Part One; The Effects of Big Brother on an LSD-Ridden Consciousness


A phone conversation can be both a wonderful and a bizarre thing. The convenience is the wonderful bit, while the disconnect between the voice and the person you’re talking to can be the downside. A person seems different over the phone, with a seemingly different tone and attitude. In short, there’s simply not the same level of interactivity that there is with a face-to-face conversation. You’ll never have to worry about that type of disconnect when talking with Eric Quillington, however. Having been on any television network that has to do with music for the past four years, his unique tone of voice and quick way of talking is immediately recognizable. Both the charismatic and unusual aspects of his personality translated perfectly. In many ways, this is the same old Quixotic Quillington.

Something is slightly different during our talk, however. For the past while, interviews with Quillington have been scattershot at best. Getting a straight answer out of him without deviations into wildly off-topic subjects or a loss of interest on his behalf became an almost impossible feat. But, whether due to his own feelings of becoming a simple-minded diva, or a desire to express some of his thoughts to the world, this interview was one of the few he truly opened his heart and mind to. In the course of just over an hour, our conversation slowly shifts from the credibility of celebrities to shocking revelations about a possible solo career and his current position in the band that made him legendary.

How exactly did your spot on this television show come about?

“These things just sort of come together, often because of a specific event or person. In this case, it was the man whom I’m sharing a bromance with; Jason Smith. I don’t know too much about what exactly happened, so I’m not going to make up facts about their relationship; all I know is that they’ve had this on-again, off-again sort of deal. And so I, being the superhero I am, decided to make an appearance in an attempt to cheer him up. I love the guy to death, but shit’s going down if I’m not best man at his wedding. Anyways, it only took about ten minutes for the whole thing to turn into something out of ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’. It’s been a form of escapism for me, because every now and then it’s fun to get away from the surrealism that is my life. Of course, it’s a brilliant form of surrealism, so I don’t feel like staying gone for too long.

Honestly, I take the drama on this show with a pinch of salt. It’s very callous on my behalf, as some members of that show are close to me, but what’s going on is their own business. I mean, everything gets a little heightened on the cameras, huh? You have to put on a show, otherwise nobody’s going to watch it. I like to think of myself as a member of the audience; the fights and the parties are just mindless fun. If I have to be dressed in Guru clothes and high as a cracker to enjoy it more, than I will. I haven’t been taking it too seriously, so I really hope nobody else has."

That explains your large intake of drugs on the show. It seems as if you haven’t been sober for a single day since it started airing.

"Well, yeah. It’s slightly surprising that I haven’t been arrested yet, to be frank. Many celebrities use the excuse of their drug consumption being part of their own personal lives whenever they’re caught in the act. I’m doing it on camera, showing anyone who’s watching the joys and pitfalls of LSD, so I can’t use that claim with much credibility. I’m not going to defend myself, but I’m also not buying into the bullshit that it’s a negative influence on anybody. You’re watching a show about a bunch of divas and rockers living in a house together; do you really think you can take anything positive from something so similar to Jersey Shore? People know what they’ll be watching, so it’s more or less a ‘buyer beware’ type of thing.

I’m well aware of the consequences to this behavior, as I’m not a two-year old. People are going to think that I’m a hedonistic rock-star because of this, and I’m perfectly fine with that. I’ve come to the point in my life where I’ve accepted my faults; I know that I’m arrogant, I know that I’m irresponsible, and I know that I’m reckless. Despite knowing these traits, I have almost no idea what type of person I am, as it often seems like I have a lack of self-awareness; am I a John Lennon, or am I a male version of Paris Hilton?"

It’s surprising to even be having this type of conversation with you. Less than two years ago, you never opened up about yourself.

"Because back then I was a musician, not a celebrity. So, naturally, the interviews tended to be more about the latest album, and not what supermodel I was banging at the time. Although, without trying to be immodest, I’ve always had a somewhat flamboyant and noticeable personality, so people tended to be a bit more prying towards me than they would to others. I’ve always ignored their attempts to get me opening up about my life, but nowadays I realize it’s just part of the job description. If people really want to know about boring ol’ me, I’ll give them the so-called luxury.

You talk about musicians and celebrities as if they’re completely different types of people. Do you really believe this to be true?

