Ben Blackwell is a busy man - drummer for The Dirtbombs, owner of Cass Records, music writer, and historian for The White Stripes. The Dirtbombs have been touring for their newest record We Have You Surrounded, including a stretch opening for TV on the Radio. Cass Records has released some of the best records from Detroit and elsewhere including The Go, Kelly Stoltz, and of course, The Dirtbombs. He also served as a source of inspiration and early guidance for The Little Room Record Co.
The Dirtbombs
The What of Whom: You seem to have a lot going on all the time – music writer, musician, and business owner. If I were to demand pigeon holing you as one thing, what do you see yourself as?
Ben Blackwell: I don't know if any one of those can completely trump any of the others. I very rarely think of myself as a business owner and seeing as I really take most pride in my writing, I would defer to the title of writer.
WOW: If wikipedia is telling the truth, you are a couple of years younger than I am. I know records weren’t around much when we were growing up, at least not around my house. When did you get into collecting records and what inspired it?
BB: If there was a specific moment, it was a trip to Desirable Discs in Dearborn around 1995. I'd gone to scope the racks for bootleg Nirvana cd's when I recognized a copy of the "Sliver" single on the wall for $10. I'd read enough of the band's history to know what it was but had never seen one in person. I didn't have a turntable at the time but that hardly seemed to matter. I'd completely bought into the mythology of the band and identified myself as a die-hard fan and each title purchased from their back catalog only further cemented that feeling. Further trips to D3 found me buying the MFSL original master recording LP of "Nevermind" and a bootleg LP of one of their Blind Pig shows in Ann Arbor. A visit to Off the Record in Royal afforded me copies of "In Utero" and "Incesticide" on vinyl. I started going to Car City Records not long after and expanded my palette at just the right time…all the Melvins vinyl was still available and at that point, it seemed like no one really wanted it. I was able to get original copies of all the solo LP's (with posters), "Bullhead", "Lysol" and right about then I finally bought a turntable. At that point there was no turning back.
WOW: Since you get to travel so much, I’m sure you get to visit tons of record shops. Where
Ben Blackwell
is your favorite record store?
BB: I really like De Capo in Utrecht for their unparalleled selection of mid-90's 7"s as well as the Jukebox Shoppe in Brussels for the same stuff + sweet 60's Benelux picture sleeves. I like Rockit Scientist in NYC for always turning me onto severely obscure things I wouldn't find anywhere else, Amoeba in SF for their personal shopper service and Car City in Detroit for it's at-home atmosphere.
WOW: What is your best, unexpected, record find?
BB: I occasionally worked at Car City and walked in one day to pick up payment for my past few shifts. Matt Smith of Outrageous Cherry said I should check out this weird Motown single that'd come in and hands me a copy of Nick and the Jaguars "Ich-I-Bon #1" with a $200 price tag. I was owed $70 for working and I think the boss rang me up for $120. I knew it was rare and had never even seen a copy before…neither had the Gories (who'd taught themselves how to play it from a cassette recording of a radio broadcast) and it sparked a personal quest to get original 7" copies of all the songs the Gories have covered. I'm faring pretty well in that challenge.
WOW: There hasn’t been a new release from Cass in quite some time. Do you have anything in the works for upcoming releases?
BB: There's a Whirlwind Heat LP that's been on the backburner forever, other than that, I've got my eye on some people I'd like to get on wax, but nothing solid just yet.
WOW: What is the hardest part about owning the label?
BB: Having to explain to people that I don't "sign" bands.
WOW: When you approach bands outside of Detroit, are they aware of Cass Records? What are the normal reactions from bands in other cities?
BB: Most, if not all, of the bands that I've worked with outside of Detroit are friends of mine. They are aware of Cass Records inasmuch as it is something that I do.
WOW: I’ve noticed a lot of musicians and some owners of small labels seem to be sort of anti-marketing. Is it possible for someone to successfully market a band or label without “selling out”?
BB: I don’t even know what selling out means and I'm kinda past caring about it. I took money from Wal-Mart and have no qualms. That being said, the most effective marketing for bands is a great live show and memorable records. Anything past that and I begin to lose interest.
WOW: Can you address the rumor that you are now living in Nashville and working at the new Third Man Records location there?
BB: I live in Nashville now and work at Third Man Records.
WOW: The Dirtbombs have been touring for over a year on the new record, We Have You Surrounded. What are the future plans for the band?
BB: Hibernation is nice. There's been mumblings about doing some recording, but nothing terribly firm. We're just enjoying our space. Mick's got the Gories to worry about this summer, Pat's got an art show going up in a few weeks and Ko's single-handedly keeping satellite radio afloat.
WOW: Is Zack going to be staying on as a full-time member now or was that just a temporary stint for touring?
BB: Zack never actually signed his Dirtbombs membership card, so his status is up in the air. He's busy not eating meat, not writing book proposals, not touring with Lee Marvin Computer Arm and not being awesome.
WOW: Over the past couple of years, an old Detroit/new Detroit divide seems to have developed. What is your take on where music is heading in the city?
BB: I don't really see a divide. When bands like Terrible Twos and Gardens are putting out singles on Italy (a label that's TWICE as old as Cass) I think the idea of a divide is just a lazy perpetuation for people to have something to write about.
WOW: Can you give me your five favorite albums of the moment?
BB: 1. The Horrors "Primary Colours"
2. The Dead Weather "Horehound"
3. The Obits "I Blame You"
4. The Black Lips "200 Million Thousand"
5. Tyvek "Fast Metabolism"
