Interview with Danny Elfman from AOL

Question

Do you like writing music for movies and tv better than just plain ol' rock? Which movie score of yours is your favorite?

Answer

I love and hate them both with equal fervor. Sometimes it gets confusing though. At the moment I like doing rock more but I swing up and back. My favorite film score... that's hard to say because I like various parts of different scores but in general, Edward Scissorhands is probably my favorite....

Question

Will the new songs that you have been playing in concert be released any time soon?

Answer

I really don't know for sure. I plan to start recording at the end of the year but I'm not sure if it will be for another Boingo album or an offshoot album... I'm a big fan of Edward Gorey... how did you arrive at your moniker?

Question

Can we ask Danny if there will be a Boingo video release, since MTV hardly ever shows their stuff?

Answer

We just finished a new video for the song Insanity. Evidently it's a bit too wild for the new conserv conservative alternative reign of MTV. Maybe some more progressive outlet will show it, but we don't know.

Question

When will we be able to see a film Directed by you?

Answer

I've been writing scripts for the last 4 years and one of them is for me to direct It's called Julian and look for it on screens some time in the next one hundred years...

Question

Yo, Danny... Who were your greatest musical influences? Your style is so distinctive, I can't even guess...

Answer

Carl Stalling.. He was the first. And then Bernard Herrmann kicked everyone's butt. And I listen to lots of Prokofief and Stravinsky as a kid.

Question

Will Boingo (btw, I really miss Oingo...sorry you had to let him go <grin>) ever tour with the most awesome horn section again?

Answer

The Oingo is still there. It just got lost off of our current album cover. Since then, however, it was found by my daughter in between the cushions of our couch. Although it's a bit sticky it will undoubtedly find its way back on our next album. The horn section I'm sorry to say succumbed to the terrible flesh-eating bacteria that I'm sure you read so much about. I wish I could say that they died quietly in their sleep, as opposed to screaming in agony as was the case. However who am I to question such things in the great cosmic scheme...

Question

Are you going to be scoring anymore movies tracks in the future?

Answer

I'm currently working on a peculiar little dark comedy directed by Gus Van Sant called "To Die For"

Question

What are "Little Demons" and "The World of Jimmy Callicut"?

Answer

Ah, Amphigori, you little devil... How did you know? "The World of Jimmy Callicut" is at the moment dead... However, in Hollywood one never knows how long the dead stay dead. "Little Demons" is alive and well. It's a very dark musical about three very young murderers. I just finished the first draft of the script. Wish me luck.

Question

I am wondering if there will be a seconf compilation album?

Answer

If anyone invites me to compile a second part to "Music For A Darkened Theater" I will be happy to oblige. Maybe after another score or two.

Question

how long have you been composing for tv & movies

Answer

Since 1985. It started with "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" although five years earlier I had done a bizarre midnite cult film called "Forbidden Zone" directed by my brother, Richard. If you can ever find it anywhere, try and catch it, it's really wild.

Question

Any new plans to work with Tim Burton? Why didnt you score "Ed Wood"?

Answer

Tim Burton and myself are not working together anymore. I'm sorry to say.

Question

A lot of your earlier work suggests that you have had a lot of nightmares. Do dreams play a part in your songwriting?

Answer

My entire life has been one continuing nightmare. God help me.

Question

Why has there been such a dramatic change in the sound of your music from old Oingo Boingo to Boingo?

Answer

Why not?

Question

What is the background of your musical training?

Answer

I'm self taught. I listened to lots of movie scores when I was a kid tied to the heavy cast iron chair while my mother went out shopping, which was usually 8 to 10 hours a day as my mother liked to shop quite a bit.

Answer

what music groups are you listening to right now??? I'm a big fan of Primus, Ministry, and Smashing Pumpkins

Question

How do you feel about Elmer Bernstein, John Williams? Any influence there?

