Paisley: So, did Jen tell you about the site?

Gerard: Something about it. It has to do with sex?

Paisley: Well, yeah, it’s a porn site.

Gerard: So I can give, like, really extreme responses?

Paisley: Yeah, you can say whatever you want.

Gerard: That’s why I was born here.

Paisley: That’s why you were born here? To say whatever you want?

Gerard: Yes! It’s a free country! And I must exercise my First Amendment rights!

Paisley: Not bad. So I have to start out by asking your name and what you do in the band.

Gerard: My name is Gerard Smith and I am the bassist for TVOR.

Paisley: You guys - TV On The Radio - have become pretty popular, especially in Brooklyn. Do you ever get recognized by anyone on the street?

Gerard: Um, if I owe the person money maybe.

Paisley: [laughs] You don’t have to be so humble with us, don’t worry. It’s kind of nice that this [BurningAngel.com] isn’t a typical music site so we have the freedom to talk about stuff other than what you’ve probably been asked a million times. But don’t worry—I promise nothing too hard-hitting.

Gerard: Do it, I’d rather talk about something hard-hitting. Something…

Paisley: …other than yourself?

Gerard: Exactly!

Paisley: You know it’s hard to be on the other side too. You know what your editors want, but I’m not going to ask super personal questions of someone I don’t even know. [Pause] So do you get lots of attention from groupies?

Gerard: No. Well…no I’m not going to say that.

Paisley: Oh now you have to!!!

Gerard: Well, I think that the fact that we’re all older… there’s not the…I don’t know - that we’re sexy in that way.

Paisley: Are you kidding?

Gerard: No, I don’t think there’s that kind of intrigue.

Paisley: You don’t feel like you have a following at all?

Gerard: Well, not in that sense. I mean, I know that there’s a lot of older people…older men…

Paisley: Really?

Gerard: Yeah…who are big record fans. They are into the band, but I don't know about “groupies”…

Paisley: So the older men aren’t there in a groupie capacity?

Gerard: I don’t think it’s a groupie kind of thing. There’s no real schtick about this band. And I don't know that the lyrical content attracts the younger audience.

Paisley: So do you have to be young to be a groupie? Can a 30-year-old be a groupie?

Gerard: I guess so. When I imagine a groupie, I think…I mean we were just on tour with Nine Inch Nails. And they have a fan club called “The Spiral.” And they pay $60/yr and get advance tickets and get to go to sound checks and stuff like that. And that’s really intense. And I don’t think this band is in that position right now. Who knows - maybe down the road. Like the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are more groupie-worthy. We played a couple shows with them and after one there was this kid who came to offer me this thing. And I was like “Oh how sweet. This little kid is so excited to meet us.”

Paisley: What was it?

Gerard: It was a t-shirt and he wanted me to get it signed by Karen O.

Paisley: Awww.

Gerard: Little freak.

Paisley: Did you do it?

Gerard: I did it for him. But then I was like “That’s weird man.”

Paisley: Hmmm… OK. So I guess I shouldn’t ask you to get something signed by Karen O from me?

Gerard: [laughs] Damn it!

Paisley: Yeah. I guess I should break it to you now that this whole interview is just a ploy to get to Karen O.

Gerard: [laughs] Man…I knew this interview seemed too good to be true.

Paisley: Have you ever been star-struck?

Gerard: When I met Frank Black he was, uh… he was just a nice guy. But I was nervous. But there was no reason to be. And we ran into Chan Marshall at Coachella. And it turned out she was staying at the hotel we were at in Arizona a few days before and we were introduced. And I was like, “Oh, hey, I’m Gerard.” And then a few days later she’s at Coachella out by the pool at the Holiday Inn and then I was like, “Oh shit, that’s Cat Power. I own her records. I sing along to her songs.” And there she is. You know? And there she is hanging out by the pool. Just totally chill. And she played after us on the same stage and I got to watch her from up with the photographers and it was great to see her and she was just goofing around. She was all dressed up Grand Ole Opry style and I was all crushed out. Like “awww.” Especially after all the stigma that’s been wrapped around her with the, you know…it was just nice.

Paisley: Yeah, it’s nice to see someone is low-key and down-to-earth. So you guys tour all the time. Do you get lonely?

Gerard: Yeah, you know, it’s difficult. It’s difficult traveling that much and I don't know that human beings are meant to do that. Unfortunately, as fate had it this is the way that things panned out for us—being on the road a lot. I mean, at first when they first asked me I was going to go on tour for a month and a half.

Paisley: Really? What was that, like years ago?

Gerard: Yeah, 3 years ago.

Paisley: Surprise. But you stuck around.

Gerard: Yeah, and it just turned into more and more and more.

Paisley: How do you find privacy on tour? Are you guys on top of each other all the time?

Gerard: You get very little privacy. Just so you know. Unless you’re like Madonna, there’s no privacy. You have to check into the hotel—with everyone else, then go to sound check—with everyone else, then eat with everyone else at the closest place to the venue. You wake up with everyone else because you all have to leave at the same time. People think tour is this fun time, but the reality is when you’re on this schedule, you know, it’s not so fun.

Paisley: Do you have any secret vices that the rest of the band doesn’t know about?

Gerard: No! You can’t hide anything! There’s no privacy on tour.

