There is a video interview & live performance available at their site.

This interview was done with Deborah Conway and her partner Willy Zygier in August 1999. Her fourth “solo” album (their third together) has been recorded but not released yet. After some tea and lunch the following was uttered –

What is different about the new album?

Deborah : It’s a band record so it’s different to My

In October 1998 I was fortunate enough to be able to interview the much admired Willy Zygier. I was shattered to learn that although I consider myself a devoted fan there is much I would not have guessed about Willy Zygier.

Many thanks to Willy for taking part in this interview, to the Bitch Listers for submitting questions (most of which i used), and Nicky Pelletier for editing this and reassuring me that perhaps I am not as much a monkey as I think I am.

Where were you born?

I was born at the Jessie McPherson hospital in Melbourne.

Deborah: DC & WZ Here Hello!

Mark&Co: Hi! how are you!

suz: hello

Alison: Hello. Now we have to watch what we say?

Deborah: Good thanks

Mark&Co: It’s Rach typing at Mark’s – he’s here too

Mark&Co: wow! It’s getting crowded here!

Deborah: Any questions?

Mark&Co: how’s alma?

Deborah: 3 months tomorrow & drunk as a skunk

Mark&Co: yep… we were just discussing them when you arrived!

Alison: Heaps. Mark’s sister wants to know what you think of Bette Midler, and I was wondering about Whitney Houston.

Mark&Co: No, rach’s sister wants to know…

Alison: See, there it is again.

Deborah: I used to have a dog that looked like Bette- small eyes & a huge mouth

Anonymous: hey sorry i’m late

Mark&Co: sorry – should I start my comments with an r?

Mark&Co: hi felice!

Deborah: first clip

Anonymous: cool how did you know?

Mark&Co: is it dry sex or wry socks?

Deborah: neither

Mark&Co: damn! do tell

Anonymous: ok i got “my third husband” playing…i’m all set!

Alison: Is it resurrect your shoes, or razor rash? I like resurrect–you know, the whole Parson’s Brass thing.

Deborah: Well actually it’s dry socks

Mark&Co: who dislikes dry socks?

Deborah: & razor rash

Alison: Oh well.

Deborah: I’m learning things too(WZ)

Mark&Co: which is your fav song of that someone else wrote to sing?

Mark&Co: (oops) typos

Alison: So the big hip thing in music here is that all the guys are now painting their nails. Will Willy be joining the bandwagon?

Deborah: Could you repeat that IN ENGLISH

Alison: Was that to Mark or me?

Mark&Co: of songs that other people wrote, which is your favourite to sing?

Deborah: I’m plucking my nails – that’s the NEXT big thing

Mark&Co: ooow!

Alison: Ouch.

Anonymous: Go Deborah!!!

Mark&Co: pink would suit willy (rach)

Deborah: Go anon, I’ve always loved your work

Mark&Co: he’s written so much and is so old

Alison: Here’s one. what do you think is the best song you’ve written?

Deborah: We went shopping today for outfits for the tour

Mark&Co: hang on – what about my question?

Alison: That was for DC, not for mark.

Mark&Co: thanks Al 😛

Deborah: Mark the best song that I’ve sung is Crazy or Goldfinger

Anonymous: so have I…esp “hansel and gretel’s mother was dead, their father was sad cos he got no more head”

Alison: What’s that from?

Deborah: Alison tough question – we like Here In My Arms at the moment but your best song is always your next song

suz: ok heres one i always wondered, that last song on your first album dedicated to your goddaughters, what was its basic essence?

Deborah: Innocence

suz: hmmmmm

Alison: Good answer. Good answer.

Mark&Co: not sex or death? (or sex)

Anonymous: that is one of my absolute fav’s

suz: it always sounded just like the experience of childbirth to me tho you hadnt had that yet

Deborah: I don’t sing other peoples songs as much as I should

Alison: Is Goldfinger a DC song? I’m guessing no.

Mark&Co: good guess Al – Shirley Bassey

suz: do you like others singing yours?

Anonymous: why should you? yours are better

Alison: In response to Suz, let’s hope so, because I do it all the time.

suz: hehehe

Deborah: The idea tends to be better than the reality so far. Wendy Mathews does one of our songs on her latest

Mark&Co: which one?

Deborah: It’s called Mountains We’ve only demoed it & she changed it completely

Alison: So I’m here in the states and wanted to pass on that I’ve gotten about six friends really into your music, and think it’s awful that your stuff hasn’t been released here. Not to mention expenisive to get it, but what can you do?