Answer

I love the old geezers working now. They're much better than us thirty to forty year old imbeciles that seem to be dominating the scene. In particular, Elmer continues to surprise me. As does Jerry Goldsmith. And of course every now and then, cranky Mr. Morricone. By the way, I'm starting to get cranky too. So maybe that's a good sign

Question

where should composers go who want to get their music placed in a film(songs/soundtrack/themes,etc.?

Answer

I would suggest a good long stay in a nice quiet sanitarium. Make sure you find one with pretty nurses and lots of strong drugs. Masturbation four times a day is also an excellent exercise in becoming a film composer. I put most of my music up my butt Not knowing where else to place it

Question

What gave you the idea for the Simpsons theme?

Answer

Watching the Simpsons, stupid!

Question

Loved "wierd science" & "dead man's party". How about a new Oingo album?

Answer

Are you trying to piss me off or what? I just came out with a new Boingo album. Why the f*** do you think I'm here right now?

Question

What is a tender lumpling anyway?

Answer

Good question. I'm still trying to figure that one out. It comes from an old Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo poem.... And so my tender lumplings, let my welcome hear you now... Into our flesh-pink home of hearts we greet you with a bow... So entertain you must we may our pleasure from within. The Oingo Boingo treasure chest of lust and mortal sin.

Question

Will I be able to get to talk to Mick Jagger tonght?

Answer

F**** off. Jagger's not here. Jagger's blowing his mother. In England. And he won't be back.

Question

Did you compose anything before you were succesful that you later revised to use in composing a film recently?

Answer

No

Question

Were either "Breakfast Machine" from Pee-Wee's Big Ad or "Descent into Mystery" from Batman inspired by Orff's "Carmina Burana"?

Answer

Not the "Breakfast Machine" but certainly "Descent Into Mystery" was

Question

ok maybe t\my other questions did not get through. Have you ever been asked ot wanted to do any work for or wtih David Lynch or Angelo Badalamenti - did you write the soundtrtack for ED WOOD?

Answer

I would love to work with david lynch some day. As I answered earlier, I am not at this time working with Tim Burton in any capacity and I did not score Ed Wood. sorry

Question

What on Alpha Centauri is a pedestrian wolf?

Answer

Damn you, Amphigori. Why do you mock me so? JUST KIDDING If you want to know what a pedestrian wolf is, read the lyrics. Then immediately knock yourself out with a heavy object. And the answer will come in your dream

Question

hey Danny didn't you do the music score for The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Answer

Yes

Question

Are any florida dates scheduled for the current tour?

Answer

sorry. not this time around

Question

A common theme in Boingo's music is death. Are you fascinated by death, and why?

Answer

My best friends are all dead people. So why not?

Question

what is your favorite food??

Answer

My girlfriend's pu**y

Question

Is "Helpless" (from Boingo) an offshoot of the Nightmare stuff or a penguin afterthought.

Answer

Helpless is an old Mystic Knights' apparition.

Question

Did you invent Batman??

Answer

I am Batman, you imbecile. Use the freeze frame on your video player and you'll see that it's me. P.S. I also invented Superman and Spiderman

Question

What about the rumours involving you and Davide Bowie which have been repeated again and again by Howard Stern?

Answer

I won't tell you again. I'm not Mick Jagger, you blithering idiot

Question

What knowledge do you have of the multiple drum and bugle corps doing shows of your music? Were you contacted about this?

Answer

I wasn't aware of it but I'm flattered and I'd love to hear it some time.

Question

Do you plan to sing again in a movie? Would you like to sing for one of the upcoming Disney cartoons?

Answer

When hell freezes over... or maybe later

Question

Is Boingo playing on the East Coast any time soon?

Answer

We just returned from our East Coast tour. Sorry if you missed us. We'll be back

Warner

All confirmed tour dates will be posted in the Warner Forum

Question

How many more albums do you expect to put out? -- Oingo Guy

Answer

Until I drop dead... and then maybe I'll still do one more

Question

Hi Danny. Are you going to do the music for Batman Forever?

