying to get my album to sound the way I wanted it so I guess I avoided doing other beats in a sense to keep my mind focused. But I still did all the turntable work on it.

Going onto Bangzilla. Is there a reason why it took you so long to release a new LP since Anti-Theft?

M: (laughs) I didn’t want to rush anything. I wanted to make something that was going to be pretty much stamped in hip hop history. I wanted to make something different then my previous work, something more solid, not all over the place. I feel like this record is just like a more, more… more well rounded album.

How did you approach putting it together? Because it’s short but really on point, concise if you see what I mean… Did you plan it that way or is that how it ended up?

M: No you know I originally made 25, 26 cuts for the album. But I felt like it would have been overkill if I’d put 20 or so cuts on the record, I felt that 13-14 was a more appropriate number. I didn’t want to hit people over the head with a big sledgehammer, though at the same time I do want to hit them over the head with a sledgehammer. But I felt like the timing was right, it was nice and consolidated there… I didn’t want to overproduce or overdo myself.

So you’ve left quite a lot out?

M: I had to. I originally did 5 different versions of the album. So as I was making the record I had it in my Ipod and I was listening to it over and over, until I was like ok… And to me this version of the album was more appropriate for the listener.

For you what would you say are the main differences between Bangzilla and Anti Theft Device?

M: I was out of my mind making Anti Theft Device!! (laughs) I was a fucking crazed lunatic… I think that Anti Theft Device was… I mean…

...interesting?

M: interesting! (laughs) Interesting work but I feel like it’s two different worlds. They’re both on the same plane of crazy psychedelic audio hypnotism, but I think they’re really two different worlds, two different moments in my life.

You evolved between both…

M: yeah. I think Anti Theft Device, was more based upon ‘ok I’ve got this type of music I’m creating, let me experiment with it.’ Then Bangzilla is like ‘I’ve got some shit and I know what I want’.

Would you say Anti Theft Device was a bit more like a throwback to the days of the ISPs, throw shit to the wall and see what sticks?

M: Yeah definitely. Kinda like just making things in the lab and being like ‘ok I guess this is gonna be the next song, whatever…’ The next epilogue in the voyage.

And for you what was the best thing about going back to work on a solo LP?

M: I couldn’t wait to show myself as an individual again. Come back out again on my own and give the people a chance to listen to what was going on in my head for the last couple of years.

So what do you use in the studio, and how do you integrate the tables into your production? You might not want to divulge anything but I was just wondering…

M: There ain’t any secrets involved… Do you have the artwork for Bangzilla?

Yeah

M: the full on one?

No I got the promo one with just a sticker on the CD…

M: Well in the inside of the LP you can open up the cover art and inside is like I tore through my studio. It’s all the devices I used to make the LP, I didn’t want to keep anything hidden. No secrets, or anything, I want people to put on the CD, listen to it, open up the booklet and go ‘ohhh he probably used this there…’ I left it all open…

So did the turntable integrate into what you were doing naturally then?

M: I wanted to make the music for my turntables. I wanted to make music and as soon as I made all this music, I wanted to colour it all in with my turntables. That was the turntables’ work…

And did you use any digital technology on the LP? Things like CD decks…

M: Pro Tools really, a bit of Reason too… a little bit… But mainly drum machines, ASR 10, Moog synths…

No CD decks then?

M: A couple of cuts are on CD…

Do you see a place for them in your future work?

M: You know I think it’s a great invention, it’s amazing to be able to scratch CDs, but I use them really for studio purpose only… because if I wanted to scratch something on the fly I know I can just press it up onto CD and do it… So that’s what I use it for pretty much… But in the future I don’t know what they’re gonna take it to so…

And have you got any projects planned in the future, solo or colaborations?

M: Yeah just look out for the new import versions of the LP and the Transmission 12”, and also on Itunes you can pick up the bonus track which is called the ‘Eye Micronaut’.

Is that the same one as on the CD?

M: No it’s a different one, a new one. Only on the Itunes site can you pick it up…

And do you still follow what goes on in the scratch scene, the turntablist side of things?

M: I don’t follow it as much as I used to… To tell you the truth, to be honest with you, it’s not as interesting to me as it used to be. But I know there are people out there doing their thing, but I’m like consumed in my world you know? Trying to take my own shit to another level… I hear about battles and stuff, shit like DMC, but I haven’t followed up on it… (pauses) What I’d like to say for the whole battle thing, while we’re on it, as long as kids are gonna battle all I really have to say is ‘take care of these kids’. There are all these world champs and what not, take care of the kids who are winning is what I want to say.

Have you followed much of what the ex members of ISP are up to these days? Q, Short, D?

M: I talk to them on occasion… I understand Short is putting out great mixes, D is doing his thing with his solo LP…

You heard much of what he’s been doing recently with the live bands? Gunkhole and so on…

M: Yeah it’s great. I like the idea…

Because they kinda took it from where you started with the whole orchestrated routines and band work…

M: That’s right… I appreciate that a lot, I really appreciate what everyone of us is doing these days, it’s a blessing to be still doing what we do today…

You guys are in a way the forefathers of a lot of what’s going on today in that scene…

M: Yeah and it’s crazy to think of it like that…

Have you listened to Phantazmagorea at all?

M: Of course, I like that record…

And do you feel a bit old fashioned in the scratch game?

M: Old fashioned?

