Joaquín 'Nikis': “We have always taken care of ourselves because not taking care of yourself is dying and dying is stopping having fun” | Culture | EUROtoday

Five years in the past, Joaquín Rodríguez (Madrid, 60 years previous) determined for the primary time in his life – and regardless of having been the charismatic composer, chief and singer of probably the most hooligan bands of the 80s, Los Nikis – to go to music courses.

He had been self-taught with the bass and that have led him to jot down in 2015 Music NPI (Chelsea Editions), a e book during which he inspired anybody who wished to start out a bunch to take action even when they’d no fucking thought about music. “Now that I know a little about harmony it makes me want to season my words with salt and eat them, like Mortadelo did,” he says with the identical mocking irony that led to a few of his most well-known lyrics from his band.

Rodríguez has a 28-year-old daughter who loves Taylor Swift and a 31-year-old daughter who’s a fan of The Strokes. And he, who’s an Iberia pilot, has now taken up nation. The instrument that he discovered to play in these courses was the banjo and the fruits of what he discovered might be seen in his new mission, Los Nikis de la Pradera, the group with taste hillbilly with which he releases a self-titled album, on the El Volcán label, and with which he debuts this Thursday at Moby Dick.

Ask. Were you already a pilot while you have been in Los Nikis?

Answer. I mixed it for a very long time with Los Nikis, as a result of I used to be changing into a pilot from 82 to 87 and within the army group from 80 to 90. Then I joined Iberia and I managed because of the assistance of a programmer, Carmen, who was charming and knew that I performed in a bunch and I organized my shifts as greatest I may.

P. And did they’ve followers throughout the firm?

R. In the eighties and nineties not a lot. When they made me a commander, I already had my rocker standing, but it surely was extra with the revival that there was now that many hostesses inform me: “Yes, yes, well, I told my mother and she was a super fan of yours.” And I'm one step away from them saying it about their grandmothers.

P. Was it a giant disaster so that you can depart Los Nikis?

R. No, the disaster was earlier than as a result of I used to be the one who composed all of the songs and each time we completed an album I assumed: “My God, where am I going to get the ideas to make another one?” So making the most of the truth that one went to the United States to check, one other to work outdoors, we left it. He was then 27 years previous.

Rock was not invented right here. We are all Japanese attempting to bounce flamenco and nothing occurs

P. But he was very younger! Of course, what a disaster, not what a disaster!

R. Well, I bear in mind a phrase from Paul Weller when he left The Jam that was one thing like: “We are 21 years old and we play for an audience of 17. We have to retire now.” At 27, I noticed myself as a grandfather.

P. And then what did your midlife disaster include?

R. I not left something for 40. And I’ve at all times actually favored music. With Mauro Canut I had a bunch within the 2000s known as Los Acusicas. We have been there for a decade. Now I must be with this group till 2030.

P. Aren't you afraid of being criticized by the purists of the nation for taking up the style?

R. If they don't prefer it, that's their drawback. For somebody to return to me with a hat and a buckle and inform me that I don't respect gender? I inform him: But child, what are you telling me in case you are from Soria? With Los Nikis we have been already attempting to do the identical because the Ramones, like so many Spanish rock teams. And rock was not invented right here. We are all Japanese attempting to bounce flamenco and nothing occurs. If at 18 we didn't care about criticism, think about now at 60. Zero ballplayer.

Two of us have already had prostate issues, one has been a grandfather, one other has had eye surgical procedure. That is, we see the residence already there within the distance

P. And aren't you too lazy to go on tour at your age?

R. In different phrases, if at 18 you might be very excited to start out a bunch and depart the neighborhood to go on tour, at 60, much more so. Because after all, two of us have already had prostate issues, one has been a grandfather, one other has had eye surgical procedure. That is, we see the residence already there within the distance. What could possibly be cooler than now Arturo's granddaughter asking about her grandfather and being informed: 'It's not that he's on tour along with his nation group'? It would have been very simple for us to play Los Nikis songs once more, attempt to fill the WiZink by taking part in Ernesto y The Empire Strikes Back. On the opposite hand, that is ranging from scratch, with an awesome want to have a very good time.

P. Do they take excellent care of themselves?

R. We have at all times taken care of ourselves as a result of not caring for your self is dying and dying is stopping having enjoyable. And additionally Rafa and I, being pilots, can’t lead a nasty life.

P. And what are the benefits of being a sober rocker?

R. I feel that having fun with it extra throughout and after… We have seen within the 80s how individuals died round us. We have been additionally enormously influenced by the story of the Ramones, one of many saddest within the historical past of rock: they stopped speaking to one another, they dropped like flies. We didn't need to find yourself like this.

P. What do you assume The Empire Strikes Back Has it ended up changing into an anthem amongst far-right teams?

R. That was very postmortem, within the late nineties. My nieces informed me that immediately within the golf equipment individuals have been singing that and elevating their arms. I used to be freaking out. When I made that tune, I used to be enthusiastic about a satire within the faculty textbook the place you noticed the map of Spain from the fifteenth century after which the way it was shrinking.

P. But does he prefer it or dislike it?

R. It annoys me that folks search for three ft for the cat when it doesn't have any.

At 18 you might be very excited to start out a bunch and depart the neighborhood to go on tour: at 60, much more

P. U2, for instance, objected to Trump utilizing one in all their songs in a marketing campaign…

R. That has occurred to us on a small scale. A web site for a far-right celebration put it on her web site. And we informed them: forgive me, no. First, authors are paid. And second, permission is requested. They requested for permission and we stated no.

P. That's a solution, then.

R. Yes. But come on, I’ve at all times voted heart. I don't know if it's okay to say what you vote for or not, however I’ve at all times voted heart. I voted for UCD, then I voted for CDS, now I voted for Ciudadanos. And I'm out of a recreation! [risas] But come on, politics within the statistical cheese of my mind occupies one %. I’ve buddies with fully totally different political tendencies and it isn’t a subject that considerations us.

P. One of the songs on his album is devoted to a hater. Are you one?

R. Absolutely. In truth I can't stand haters.

P. And who’s it impressed by? The fool?

R. Well, the reality is that after at my work they gave us a PowerPoint presentation and the man who was directing it stated: “Well, as you see in the previous one, slide”. And I assumed: why does he say slide! It's a slide of a lifetime!

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