Answer

no, no, no,no....

Question

I have cerebral palsy and have been going to Boingo shows since 1986, one dream I have is to go back stage and meet you guys. Can you help? Kevin Stamper

Answer

sure. contact our management when we're in your vicinity. The address and phone # are listed on the back of our albums. See you backstage, dude.

Question

Is there any way to see any of your newer videos if we cant get them on eMpTV?

Answer

I wish there were. Request it. Request it. Request it!!!

Question

Elfman,--please answer this!!!!! Did you invent batman??

Answer

Batman was my son in law twice removed, from my first marriage -- if you really must know

Question

your music is always very dark, is there any specific reason for that type of style ?

Answer

Light hurts my eyes

Question

Have you ever considered composing a "classical/modern" piece for Orchestra (To quiet all of the people that criticize movie music!)?

Answer

Some day ... when I get really old and really cranky ....which may not be as far off as it seems..

Question

My 5 year old son & I have been signing "Nightmare" songs for months. Do your children have favorites? Maybe the lullaby in change?

Answer

I wrote most of the songs in "nightmare' for my daughter who was 7 at that time. Her favorite song was 'The Scheming Song'

Question

What's the horn section doing now that you're not with you this album?

Answer

working on the crew of a steamer bound for Peru

Question

Any chance of Richard directing another video for you. If so, will we ever see it?

Answer

Richard just finished directing a really cool horror movie called 'Shrunken Heads'. Look for it on video soon from 'Full Moon Prods'

Question

When do tickets go on sale for Boingo on Oct. 29th?

Answer

Too late, dude. They're gone. But the 30th just went on sale.

Question

I was really impressed with your singing in "Nightmare Before Christmas." Have you been taking lessons to get that operatic quality? Also some of your vocals on the Boingo album sounded nothing like what I've come to recognize as your voice.

Answer

I've never had any singing lessons. If I did, I might know what I'm doing

Question

Is Danny answering questions in random order?

Answer

That's for me to know and you to find out

Question

Why did you cover "i am the walrus" on Boingo? Does it have some special meaning or d'ya just like it?

Answer

no reason. it was a spontaneous thing

Question

Hi Danny, I love the Insanity video, but I think the cover of I am the Walrus is the best on the album, will you be making a video for that and will it be released as a single?

Answer

jesus probably knows. but i don't

Warner

We will do about three more questions and let Danny go.

Question

My wife has a copy of a 45-rpm record of Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo" from 1976. Any value to this?

Answer

no

Question

Were you consciously trying to attack more adult themes with Boingo? or is it just a product of musical growth?

Answer

It's a product of musical retardation.

Question

did you do the voice of the Pumpkin King in Nightmare Before Christmas (speaking voice)?

Answer

Yes

Question

Rephrising the question I sent before: do you watch rushes from the movie, before writing music for it, or do you just get the topic, or feel, of the movie, and then compose?

Answer

Who cares? But of course I watch the movie

Question

If you could compose music for a film version of a classic book which book would you want to work with?

Answer

Crime and Punishment

Warner

Last question, from EricM FIR

Question

Where did The Clowns of Death come from

Question

When we wanted to sneak into a club without anybody knowing who we were, we used that moniker.

Warner

Thanks so much Danny, any closing remarks?

Answer

Sorry I'm so cranky, everyone. I didn't get enough coffee today. Sorry I don't have hours more time. I'd love to answer all your questions. Maybe we could do it again. Or maybe I'll come online with a secret screen name in the near future...

Warner

Sorry we could not get to everyone's questions. Danny will be reviewing the Boingo contest entries after the show, and we will send the winners their stuff!!! BTW, Oingo Boingo has a new album out in stores now, called BOINGO!! Go out and get it, also, they have a video for Insanity, call MTV and make them play this thing!!! Bye everybody