the mambo interview - january 2002

  question: our research has shown that you were christened mambo by your half-brother, lou bega, as an act of homage to his song of the same name, made famous as the theme tune to the cricket, a couple of seasons back. can you confirm this as being true, and, more importantly, do you like cricket?

  mambo: i'm not a cricket fan, but i like the mambo theme tune. i also like the cricket theme featuring the cowbell and hammond organ. it would be great to play it live! but alas i'm not related to lou. there are a lot of mambos in this world and they probably aren't related to lou either and not all mambos can claim to be a hesitation.

  q: mr fun credits you as having had the "inspired idea that we should throw in a 'sha-na-na'" at the climax of let it go. some sources would have it that this is this a reference to eastern mysticism. our information, however, points to an infatuation with country music's own shania twain having a major influence on your work of the period, with the stuttering repetition being some kind of in-joke. discuss.

  m: it's true, i added the 'sha-na-na' to let it go. eastern mysticism is partly responsible, shania twain is partly responsible, the mood of the time is part reponsible and a lack of lyrics figured in there too.

  q: how did you come to join the hesitations - were you pre- or post- calamari? is it also true that you are scottish?

  m: i believe that calamari was jonny's first band at school and a bit before we met. my joining the hesitations? in a way, i feel as though i've always been a hesitation... i mean, there are probably other hesitations out there that we haven't met yet - in fact, i know that to be true! speaking non-spiritually, i joined when jonny asked if i wanted to have a good time, playing good music in a good band. oh yeah, i'm scottish.

  q: as a hesitation, do you feel particularly close as a band? jonny describes some of the members as being like 'cousins' to him. are you similarly minded?

  m: like i said, there is a spiritual dimension to the hesitations and we are all related on a deep musical level. we haven't been able to articulate our spirituality that well, but it tends to come through in the songs and live appearances - apart from the pleasance gig of course.

  q: can you explain the difference between licence and license?

  m: i can explain the difference, but i choose not to.

  q: it has been suggested that a certain band member - namely juan pablo - has actually been deported. how, if indeed it is true, has this affected camaraderie within the ranks?

  m: juan pablo...did he play dulcimer with us once? i think he works in bolden colliery now. camaraderie is fine with us for sure.

  q: photographic evidence lends itself to the opinion that you are quite one for exposing his chest in a bear-like act of manly defiance. has this ever caused scheduling problems, a la madonna's arrest some years ago for lewd conduct while on stage in america's bible belt?

  m: i remember the photograph you make reference to. it didn't cause any problems at the time. however, suggestions that we appear nude on the cd cover have attracted some criticism. i understand that jonny is still keen on the idea, so we'll see...

  q: for your final question mambs, (if i can call you that, as i feel we have a bond now,) is there anything you've said *ever* that you'd like to retract, or anything that's been twisted out of context that you'd like to clarify? you can use a personal incident or something that's been banded around the gutter press if you wish, your call...

  m: it's true, there has been a lot of mush written about the hesitations. we are sometimes misunderstood, but we stand for fun, love, lime, laughter and great cups of tea and that should come across in the music. the true fans know that. if you want to know what it is all about, come and see us live... regrets? well, i once commanded an audience to clap and cheer silently after a gig. they did and the live recording kinda loses a bit of atmosphere, but hey, it was cutting edge at the time. i gotta catch my cab now - love and lime, it's been a pleasure.