Mark Lemon
Village Green Machine, The Rag Dolls, The Jacobites
By Geordie Pleathur
(SugarBuzz USA)
SugarBuzz Magazine
"We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
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We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
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Affinity
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(-The Kinks)
"When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen"
(-Ervin Drake)
Obviously, we Sugarbuzzers are long abiding aficionados of the Jacobites, Bounty Hunters, Gunfire Dance, These Immortal Souls--all those artful and romantic, poetic champions from our crushed velvet clad, rose-tinted past. Ex Jacobite, Mark
Lemon, is making some really lovely, new, sixties influenced pop, reminiscent of the Kinks, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles, with his melodic outfit, Village Green Machine. We thought you might like to know more about them, so we put the Good Mister Lemon through the traditional Sugarbuzz inquisition. Enjoy yourself!
DISCUSS YOUR EARLIEST INTRODUCTIONS TO MUSIC..INFLUENCES...YOUR FIRST KID BANDS, ETC.
MARK LEMON: Apparently, I used to rock to Beethoven in my "playpen" lol. Then it was my older brother's and sister's 45's, "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Bucket T" by Jan and Dean being the very first records I remember. Dansette piled up with 45's, this was my childhood and things haven't changed much lol. The first bands I loved were T Rex and The Sweet.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: ORIGINS, MEMORIES OF THE RAG DOLLS?
MARK LEMON: My memories of The Rag Dolls, I will say it is hard to convey how exciting it was. They were simply the best rock & roll band in Britain, as I hope the Beacon Session will demonstrate, when it hits ITunes. They were working class lads, it was all rough and ready, smoking, drinking etc, friendly guys. Audiences used to wreck the venue, the PA toppled over and there were kids taken to hospital, such was the reaction, when the band shaped up towards the end. Slim and Dave Kusworth were fantastic performers, looked amazing, and wrote good songs. Also, music in the UK was dire at the time and fashion worse, we were fully formed in an entirely different way.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: BEATLES OR KINKS? UNDER-RATED
LP'S?
MARK LEMON: Under rated, I think "Help" is. "Face To Face" by The Kinks is hugely, their later 60's albums still overlooked. "Something Else", albums like that, can be overlooked because really, The Kinks weren't hip with the rock crowd of the time. They were something of an anomaly, misfits, and I think their career suffered, as a result.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: FIRST TIME YOU MET DAVE KUSWORTH? WHAT WERE HIS PARENT'S LIKE?
MARK LEMON: I remember going to his house in Winson Green, and seeing this cool looking man come forward to have a look at me, then retreat. We went down in his basement with the violet light, he was drinking bottles of beer and plainly, to a 17 year old, was impressive. I thought the band, rehearsing down there, sounded like The Pretenders, not a bad judgment, perhaps, in retrospect. I had a strange stirring and awakening in the pit of my stomach. Something good was up. It was before I could play, Mr K was reticent about having me, but the drummer forced the issue, and I was in.
Dave's parents are no longer alive. I met them once, they were ordinary, decent people. His mum 
said to me on the phone "you've got to try" and I always remember that. I think they must have been a grounding in normality, compared to the somewhat unhinged life of rock & roll.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: BEST NIKKI SUDDEN STORY?
MARK LEMON: I asked him if he could give me a velvet jacket, and he gave me the one he wore on the cover of Robespierre's Velvet Basement.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: HOW WERE YOU PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY MOD, DAVID BOWIE, THE FACES, GLAM, AND PUNK?
MARK LEMON: Mod has been a recent thing. The attention to good clothes and style impressed me and the music, soul, r & b, blues, is the stuff of life. With Village Green Machine, I have moved on a bit from the mod thing, mostly, I've just grown my hair like Brian Jones, lol. But mods and 60's music fans do like "England's Dreaming Spires", its a 60's sounding album and Village Green Machine is certainly influenced by The Kinks, Small Faces, etc., so the mod influence is a shadow. Also, I am strongly influenced by rhythm and blues.
Bowie was an experimental songwriter and musician and that avant garde spirit has influenced me, despite the retro 60's sound of Village Green Machine. I find his vocal style a bit mannered these days, but the quality of his best songs is phenomenal. The Faces vibe never touched me, but now, I appreciate their power. Good band, and after all were the remnants of a favourite band of mine. Rod The Mod! Probably up there with Chris Farlowe among the British 60's r & b singers, in
fairness.
Glam to me remains the pop end, the non serious end. The Sweet, Slade, Suzi Quatro. Absolutely fantastic pop. The serious side, plainly was darker, the general aura of drugs, transvestitism, outsider status, self destruction. "Oh! You Pretty Things!" I think Iggy and Lou were in the background stoking the boiler, lol. And I'm a MASSIVE fan of theirs. In fact, there is a Lou/Velvets influence on the forthcoming Village Green Machine LP.
