Rock and Pop: Interview with Eugene Kelly of the Vaselines
Published: 09 September 2010
by ALAN STAFFORD
EUGENE Kelly is friendly, generous and perhaps just slightly resigned as he’s asked for the 10 millionth time about The Vaselines’ link with Nirvana.
“It’s part of our story,” he says. “If it wasn’t for Nirvana we’d just be another band who released a couple of singles and disappeared. They put our music into the world. That really helped us.”
It really did. The reformed Vaselines – Kelly and co-songwriter (and one-time girlfriend) Frances McKee – are about to release a new album and embark on their biggest tour so far, including a show at The Scala and 22 dates in the US. It’s a remarkable resurrection for a small Scottish indie band who split in 1989 with little fanfare.
One person who certainly did notice them was Kurt Cobain, an evangelical fan of their catchy and suggestive lo-fi punk. Nirvana covered three Vaselines songs, unexpectedly bringing the Glasgow band to the attention of millions.
Speaking after a long day’s rehearsing, Eugene is quick to acknowledge the debt but hopes The Vaselines will be judged on their own terms and work.
“Sometimes we want to read something that doesn’t say ‘Kurt Cobain’s favourite band’,” he admits. “Lots of people don’t like Nirvana, and they think we must be lots of screaming and noise.”
“We’re standing on our own two feet now. Kurt Cobain never covered any of the songs off our new album.”
Sex With an X comes a remarkable 20 years after their first album, but comes from the same well of inspiration, mischievous and punchy. After reforming for a few shows in 2008 the pair found themselves writing songs together much as before, sitting together with guitars and ideas.
“We always feel that we have both got to contribute to a song for it to get on a Vaselines record. I think we both have to feel we’ve got joint ownership,” says Eugene.
The 2008 shows also uncovered an unexpectedly deep affection for the band, inspiring the new tour, by far their biggest so far.
“Even in 2008 we never thought there was anything in the Vaselines,” Eugene admits frankly.
“We didn’t really know how much of an audience there was for us out there.
It was only when we went out there to play in America we realised we had fans everywhere.”
All in all, The Vaselines are in very good shape for a band whose career seemed to have run its course more than two decades ago.
Eugene does have one slight worry, though – that the renewed interest might also arouse some interest from the trademark department of the lubricant that inspired their name.
“I’m waiting every day for their phone call,” he laughs.
“Maybe someone there likes us.”
• The Vaselines play the Scala on September 22.