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"He was a lover of rock and roll, so we decided Alex Fergusson had to go, he was a pervert a dictator or more, a few days after parting we were up off the floor. 'cause these are the good times." - 'Good Times' Mark Perry, ATV

Al: First off, react to what Mark just said.

Alex: Regards to being a pervert and a dictator? I don't know where he gets the idea I'm a pervert unless its like a musical pervert to liking the Sex Pistols and the rich kids and just rock and roll in general cause Mark doesn't like that. He just likes avant garde stuff... and being a dictator, I guess you have to be a little bit pushy if you're in a band, somebody has to call the shots or you just don't get anywhere.

Al: So how did you wind up in Pete's room?

Alex: OK, I'll take it from the top. Originally, the idea was for a band with ex-members of the Quick. What I was basically confronted with was Steven Hufsteter, and I wasn't really allowed to do any of my own songs. It was the same Quick stuff and I, the original idea was for me to come over and form a type of Rich Kids/Gen X type sound. What happened was I was confronted with that Sparks sound, pastish sound the Quick were reknowned for and I never liked that. I don't want to upset fans, but I didn't like it and I told Danny (Benair) "I don't like that." But Danny's a good drummer and Steve is a really good musician and I thought if we got it together it might click, but never... so I've just been... I went to Magic Mountain yestereday and I was really scared. I went on Revolution what you call it and uh it was really scary.

Al: What are you recording with Harvey Kubernick?

Alex: Oh this is a song I've written for a guy, Pat Dipuccio (Pooch)...

Pete: So that's what he's called!

Alex: It's a good song, it's a tribute to Pat's idol, John fogerty, and I wrote the music and Pat did the lyrics with Harvey. We recorded it last night, sounds pretty spectacular with the kessels producing it.

X-8: How long have you been here?

Alex Four long weeks.

X-8: Seen any bands?

Alex: I've seen the Go-Go's, the Weirdos, I've witnessed... oh the names escape me.

X-8: Are the bands here punk?

Alex: It varies. Bates Motel, they ain't punk. I didn't really like them, kinda pop.

Al: What about the punk bands?

Alex: I was kinda disappointed in them, on a musical level they just don't have the musical sensibilities, they don't have the chord changes, no imagination when it comes to that but I don't want to put down anybody that's having a good time.

Al: What about the Avengers?

Alex: I was really disappointed in them. With the Steve Jones connection, I thought they were gonna be good. But I really prefer... I heard a tape the other night by the Jetters - they're quite good (now why the fuck did he say that -- ed.) The best I've seen in L.A. is Dyan Diamond. She's good rock and roll. She's got good stage pressence and she's a kid yet!!! When I see groups like the Weirdos, I mean usually they look good, good clothes, but they fall down at the music end of it. You keep waiting to hear this good chord change or a chorus but...

Al: What was the idea when you and Mark formed ATV?

Alex: The idea was to be completely different from the bands that were happening at the time, which was Gen-X, Clash, and Sex Pistols, to make it more avant garde with a Velvet Underground backdrop, giving a nod to Frank Zappa, but that was the original idea.

Al: Did they throw (you) out?

Alex: What happened, Mark decided to quit the band cause he couldn't work with me anymore and Chris Bennet, the drummer, and Tyrone Thomas decided to go with Mark cause they didn't like me. I don't know why, I mean I'm a fairly likeable guy ain't I?

Flipside: !@#%$!????

Alex: I don't know its not my fault. The bassist fucks up and I swear at him, I mean...

Al: So you were ATV all by yourself?

Alex: That's right. I should have kept the name.

Al: Who replaced you?

Alex: Some guy Dennis Burns. He's probably a nice guy but has the biggest fucking Canadian mountaineering beard, I coulnd't believe it "what in the fuck is this!" Because I was at least conscious of my dress and this guy comes in with fuckin'lumber jack expressions... ATV has changed totally avant garde, in fact he (Mark P.) was annoyed with this (Action Time Vision) single. There was a chance to get on top of the pops with this, kid jensen made it pick of the week. It could have been a hit but Perry wouldn't go on TOTP because he thinks that's a bastardizaton. That's his way of thinking, but he wouldn't oppose if somebody else got on and posed as ATV, cuz he's not that stupid to realize that some of the stuff I wrote could finance his avant garde stuff.

Al: What are some of your other songs?

Alex: Action Time Vision, You Bastard, How Much Longer, Sleep in Bed, Love Lies Limp. That's off the top of my head. There's about 24... I wrote all of the music...

Alex: Oh you don't want me to move into this. When ATV fell away, I was basically redundant for a couple of months, reaquainting myself with the guitar, wrote some songs and kept in contact with a friend of mine, Genesis P. Orridge (Throbbing Gristle). He said Fred and Judy Velmorel

X-8: What about the film?

(they put together the Sex Pistols book) were doing this film called "Millions Like Us" and they were looking for a producer. One guy Peter Feterman and another guy fell away and Malcolm McLaren came in but Sid Vicious thing happened in N.Y. and Malcolm had to go over there and bail him out. So I'm waiting till he comes back and when I go back to England, we'll be rehearsing band members for the band the Cash Pussies...

Al: Possibly a touring band?

Alex: Well, see the whole concept of the thing changes all the time, keeps getting revised. Basically it was social implications with an anti-religious backdrop so that's still the basic theme and it was a pop documentary so there was no dialogue but Malcolm has considered putting dialogue in it.

X-8: How long you gonna stay here?

Alex: Another 7 or 8 days.

Pete: What about Sham 69?

Alex: I was offered to play bass with Sham 69 in about March or April, but that was when the movie was going so I just couldn't do it, plus to be truthful I don't really like sham 69, I like the new record but I don't like the kind of audience they get - beer cans dangling from their ears. I don't like that. I like rock and roll a little more glamourous, that sort of thing. But Sham are getting really good and Jimmy's a really sincere guy.

Al: Where do you live in England?

Alex: In the bohemian part of London. It's basically a dump, known as a squat. In fact I got a letter the other day saying the place I live in's been demolished. I just hope all my stuff, my records and things are safe.

Al: Tony D (Ripped and Torn) lives below you...

Alex: Oh yeah, he'd take my stuff and sell it!

Al: How many gigs were you in ATV?

Alex: About 30 gigs.

Pete: What do you like on your pizza?

Alex: What I like on it? Oh, just cheese, tomato. I don't like fish by the way, any girls don't buy me fish if you want to go with me.

X-8: What do you drink?

Alex: Beer Pepsi, coca Cola.

X-8: Have you discovered any new food?

Alex: Mexican food, I quite like that burrito. I like those burritos, quite tasty, scrumptious, and those Mexican girls that serve it. I quite like them as well, quite well developed.... I'm mesmerized by the girls out here.

X-8: So you've been getting laid alot?

Alex: I've got quite a lengthy telephone list.....

Al: And where'd you go last night?

Alex: Oh, uh I stayed out.

Al: What was her name?

Alex: Oh, no names, no names (laughter)

Pete: What color socks do you wear?

Alex: Oh, I'm not particular.

X-8: If your were on a spaceship, what records would you take?

Alex: Fucking hell what would I take.... Xavier Hollander or something, I'd need something to jack off, you wouldn't take music, I'd rather take Raquel Welch or some other...