Deborah: Al thank you – it must be very late there

Deborah: You should form a record co

MarkandCo: is evil homer about people you (pl) know?

Alison: AND is Pablo the last to know that Kurt Cobain is dead? Really, your stuff is awesome, and there’s so much crap here. Frustrating for me, can’t imagine being in your shoes.

Mark&Co: Nicky says hello

Deborah: Hi NP

Mark&Co: hi DC

Deborah: Nice to see you at swinburne

Anonymous: where are you at right now Deborah?

Mark&Co: and WZ (SDZ & AdeRZ)

Deborah: In my office at home

suz: phew 😐

Deborah: I saw Ani DiFranco the other day

Anonymous: who?

Alison: We heard. Was she great? I’ve been wanting to see her live.

suz: Deborah do you prefer only questions about your music?

Deborah: Ask anything but don’t expect quick answers from remedial typists

Mark&Co: I heard she was fantastic

Deborah: She’s a great guitar player & I like her big heels

Mark&Co: what outfits did you buy?

Alison: Speaking of guitar, when did you start playing? (Did you play in DRM and just not on the albums?)

Mark&Co: good question Alison;-)

suz: thanks

Deborah: I didn’t pick up a guitar till I was 18

Mark&Co: and the clothes??

Deborah: I didn’t play with DRM because they wouldn’t let me

Mark&Co: why not ?(rach)

Alison: I saw Shawn Colvin last week and she’s pregnant and talked about both of her big toenails falling off. did this happen to you?

Mark&Co: Nicky thinks the toenails are a shoe problem..

suz: Ok well I was wondering what being a mother has meant to you? I know iits a big question but does it enrich your life? Has it changed a lot of your veiws ? I mean aside from all of the extra work

Deborah: My toenails didn’t collapse it was my brain

Mark&Co: like the gold fish?

Deborah: It changes you completely & fundamentally

Alison: for the better?

suz: I know but did it halt you in any ways?

Deborah: There’s now someone to die for

suz: I have 2 little girls myself

Deborah: It halts everything & you move to the dictates of another dictator

Alison: “there’s now someone to die for” sounds like it could be a line from the new album.

Deborah: Suz so you know

Mark&Co: so how about those outfits – anything as stunning as the red dress?

suz: well I do but i always presume its diff for others

Deborah: There’s a great divide between the people who know & the people who don’t

suz: always think its easier

Anonymous: heehee Mark that dress is implanted in my brain

Mark&Co: and mine (rach)
S

suz: but you probably have bad days too and rotten night s “:)

Deborah: You’ll have to wait & see

Mark&Co: any new material for the tour?

Deborah: We have good nights & the days are getting better all the time

Anonymous: Deborah, will you sign autographs after any shows?

suz: Im glad

Deborah: New material exists & one or 2 may be played

Mark&Co: how about a photo with the melbourne bitch list after the continental show?

Alison: Have you written any songs for/about your daughters?

Mark&Co: so how many people here are on the bitch list? (And where are people from?)

suz: Deborah, were you always comfortable in your skin? as in you look so cofident in your body no matter what and that is what i like the very most about you

Alison: Count me as a bitcher, live from America.

suz: Um Im from Canberra and no i guess im not

Mark&Co: three bitchers here (mark, nicky and rachael) all in mebourne

meeks: Big bitcher from Melbourne

Yon: 1 bitcher here from sydney

Anonymous: huge bitch in melbourne

Mark&Co: lots of bitches…

suz: hehe

Mark&Co: deborah, having fun there>

Deborah: A few technical problems there we were chatting to Suz only

suz: well thank you kindly hehe

Alison: Thanks to DC it’s GOOD! to be a bitch!

suz: charmed im sure

Deborah: Anon I’ll sign anything but how will I know it’s you?

Mark&Co: I’ve always enjoyed bitching… (r)

Deborah: Feminism has such a bad name these days, it bothers me

Anonymous: i’ll tell you….i am the butt ugly guy waving your cd cover

Alison: So did “Bitch Epic” really come about that way? the story is very believable.

Mark&Co: Has anyone heard “It’s a Girl Thing” on the radio yet?

Mark&Co: feminism is a good thing, but my armpits aren’t hairy (r)

Deborah: Bitch E came out of a hat – check yours you never know what you may find

suz: um deborah did you get my other question?

