This interview was shot in Basel, Switzerland, on 2003-02-16, in a club called "Atlantis", after a 3 hours long show...
The show was great, despite of a quite poor sound (at the begining).
So, I had the chance to meet with Popa after the show.
My friend Gaël has recorded the interview with his video cam.
To play the videos, you need the Real Player (go to http://www.real.com) .
N.B. : When your computer launch the video, if it says "Server Alert, Server has reached its capacity and can serve no more stream", try again and again, it will work..
 

[Thank you Popa, Mike, Kenny, Galea, Isabelle, and Gaël !]

Popa CHUBBY :

[Having fun about Mike LATTRELL]
… I met him in jail… I met him in jail, he was my bitch.

Eric :

Oh, ok…

Popa CHUBBY :

You know what that means ?
It means he toss your salad… Do you know what it means to toss a salad ?

Eric :

Oh sorry ?

Popa CHUBBY :

(Talking to Gaël, who is tuning up the video cam).
You’re getting all of this ? Are you recording me ? Record this, [?] come on man, [?] !

 GAEL (scarred) :

ok, ok, ok…

Popa CHUBBY :

(Popa restart his story about mike)
Me and Mike Lattrell met in jail. 
He was my cell mate, and I made him my bitch. That means he did my laundry every day, and he tossed my salad.
You know what that mean to toss a salad ? It means he had to eat my ass. Every day. Either with jam or sirup…

 Eric :

How do you feel tonight here in Basel ?

Popa CHUBBY :

I’m good. ‘Had a rough start. We had a little problem with the sound.
You know me, right ? I can be very difficult sometimes…

 Eric :

But you were right… (Popa left the stage during the show, because the sound was really poor).

Popa CHUBBY :

I was right, thank you, thank you very much.
You know, …, you’re trying to do concerts for the public, and, sometimes, …, especially the Swiss sound engineers, man, 
they’re fucking … mmh… very head strong.

They had this problem with volume, here. But I don't deal with that, man. You know, I just play how I play. [?]

Eric :

I remember a French show, about two years ago...

Popa CHUBBY :

Where ?

Eric :

It was in a club called « chez Paulette ». It was in a very little town (near Nancy), and you had the same problems.

Popa CHUBBY :

Every once a while I have a problem. And then I got to slap somebody [?].
I dont like… I like to fight, it doesn't matter.

 Eric :

You were right anyway.

Popa CHUBBY :

But we had a good time, right ?

Eric :

Yes, it was great.

Popa CHUBBY :

Everybody had a good time ?

Eric :

Yes, I think so...

Popa CHUBBY :

That’s all that counts. But sometimes I get frustrated, so…

Eric :

[About the 2002 European Tour]
You had a tour in Europe two months ago… and here you are again !

Popa CHUBBY :

I was in… Where was it two months ago ? In Germany ?

Eric :

And France.

Popa CHUBBY :

Germany and France, yeah..

Eric :

I’d like to know how many shows did you perform last year ?

 Popa CHUBBY :

Pfff.. I don’t know… maybe 150 , 160… It could have been more, could have been less…

 Eric :

Do you have a particular interest in Europe ?
Do you like Europe ?

Popa CHUBBY :

I play all over the world, you know. But, you know, Europe is a big part of the world, 
and Europe is a good market for music, so, I tend to spend a lot of time here

Eric :

And perhaps because of European food ?

Popa CHUBBY :

What ? European food ? It’s good yeah...

Eric :

And French food, more than…

Popa CHUBBY :

French food ?, can be good also, yeah…
It’s all good, I like food.

Eric :

Do you have good memories about French food ?

Popa CHUBBY :

(Eating)
Hmmm...

Eric :

About Europe, do you know some good musicians in Europe ?

Popa CHUBBY :

In Europe ? I know some good musicians, yes.

Eric :

I know you met a French guitarist, Bireli LAGRENE.

Popa CHUBBY :

Who ?

Eric :

B-i-r-e-l-i LAGRENE.

Popa CHUBBY :

(Finally understanding though my terrible French accent).
BIRELI ! Oh yeah, he ‘s great ! He’s gypsy.

Eric :

He lives not far from my place, and…

Popa CHUBBY :

Right. Yeah, I met him a bunch of time, yeah.

Eric :

How was he ?

Popa CHUBBY :

He’s great. He plays like Django, you know… Jazz.

Eric :

Did you play with him ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Yeah, we jammed a couple of times.

Eric :

Perhaps a record, in the future ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No, it’s not really planned, because, you know, we do kind of differents things..

Eric :

You don't like that kind of…

Popa CHUBBY :

No, I like it, I just don’t play jazz. It’s a different vocabulary, you know.

 Eric :

Oh, yes.

Popa CHUBBY :

But it was fun, he is a good guy, a great player.