You know how said you didn’t follow things as much anymore, and you’ve been doing it for so long in a way…

M: You know what? I always try to make it as new as possible every time I hit the decks and every time I’m in the studio, I always try to think of new outlets and new ways to manipulate shit… I always try to keep it new fashioned instead of old fashioned!

You still have the same spark?

M: yeah but it’s a different spark. As you get older you get more responsible with things in life and all kinds of shit. Back then all I was doing was this, at the turntables all day. But now it’s more then just the turntables. It’s more life and dealing with life’s experiences along with working on turntables.

Transfer that into your music…

M: yeah exactly.

Do you think scratching has got a bit too serious? From what you see on your end?

M: (pause… adopts serious voice) Yeah kids have got to stop taking it so serious! (laughs) But yeah I took it seriously in my time, you know? There is a time when you need to take it seriously, but there’s time when you take it too serious and things are so blown out of proportions and distorted, you know?

What music do you listen to?

M: Shit… A lot of Foreigner, INXS… Nah just kidding… (laughs) I don’t know I listen to a lot of old music. Delphonics, Miles Davis, Jimmi Hendrix, Coltrane, Fela Kuti, Jimmy Smith, the list goes on… I’ve got like 7000 tracks in my Ipod and I just hit random everytime. I just leave it on random and see what comes up next.

A friend of mine I’m working with runs a site dealing with equipment and DJ technology (skratchworx.com), and he spoke to Vestax who hinted that you were working with them on some stuff. Can you tell us about it?

M: It’s kinda of a secret right now. Can’t say much but I’m trying new technological advances, you know. It should be out soon…

If you could design your own deck and/or mixer, what would you incorporate? Things that aren’t available now…

M: Ummmm… (pauses) I guess (pauses)… A pop up DVD screen, probably a toaster, and probably (pauses) a Swiss army knife…

USB port?

M: (laughs) yeah USB port… Blow dryer… (more laughs) I don’t know man, I mean… shit… Pop up DVD screen would be fly! Pop a DVD in while I’m cutting it up! Pop a video in while you’re doing your live show, watch a movie while you perform. That would be some sick shit… I’m into gadgets, I like gadgets so… As long as I get some James Bond type shit I’m happy…

Have you got any plans for releasing some battle wax, or scratch tool or something like that?

M: Hopefully in the future, there’s been so many bootlegs of my shit! So many bootlegs!! What was the last one?

Beastie Boys Breaks I think it was?

M: Beastie Boys Breaks is some straight up bootleg shit!!

It was supposedly what you used in the shows for the last tour…

M: It was older man!

That’s how it was advertised it think…

M: I made that show vinyl but never ever used it! (laughs) Because I found I put too much shit on that record, to where it’s like so confusing to use, you know? So all that shit is bootleg, all of it…

So you might do something that’s officially yours in the future?

M: yeah pretty much, especially to stay away from all the sample police issues.

Making your own stuff and then pressing it type thing?

M: Yeah that’s it. Thing is there’s people out there listening to get paid you know? It sucks… Kinda takes away from the art a little bit but that’s when you’ve got to play that game, whatever you take smash it down and twist it up on them… Take it for a turn…

Got a quick round of questions for you but you got any last words before that?

M: Pick up Bangzilla, and log into the site for updates, mixmastermike.com, see you soon, I’ll be back out here in March/April and definitely pick up Bangzilla.

Ok then here’s the quick fire round… Off the top of your head…

Which country has the prettiest girls?

M: Wow… My country! And I’ve got the prettiest wife…

Favourite take-away?

M: No really I’ve got the prettiest wife.

I believe you! That’s always the case isn’t it?

M: She’s really beautiful… So what’s the next one?

Favourite take-away?

M: Take away food? Umm… Tandoori Chicken? Indian Food?

So do you go to Brick Lane? (Brick Lane has London’s biggest concentration of Indian restaurants in one street)

M: Is Brick Lane the spot?

Yeah man 100 restaurants in like a mile long street! People haggling for your business…

M: Oh shit… Good food right?

Top notch man… You should check it out…

M: Cool… yeah Indian food is my shit…

First record you ever bought?

M: Rappers Delight, with all pennies…

Favourite video game?

M: Ummm… I like sports games, but SSX Tricky part 2 because I got a hidden character in the game… And it’s sick…

Favourite deck and mixer?

M: Ohhh shit… I like the Vestax PDX 2000…

Waitress comes and drops another latte for Mike…

M: Great my back up latte has arrived! (laughs) But yeah PDX 2000, and the Rane TTM56 mixer is the shit…

Say a film is being made about the ISPs, who plays you?

M: (pauses) Who plays me? (pauses) I don’t know, De Niro? (laughs)

What have you got in your pockets?

M: I got… I got a (pauses) I got a magnifying glass… There’s a gun… I got a miniature bazooka cannon too…

Have you got any records you always carry? The ones that never leave your bag…

M: I mean… (pauses, puts on serious voice) I travel with a lot of Goth music… (laughs) I’m into Goth mash ups! (more laughs)

And a PC or Mac?

M: Both, I like the best of both worlds, but Mac I got to say Mac… All the way…

Thanks to Mike for his time. You can check his site for more on the man himself, and past releases. Also be sure to check the January edition of Turntable Radio where you can hear an edited version of this interview as well as new tracks from the LP and a 25 mins mix from Mike at the dna lounge in LA.

Thanks to Gizmo and Samsascratch for their questions and thanks to Anton @ badmoon for the hook up.