Perry Farrell

Let’s face it, pretense and pomposity, they’re both synonymous with rock and roll legends. It’s no secret Elvis took his personal plane from Tennessee to Colorado just because of a peanut butter sandwich. In more recent times, the unmitigated catalogue of assaults from Johnny Borrell on his comtemporaries proved yet again that he’s a bit of a four-letter word and that his ego inflates far quicker than Razorlight’s popularity. Clearly, for some, it can all go to their heads a little.

So, Perry Farrell: he’s peered through the fractious veil that surrounded the monumental Jane’s Addiction; he’s guest-fronted The Doors many times at the group’s personal request; he’s assumed the position of omnipotent commander over America’s attempt at Glastonbury, Lollapalooza. Surely by now he must be an unhinged and totally unapproachable megalomaniac?

Then again…

“I like curry. I had curry for dinner the day before yesterday and I had chips last night…” admitted Farrell in a buoyant conversation with base.ad recently, whilst touring the UK. Revealing a very personable and highly-sensitive disposition, Farrell not only spoke casually about British food, television and the desire not to covered in urine at the Download festival, but also touched on pressing matters such as global warming, abject slavery and the core ‘Solutionist’ message behind his new band, Satellite Party.

“I have a fondness for British people. What I especially like about the British people is their sense of humour and their sophistication when it comes to music” he confessed, before launching into a tale about watching jazz on the BBC. “It’s amazing that they have these shows that literally try to explain to the audience how music is made and how wonderful it is. The best thing we have in America is MTV and that’s not saying very much, is it?”

Well said, old chap.

Farrell’s ascendency from genuine rock legend to thoroughly nice bloke is demonstrated by his allegiance to a variety of noble causes. In 2001, he stormed into Northen Sudan with “some revolutionaries and abolitionists” and an exceedingly large bag of cash. The Sudanese government had forced many of its own people into slavery there and Farrell “literally traded for human life”. Thanks to his nads-of-steel gumption and humble generosity, 2300 lives were changed for the better. “We got the people back and freed them to go back to their villages.”

More recently, Farrell has concentrated his worldly efforts with a UK-based organisation called Global Cool. “Their ambition is to try to end global warming in a very fashionable way. They’re trying to do it using music as a catalyst for change,” Farrell was quick to mention in his earnest, yet savvy demeanour.

His environmental concerns have also seen Lollapalooza, the “completely carbon neutral festival”, donate funds to Costa Rican rainforest conservation aswell as to the city of Chicago “to beautify the parks and add oxygen back into the air.” He even had the opportunity to share tea and biscuits with Tony Blair during a chat about global warming earlier this year.

Nice one, mate.

“I like to think about making this beautiful change, this revolution solution. One where it feels good and when people contribute it makes their life better and makes them sexier.”

And this is where Satellite Party, with its electro-funk-orchestral-rock, becomes a venerable conduit for Farrell’s ‘Solutionist’ ideal. “I have in my mind what I want to do with the Solutionist movement. One thing is that we’re creating our own multimedia hub using live parties, events, webcasts and blogs.”

Ultrapayloaded is the conceptual end product. And althought it was cobbled together over three years using sticky tape and loo rolls it still blushes with an embarressment of name-droppable friends.

“Flea [yes, that Flea] and I were the first two people to start working on the songs. We’d surf in the morning and in the afternoons I’d make us sandwiches. We’d go into the garage and I’d program beats, sounds and loops. Then Flea would start laying grooves down.”

After that, heavyweights such as John Frusciante, Peter Hook and Jim ‘isn’t he dead?’ Morrison began popping up all over the album. One would assume this was because they too thought Farrell was just a very affable fella.

With the deference of a saint and the bonhomie of a close friend, Farrell further explained his movement, “I’m trying to create a modern myth that new renaissance artists are taking the world over through the strength of their creativity.….One night [in the myth] they’re asleep and coming through their radios is this vast visitation of energy. It’s a callout from the heavens that they’re having a party. The supreme being that’s hosting this party, this Satellite Party, is Jim Morrison.”

True, he may seem anachronistic and he may have felt more comfortable in a Magical Mystery Tour era, but wow, what a great geezer, hey?