Many people have quite a lot to say about the oppositely laconic Jay Lindsey. So much so, that the time spent conjecturing on a guy who calls himself Jay Reatard almost out-weighs the long list that comprises his tireless discography. Say what you will, but he doesn’t stand still for a second and prefers to get things done rather than stand around talking about it.

Reatard began his recording career in Memphis at 15. Restless, he cut a record, calling his band simply "The Reatards." Except that it wasn’t a band at all-- just him playing guitar with as much distortion as possible when hitting an empty bucket to create a beat. While most of his contemporaries were busy with high school, Reatard had already completed his first European tour.

His move to major label Matador has already seen a slew of 7”s with a soon-to-be-released album, and the summer has seen a furious live schedule with many of his shows already famous for disintegrating into scenes reminiscent of a bar brawl.

Following the notorious flying fists incident in Toronto, psychoPEDIA caught up with Reatard, and bandmates Billy Hayes and Stephen Hope, to get his views on the untamable mobs his shows seem to attract:

How are you finding UK audiences compared to the reactions you get in the US?
JR: Every night is different.
BH: We played a pretty furious show at a pub in London the other day. I think someone threw the air conditioner out the window and it almost landed on someone.
SH: We’ve got a house show lined up when we get back to London as well. They are always fun.

Do you worry the crowd may get too crazy and ruin your gear, as has happened before?
JR: That was totally different. That was people being jerks. If people want to come to a show and have a good time, that’s cool. Just don’t come and be a jerk.

How have you found ATP Festival, and seeing so many bands play a rundown British holiday camp?
BH: It has been weird. But it is sunny and people seem to like staying up late and having a good time and stuff. We pretty much played so that we could just hang out for three days.

Whose chalet has the best party?
BH: There seemed to be a lot of people at the Deerhunter kids' chalet last night.

In comparison to some of your earlier work, would you say the more recent singles have a pop feel to them?
JR: Fuck that, man. That is just demeaning. We sound like Husker Du with Geddy Lee on vocals.

Would it sound the same if you ditched the flying V's?
JR: I don’t know. Probably.

~James Knight