Exclusive: Dirty Three Drummer Jim White Reflects on Teaming With Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Joan Jett, and More
What do Cat Power, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Stephen Malkmus, Marianne Faithfull, Phosphorescent, Warren Ellis, Mark Kozelek, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Courtney Barnett, Mick Turner, Kurt Vile, Joan as Police Woman, Smog, Nina Nastasia, Matt Sweeney, Martha Wainwright, Simon Joyner, Xylouris White, Joan Jett, New Buffalo, and Kurt Vile have in common? The answer is the gentleman pictured above: Jim White, arguably the most sought-after drummer in the history of underground music.
Best known for incepting Dirty Three some 33 years ago with fellow Aussies Ellis (violin) and Turner (guitar), White is no less in demand now – at the ripe age of 63 – than at practically any other point in his illustrious career. And now, at very long last (more than three decades), the kit master is finally issuing his own records along with producer Guy Picciotto of Fugazi.
Pause your fingers from pummeling your keyboard, all ye touchy trolls of the Internet. White did, in fact, release his first solo album – All Hits: Memories (Drag City) – roughly a year ago. But the drummer raised many an eyebrow by quickly issuing its successor, Inner Day (Drag City), yesterday. The Bad Penny caught up with White not to get into the nitty-gritty of his new record – we’ll do that in the near future – but to talk a bit about his litany, and potentially record-breaking list of collaborators.
Here is what White had to say about a bunch of them:
Cat Power: When I think about Cat Power, her performance of “Metal Heart” always comes to mind. I used to think I took the stopping and starting drum idea from a song I’d heard at that time. But, recently, I ran into the singer of that song and mentioned it, and they revealed there was no drums on that tune. I checked, and it was true … I like the idea of stopping and starting as showing the passage of time or that it’s a new chapter etc., Chan Marshall is one of the greats, and “Metal Heart” still kills me.
Nick Cave: He is someone I grew up watching. The Birthday Party [put on] some of the most exciting shows I’ve ever seen. During Christmastime, the Bad Seeds would come back to Melbourne, where they’re from, every year, and I’d see them play. I loved the Birthday Party and then Bad Seeds. Dirty Three were fortunate enough to be the Bad Seeds [when Cave] took us on tour. Ever since I can remember, he’s been playing music.
Lucinda Williams: I played “Pale Blue Eyes” with her at Lou Reed’s memorial at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at the invitation of Laurie Anderson. I’m pretty sure it sounded great as she is, but what I remember is the version at the rehearsal, which was perfect. I doubt a recording exists. Later on, I recorded “Life’s a Gas” for Hal Willner’s 2022 tribute album and film, AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex. I saw Williams play recently at the Beacon Theatre, and I listen to her often.
Hal Willner: I did a lot of stuff with him. He was from Philly originally but went to New York, working as a record producer. Unfortunately, he passed away from COVID. He selected all the incidental music for Saturday Night Live, and had an incredible knowledge of old songs and music.
He [collected] ventriloquist dolls and other weird puppets of the Three Stooges as The Ramones. He’d always be on eBay, buying this ephemera. He had a love of American culture, be it byways or highways. The first time I came across him was at Nick Cave’s Meltdown Festival at the Southbank [in London,] and I saw him cover Harry Smith songs. That was the first time I saw Mary Margaret Ohara, who became a beloved figure in my musical and friend life. We saw Nina Simone perform at Meltdown too, and it was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen.
PJ Harvey: I’m a big fan [of hers] and went to England to play on [Harvey’s 2007 album,] White Chalk. We didn’t do any shows [with her for] that record, but Dirty Three toured with her as the opening act on some of her Is This Desire? tour in 1998. I see her [in concert] every chance I can. She’s inspiring.
Pick up a copy of White’s Inner Day on Drag City’s website.
Stay tuned for more from The Bad Penny‘s interview with White.
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