| Red Devil: |
OK mate, come now, tell me a little bit about yourself. You know things like who are you; do you have orange toenails and a beard? |
| Flame: |
How did you know about my orange toenails? They were supposed to be a secret. Yes, I also have a beard (but not where you'd think it is). |
| Red Devil: |
Ahhh, I see. You are in Digital now. What's your 'job' in Digital and how demanding is it? Are you quite productive or a lazy git? |
| Flame: |
I paint gfx, but (at the moment at least) I'm doing more music (a sound disc will be my next product). There is no pressure - we all work because we like it! Struggling to meet deadlines at 2:30 am is a real turn-on. I'm VERY lazy graphically but other times my music takes a rest and I switch to painting (the luxury of choice!). |
| Red Devil: |
Good to see! He he. How did you come to be in Digital? Did you ask or were you asked? And which group(s) were you in previously? |
| Flame: |
My friend Flimbo put out some GFX and an old module (my first one!) as an 'advert' with his nice modem. Several groups rang me, including the Digital lot (then Mag Fields) - to my surprise they liked the work and I was asked to join. |
| Red Devil: |
How did you learn to produce such nice graphics? Were you taught at school or have you just picked up Dpaint and developed a skill from there? Have you and qualifications in Art? |
| Flame: |
My graphics don't look good to me - I'm flattered when people say they like them but after spending so many hours looking at them whilst they are being drawn, they don't really have an effect on me (everyone feels like that I suppose) It helps to jot down any ideas you have the moment you get them (and make a sketch). Then when you get asked to come up with something in a short space of time, you don't have to go through the agony of trying to force your brain to 'have' an idea. One example of not doing the above is my Punisher logo (very uninspired and rushed). Both my grandfathers were artists, my mother is a former art teacher and my father is a colour technician so I'd have been very pissed off if I couldn't draw... |
| Red Devil: |
OK. I'm not one for asking people to name their top three favourites or anything boring like that, but is there anyone in particular in the UK, or indeed, the scene as a whole that influences you, or impresses you? Do you draw inspiration from them and have you had any sexual experiences with them?!?! |
| Flame: |
There are many guys whose work I enjoy - On the graphics side, J.O.E. is one of the few people who can come up with really original IDEAS although his technique is not the best (this doesn't stop people trying to copy it though!). Cougar has an almost 'spotless' technique (I really liked his dog & devil head), but most original stuff I've seen from him (logos, etc.) hasn't been as good. Rack also has a nice technique but his stuff looks flat to me - also he just copies sections of fantasy art pictures for his textures. I had to laugh when Spider entered the charts - I'm sure he's a very nice person but everything I've ever seen from him has hurt my eyes (I can't believe someone paid him to draw the Action Replay MK III logo - Aaaarghhh!!!).
Musically, I find it quite frustrating that we are no longer treated to Walkman classics - hopefully this will change when CRB get themselves sorted out. Similarly, it is sad that we don't hear Uncle Tom tunes nowadays - they are always full of energy. Bruno has more knowledge about tune structure, styles and rhythm than anyone (he is one of the most underrated musicians ever). It is a great pity he has quit the scene. Two 'newcomers' who really know what they are doing are Audiomonster and Heatbeat. Also Moby tunes are always funky. Firefox's "Spank It" was so catchy (will be nice to work with you at Arcane!). Sexual experiences?? Mystik of Anarchy once sent me a pencil sharpener but I'm sure this was completely innocent (?!?). |
| Red Devil: |
Gor blimey! Back to the sane world I think! What's your opinion of the UK scene at the moment? Now Mr.T and Action Man have been busted, many guys have predicted that this is the beginning of the end. I DON'T share this view myself; what are your views? Who do you see as the premier groups in the UK scene, and who has the most potential for scene greatness? |
| Flame: |
I must say that I'm not 'into' the scene like many guys are (i.e. I.don't give a shit who's left what group, who's just bought a modem, who's currently awaiting sentence for a charge of animal harrassment, etc.). The scene appears to be 'growing up' in the sense that it's becoming money-orientated with groups timing the release of big demos to coincide with parties (in the hope of grabbing some prize money). You may say this destroys some of the scene's original spirit, but I'm buggered if I'm doing the amount of work the Punisher required only to end up with the satisfaction of completing the demo (which isn't far off the truth). |
| Red Devil: |
Do you think that there should have been something extra in the Amiga that would be beneficial to you? I.e, more bitplanes, more memory etc. |
| Flame: |
A built-in coffee maker would be handy for those late night sessions. |
| Red Devil: |
Do you do graphics PURELY for the fun of it, or do you have a burning desire to become world No.1? Have you done any commercial work? |
| Flame: |
Sorry to disillusion you, boys and girls, but (as many people are now realising) the charts do not always reflect talent but usually just who's the most well-known. For example, both 4-mat and Romeo Knight spent aeons in the no.1 spot (RK without even releasing anything!) and while they are both talented guys (in my opinion Matt in particular has developed very well as a musician). I'm sure they would be the first to admit that they don't deserve to be rated higher than Bruno or Walkman. I've had several offers of commercial work but it never comes to fruition ('A' levels see to that). If all goes well I will be starting full time work for Arcane Design in the summer (unless something better comes along!). |
| Red Devil: |
Well, thanx very much Richard. Before we Log off from each other, is there anything else you'd like to add; anyone you'd like to say hello to or is there any out there who's head you'd like to kick?? |
| Flame: |
Hi Photon (SCX Sweden) - what have you done with my logos...? Mystik - Better luck crashing the car next time...! Kick someone's head? The only person I'm annoyed with is PAL - I know it may seem a minor point that he tried to pass off one of my fonts as his own (by just painting it grey) but this has happened to me so many times that I really have had enough. EVERYONE 'borrows' to a certain extent, but I found it quite sad that he couldn't even come up with his own 'signature' logo - he just took mine and swapped the letters around - Ridiculous... |
| Red Devil: |
Bye then, nice speakin to ya! |
| Flame: |
Cheerio! |