"In my days of obscurity, it would also annoy me to see these privileged pop-divas moaning about their lives, so I’d never open up about the fact that I harbor this guilt about my career and lifestyle choices. It all comes down to my family, specifically my mother. When I look at my father, who I’ve only really seen a couple times in my life, I feel pretty proud about the fact that I’ve become world-famous, while he’s probably homeless. It’s a horrible thing to think, as the only indecent thing he’s probably ever committed was leaving my mother before I could even walk and talk, but I think it just the same. Of course, when I think about dear ol’ Kelly Lithe, my whole attitude changes. Suddenly, I’m the bastard. She’s a doctor who gave birth to a selfish rock-star. Which of us do you think is nobler, in the end?

There’s misery in my life, as there is in everyone’s. But I use it as inspiration, not something that controls my existence. That’s the difference between these two types of people; a celebrity pointlessly wails about their life to anybody who’s willing to listen, while a musician turns that melancholy into something beautiful."

While you’ve no doubt been one to make the ugly aspects of life beautiful through music, your public persona is more happy and spontaneous than the one you use while singing. Have you ever noticed just how wide the gap between these two parts of your life is?

"Yes, quite a few times. Fortunately, this difference doesn’t make a hypocrite. I’ve never been saintly or holier-than-thou in my music, so my lifestyle has never contradicted what I’ve sung about on record. If I sing a line like ‘Monday changes to Friday, all in a day/why should anyone care when they’re preoccupied with shades of grey’, I’m not just going to sit around for the rest of the afternoon feeling miserable while thinking about the state of humanity. There’s genuine joy in my life, and it's perfectly balanced with the darker days. I write lyrics inspired by the latter, because there’s no way in hell that Infinite will ever become a bright and sunny pop group. That would make me a hypocrite, as it wouldn’t be an honest depiction of who I am. Now, it may seem weird that the man who appeared drunk at the Field Day Festival would call an album like Midnight Skies ‘honest’, but that’s the way it is. I have depth, both intellectually and emotionally, we all do."

You’ve implied earlier that your personality and outlook on life have changed throughout your life, and likely will again. How do you see yourself changing as a person within the next couple of years?

"I’ll become more of a mature person. And, yes, I know; that sounds like such a lazy and pretentious answer, but hear me out. I think I’ll always be a Mad Hatter in public, for as long as this unexplainable fame of mine lasts. It’s how I cope with the attention, and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. But, talking to the world has never been a very successful way to channel my thoughts and feelings. Interviews, press conferences, television appearances; they’re all part of a very limited structure based on questions and answers. Not that there’s a problem with that, as they do their jobs brilliantly. But, when I sing to the world, that’s where the true change will lie. As my thoughts and ideas become more matured, so will my music."

Part Two; A New Dimension to a Familiar Triangle




Infinite has been very busy recently, with the upcoming release of ‘Dancing about Architecture’, and an untitled EP. We haven’t heard too much about the later, though; what’s the status on it?

“I’m actually glad you’ve asked that. It’s not an Infinite album anymore; it’s an Eric Quillington one. The ideas for it have been kicking around in my head since the release of our second album, but it’s never gone anywhere. In the end, I asked Greg and Matt if I could just take it and see what I could do. They supported the idea completely, thankfully.”

What made you decide to begin writing a solo album?

"It all has to do with the lyrical themes. When writing in a collective, the ideas have to be much more universal. Well, at least, they do for me. I’d always feel very awkward singing about only myself, when there are two other fantastic musicians playing accompaniment. Of course, my lyrics always have been based my own thoughts and feelings, naturally, but I try my best to translate them properly, that way everybody can get something out of it. Infinite’s a very anthemic band, I’ve realized this recently. I sing about the feelings of everybody around me, because that’s what you do when you’re in a band. Although I respect the group immensely, I would never want to become what Pink Floyd was on ‘The Final Cut’. It’s all Roger Waters on that album, nobody else really had an input. It’s a beautiful album, don’t get me wrong, but not how I think a band should function. I’m aware that my views on bands are different than others, but it’s how I personally function; my job in Infinite is to turn the personal into the universal. This solo album of mine has ideas solely based on myself; my fears, my thoughts on the afterlife, etc. I’m not trying to be a pretentious asshole, but it feels as though I need to write this by myself. It just wouldn’t be right if anybody else had an input; I have a very clear idea about the structure and content about this record, so I’d end up being terribly unkind and cold to anybody else who’d be involved. And, I really don’t want that.

