ELLIOTT MURPHY : Last of the Rockstars

AN AMERICAN SUMMER - PART 7
C'est dans le 2ème arrondissement, à proximité de la rue Beauregard, à laquelle il a d'ailleurs consacré une chanson, qu'Elliott Murphy nous donne rendez-vous pour cette interview.
Coiffé d'un bandana qui cache ses longs cheveux blonds, démarche assurée et lunettes de soleil vissées sur la tête, notre rocker ne manque pas d'allure. Comparé à Bob Dylan au début de sa carrière américaine, c'est à Paris que cet ami de Bruce Springsteen a décidé de s'installer en 1989. Avec plus de 100 dates européennes par an et 30 albums au compteur, Elliott Murphy mérite son surnom de "Last of the rockstars". Il a accepté de revenir pour nous sur sa carrière musicale mais aussi littéraire et bien évidemment sur Paris, ville dont il est tombé amoureux lors d'un voyage sur la route dans les années 70...



Elliott, where are you from and how did you end up in France?
I am originally from Long Island, NY and moved to Paris in 1989. It’s been 20 years; more than I have lived in New York. My love affair with Paris is a long history because I came here first in 1971 when I was travelling in Europe and playing on the streets. That trip changed my life, I started to write songs, I loved the European lifestyle, the way it felt here, but I came back to the States where I recorded many albums but by the 80s. However I was already playing most of my concerts in Europe.

I have read somewhere that you said you chose culture over success by coming here...
Yes, maybe I said that (laughs). Paris is very poetic, the city is heavy with a sense of history that America doesn’t really have. You’re surrounded by it, cultural spots are everywhere. France respects culture a little bit more than success. I always say that the difference between America and France is that everyone here hates the rich whereas in America everyone wants to be rich. For example, if someone asks you in the U.S. “what do you do?” and you reply that you’re a musician, they will say “yeah but what do you really do?” if they have never heard of you. That hardly happens here.


Elliott Murphy ©2009 Jean-Marc Ruellan / mutebook.com

Does that mean that it was beneficial for you to come here?
Yes, it was a great move, both personally and professionally. I put out 30 albums, I met some great French musicians I am working with regularly, especially Olivier Durand who has played the guitar with me for 13 years. New York City was great when I was young, hungry, and ready to stay out every night until 4 in the morning. But once that was over, I needed a stable place, a sort of base to climb mountains.

After 20 years living in France, what still surprise you?
The French! you guys are so special! (laughs). I feel you’re more excitable - in both ways - than Americans. People take it to the street right away; they get excited about great things…I like this kind of extreme of emotions, which always surprised me.

Video: Elliott Murphy:


How about yourself, do you feel like a real Parisian now?
Yes, I guess, I am complaining about Paris like everybody else (laughs). Every once in a while I have to pinch myself to remember that some Americans save money for years to come here on vacations…I mean, that’s the number one tourist destination in the world and I live here ! But I am truly not “blasé”.

Could you tell us one thing you love / hate about Paris and its inhabitants?
I love walking endlessly with no destination and getting lost in Paris. Every time I go to the Rive Gauche, I have some kind of vertigo, I don’t know where I am. One thing I hate? The metro closes early, I don’t understand that…

Do you feel that you're better understood here?
Yeah, I think I am better accepted in Paris, even if there is a tendency to put people in a box. Here I am “the American rocker in Paris” but I’ve had a couple of books published, poems, novels and it was very hard to get the critics to take me seriously as a writer. Sometimes, they are a little square…


Elliott Murphy ©2009 Jean-Marc Ruellan / mutebook.com

You’ve released 30 albums, you play with French musicians, you’re touring a lot in France and in Europe…What do you think of the French music scene?
On one hand, it’s pretty difficult for the French musicians. Because of the language, it makes it harder to export. It’s just lucky that I am singing in English, it’s a lot easier. But it seems that it’s changing since more French bands sing in English too. On the other hand, the social system is very good for musicians: the “intermittence” system, healthcare, lot of things that American musicians would love to have. But it’s harder to play, there is not as many clubs where you can just play. In America, if you don’t care what you gonna be paid, you can play a lot whether it’s more difficult here…

Are there any French bands that you particularly appreciate or you’d love to work with?
I used to love Noir Désir, Jacques Dutronc, Bashung, Moriarty that I discovered 5 years ago as I was a judge at a tremplin. I would love to do a duet with Monicca Bellucci even if she doesn’t sing (laughs).