Anonymous: no mark…i heard “it’s only the beginning” on TTFM yesterday

Deborah: Yes has anyone heard Girl Thing on the radio?

Deborah: Feminism is not armpits

Mark&Co: nope – but I’ve e-mail JJJ with a request – anyone else?

meeks: deb you inspired me to write a sing, I would like to send it
to you, if thats possible

Deborah: Meeks bring it to a gig & say Hello

meeks: I’ll try

Anonymous: its not girl power is it deborah?? *ducks*

Alison: Will you be returning to London any time soon? Any shows there? It’s closer than Australia.

Mark&Co: alison, only just closer (a few thousand miles…)

Deborah: London is on the cards but nothing definite

Mark&Co: who else is listnening to DC while online?

suz: was that a “no” Deborah?

Alison: I’ll just wait. No problem.

Mark&Co: how havethe gigs been?

Deborah: Suz no

suz: oh ok I thought you couldnt see me

Anonymous: me…the way you look tonight is just starting

Deborah: we’ve only just begun

Anonymous: what are you up to mark?

suz: suz1> Deborah, were you always comfortable in your skin? as in you look so cofident in

suz: real life?

Mark&Co: just sitting watching me type (r)

Alison: DC, did you write “Gold”. It’s got an 1800s Russian winter feel to it (I’ve only heard it about 5 times)

suz: I have always liked that the best about you

Deborah: No i experience enormous anxiety, it’s what keeps me writing

suz: wow

suz: it never shows

Deborah: Gold is by an American Peter Blegvad

Mark&Co: what really annoys you?

suz: I am so jealous of what seems so comfy in you

Alison: great question mark

Mark&Co: suz, buy My third Husband, it will make you feel better! (r)

Deborah: You’d probably appear comfy to me – it’s the human condition

suz: hehehe

suz: I know

suz: lol

suz: not if i was hiding under a table when you looked at me lol

Deborah: the way corporations evade tax

Mark&Co: go girl!

suz: here here!

Mark&Co: I’d like to avoid tax the way they do! (rach)

Deborah: while we support society – & governments condone it

Mark&Co: what annoys willy?

Deborah: Having to type

suz: )

Mark&Co:

Anonymous: what scares you Deborah?

Deborah: spiders

suz: eeeeeeeeeek

suz: Huntsman??

Mark&Co: arachnapobia?

suz: the big hairy ones?

Mark&Co: I always thought spiders were kind of cute(r)

Alison: This isn’t really on the subject, but what’s your favorite book? (I find that to be an interesting insight into people)

Mark&Co: what about Molly Meldrum?

Deborah: & other people’s certainty

meeks: i like the little red ones

suz: i like that Deborah

Deborah: Book? So many

Anonymous: you prefer people to be uncertain?

Alison: So many–fair enough.

Deborah: Mater & Margherita

Deborah: Master &….

Mark&Co: Nicky says she knows a Simon just like the one in evil homer

Alison: I was listening to “It’s all part of my education”. Do you really speak German?

suz: ever read the womans room?

Deborah: 5 German phrases

Mark&Co: hte only german I know is the stuff I had to sing (r)

Deborah: Womans Room good….all the pretty horses

Mark&Co: who do you admire?

suz: btw mark&co……I dont feel bad

Deborah: Love in the time of cholera….Sabbath’s Theatre

suz: Deborah…..Pretty horses???

Mark&Co: Willy – are you stuck typing all this?

Anonymous: do you know what kind of fans you attract? as in age/gender/sexuality etc.

Mark&Co: nutters?

Deborah: Noam Chomsky Germaine Greer Woody Allen (for his way with women)

Mark&Co: who does willy admire?

Mark&Co: hmm… silence

Alison: What kind of staging/set stuff was there on the Epic Theatre tour.

Deborah: Mark I hate these questions I don’t have heros

Deborah: I did a 3 hour monologue

Mark&Co: Mark does! (rach)

Deborah: Final questions please

Alison: That would’ve been great. When was Parabasis written? I love that song.

Mark&Co: Are you likely to do anything like the epic theatre tour again?

Deborah: I wrote it for a version of Aristophanes Frogs that I performed in

suz: I dont want to ask another question I just want to say thanks for coming on here so i could be braver than i ever am when you are near

Deborah: Directed by Geoffrey Rush of Shine fame

Alison: thanks for chatting. I’ll see you live some great day in the far off future.

