In
1995, your Strange Things editor began work on
a project for the freshly-launched Television X, which was aspiring
to be more than simply a soft porn channel. I convinced them that
a documentary about 'transgressive culture' would be a good thing,
especially as many of the leading lights in the field were going
to be in London over the next few months. In the end, the higher-ups
decided that such noble aspirations were foolish and returned
to the T&A, but not before we shot this interview with Richard
Kern and Lydia Lunch.
The
pair were in London for NFT screenings of Kern's films and the
launch of his book New York Girls. This interview
took place the day after the launch party, which is one reason
why everyone is so tired! Also in attendance was photographer
Doralba Picerno.
It
was filmed by a TVX staffer on Hi-8, without any lighting - so
was never going to be broadcast standard. It was several years
before I was given the tape, and a few more after that before
I could actually play it. But while the quality might be a bit
murky, the content is, hopefully, worthwhile.I believe this was
the first - and possibly only - time the pair were interviewed
together.
