Hardy Fox AOL appearance, March 1995
(Redirected from America Online appearance, March 1995)
In March 1995, then-president of The Cryptic Corporation, Hardy Fox, appeared on AOL chat while in Japan to promote The Residents' then-recent CD-ROM projects, Freak Show, Gingerbread Man and Bad Day on the Midway.
The below is a transcript, sourced from an archived version of the defunct fan website RZWeb. Fox appears as "Guest MW".
Transcript
- Guest MW:
- The Residents will not be logging on. It's just me Hardy Fox from the Cryptic Corporation.
- Zorca:
- Welcome Hardy.
- CSEmcee2:
- Welcome, Mr. Fox!
- Guest MW:
- The Residents are currently in Tokyo.
- Zorca:
- Eyeballs and all?
- CSEmcee2:
- We are ready to take more questions from the audience.
- Guest MW:
- Eyeballs and skull.
- Zorca:
- Hardy, the Residents have been putting a lot of effort into CD-ROMS lately. Would you mind telling us a bit about what advantages you see in this medium?
- Guest MW:
- The Residents have always had interests in mediums other than music and CD-ROM's offer the opportunity to explore many of them. And by the way, Sorry I'm late. Big storm knocked out our phones.
- Question:
- Are there any new 4x CD-ROM portables due out soon?
- Guest MW:
- We're only developing software.
- Question:
- Will The Residents record any other albums such as their Beatles tribute" album?
- Guest MW:
- They have tribute albums to Hank Williams, James Brown, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa.
- Question:
- Hardy, do you know if The Residents will be touring anytime this decade?
- Guest MW:
- No plans for touring, but they are directing an opera based on Freak Show CD-ROM in Prague in November.
- Question:
- On the new Gingerbread Man album there are four eyeballs. Is this an old picture or a new eyeball?
- Guest MW:
- Old Picture.
- Question:
- Hi hardy, remember the Eskimo snippet? Besides Hunters do the Residents have any more TV projects in the works?
- Guest MW:
- No, except plans to make a video of the live Freak Show in Prague.
- Question:
- Are The Residents performing in Japan?
- Guest MW:
- No, promotion appearances for the Japanese version of Gingerbread Man CD-ROM.
- Comment:
- Yeah, the PC magazines say Netscape is the best for Macs right now.
- Question:
- What kind of software was used in the production of the CD-ROMS?
- Guest MW:
- Director, Electric Image, Photoshop, Sound Designer. The usual.
- Question:
- Do the Residents do all their development on Macs?
- Guest MW:
- Yes, absolutely.
- Question:
- Are other SF underground musicians such as Irene Dogmatic getting into putting their art on interactive CD-ROMS?
- Zorca:
- I think Survival Research Labs are working on a CD-ROM, although that's not really music.
- Guest MW:
- Irene Dogmatic has just moved back to the Bay Area after many years in New York, but don't know her plans.
- Question:
- Does everyone who knows the Residents personally know that they are the Residents?
- Guest MW:
- No.
- Question:
- Is The Residents WWW homepage up & running yet?
- Guest MW:
- The best homepage is in Canada, I found it using Yahoo. Searching for The Residents.
- Question:
- Was Snakefinger's fatal cardiac arrest due to illicit drug use?
- Guest MW:
- I don't know. He was a long way from home and I never asked.
- Question:
- Do the Residents have a Web page? I haven't seen the Gingerbread work. Is Jim Ludke involved?
- Guest MW:
- The Residents have not created their own web page yet, though several exist. Jim Ludtke worked on Gingerbread Man.
- Question:
- I got kicked off the modem and did not hear your answer. Are there any portable 4x CD-ROM players due out soon for Apple portables?
- Guest MW:
- The answer was: We are software folks, not hardware.
- Question:
- What direction do you feel the Residents will take in the next century?
- Guest MW:
- I don't know. But they do tend to follow the technology.
- Question:
- Hardy, does that mean there is still one eyeball missing?
- Guest MW:
- It means one eyeball is hexed.
- Question:
- Ask them what do they like about film and television scoring.
- Guest MW:
- It pays for their more esoteric projects.
- Question:
- Do they use power macs?
- Guest MW:
- Yes, but not exclusively.
- Question:
- I need to know where I can download Neverwinter Nights?
- Guest MW:
- Not here. Never heard of it.
- Question:
- Are the residents able to support themselves doing what they love-whatever that is-or do they have to work at real jobs?
- Guest MW:
- They support themselves doing their art, which is what they consider their real job.
- Question:
- Hardy, have you ever personally met all of The Residents?
- Guest MW:
- Yes, I work with them regularly.
- Comment:
- Hello, my name is Steve. I was wondering if you could talk to people in Australia, Japan, or Hawaii?
- Question:
- Have the Residents ever worked on Amigas before?
- Guest MW:
- No.
- Comment:
- I've seen the Canadian Res page but I'm waiting for the Official Product.
- Guest MW:
- Just a lack of time to get it done.
- Question:
- Do the Residents have any plans for collaboration with other artists?
- Guest MW:
- They have been working on a project with Fred Frith for years. It may never be finished.
- Question:
- Are the Residents involved with S.R.Labs? Would Cleveland, Ohio be a viable venue for a Residents' performance? Please say yes, thanks.
- Guest MW:
- Not involved with S.R. The Residents have already played Cleveland twice.
- Comment:
- It was really great to see my two favorite artists The Residents and Todd Rundgren work together!
- Question:
- Will the Residents make anymore music videos?
- Guest MW:
- Only plans are for videos within CD-ROMS.
- Question:
- What did they write for TV and film?
- Guest MW:
- Pee Wee Herman shows, several MTV things including for Liquid TV, and of course, Hunters for Discovery.
- Question:
- When will NOT AVAILABLE be available again?
- Guest MW:
- Not Available is available.
- Question:
- Will we ever know who they are?
- Guest MW:
- Why does it matter?
- Question:
- Can the Residents be killed by any but supernatural means?
- Guest MW:
- Not yet.
- Question:
- Do any of the Residents have a favorite movie?
- Guest MW:
- John Woo's The Killer.
- Question:
- Do the Residents live in San Francisco still?
- Guest MW:
- Yes and no.
- Question:
- Will the tribute albums be reprinted again?
- Zorca:
- If individuals can't find Residents music and CD-ROMS locally, is there a mail-order address?
- Guest MW:
- They are available in Europe now. Hope to release in USA soon. Mail order: 1-800-795-3933.
- CSEmcee2:
- We have time for one more question.
- Zorca:
- One of the things that I particularly like about Freakshow was the emotional involvement. You learn to love Wanda. This is rare in CD-ROMS. Would you care to address this?
- Guest MW:
- Freak Show CD-ROM was conceived to be an emotion-based project, which is unusual for the medium.
- OnlineHost:
- All good things must end. We've run out of time for this event.
- Zorca:
- Hardy, thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few question here.
- Guest MW:
- Enjoyed answering questions.
- Zorca:
- We really do appreciate it. Say hi to the Residents.
- Guest MW:
- Let's do it again sometime!
- CSEmcee2:
- We at Center Stage were delighted that you were our speaker.
- Zorca:
- You're on!
- CSEmcee2:
- And thanks to our audience for their questions. Good night everyone!
- Guest MW:
- Coming in October: The Residents Bad Day on the Midway.
- Zorca:
- Ciao all, please come back next time, same time same station.
See also
- Hardy Fox
- Freak Show
- Gingerbread Man
- Bad Day on the Midway
- A Day Hanging Dead Between Heaven and Earth