Eric :

[About the new drummer and bassist]
You have been playing with your new musicians for about one year,…

Popa CHUBBY :

What, these guys, in my band ?

Eric :

Yes, Nicholas d'AMATO and Kenny SOULE…

Popa CHUBBY :

Yeah, they’ve been with me for about a year… And Mike has been with me for over ten years...

Eric :

Are you satisfied of your new musicians ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No ! Never satisfied ! (smiling) NEVER !!! (screaming).

Eric :

And about your friends that were injured in the car accident, are they fine ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Everybody’s good, yes, thank you.

Eric :

Perhaps we will see the drummer again, Larry CROCKET ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Yeah, he’ll be back, may be next year, you know.
He is still hearing up, he’s gonna start playing again, in a month.

 Eric :

Ok.

Popa CHUBBY :

He’s doing good. Everybody is good.

Eric :

So, recently, I had an interview with Mike LATTRELL, and I asked him…

Popa CHUBBY :

I know ! I’ve read it on your website. 
Yes, "how he came out", "how he hates Popa CHUBBY", (laughs), I’ve read that shit

 Eric :

I asked him some questions, and I’d like to ask you the same…

Popa CHUBBY :

Sure.

Eric :

So, I asked him what was his best memory for the 2002 European tour ?

Popa CHUBBY :

(Laughing) I can't remeber of the 2002 !

Eric :

Last year…

Popa CHUBBY :

European tour..

Eric :

He told me about a scooter story, a rented scooter story…

Popa CHUBBY :

Oh, I wasn’t with them then,

 Eric :

… in Corsica.

Popa CHUBBY :

hum hum. 
I wasn't with them when they did that.
You know, it was all good. To me it’s good, just playing is good. 
That’s all it’s all about. I come here out to play.

Eric :

And your worst memory, if there is a worst memory ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Wy worst memory ? (thinking).

You know, sometimes, it’s just like when shit doesn't go right. 
I dont want to get specific, but you know , you’re just trying to like make music, [??]
and sometimes [???] , instead of people working with you, they work against you. 
So [???] then you’re having a fight. 

And I don't come out here to fight, I come out here to play. So when that happens, that can be a [???].

Eric :

[Popa's top 5 CDs].
If you had to recommend some records to us, what would be your top five ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Oh, man that’s hard ! There are so many good records out there, man ! 
You know, there are like millions of records out there, so… It’s so hard to know how to [?] just five.

But I’d say… 

You know, the records that are important to me are not necesarrily important to everybody else. 

But, if I had to say… 

Number one, "the essential Leonard COHEN", it’s a collection by Leonard COHEN, you know Leonard COHEN ?

Eric :

Yes.

Popa CHUBBY :

Hm, I’d say, Tom WAITS, "Mule Variations", it’s a really great records.
Hm, you know, there are so many… 

I’d say Freddy KING, what’s that record called ? hmm, "Same Old Blues", 
NO, "Get Them Ready" by Freddy KING, it ‘s a great one.

May be a Jimmy HENDRIX record like "Elecric Ladyland" would be in there.

And, hmm, I don’t know for the fifth one, it’s hard, man, there are so many great records …

 Eric :

I can tell you the choice of Mike…

Popa CHUBBY :

No, you want to[??]
He is a fucking geek [?]! (smiling).

Eric :

Ok, so, next question !

Popa CHUBBY :

(Talking to the video cam, having fun on Mike).
Mike LATTRELL sleeps with his sister, he has sex with his sister, and his brother, … , 
and his little dog...
I’ve seen them, he fucked his little dog, that’s terrible…

Eric :

What question would you like to ask to yourself

 Popa CHUBBY :

Oh, …, to myself ? (laughing).

(Talking to the video cam)
"What the fuck are you doing out here ?"

Eric :

And what would be the answer ?

Popa CHUBBY :

"I don't know."

Eric :

What question has not to be asked to Popa CHUBBY ?

Popa CHUBBY :

What question ? 

"Why don’t you turn down ?" Or "turn your guitar down".
Don’t ever ask me to turn down !

Eric :

Ok, now, let’s imagine you are ten years older…

Popa CHUBBY :

Oh boy !

Eric :

What are you doing ? Are you still on stage, or perhaps do you own a Blues bar ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No, the same thing ! I’ll be doing this in my fifties...

Eric :

Do you want to own a Blues bar ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No, never !
Because if I own a Blues bar, I’ll have to treat muscians like shit, because that’s what people on blues bars do.

Eric :

And you can do it (the music) by yourself …

Popa CHUBBY :

Right, exactly…

Eric :

You come from New York City.
If I go to new york sometimes, what places do I have to see ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Good question man, New York is fucked ! 
You know, it’s not like it used to be, man. 

New York is dead. It’s not a great city anymore.

