|
X-Press Magazine, 1994. By Scott Howlett
The Doug Anthony Allstars this weekend say goodbye at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco, to a decade of excoriation, mirth and mystery. Scott Howlett last week spoke to Tim Ferguson, 31, and not wanting to give the guy more publicity than he reasonably deserves and otherwise gets in this publication, fired off a few simple questions for a few sincere answers.
Tim, why are you concluding your tour in Perth when it would have been more obvious to say goodbye in Melbourne, your base?
To be quite sincere (and he sounded like it, but then again, that's always been one of his tricks in the trade) it's our favourite city in Australia. We always have more fun in Perth than anywhere else and, so we figured, if we were going to have a party, it might as well be in a city where it's going to be good.
We had a party in Melbourne the other night, which was pretty good, but not as goin' off as the one in Perth's bound to be... we don't know any nightclub owners in Melbourne, whereas we know them all in Perth.
When and why did Perth become a favourite?
Ever since we've been going there, it's always been fun. The crowds are always good. I remember the first time we came there for a yacht race in Fremantle and did the Fly By Night Club and got crowds. That was actually the first time that crowds had actually come to see us. And so it was quite exciting.
Do you find WA audiences are easier to amuse because, generally, its inhabitants are more down to earth and less affected and pretentious?
Well, there's that, but also because of the isolation... it's a bit like prostitutes in jail. It's like 'give us entertainment, we don't really care what it looks like so long as it's really funny.'
That does help. But also a lot of people (in WA) seem a bit confused that you've even turned up there. Even with other comedians we talk to when in Perth, they always kind of say 'what are you doing here?'
What about Perth as a place?
It's lovely. I'm going to retire there. By the end of next year I'm going to be in WA on the beach. I certainly want to buy a house and a large part of WA that goes along a beach. I think that'd be great.
Well, you shouldn't have too many problems there... we have a bit of beach...
There's a beach for every citizen, isn't there? Californians don't know half the fun. I sound like an American rock star, don't I? ...look, as everyone in WA already knows, it's (the State) fucking great!
Why did you ring X-Press a few months ago and ask if we wanted to publish your essays?
Well, they'd always been nice to us in the past, really. I used to speak to Michael Dwyer (former editor) and he'd always given us good interviews...
But, you know, last year I was looking at all the street magazines I guess and, I don't know, I was looking at them and I knew I didn't want to have to bother dealing with the pretensions of inner city wankers...
...Just the ones who live near the west coast?
(laughs) X-Press has a much more relaxed stance and it seemed perfect for the job. It's a great mag.
Shucks.
|
