DM) Why did you choose the name "Dufus" for the
band?
SH) The name of the band turned to Dufus out of convenience.
I had originally done work on four track recorders under the
title of Rufus, which was taken from a song that I never finished
but I soon discovered after recording two albums of that that
there was already someone under the title of Rufus and so I changed
it to Dufus when I went to the eight track format. Made a CD
on J-bird records under that title and then the band really started,
other people started getting involved and we made another CD
and released it ourselves. The name seems to fit what we do in
a very strange way and takes on different significance through
our changes as a band.
DM) I assume that there were some people who thought the name
kind of funny?
SH) We haven't really been taken seriously as a band and have
been warned against using such a title. I've been told that certain
people haven't listened to the music I sent them just on the
name alone. It has become a strangely ironic name and always
holds a different standpoint on the changes we go through as
a band. A lot of people like the name too, and that's nice.
DM) Did you have other names in mind?
SH) No, it just happened out of convenience because of the
history involved it seemed the only name possible.
DM) Who were your influences?
SH) My main influence personally is a man by the name of John
Ludington who used to perform in Syracuse (my hometown); he played
with a band called the barefoot grave diggers. He's not popular.
He was living and playing in the subway of Boston for a long
time and now he lives in Prescott, AZ. he and I write to each
other and send each other music. It's pretty much the way I get
influence, the people around me. The other guys in the band have
been influenced much in the same way, they've all studied jazz,
but I think they mostly deny many of the concepts behind the
music, not because they don't appreciate it, but because they
are abstract thinkers in many ways and think in sound rather
than structure, but maybe I'm all wrong about that whole thing.
DM) Who are your "non-musical" influences?
SH) Personally, my biggest non-musical influences are religions,
I guess you could say I'm a man of god but I follow no path but
my own. I have begun writing a religion called the complete dissassemblement
of reality. It's basic structure is formed on the idea that we
were free moving spirits before we entered these bodies we live
in, but we were alone, separate entities. We collectively came
to the decision that we would create a place in which we might
be able to communicate. Thus, the birth of reality and time.
These two structures are loose and shoddy and do not move, as
we would prefer them to move. The only way to reach the next
level is to reach communications, which could allow for such
things. It's kind of a joke religion, but I believe in it more
and more every day, sort of like Dufus.
DM) What do your friend's say about your "religion"?
SH) Friends laugh at my religion. I act like it's a joke.
I don't think I could handle the ego of someone who believed
they could actually write a religion. Really, they act sort of
like it's me being my usual self.
DM) What was your most memorable gig?
SH) My most memorable one was one that we played at the knitting
factory one time over this past summer. They hadn't told us about
the show, somehow their records got mixed up and we weren't informed.
Somebody called me asking directions or something that day. I
called everyone in the band but we couldn't get all together,
so I headed down there myself and Graham, our piano player, got
down there about fifteen minutes into the set. We ended up somehow
putting on a comedy show. Not really much to talk about it, I
just remember that it was really good and fun for us.
DM) Where do you see the band as going in the future?
SH) I see Dufus being in a constant state of new change. I
see new people coming in, older members leaving, people coming
back. I see us gathering people of like minds and bringing forth
a revolution. I see this revolution very clearly. I see the pieces
of the puzzle fitting together precisely. It may be a small thing,
but it's good.
DM) What do you mean, revolution?
SH) I suppose the biggest concept of the revolution has to
do with a group that is forming here in NYC and surrounding areas
with people I've been involved with called PRO ANTI. It is a
group dedicated to bringing artists together under one self-negating
title so that no direction is given except for that of collective
arts creation for the betterment of humankind and probably the
rest of the species on this ball we live on. Should I expand
more?
DM) Yes, please, go on….
SH) I guess when people speak of revolution they're talking
about large violent uprising or something. I don't think this
one's going to happen like that, I see it as happening sort of
like a low whisper that ends up in a roar, but joyful war. It's
going to be hidden from the media; otherwise they will notice
and instantly curb it.
