It was Through Johnny Thunders that I came across New Rose Records.
I had bought 2 records of Johnny when I was a kid and lived in Paris: "So Alone" and Live @ Max's kansas city with the Heartbreakers.
Later 1983, living yet in West-Berlin, I got two other records of Johnny: In Cold Blood and Hurt Me.
This was the first time I saw the New Rose Record Label.
1986 when I recorded the first Lolitas Record in Hamburg, Germany for the German label "What's so Funny About".
Owner Alfred Hilsberg. suggested us to find a French Label or distribution since Lolitas had mainly french Lyrics.
Hilsberg gave us 2 contacts wich came to nothing.
I suggested New Rosen but Hilsberg turned the Idea down thinking New Rose was to Big for us.
Nevertheless while I came to Paris with Françoise Cactus we went to the the New Rose Record store, 7 rue Pierre Sarrazin.
We didn't know anybody from the Label, so we just gave a copy of our record to the clerc with a note tha we wer looking for a Label in France.
Much to our surprise we had a phone call the Next day by one of the 2 New Rose Label owner: Patrick Mathé.
As we told Patrick Mathé that we wer in Paris, he told us to come by at his office wich was right above the Record store.That was the very first time I met Patrick Mathé and he began telling us his story wich sounded pretty much like a fairy tale to us.
As matter of fact Patrick just got back from a trip in the US and had rented a car to travel a bit. On this trip he had a tape, compiled by a friend of his, with a compilation of various bands including one of our songs "Touche Moi".
Patrick thought he'd knew all french bands in the music business and couldn't believe, so he told us, that he didn't know who this band was.
Patrick loved the song and when he eventually discovered that it was us, it was obvious to him that we had to work together
It was allready during this first meeting that Patrick told us he had in mind to put us in touch with Alex Chilton (also signed on New Rose).
Our first record would be licensed by New Rose, but Patrick didn't want the Cover on What's so Funny About wich was the reason why it came out in France with a different cover.
First of all, I think Patrick Mathé was a fan of Lolitas
and Françoise Cactus, probably less of me.
He also affirmed it in an interview given for Chronic'art: rock-us/)
I owe Patrick a lot for having known Alex Chilton and Chris Spedding.
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| Paris 2005 (pic by Patrick Mathé) |
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| New York 1990 (Pic by Françoise Cactus) |
I maintained a sincere friendship with Alex until it's death (actually until the very end since I had a phone call with him a couple of hours before he died).I unfortunalately lost track of Chris.The recordings of our album “Bouche Baisé” in New York remain unforgetable memories. To me Chris is a Gentleman, a very talented musician,very humble man and if his career is impressive, he would have deserved , I find, much more recognition. Professionalwise, I found New Rose very unprofessional.I never saw a single count of the sales of our records for intance, nothing very sensational in show business. What also bugged me was the lack of consideration of their artists. Patrick sent us to Berlin a french photographer: Alain Duplantier who was supposed to make shootings in order to create a cover for our album "Fusée d'Amour", graphics was supported by P. Huart and P. Cholley who did most of the New Rose Record covers. The Problem is that I really didn't like the cover of "Fusée d'Amour" and I never was asked for if I like it or not.I did the graphics and artwork for the germann Label "Vielklang" and liked a lot better. For having talked to Peggy O'Neil from the Gories, the same happened to them with their record "I know you fine, but how you doin'" (also produced by Alex Chilton), the Gories where pissed and horrified about their record cover too. And Last not leastn when Partick Mathé reissued on Last Call records "New York Memphis", my drawing was used our should I say misused (since the bottom of the drawing wast just cut away).Of course I never got a dime for it. I know, this is usual in Music business and I have no resentment or regrets.Likewise I liked much better the original cover of "Fire of Love" from Gun Club than the one issued by New Rose. The same shit goes on as I heard summer 2022 that a Book "Replay New Rose for me" had to be released, of course nobody told me about it and I have even less received a copy while there are several pics of me in this book !
Nevertheless, great record label with great bands, and of course I 'm grateful for being a part of the story.
Fusee d'amour on NEW ROSE
Fusée d'amour on VIELKLANG
