Hospital

Gary Young and Terry Blank aka Hospital have undergone some serious changes since their 2004 release--The Grey Album (Omnibus Records) After finishing touring last year with their unique brand of drug and booze fueled art rock Young and Blank’s relationship began to strain and while working on their new follow up ep, Folie au’ deux. Young estranged himself completely from his counterpart. I caught up with Terry Blank as he discusses, the new ep, the future of Hospital, and addresses rumors regarding his---Hospital Takeover.

Panache: So let's begin with a rumor. I've heard that Gary has disappeared.

Blank: No, he hasn't. But he's pretty much cut off all communication with myself and the band.

P: Why?

B: How do I put this? He's had a breakdown, I guess. I don't want to make this sound too grandiose, but it's "Slanted and Enchanted" all over again. When I joined Hospital three years ago Gary was going nowhere. Gary's got talent, a great studio, and knows everyone in the indie rock world. Basically, he has all the advantages most musicians only dream about, but the guy was just going in circles. The album was in the works, but he had no label, and his band at the time basically told him that they had better things to do than wait around for him to get his shit together. Basically, the album was never going to see the light of day. So I jumped in a started helping. I wrote songs and co produced the record. I got Omnibus to put the record out. I assembled a new band. I worked with our booking agent on touring. All the shit a manager should do.

P: Sounds like you had your hands full.

B: Well it wasn’t a picnic, that’s for sure. The man (Gary) wanted to be in control of everything, yet he was totally out of control . He was seriously deranged half the time. It was like, "I know, I'll hang-glide from a blimp onto the stage, and then after the gig I'll reenact the Sermon on the Mount and then ascend to heaven." Meanwhile, I'm like, "Gary that's crazy. Let's please just work on staying in time on that song we keep fucking up." That was the battle we had for almost two years. Insanity verses reality. But it was worth it, because our playing just got better and better. Creativity was pouring out of us and we ended up with some really great tracks. I really began to see us producing something special, or, at the very least, something more than a couple pretentious indie rockers shoving mediocre songs down everyone's throat just so they can show their dinner guests how “arty” they are. For Hospital, things were shaping up to be quite different--musically and personally--this served as a chaotic back drop for creating the new ep.

P: That's some drama.

B: (smiles) You have no idea.

P: So, can you tell me how Gary self-destructed?

B: I can, but I won't. Let's just say that anyone familiar with Gary's history can pretty much guess what happened.

P: Fair enough. So is Hospital defunct?

B: Not as far as I'm concerned. You have to understand, this is all I do-- eat, drink, sleep, shit and piss music which for the past 2 years has been Hospital’s music. Again this is not a fucking vanity project for me. I am serious as sin and I will continue with or without Gary no matter what.

P: Can you do that?

B: I can do whatever the fuck I want. Gary is right back where he started, spinning in circles, but this time the whole band, our new EP and two years of hard work is spinning with him. I can't stand by and let that happen. I have worked too hard and been through too much to go out like that. (begins singing --”I’ve had my face dragged in 15 miles of shit...”)

P: I saw Hospital last year and your live set was much different than The Grey Album sounds almost like two different bands.

B: Yeah, Hospital was evolving into what it is now. By that time I was singing most of the set and we we’re playing songs from the new ep--Duby (guitar) and Santino (bass) we’re really becoming an integeral part of the band and that was the tipping point to were we are at now.

P: How much did Gary play and/or write on the EP?

B. Gary is playing on 2 songs. The EP is going to contain 5 songs maybe six.

P: With or without Gary will you and the band tour?

B. Absoulety. Things should begin at the start of the new year. Although, I might go out and do some solo Hospital shows before that.

P: Will Omnibus be putting out the EP?

B: Let’s just say we are solidifying an agreement with a label as of now.

P. Are you worried at how the public will respond to Hospital without Gary? And what happens if Gary decides to start his own Hospital without you?

B: (Laughing) That would be fucking smashing!!! Can you imagine? I think something like that happened to The Temptations--if Gary and I have any sense in us we should both form rival Hospital’s! Perhaps someone will then create a reality show on us--I am sure there is enough material there for 2 or 3 episodes--yeah. I can see the last episode, for the big finale, Gary will mud wrestle Ron Jeremy.

P. You and Gary seem to have a real knack for drama.

B. Yep, we had those boys in Oasis teach us everything they know. Gary has long been known as the flava flav of indie rock...

P. So, if Gary Young is the flava flav of indie rock--who are you?

B. Hmmm, someone that needs to get a drink about now.