Paisley: What about your intimate moments?

Gerard: [Laughs] Uh… I don't know…intimate moments are very few. All you want to do is sleep.

Paisley: Really, so your tours aren’t nuts with girls and parties and this debauched time?

Gerard: Yeah, that was all about the 70s when they were able to do it.

Paisley: Why can’t you?

Gerard: I’m older! I’m not that young. I’m 31. I’m going to be 32 this year. So we’re not like some young guys going “woo hoo!” like that. I guess we all understand the consequences too much. So…

Paisley: …it’s not so debauched anymore.

Gerard: And personally I’m not sure that’s what I’m interested in. I’m not sure that I can personally deal with someone who wants to have a one-night stand.

Paisley: You need more than that?

Gerard: I think most people do.

Paisley: You never know. You all do seem low-key. But you know how businessmen are - the ones going to dominatrixes…

Gerard: This is fun.

Paisley: Ok, well, I’m kinda getting to the end of my questions. Unless you want to tell me what kind of porn you watch.

Gerard: I watch whatever’s available—there aren’t that many different kinds to choose from.

Paisley: Really, you don’t think?

Gerard: Well, it’s a strange phenomenon, pornography. You can see how it’s changed…and I do think it’s kind of limited. Don’t you think? Because you start off with the blowjob, the hand job, and all that. Then they give each other head. And then it’s either missionary or from behind. Then she gets on top and it’s the cowboy, the reverse cowboy…

Paisley: [Laughs] I don’t know; maybe you’re watching the wrong movies. What would you love to see?

Gerard: Well, I don't know what I’d love to see. But you can see how it’s progressed. Like in the 70s when it was really plot heavy. And then in the 80s there was still a plot, but it got dirtier. And it was like, “Wow.” And now it’s like, “Let’s get down to business—and very specific business.” And it takes away the spontaneity. You know? So you start to wonder what it is that makes these people do this? As a living? I mean I watch porn. I don’t deny it. I’m probably the most avid porn watcher…

Paisley: In the band?

Gerard: In the state.

Paisley: That’s quite a claim. Do you know Joanna? The Burning Angel HQ is in Williamsburg.

Gerard: Yeah, I just saw her new movie over at Toys in Babeland. And her poster. And in Spin, in that schoolgirl outfit…

Paisley: You like that?

Gerard: Yeah. I liked that outfit. What’s her sign?

Paisley: I’m not sure—I can ask her and e-mail you. So the most porn in the state. In NY, that’s saying a lot.

Gerard: Yeah, do that.

Paisley: What’s your sign?

Gerard: I’m a Virgo on the Libra cusp. Like Bill Murray and Hank Williams and John Coltrain and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Paisley: Not a bad combination.

Gerard: And you?

Paisley: Cancer.

Gerard: Aww, a delicate flower.

Paisley: Yeah. That’s me. Well, we’re talking about astrology – I think this is where I let you go.

Gerard: Don’t…I’m having fun.

Paisley: Alright. What’s your favorite porn? Do you like a 70s plot or all business?

Gerard: Well, I’m trying to work through that. Because I feel like a weirdo.

Paisley: You do? Why?

Gerard: Because there’s so much taboo wrapped around sex and sexuality—especially now with exploitation and sex trafficking…So you sort of start wondering how people get into that line of work.

Paisley: Well, it’s the age-old question: is porn empowering or oppressive? What do you think?

Gerard: I don’t know. I don't know what empowerment is. It’s a weird thing. Someone I know is into BDSM world and they’re always making me more and more aware of that reality. It’s a weird thing for me as a black man. What is power and what is…who’s on top. How do you figure out all of that? And not get corrupted. Like for yourself?

Paisley: I’m not sure.

Gerard: Its really sensitive. In your bedroom it’s one thing, in sexual circles it’s another—in entertainment it’s another.

Paisley: Entertainment is like bondage and domination.

Gerard: It’s so intense, it’s so loaded, I don’t know if it’s empowering. I don't know that power is the answer. Is it about having power in the end? Or is acquiring that power just replacing the head that got cut off?

Paisley: It sounds like you’re more into having the power than giving it up. You don’t sound like a submissive.

Gerard: I’m just talking about the ideas behind it, you know?

Paisley: Sure. I have a friend who’s a dom and I think that’s how she sees her whole life. It’s not just work.

Gerard: Yeah, there’s a lot of things shaping peoples lives and lifestyles. Like an interracial couple who’s dating for an exotic thrill. And for women—the list goes on and on. Is he just dating me for my body?

Paisley: So it’s different for women and men? Do you worry about people dating you for your body?

Gerard: No, I don’t think anybody wants me for my body.

Paisley: You don’t see yourself as a rock star, do you?

Gerard: Well, I don't know, am I one?

Paisley: You’re the only one who can say that. It’s right there…if you want it, though.

Gerard: I’m in a rock band, but I’m not a rock star. What’s a rock star?

Paisley: What about Trent Reznor. He’s a rock star. He totally owns the sexuality. Did you pick anything up touring with him?

Gerard: He owns that. This band doesn’t really look at sex that way.

Paisley: Alright, I must go. I think it’s time. But thanks so much – it was great talking to you.

Gerard: You too. Get your boss to send me a copy of her DVD.

Paisley: Definitely.