Eric :

Why ?

Popa CHUBBY :

(Long silence)
There’s not a lot of music anymore. There used to be a lot of music.

Eric :

There’s no room to play the Blues…

Popa CHUBBY :

There’s no room in New York City to play the Blues.

Eric :

You are a great guitarist, but I’d like to know if you have some other interests, 
such as painting, writing, or acting.

Popa CHUBBY :

No, no, just guitar.

Eric :

Just guitar…

Popa CHUBBY :

No, I tryied a lot of other things, but I don't really want to act, because I think it’s just like bogus, 
I like to watch movies, but I don't want to make movies.

Eric :

Did you see "Analyse This" number two ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Well, I got a lot of calls to act, and no, I just say no.

No, I’m pretty much just like dedicating my life to Rock'n Roll, man, you know.
I just want to play Rock'n Roll until I die. 

I wanna be like Keith RICHARDS, man. You know… that’s it.

Eric :

You’re right !

Popa CHUBBY :

I don't want to paint, I don't want to write, I don't want to fuck and [???]

Eric :

Just guitar…

Popa CHUBBY :

I like to fish. Guitar and fishing.

Eric :

That’s a great…

Popa CHUBBY :

And driving really fast !

Eric :

Do you have a sports car ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No.

Eric :

Not yet ?

Eric :

Could you say something to the video cam, that I could put on my website. Something funny ?

Popa CHUBBY :

(Talking to the video cam).

This is Popa CHUBBY, and I want to say to all the people who do the Sayyeah website and all the people who log on, 
thank you very much for listening to my music, and for giving a shit about it. 

And thank you, and we’ll see you soon, at a concert, and keep buying my records !

Thank you, bye !

Eric :

Well, thank you very much for this interview.

Popa CHUBBY :

My pleasure brother.

Eric :

I’m really proud...

Popa CHUBBY :

It's no problem...

Eric :

I will put this on my website...

[Nicholas d'AMATO is coming into the room]

Popa CHUBBY :

Hello Crusty !

Nicholas d'AMATO :

Hello –oh !

Popa CHUBBY :

Look what I got : a bottle of Champagne.
[…]

Eric :

So, you met Sam [my friend Sam, webmaster of www.popachubby.net] , in Nantes ?

Popa CHUBBY :

Yeah yeah yeah !

Eric :

It’s funny, it’s like a kind of competition between us...

Popa CHUBBY :

NO, it’s not a compteition, it’s great ! It's two great websites.

Eric :

I think his website is more like tabs and lyrics, and my website is more like …

Popa CHUBBY :

Photos, yeah...

Popa CHUBBY :

Yeah, I check your websites a lot of time, it’s great !

Eric :

Thank you...

Popa CHUBBY :

You do a good job.

Eric :

Thank you very much. Your website is great too !

Popa CHUBBY :

We try. It’s a lot of work, you know…

Eric :

You do it all by yourself…

Popa CHUBBY :

No, Galea does it. I don't do it at all. I don't even touch it.

Eric :

Are you an Internet addict ?

Popa CHUBBY :

A what ?

Eric :

An Internet addict ?

Popa CHUBBY :

No, I’m not really an addict, I just use it for work, you know. 
But I don't spend a lot of time surfing around and [??] I’m to busy making music.

Eric :

You know, there are a lot of stuff on the Internet about you…

Popa CHUBBY :

I know… (smiling).

Eric :

Well, thank you again !

Popa CHUBBY :

Ok, no problem Brother

- Introducing Kenny SOULE -

Eric :

So Kenny, where are you from, how did you meet with Popa chubby ?

Kenny SOULE :

I am from Connecticut, and North Carolina. But I live in NY now.
I met Popa CHUBBY at a join called "Hogs and Heifers".

Eric :

Sorry ?

Kenny SOULE :

Hogs & Heifers. A Blues bar.

 Eric :

…And you decided to join Popa ?

Kenny SOULE :

Well, this guy, who runs a blues jam, put us up together to play…

Popa CHUBBY :

No, that wasn’t that, man… You were playing with Walter TROUT.

Kenny SOULE :

Well first, I…

Popa CHUBBY :

You came up to jam, and you said « I don't play with Walter TROUT», and [??]

Kenny SOULE :

First, I came up, and introduced myself, and, yeah, said Hello to Walter TROUT. 
And the next time I went in there, we ended playing together.

Eric :

So, you have been playing for about one year with Popa...

Kenny SOULE :

No, six months …

Eric :

How do you feel today ?

Kenny SOULE :

It’s a great band...

Popa CHUBBY :

Come on, is it great Candy ? [??]
Tell the fucking truth, guy ! 

(Popa hit a bottle on the table, and brake the bottle)…

Kenny SOULE :

Do you see ? Great stuff !
[…]