Peter answers questions from fans--Questions 51-75 (more to come....)
51.Will there be more artwork?I’m attempting to have my art agent put on a third collection. They’re being sticky for now. Should be ok though soon.
52.Could you share a bit about your creative process when working on a new painting?A hurricane speed of voluminous layers of paint. An image in mind yet letting the paint tell me where to go.
53.How did you learn to sing? I read that it came naturally from the very beginning in Bauhaus, but did you have lessons later? And do you have any tips or suggestions for someone who wants to improve their singing skills?I was a singer way before Bauhaus, singing every hour God gave me. I must rely on my own technique to be me.
54.Who or what has been the greatest influence on your spirituality (as reflected in your songwriting)?The beauty of the human experience.
55.I found a few YouTube videos where you collaborate with Trent Reznor. You seem to "get" each other's music really well. What was the "magic moment" when you realized "hey, we should collaborate?"I had known Trent since 1990 and followed his NIN work over the years. When Trent Reznor asked Bauhaus to open for NIN in 2005, Trent called me privately to invite me to join him for a number of back stage radio performances.
56.Will you ever write an autobiography or do a biopic?It’s not as interesting as you’d imagine. Can’t bear band member’s biography attempts. Reductive and myth spoiling.
57.Is the spirit master you refer to in “Uneven and Brittle” the old Bauhaus spirit, along with the rest of the song?No. it’s the real deal.
58.What are the most amazing ancient sites in Turkey?Goreme, the city of fairy sprites. Aya Sofia, the 3rd century church edifice in Istanbul. Ephesus, the ancient Greek city ruin on the Aegean. Aspendos, the ancient intact Greek amphitheatre in southern Turkey.
59.Did you see/know that a ton of bats flew out of the trees when you started your set at Cruel World?They just got over-excited. I told them to stay put but whaddya do?
60.Do you remember the first time hearing Roxy Music and why did they stand out from other bands over the years for you?Danny (Ash) brought their first album into the school form room. I was already donning a Bowie cut at 13 years old and Bolan was before him. Roxy yet another killer deep glamour band. The whole album sounds like a cocktail party.
61.What was the inspiration or driving force behind “I'll Fall With Your Knife”?What does it mean to you? Self-Sacrifice for a loved one of the Beloved.
62.What was your inspiration for writing the lyrics to the song "Indigo Eyes"?The journey of existence of a deeply feeling character through a landscape of angels and fires.
63.Regarding Catholicism: South West European Audiences frame your shows and vibe as a Mass, a ritual. However, they miss some of the humor that Anglo Audiences get. What do feel when you perform in a Majority Catholic country like Portugal? Do you feel that natural framing of your art?It is heady and absorbing to have an audience view through the prism of ritual. The holy, yes.
64.Your lyrics feel timeless and they say good poetry (and your songs) remain and stay like today's news, ever relevant and captivating. With that in mind, what kind of poets and writers gripped and influenced you in your late teens?Not so much poets but hymns sung in mass, sacred readings, etc…
65.What period of your life/career do you remember most fondly?Tomorrow
66.My question is regarding the ‘Burning from the Inside’ period of Bauhaus. A lot of the music press focused on health issues, but it also would seem that there were fractures in the band. How do you look at that time now?The band got ahead with some sketches whilst I was in hospital. By the time I arrived to the studio I simply turned these sketches into Bauhaus songs adding 4 or 5 more to boot. The time was ok, a typical creative atmosphere that Bauhaus had.
67.Are you still considering acting in the future?We have one pitch for a film up our sleeves but as you can imagine not something to reveal at this time.
68.My question is: Generally, how do you lessen the pain of grief? I know there is no official answer or catch-all, but I wanted to know what is your take on handling the unexpected and processing a heavy situation?Grief is the doorway to true love mercy tolerance ...teaches patience and all… it’s a big subject.
69.How do you decide on the “musical style” and instruments of songs, or is it a matter of trying different things to see what sounds best? For example, my favorite song of all time is “Subway”. When that first keyboard note comes in, it lays out a very dreamy and beautiful soundscape for everything that comes after. Then your voice comes in and the song becomes epic.Thank you. Simply put, the keyboard string arrangement was given to me by Paul Statham. I took it from there.
70.With the most beautiful haunting atmosphere that Bauhaus created, was it all electronics/synthesizers, or were some of the sounds created from non-musical sources like everyday things within the environment?All Bauhaus music was made up of drums guitar bass vocals with sometimes using a very basic analog monophonic keyboard pad called the Wasp.
71.Would you ever consider making another album like the mesmerizing ‘Dust’? Or releasing a live album/video from the Dust Tour?I could, I suppose, try another Dust 2 take.
72.What was your motivation and inspiration for the ‘Dust’ album? What was your process for creating this transcendental album?To take my audience deep into the Turkish classical world yet retain Peter Muphy all at once.
73.How have your musical influences changed over time?I don’t know.
74.The depth, range, and power of your lyric writing is astonishing, it is so rich and evocative. I would like to ask you if a specific word, or a combination of words (as opposed to a story or an emotion you wanted to express), has ever inspired one of your songs, whether through its meaning or sound?There is no God ………………But God (La ilaha illahllah).
75.What happens when we die?Dear sir/madame: We don’t.