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QRD #53 - Guitarist Interview Series V
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Musician Dad Interviews with:
Aaron Snow
Nyles Lannon
Philippe Petit
Ryan Sollee
Jim Baptizer
Jamie Barnes
Daniel Prendiville
Doug Burr
Alex Boniwell
Andrew Ratfink Wilson 
Charles Hoffman
Dave Sims
Dan Beckman
Scott Berrier
James Zahn
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Alex Boniwell
Musician Dad Interview with Alex Boniwell of Inebrious Bastard
May 2012
Alex Boniwell
Name: Alex Boniwell
Bands: Inebrious Bastard, Leech Woman
Websites: www.facebook.com/inebriousbastard, www.facebook.com/leechwoman

Listen to “Escape From Misery Into Frustration” by Inebrious Bastard
Listen to “Human Swine” by Inebrious Bastard

QRD – How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be a professional musician?

Alex – I never wanted to be a professional musician. I live in the world of noise & DIY gigs/releases. I can rock up to a gig/recording session - set up/make a fucking racket/get off stage without causing any upset to stage times or wasting time/money in a studio, so in that respect I am a professional musician, but I have never been paid in any real sense for what I do.

QRD – What are a few highlights of your musical career?

Alex – Playing along side bands like Alec Empire, Die Krupps, Godflesh, Steve Ignorant, & seeing people I don’t know walking around in my band’s shirts.

QRD – At what age did you decide you wanted to become a father?

Alex – I was 38. I had only been with my wife for a couple of months when she fell pregnant & after some hard questions about whether we should/could be parents (as we had really only just met) the decision was made that yes, we loved each other & yes, we should be a family.

QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your family has had on your career?

Alex – I moved from the UK to Australia (my wife is from Sydney) so the band that I loved being in - Leech Woman - has slowed right down, but not quite stopped functioning. But I found a new band here in Sydney to get all my noise needs sorted, a crustgrind band called Inebrious Bastard. The only real negative on the music front is that it’s harder to just say yes to every gig offered as planning is needed to juggle the kids. On the positive side, your kids seeing you play is amazing, Lilith, my eldest at 2 1/2, is already into music & that makes me so happy.

QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your career has had on your family?

Alex – Ha-ha-ha, I had no career so it didn’t matter.

QRD – Have your children effected the music you make &/or listen to?

Alex – Not at all. I make angry, aggressive music; there are still plenty of things to be mad about. Our house has a big chunk of the day when music is being played, it’s still the same as ever, no Wiggles albums get played here. When Lilith was teething I’d hold her in my arms, flick through iTunes & find some hideous noise to play to her as she dozed off. She can fall asleep to black metal/crust/gabba/industrial/punk/noise anything. That makes me happy.

QRD – Have you had problems with the lack of steady money from a musical career providing the security you feel necessary in your household?

Alex – No. My music doesn’t make money.

QRD – Given the limitations having a family has on being a touring musician, would you have toured more earlier in life if you’d known?

Alex – I didn’t tour much anyway, but if a tour came up I’d take everyone along if I could - it would be great.

QRD – Do you think being a father or a musician has a greater impact on your community?

Alex – I’m not a “community” person. I don’t really care about my “standing”. If you are talking about the musical community, then being a dad & a musician has shown people that being a parent doesn’t stop you having fun.

QRD – Would you rather see your children eventually become a musician or parent?

Alex – I’d like to see my kids do whatever makes them happy.

QRD – Both family & music seem like things that will take up as much of your time as you’re willing to put in.  How do you end up dividing your time?

Alex – Carefully, ha-ha-ha-ha. I work part time, my wife has a full time job so I am the main parent, which I love. It’s tricky having more than one passion, music will always be important, but family comes first. Once you put anything before your kids then it’s time for someone to slap you.

QRD – What do your kids think of your music?

Alex – I don’t think they have an opinion yet.

QRD – Do you think you could ever do a musical project with your child?

Alex – Yes, I’d love too. Just today my wife was handed a keyboard by our eldest to play while she rocked out on her Fisherprice guitar screaming “ROCK ON!”  So I think it’s gonna happen at some point.

QRD – Any words of advice to young people?

Alex – Fuck shit up, carry on fucking shit up when you get old, have kids & continue to fuck shit up & teach them how to fuck shit up. Boring people have boring lives & dull children.

QRD – 2015 update - any new insight from three more years of fatherhood?

Alex – Well, I have taken the girls to a couple of crust/punk/grind festivals here in Australia that I have played at & they loved it, having someone in the family that plays music/noise/djs/reviews & is excited by it really rubs off onto the kids. They enjoy going to gigs - we have some great people doing free outdoor shows in the summer here - & they love hearing music, all sorts, not just the racket I play to them. Have just had a son, so another mind to corrupt with fast beats & distorted guitars, I’d love it if they formed a band, but most of all I just want them to be happy doing whatever they do. Incidentally Lilith, my eldest (5) has done her first album artwork for a London hiphop artist based in New Zealand called Scalper - Lunatics EP, by Scalper - so she is well & truly involved in music now.