Punk? Well, I agree with Glenn Tranter, The Pistols were a mighty band. I love "Babylon's Burning" by The Ruts. Sad to hear Poly Styrene has died. There was a freshness and youth bursting through the hippie monopoly, which was much needed by '76-77, of course. Generally, a high standard of songwriting emerged, I could listen to many of the songs today and enjoy and respect the material.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: DID YOU KNOW STEPHEN DUFFY OR THE DURAN 2 LOT?
MARK LEMON: I met Stephen Duffy twice. He rang Dave Kusworth's house when I was there, to say he was coming round, much to the horror of Dave's wife, Lesley, who rushed to put some make up on. He had a book with him to keep track of what was going on, a diary thing. I didn't seem able to get through to him somehow. He was friendly, but
had this, perhaps, trance like detachment. The next time I met him, I commented that his record should have done better, and he rather took me the wrong way and shot me a look which, was not nice. He has battled with depression, no one wishes that on anyone, surely. His "Return To Yesterday" influenced an early song of mine which is on my next album, the song sounds like Simon and Garfunkel, if they'd played on the first Pink Floyd album.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: DISCUSS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JACOBITES EXPERIENCE...DESCRIBE EACH OF YOUR FORMER BANDMATES...
MARK LEMON: Oh my goodness. The highlight was hearing how good Dave Kusworth's songs were, hearing these tunes work out so well. Watching him in the vocal booth, smoking a cigarette, as he did the take, he's a charismatic man. The highlight, now, is enjoying the recognition and reflecting on how many people must have bought and listened to the early albums. I played all the jangly acoustic stuff and some of the main riffs on the acoustic, which I still use to record, now. I still use the same bass on the Village Green Machine stuff, and incidentally, Dave Kusworth has recorded some great guitar on a Village Green Machine recording called "Hinderburg" which will eventually see the light of day. Also, I take my hat off to that kid who made the video for "Big Store", where he is just smoking. Black lungs, but its a pleasing, curious video made by a fan. Quite compelling and atmospheric.
Epic was taciturn, quiet, very pleasant. I didn't know him well, but liked him.
Nikki, had a rogueish public school quality about him, he was immersed in rock & roll mythology, of course. A dandy, I never
knew quite what to expect from him. Had a deep, serious appreciation of music, which was a broader thing than might be expected. He liked Can, liked some disco music. A well read man.
Dave, probably quite a private man, so I won't go overboard. Plainly, he lived and lives, for music, a guitar is never far away from his hands. Gifted melody writer, poetic lyricist, fantastic rock & roll guitarist, used the hole in his acoustic guitar as an ashtray. Wore some great clothes, good hair. Exciting, unpredictable performer. 'Good friend for many years. Drinks rather a lot, and it ain't doing him any good.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: BIG STAR OR BADFINGER?
MARK LEMON: Badfinger.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: THE CHURCH OR THE WATERBOYS?
MARK LEMON: The Church
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: LIKE ANY GOTH? EIGHTIES NEW WAVE/POST PUNK?
MARK LEMON: No really not my 
scene
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: ADAM ANT OR BILLY IDOL?
MARK LEMON: Again, not my sort of thing, but probably Adam Ant, who seems to be back on course after all his troubles.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE ALARM?
MARK LEMON: Terrible hair! One of the better 80's bands though I think.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: SINEAD? THE POGUES?
MARK LEMON: No, but The Pogues surely had good songs.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: GALLON DRUNK/FLAMING STARS?
MARK LEMON: Well Max is an old mate. Gallon Drunk nailed a particular aesthetic very well, and Max Decharne is a 
gentleman.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: EVER HEAR THE CHAMBER STRINGS FROM CHICAGO?
MARK LEMON: Yes Kevin is an acquaintance of mine. Plainly influenced by Dave Kusworth's voice, he has other influences, he likes soul music and The Partridge Family, so is not bound in by the rock & roll aesthetic. Which kills people, anyway.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: DID YOU EVER HAVE THE OCCASION TO READ NIKKI SUDDEN'S BOOKS ON THE STONES?
MARK LEMON: I don't know anything about this, sorry.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: DO I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE ASKED TO JOIN THE BOUNTY HUNTERS? WHY DID YOU TURN THEM DOWN?
MARK LEMON: I was asked to play on the album, Joe Foster wanted me to. I did play 12 string acoustic and possibly some other bits. By this stage I was doing my own stuff, but I remember being in the studio with them. We all got on, were part of the same scene.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DO YOU RECALL ABOUT SOHO ROSES, GUNFIRE DANCE, LAST OF THE TEENAGE IDOLS?
