Audra was one of the lucky 30 people who won tickets to the Removed release party on June 22, 2010. After the concert she had the chance to sit with him for a quick interview. “You will honestly never meet a more gracious, humble, and nice celebrity,” she wrote. “His wife, Pollyanna, was also incredibly lovely. Billy, if you read this, thank you for putting on a wonderful show and for allowing us to meet with you afterward!”
Are you planning on playing different shows in this area, or doing any sort of tour?
The plan is that there is no plan. I would love to. The band are the guys who played on the record and we started playing live together. So, we’re gonna do it much as possible. I’m kind of booked movie wise until Spring of next year. But we’re going to try to put in some gigs wherever we can. So, the plan is to yes.
What was the first record you bought?
The first that I remember really freaking out about was Elton John’s greatest hits. I was a huge fan of the Elton John Bernie Taupin stuff back in the day. So, yeah that was the first one I remember going like, I have to have it. That was when I was like… 4 you know let’s say.
Why did you choose Removed as the title track for your album?
I went through a long list of album titles and that song actually seemed to capture the whole vibe of the rest of the record. I liked the simplicity of it, and I liked what it meant to me, so I just went with removed, because that’s what I feel like being a lot of the time. I’m sure we can all relate to that.
What influences did you have in creating the album?
Well, Tom Waits is a big one. Tom Waits is huge for me. Tom Waits is solely responsible for me ever learning to play the piano. His music and his whole vibe influences me greatly- not just in music but just in general, in everything. The lifestyle or what I perceive that lifestyle to be. But Elton John and Bernie Taupin was big. Billy Joel was big. John Denver was actually big. James Taylor, Jim Croce all those like old 70’s sort of acousticy whatever people wanted them to be. Some people called them country, they weren’t really country. But, all of the really sort of songy, melodic stuff.
I’m also a mod for a Twilight craft community, and I know you saw the lunchbox someone made. So is there anything else like that, that you would want to have your face on?
I don’t know, I mean I guess if I thought about it, it might be nice to have it the front of some women’s panties.
You know that’s going to be on etsy next week.
Okay, that wouldn’t be horrible. Or you know, on the ass of some jeans.
What’s it like having the chief swan ‘stache sort of morph into a Burt Reynold’s pornstache type status?
What do you mean?
It started with just Charlie Swan having a mustache, and now the fans love the ‘stache, and it’s morphed into this whole new thing.
Well, you talk about Burt Reynolds. Actually Burt Reynolds is to me for films as Tom Waits is to music. When I was growing up, Burt Reynolds was it for me. He was the guy I first watched in movies and went- that guy’s having way too much at what he’s doing and I want to do that for a living. And so he was kind of the guy for me. So if the Swan ‘stache can be an homage to that, I’m all for it.
The ‘stache has taken on a life of it’s own. Well, I mean, it’s there now. It’s a fixture. I can’t really imagine doing Charlie without it. As soon as I have it on my face, it’s way easier to become him.
How long does it take to grow the stache?
It takes about a month and a half actually. It takes a while.
– Interview by Audra
