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:*members of [[GWAR]] trying not to laugh while in character |
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:*[[Henry Rollins]] appeared unsure how to handle him |
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:*[[Jello Biafra]] also hijacked by Nardwuar was impressed with his |
:*[[Jello Biafra]] also hijacked by Nardwuar was impressed with his guerrilla interview style |
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Others actually liked him, such as [[Kelly Rowland]], [[Marilyn Manson (person)|Marilyn Manson]], and [[Michael Moore]]. Notably Nardwuar does extensive research on the interviewee to confuse/scare/impress them, often bringing up facts about |
Others actually liked him, such as [[Kelly Rowland]], [[Marilyn Manson (person)|Marilyn Manson]], and [[Michael Moore]]. Notably Nardwuar does extensive research on the interviewee to confuse/scare/impress them, often bringing up facts about band members' pasts that they have a hard time recalling, until he coaches them along. Frequently, he will also attempt to make connections, no matter how obscure, between the person or band he is interviewing and Canada. |
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=== Music interviews === |
=== Music interviews === |
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Revision as of 02:26, 3 October 2006
Nardwuar |
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Nardwuar the Human Serviette (born John Ruskin, July 5, 1968) is a Canadian celebrity interviewer and musician from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He legally changed his name in 1986, and argues that "no one refers to Iggy Pop as 'James Osterberg'".
Radio
Nardwuar got his start in media at the University of British Columbia radio station CITR 101.9 FM in Vancouver. His show has been running every Friday afternoon (3:30-5:00 p.m. Pacific) since October 1987.
The program features a mix of odd and obscure music, along with interviews and commentary.
Interviews
Nardwuar's favourite targets would appear to be musical celebrities, but he'll interview pretty much anyone[1].
Interview style
His interviewing style can be quite grating and confusing to those who have had no prior experience with him.
A typical interview will begin with "Who are you?", followed by "From?" if the subject doesn't volunteer their affiliations. The interview will always end with "Keep on rockin' in the free world, and the "doot doola doot doo..." of "Shave and a Haircut", to which the interviewee must respond with the final "doot doo!" before Nardwuar will let them go.
Due to his upfront and uncompromising style he has been attacked verbally, physically threatened, and intimidated by luminaries such as:
- Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, who stole Nardwuar's tuque
- the band Quiet Riot who chased Nardwuar and crew down the street
- a member of the band Blur who was threatening
- members of Slipknot who have walked out on interviews
- Alice Cooper, Harlan Ellison and others have hung up on him
More often the experience confuses the celebrities;
- members of GWAR trying not to laugh while in character
- Henry Rollins appeared unsure how to handle him
- Jello Biafra also hijacked by Nardwuar was impressed with his guerrilla interview style
Others actually liked him, such as Kelly Rowland, Marilyn Manson, and Michael Moore. Notably Nardwuar does extensive research on the interviewee to confuse/scare/impress them, often bringing up facts about band members' pasts that they have a hard time recalling, until he coaches them along. Frequently, he will also attempt to make connections, no matter how obscure, between the person or band he is interviewing and Canada.
Music interviews
Nardwuar's interviews are frequently shown on MuchMusic's Going Coastal, or printed in Chart. He is known for researching obscure trivia about his interview subjects, and tends to surprise his interview subjects by not asking "normal" questions that are label- and musician-friendly.
Political interviews
Nardwuar has also been known to be a "guerrilla journalist", often sneaking in to press conferences under the guise of a more normal reporter, to confront political leaders or other non-musical celebrities with surreal questions. He has asked Mikhail Gorbachev which world leader had the biggest pants, and Crispin Glover whether he sleeps in a coffin full of tar; on another occasion, faith healer Ernest Angley told Nardwuar that "God will strike you down" for persistently asking if there was a cure for the summertime blues.
On another, more infamous occasion in November 1997, he cut off all his hair and was able to sneak into an APEC conference to ask Jean Chrétien if he supported the pepper spraying of protestors outside. Chrétien responded with a line that has become well known in Canada: "For me, pepper, I put it on my plate."
In June 2004, Nardwuar convinced an amused Paul Martin, former Prime Minister of Canada to play a quick game of the Hasbro game "Hip Flip" while he was on the campaign trail. [2]
Paul Martin is not the only Canadian political leader to engage in a game of Hip-Flip with Nardwuar—on a campaign trip to Vancouver in December 2005, Nardwuar concluded an interview with New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton with a successful, coordinated, swinging of their hips.
The musician
Nardwuar is also the lead singer and keyboardist for the band The Evaporators and plays in Thee Goblins.
Trivia
- In 2005, he contributed to the UNICEF benefit song, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?"
See also
External links