Video: Elliott Murphy:


If you had to keep one album in your entire music library, which one would that be?
If it has to be one of mine, it would be Aquashow, my first album. If not, I would probably pick Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited.

By the way, you were categorized as the new Bob Dylan when you were younger, how did you feel about that?
It was a blessing and a curse at the same time. But I wasn't the only one, there were other singer-songwriters, like Bruce Springsteen for example. But it was difficult to have my first album "Aquashow" compared to his "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde". It was hard, what do you do next? But I love Bob Dylan, he was the Moses of the songwriters, he opened the water and everyone did what they wanted to do after that. Before him, the lyrics were pretty banal…

Let’s do a quick game…I give you a word and you reply with another one
Guitar? Love. New York? Hometown. Music? River…river of my life. Springsteen? Good friend. Family? The most important. Stage? Where I am most comfortable. Studio? Challenge. Writing? Everyday. Touring? Addiction. Paris? Sensual

How would you compare or differentiate your first album from your last one?
The songs in Aquashow were songs of innocence and dreams, essentially my rock’n’roll dreams, but also pain, childhood, growing up in the suburbs of Long Island. Now, they are more songs of experience, they are stories…I became more of a storyteller, since as you go on you run off of stories about yourself.


Elliott Murphy ©2009 Jean-Marc Ruellan / mutebook.com

How does writing poems, novels, books interact with your music?
I always say literature is my religion and rock’n’roll is my addiction. That’s because literature and writing is something that calms me down, it’s a stable factor in my life. Rock’n’roll is a firework, it’s been exciting since I started playing the guitar when I was fifteen. If there was anything different about my music, it was that it was more oriented toward literature than others…

Your son Gaspard is also a musician, what pieces of advice do you give him?
I tell him not to take drugs. I have seen that stuff destroying more musicians and bands than anything else. I also advise him to always keep the focus on music and not to think too much about money and fame. That's something that Bruce Springsteen taught me. For him, there was nothing else but music...and you can see where he ended up!

Would you say it’s easier to be a musician in Paris or in New York?
I can speak only for myself. When you just start, it’s easier in New York, but if you are more established, like I was when I moved here, it’s easier in Europe. There is more room for the middle to tour and play, whereas in America, you’re either nothing or everything.

If you had to choose between the studio and the stage?
Definitely the stage...

And between music and literature?
It’s a hard choice. I can’t imagine not playing the guitar…


Elliott Murphy photographié par J+M+R ©2009 Thibaut Estellon

Let's talk about your favorite spots in Paris...
What's your favorite neighborhood? Luxembourg
Street? Rue Montorgueil
Bar? Le Petit Châtelet, rue Saint Denis
Restaurant? Il Buco, Rue Léopold Bellan
Concert hall, club? New Morning
Music store? Paul Beuscher
Library? Village Voice

Do you miss the States?
Yes, my family is there, the music business is also important, it’s easier with the service: everything is open 24/7, you can eat whenever you want. But unfortunately the mentality can be a little isolated…

Last but not least...are you the “Last of the rockstars”?
Yes.

For more information about Elliott Murphy:
www.myspace.com/ElliottMurphy
www.elliottmurphy.com

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©2009 Thibaut Estellon / The French Creative Connection
©2009 Photos Jean-Marc Ruellan / mutebook.com
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