The ideas for this new record came from a time when I was about fifteen or sixteen. I’ve never been very religious, but I was pressured in by some of my more soulful friends to try out a meeting or two at the local church. While there, I was taught several interesting stories. One of them came from the idea of a man experiencing the beauties of heaven for several minutes after a heart-attack, before being dragged back down to the miseries of the mortal world. Those familiar with Infinite’s work will instantly recognize the similarities between that story and ‘Midnight Skies’. And, the other one had to do with one of the more disturbing aspects of a perfect rapture. It’s the idea of going to heaven and having to forget about the loved ones sent to hell. If you knew that your husband, your son, your best friend, whoever, was burning for eternity, it’d fill you with the most horrible sadness imaginable. So you’d have to let go of your memories of these people to experience heaven’s joy. That concept is the backbone to my solo album. I don’t know if this an actual representation of Christianity, as I’ve never once pretended to be an expert on religion, but it’s intrigued and inspired me. This album isn’t meant to condemn religion or heaven, as I’m merely using these ideas as a writer would when creating a novel, or a painter would when making a work of art. This album is being made because I’m ready to become an artist."

Does this mean you’re leaving Infinite?

“Ah, the infamous question. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I’ve been asked that. People have, unfairly, always focused on me rather than Greg or Matt, so they always think that a solo career would be natural. The truth is, I could never leave Infinite, as it’s the defining feature in my life. I very much think this album will be a one-off, probably the only thing I ever do by myself. I feel no need to satisfy my ego by showing the world that I’d be talented solo artist, because I know in my heart that I wouldn’t be. They’d just throw tomatoes at me onstage; without Greg and Matt, I’m just an eccentric little twat bouncing off the walls. I’d have no artistic credibility on my own, because I need people to ground me. Thankfully, now I have three, instead of two.”

Three?

"Yep. Fantastic way to announce a new member of Infinite; just a little side comment. Well, we, that’s the band and I, decided to wait a tiny bit before revealing it to the world, because this would turn her into an immediate star. But, with the ‘Mind Rebirth’ tour about to kick off again with her as our keyboardist, there’s no better time than the present; Amelia Florentine is the new, fourth member of our former power trio."

What convinced you to let her join the band?

"I’ve actually been looking for someone else to join Infinite for quite some time. I don’t think there’s ever been a situation of a band at a commercial and critical peak inviting a complete unknown to join the band. So, it’s nice to know that I’m managing to do new things with the concepts of rock music about sixty years after it’s inception. Not totally sure if we’ve reached our peak yet, though. I do hope not, as there’d be nowhere to go but down from there, but it’s reassuring to know that the band is willing to experiment with success while at the top of our game. She really doesn’t like Infinite, to be fully honest; thinks we’re too pretentious, too arrogant to be artsy. But that’s good! Many would just abuse the situation of suddenly being in a famous band through drugs and woman. It’s not a gimmick, of course; she’s a wonderful musician, very talented at both keyboards and vocals, with the added bonus of having written these amazing ambient pieces. I’m so excited for her to prove herself, and I cannot wait to see the jaws drop on everyone’s faces when they see what she can do.

I once read something about triangles being the symbol of unity and strength. And, y’know, that’s all fine and dandy, but where’s the fun in life without the risk? Of course, the risk may come provoking the fury of Glamazon’s, my quite attractive and lovely girlfriend, for not being asked to join the band.. Just hope it won’t lead to any conflicts that prompt sharp objects to be used as weapons. Because that would be unpleasant. Anyways, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll be off; there are narcotics to consume, songs to write, people to meet. Have yourself a pleasant life."

___

And with that, my conversation with Eric Quillington ends as abruptly as it begun. What I got out of an interview that lasted a little under an hour was just how quickly the famous icon’s world is changing; a solo album, a new member by the name of Amelia Florentine, and an emotional maturity to finally talk about personal feelings are just a few of the changes the past few months have brought. Judging by his love of being both unpredictable and unique, it’s very likely that more is to come. In many ways, Quillington’s claims of Infinite being no more after Insomnia ended up being quite true. After the release of Dancing about Architecture, it’s very likely that the band, now a quartet, will be a completely new incarnation. What that means for their sonic and lyrical techniques in the future is anybody’s guess. But, for now, their fourth album (which will be resuming a track-by-track release next week) offers proof that the band is still at the top of their game.