Talking Medieval

Furta Sacra
From: London, United Kingdom

Furta Sacra, one of the Devil's picks for Glastonbury ETC, have taken some time out from plotting to transform the British music scene to chat to the Devil and reveal their medieval criminal roots, their fictional royal family tree and the debts they owe Elvis and Nietsche.

The Devil: Why Furta Sacra?

Alex: Furta Sacra was a medieval crime, namely the theft of holy relics. We aim to steal the sacred and melt it down into the profane. We have a special workshop for this.

The Devil: What other names did you ponder before deciding it had to be Furta Sacra?

Alex: Lots, but they were all even worse.

Tim: I suggested ‘The Tiny Fists’. Ivan (the drummer) thought we should be called ‘Mark Garvey’ – after the guy who recorded our videos for us.

The Devil: Who are the biggest influences in your life and on your music?

Alex: Elvis and Nietzsche.

Tim: I think we are most influenced by each other. We’re also influenced by the impending downfall of Western society and the coming of a new Dark Age. The end of the world is nigh it seems - or at least a lot nigher than it used to – and our music aims to reflect this.

Gaz: Jean Baudrillard, Morrissey, Jeff Buckley and Karl Marx.

The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

Alex: It was either Bach or the Bangles.

Tim: The first was Chuck Berry greatest hits compilation. The first I bought was probably Nirvana.

Gaz: Queen Live at Wembley ’86. Do stolen goods count as ownership?

The Devil: What makes Furta Sacra stand out from the millions of other bands across the world? What makes you unique?

Alex: All original music is an act of creativity, and all creative acts are equally valid from a holistic point of view. However, we do have substantially more interesting haircuts than most of our competitors.

Gaz: That’s easy – just listen to any of our songs! And look out for our forthcoming requiem mass. But being punctuated with our range of haircuts certainly helps.

The Devil: Which bands or artists on the current music scene make your spine tingle with joy?

Alex: All original is music is an act of creativity etc., etc., but the Cesarians are dead good.

Tim: I like the song Yonkers by Tyler, The Creator.

Gaz: Loving the new PJ Harvey album. But also One Dimensional Man and Low are pretty good value at the moment.

Ivan: Paolo Benvegnu

The Devil: Favourite song?

Alex: Je Ne Regrette Rien

Gaz: McAlmont & Butler, ‘Yes’ (great choice Gaz).

Ivan: Truly, ‘Blue Flame Ford’.

The Devil: Favourite book?

Alex: Gravity's Rainbow, by Thomas Pynchon

Tim: The Wasp Factory, by Iain Banks

Gaz: Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig.

Ivan: 1984.

The Devil: Favourite Movie?

Alex: I, Claudius. Technically a mini-series, but better than any film.

Gaz: Withnail & I.

Ivan: Into the Wild

The Devil: Favourite word?

Alex: "Debacle". Or "maelstrom". Or maybe "catastrophe", which makes me think of a really stern form of punctuation. The Devil has all the best words.

Gaz: Skulduggery.

The Devil: Tell me something that you've never told anyone before.

Alex: I once found a new note - 'H' - but I've forgotten where it is.

Tim: I’m the rightful heir to the throne of Denmark – although I’ve never told anyone this because it’s not true.

Gaz: I often chuckle to myself randomly while recalling sketches from Father Ted – notably “that would be an ecumenical matter”.

The Devil: If you weren't in Furta Sacra how would you keep yourself occupied?

Alex: Suicide.

Gaz: By following my unrealised dream of financial accountancy.

The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?

Alex: "If you were in the desert and you came across two brothers, one of whom always tells the truth and the other of whom always lies, and you needed to ask one of them the way to the nearest oasis, what would you do?"

And I would reply:

"I would say to one brother: 'If I asked your brother the way to the oasis, which direction would he indicate?' - the answer he gave would then be correct."

I have memorized this information in case it comes in useful, but have no idea why it works. Or for that matter, why it would come in useful.

Tim: I would ask, “If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?” and answer it, “If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?”

The Devil: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the Devil Has The Best Tuna readers?

Alex: Buy land - they're not making it anymore. Or if they are, it's normally near an active volcano.

Tim: Come to one of our gigs and download our music – it might save your life.

Go Try

MP3 - Furta Sacra - Boneman
MP3 - Furta Sacra - Dustbowl
These tracks are published with the permission of Furta Sacra so please don't claim breach of copyright

Go Visit

Furta Sacra - Myspace

Go Visit

Furta Sacra
Shake It Like The End Is Nigh