MARK LEMON: I only know Gunfire Dance's music. I saw a 
video recently, Anthony was a good front man. I was the mid 60's influenced musician, who offset the rock & roll in bands, like Rag Dolls and Jacobites. These days, I'm playing 50's influenced guitar solos, and incidentally, I have deliberately, adopted some influence from the Dave Kusworth playing from Rag Dolls days into my style. He plays like Jacqueline Dupree, with force and utter conviction, he means it and is riveting to watch.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF DOGS D'AMOUR AND QUIREBOYS? THEE HYPNOTICS? GUNFIRE DANCE?
MARK LEMON: To be truthful, I was not a great fan of the aesthetic. I think Dave Kusworth had the panache, and a contrasting side, more a Nick Drake/Syd Barrett side, which offset that kind of rock & roll. But I like "Hey You!" I worked with Tyla, but beyond saying hello didn't know him. Mike Scott was a pleasing, outgoing man. Enjoyed his, er, refreshments, and helped me speed up my life:-)
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: ARE YOU AN ARTHUR LEE FAN? BRIAN WILSON? FAVE OBSCURE SIXTIES PSYCHEDELIA?
MARK LEMON: Of course! A triumphant return before his
illness (Arthur) best gig I've ever seen was his lineup of Love with the brass, etc. Wonderful, awe inspiring, beautiful stuff. Brian is the greatest melody writer I can think of, Brian, Burt, and The Beatles. "Pet Sounds" evokes a heavenly garden, whereas, the early "Smile" tapes with that spooked quality are influential upon my recent guitar playing.
I am a big Syd Barrett fan. "See Emily Play" is my favourite record. "Odessey and Oracle" by The Zombies a favourite album. Not particularly obscure. I like garage, stuff like The Haunted doing "1-2-5", and of course, "You're Gonna Miss Me" by Thirteenth Floor Elevators. I am a big Chesterfield Kings fan, was flattered they like my songs.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DID YOU LIKE AMIDST THE 90'S BRIT-POP BANDS?
MARK LEMON: The Stone Roses. John Leckie wanted to work with me, their producer. But I was messed around by musicians, and it fell through. The discussions
we had have influenced my production on the Village Green Machine stuff, though. He is avant garde, listening to The Roses, now, you can hear his constant experimentation. He said to me that the Roses album was him, and it is true. I think the touches of effects on the guitars are his doing, before him they were an ordinary sounding, jangly band, in some respects.
They were 1989, but I class them as 90's Britpop, as they were so close to it and such a big influence on Oasis, whose first 2 albums I regard as THE highpoint of 90's music. I like Pulp as well. Jarvis Cocker, a great character.
Blur, I found patchier, but occasionally, I heard things I rated. Suede were a great early band, on the Britpop scene. It was a buzzing, exciting time, and then, you got the also rans, who were mediocre.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MANIC ST PREACHERS?
MARK LEMON: A very strong lead vocalist, but it is outside my tastes really.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: CONTEMPORARY BANDS YOU ENJOY?
MARK LEMON: The White Stripes were a favourite band. The Strokes. But this is ages ago. The only thing I have 
liked, recently, is Ely "Paperboy" Reed, who makes great retro soul records. Retro happening now. The new great pop. Tom Jones last record was incredible, as a singer, I have to admire that voice in its depth, overlooked of course these days.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: ARE THEY USING THE B.S. WAR ON TERROR TO TAKE AWAY CIVIL LIBERTIES IN ENGLAND, LIKE IN THE U.S.?
MARK LEMON: I don't know, to be honest. I am too busy producing and shaping up a live band to involve my mind with the issue.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: TELL US ABOUT WORKING WITH GLENN TRANTER ON SOME BBC RADIO SESSIONS...
MARK LEMON: We did the BBC Radio 2 session a while back with Glenn playing for Village Green Machine. He is a reliable, nice guy to work with. A good friend and good musician.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: VILLAGE GREEN MACHINE, CURRENT OPERATIONS...
I've got a strong 
manager called, Grant Holby. Now, I can move forward in the business, promoters in London want me to play and I will, when the live lineup is sorted. Rehearsals with the drummer, Paul Collins, are sounding great, and I have an organ player called, Toby, who reminds me of Ray Manzarek. So it will be a class act. I'm finishing the second album production, it has been said it will be one of the best albums around, and I must say, I am happy with it. So gigs and album on the way. I won't let music buyers down with filler material. The last album received compliments from journalists at top music magazines, said to me, not the public!
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: WHAT DID I NEGLECT TO ASK YOU?
MARK LEMON: I must say you ask great questions. Thank you for this. Sid Griffin likes my music, by the way. He's a good man. I have a sense of completeness about this enjoyable interview. All the best.
SUGARBUZZ MAGAZINE: Thanks for making the time to complete this interview. You'd be surprised by how many people flake. I encourage all you fans of catchy pop, and real rock'n'roll to visit the talented Mark Lemon here: