Cult Maniax, in case you didn't know, are an excellent band from Torrington in Devon. The amount of classics they have is unbelievable. Just listen to the first EP (the landlord's favourite, ha ha) "Blitz", "American Dream", "Road to Nowhere", "Poison Pen Letter"... And if that isn't enough, they should have a new single out soon (probably out now).

The band's first moment of fame(?) came when the landlord of the Black Horse took a dislike to the Cult's song of the same name (must have NO taste, that bloke!), so I though it to be a good way to start an interview...

HAGL: Why were you banned from the Black Horse?

CM: Back in 78, when "we" all had dyed hair(?), I was always drinking in the Black Horse. Well, one day, the landlord was a bit pissed, and he had some relatives in there. When I walked in, he told me to "piss off", etc, trying to be the "big" man in front of his relatives. I picked up a large green glass ashtray and threw it at him, but his bouncers were too quick, and beat me up, bastards. Well, rumour is that the landlord (he's German) was in the Hitler youth, so I gave it all I could. Revenge is sweet.

HAGL: How did the landlord get to know about your song, and what was the result of the court case?

CM: The landlord soon got to hear of it. I don't know how. We had to go to the Bristol Crown Court, the result was that we had no money, so they couldn't sue us. In the end, the landlord had to pay the costs. HA HA. Our master tapes and 200 of of 1000 singles were destroyed. Only 800 were sold, and are now highly sought after.

HAGL: Do you think the sleeve put many people off buying your LP?

CM: If I were you, I wouldn't even buy the LP (too late boys - Trev). It's shit. Reason, after we recorded it, Gregory (Evete Doll) said we could mix it and do the cover when we came back from Belgium. Well, when we came back, he had done it and totally fucked it. Bastard. I hope it dies a death. We went to London to kill Gregory, but we couldn't find him. We haven't got any money, either. Our new EP is on our own label, though. That's gonna be released in about 4 weeks. Wait for it.

HAGL: Have there been any complaints about the pressing quality of it? Mine jumps more than Harvey Smith!

CM: Yes, hundreds. I don't blame them.

HAGL: Are "American Phonograph" a new label? Are they connected in any way with "Sexual Phonograph" (the label Blitzkreig were once on)?

CM: Yes. I wonder if they were ripped off, as well. It wouldn't hurt to ask them.

HAGL: Were there any pic covers done for "American Dream", and if not, why?

CM: No, at the time we couldn't afford it, seeing as we paid for virtually everything else.

HAGL: Are the vinyl releases the only stuff available by you?

CM: No, we have a tape list. See elsewhere.

HAGL: I hear the LP was recorded some time ago. Have you changed much since then?

CM: Yes. Got better, and know how to suss out managers, record producers, and rip-off merchants who are only after the money and don't give a shit about the band.

HAGL: Where did you get the 'Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas' ("Black Mass") spell from?

CM: Witch's amulet.

HAGL: Is Lucy Looe a real person, or has someone got a wild imagination?

CM: A real person. We all got wild imaginations.

HAGL: What about future releases, then?

CM: New EP "Full of Spunk" out on Xcentric Noise. Tracks "Cool Cats Dancing", "Psycho Rocker", and "No More Beachboys".