Interview with Ultrabunny by Sarah Pelletier (early 2005)
1) Could you introduce yourself?
Bobby: We're Ultrabunny, from Danbury, CT. We changed our name from BunnyBrains 88, to declare our domination of all bunny bands, and also cuz there's a rumor going around that all bands with the number 88 in them are neo-nazi skinheads. I have no idea how that started, but suffice to say, we have far too much hair to be skinheads.
2) Could you tell me about the other band members in the band?
Pete: They are twice my age and have longer hair than I do
Malcolm: Malcolm Tent-Jet Bass & co-founder, Bobby Bunny-Chief Strategist, Pete Beest-Hottie Appeal.
3) How did you guys meet and how long have you been a band?
Bobby: I used to frequently go to Malcolm's store Trash American Style back when it first opened in 1986 or 7, and I always bugged him with my shameless self promotion of my band Invaders From Sears. His band and mine played a few shows together and then we started playing in each others bands and starting new side projects every week. BunnyBrains was one of these projects; it wasn't either of our main bands, but it was where we could get out our most creative aggressions. We intended it to be "the worst band ever in the history of the world" and sadly, their are many more bands out there that ended up worse than we were. So basically Malcolm and I have been playing together on and off for most of two decades. Pete is also a regular customer at Trash and thus when we were looking to reunite the original BunnyBrains and needed a drummer, Malcolm recruited Pete and it was a very wise choice I must say.
4) What type of band do you consider yourself and what type of people are you reaching out towards?
Pete: As Bob has said, "We're a band for "fucked up deaf people with no shame or taste."
Malcolm: We walk through a 50 foot thick styrofoam wall and we attract those with the fortitude to walk with us.
Bob: Yeah, that says it pretty much. We're NOT a whole bunch of types of band, like we're not a noise band, not a psych band, not stoner rock, not space rock and not pretty much of any one genre really. We dont really have any peers that sound like us, which is sad, cuz we'd love to be part of a scene. We'd love to reach out to everyone who's tired of mainstream music and our goal is to corrupt the disenfranchised youth of america and abroad. Listen to us and be loathed and pitied by your friends.
5) Who have influenced you guys?
Pete: Flipper
Malcolm: Nobody
Bobby: People always compare us to Flipper, but its not a conscious influence for me, just a coincidence. BunnyBrains back in 88 was originally inspired by Happy Flowers and Butthole Surfers, but with our bent. Lately I find myself looking to classic rock a bit (Lynyrd Skynyrd for example), or back to basics like Eno.
6) What other bands have you guys played in?
Pete: 7 Mary 3
Malcolm: Everybody
Bobby: Pete was in The Fugue and a few other local bands. Malcolm was in a bunch of punk, hardcore and death metal bands, and I played in this psych band on Rough Trade called Beme Seed. Malcolm and I played for GG Allin at one time.
7) do u have a record label? if not who would you like to sign u guys?
Pete: Death Row
Bobby: We have two new records out on Equation. Its a US/UK boutique label for connoiseurs of collectible vinyl, run by Bill Bailey, who is our good friend and a big Hawkwind fan. We also have some CDs out on Malcolm's house label TPOS, famous for Antiseen and GG Allin (going strong for 21 years now), and my net label Bilge Dasto. We have a few small labels who are fans of ours and we're open to working with any on a project by project basis, but the days of being signed are pretty much over. A contract is pretty much limited to one record these days.
8) Have you recorded any albums? how many?
Pete: Every show is an album if it's recorded
Bobby: Yeah, Ultrabunny (BunnyBrains 88) has 2 vinyl records out (The Squirrel Attack ep box set in its varied forms) and about 10 live CDs. We're hoping to put out a double live album soon and then go into the studio and work on finishing our full length studio album. We also have old stuff from our early days (BunnyBrains '88 Demo, The BunnyBrains Double LP) and some rarities lying around in bins somewhere. As the BunnyBrains, we did a bunch of stuff, but thats not that important right now.
9) What are your favorite songs on these albums?
Pete: This Year The Theme of the Prom is The Tetragrammaton
Malcolm: Kuwait from the Double LP
Bobby: We're not really about songs per se, it more about the performances, since we improv everything. We've had some excellent live shows, but only a few were recorded. If I had to pick something form the records, I'd say Contracted Civilian Interrogator from the new Squirrel Attack box set, and Envelopes & Toaster Ovens from the '88 Demo.
10) do you ever get nervous before performances?
Pete: Nope
Malcolm: No, but I feel bad for the audience sometimes
Bobby: Sometimes, but it always goes away the moment I hit the stage.
11) What's your favorite part of being in a band?
Pete: Playing music
Malcolm: Ecstatic peace
Bobby: getting to hear the music really loud and entertaining people
12) Are you guys having fun?
Pete: Yes
Malcolm: Yes
Bobby: Of course, we have the most fun band ever, we really like each other and we love our audience, how much more fun can you have?
13) What are your plans for the future?
Pete: Hopefully try to keep the kewlness, right?
Malcolm: Crush Maim, Mutilate, Crucify
Bobby: More music, more shows, more records, merch, media, just more of what we do and we wont stop even if you beg us to..
Thanx sooo much for the interview you guys!
Check out Ultrabunny at www.myspace.com/ultrabunny.