Habeas Corpusse

>> The high-haired Montreal legend
on metal, mayhem and meditation

WEAKLINGS NOT WELCOME: Corpusse

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Former Montrealer Corpusse, now a Torontonian, is definitely a slippery eel when it comes to describing his nihilistic noise. His live show lies somewhere between ’60s Living Theatre and absurdist humour, with lowbrow references to Kiss and wrestling thrown in to throw us off. With his Doctor and the Medics hairdo and ample amounts of make-up, visually, Corpusse’s glam-rock roots shine through, but he further confuses with Suicide-style keyboard minimalism that flirts heavily with no wave. Safe to say, if you think you’ve heard it all, you haven’t heard Corpusse. The Mirror reached the Montreal legend over the phone at his Parkdale home.

Mirror: When did the vision of Corpusse the character start to take shape?

Corpusse: That would be around 1976, and I saw this guy [Alice Cooper] on TV, singing to a skull with a snake wrapped around his neck. The next day, I bought a rubber snake and some Alice Cooper records and started acting out his songs. After that, I picked up Superteen magazine and saw these weird guys [Kiss] wearing make-up, and I really thought that was the shit. After that, I always knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

M: Another influence that is obvious in your work is G.G. Allin.

C: Well, I don’t think I’m as confrontational as G.G., as I don’t want to come across as standoffish, but when I saw him play at Foufounes at the Shock Art Festival, it was like something I had never seen. Seeing G.G. live was just pure rawness and full of emotional insanity. People sometimes think of my show as confrontational, but I just have very strong feelings and take that to the stage. If people feel threatened and have to leave during the show, then fuck ’em, because I really don’t want weaklings standing around when I’m doing my thing.

M: I remember seeing you at a Corpusse show, and I couldn’t talk to you an hour before your performance because you were taking the time to get into character.

C: That’s pretty much been a ritual for me since 1988. I really need that time to get fully into my character, so I need to be secluded from people before I play. It’s an almost religious-like experience, actually. It really does take a lot of meditation to get into the right state of mind.

M: Corpusse has been around for almost 20 years and you seem more fuelled up than ever before.

C: I can say without a doubt that I will be doing Corpusse for the rest of my life. I give everything to this, this is my life. Everything revolves around when the next show is. It’s all that matters to me. I honestly believe that if you bang your head against the wall enough, you’re eventually going to break through to the other side.

M: Do you ever get frustrated over your lack of recognition?

C: No, never. I have never been so frustrated as to actually feel self-doubt or to quit. There is always something to look forward to. My intention is still pretty much the same since the day I started, which is to convince every jean-jacket rocker who despises keyboards to bang his or her head. It’s really as simple as that.

With Knurl and Wapstan at
Casa del Popolo on
Saturday, April 7, 10 p.m., $7