Anonymous: i also wanna say thanx Deborah, you’re a great music maker

meeks: I’ll try and get that song to yu. it might be difficult though. thanks for chatting

Mark&Co: thanks for chatting with us nerds deborah & willy

Deborah: If I ever hit the zeitgeist again I’ll do a big show

Deborah: Bye all DCWZ

suz: bye

Deborah: Thanks

Alison: cheers

Anonymous: and i’ll see you at la trobe!

suz: bye willie

meeks: bye

This chat took place Monday 27th October 1997.

Log file opened at: 27/10/97 8:06:48 PM

Topic for #Deborah: Welcome to the Deborah Conway Chat
Room!

soozie: hi

lhucekb: hi soozie, having connection troubles?

Pooh_bear: great to c u online soozie

soozie: hi honey….good to see another founding member of
the Boonah Chapter of the deborah conway fan club online

Pooh_bear: petty sister mary can’t be with us

Bryan: All rise.

soozie: poor sister mary she must be still hanging from
that harness in the tree

Markimus: hi people

Pooh_bear: with grade 9 boys!!

soozie: ha markimus

Bryan: Hi mark

Markimus: we are about to start here

Bryan: Hi Euan

etroup: G’day soprts fans

lhucekb: hi Markimus, Bryan, etroup…how goes?

Deborah has joined channel
#Deborah

lhucekb: bows to Australia’s greatest music maker

Deborah has set the topic on channel
#Deborah to Buy the album you bastards

soozie: i have

Bryan has bought three copies…

Deborah: thankyou for that

etroup: I’ve ordered it, takes awhile to get to the
Outback, you know

lhucekb: me too…its great…

Bryan: etroup: guess I should come up there more often…

Deborah: where are you in the
outback

etroup: Parkes, NSW

ronny: it takes even longer for it to show up in the
states!!!

Deborah: hey yankees, welcome

etroup: Anyone know why JJJ aren’t playing it, or shouldn’t
I ask?

Deborah: JJJ played Only the Bones off
Ultrasound and didn’t want to risk repetion

etroup: JJJ avoid repetition?!

soozie: pooh bear..why arent you saying anything

lhucekb: saw you on saturday night…had a fucking ball you
were incredible but were you supposed to turn up when you did or were
you late?

Deborah: i was not late, it was their
fault at the venue

lhucekb: dont worry we were more than happy to blame the
venue as well…

Pooh_bear: i am a shy boy soozie

barry_bing: Deborah: It’s great to see you back in .au, how
have you found playing to melb audiences?

Pooh_bear: deb missed your concert in london as i was on
way to turkey two days before hand!

Pooh_bear: how did the concerts go over there

soozie: Deborah…..how much did play while in London.

Deborah: the shows in London were
sensational

Pooh_bear: u still there soozie

Mark: Staying in Oz for long?

Deborah: Mark, plans are fluid

soozie: Members of the Boonah Chapter of your fan club are
wondering whether you still have photo’s of their inaugural meeting
and hope you have blue taced them onto your fridge

Deborah: hey i remember you

Deborah: u turned up at that show at
Noosa

Pooh_bear: soozie want be at the show in brissie

soozie: yes……life sometimes is embarassing..especially
when one wakes the next morning

lhucekb: stoopid question that i have been dieing to ask,
from “Bitch Epic” does “DCN # 348” stand for deborah conway’s
nightmare?

Deborah: of course it does.

Pooh_bear: soozie have u still got the bit of ham from kelly’s??

Deborah: what did you all think of the
underground lovers ?

Bryan: Deborah: Why “Only The Bones”?

Deborah: as a title or a single ?

Bryan: As a single.

Deborah: ask michael gudinski his
choice

Bryan: OK… but then why did you choose to redo it on 3rd
Husband?

Deborah: cos no one bought Ultrasound

Bryan: I did. And then I turned up to your gig a week
later and you were bloody selling autographed copies…

lhucekb: i did!!!!!!!!! i love “3 love” so much….its even
better in concert

Deborah: bryan, bring it to a gig and
we’ll personalise it and autograph it

Bryan: Will do. Thursday.

soozie: Pooh bear I would love to do Brisbane show but I am
working in Malaysia….but I am hoisting 6 people to the Sydney show
….a sort of subgroup to the Boonah Chapter but based in Rose Bay

Mark: re staying is oz, special interest group of the willy
festival, any chance for jan ’98?

Deborah: mark, always happy to do the
will festival, will be large with child, you bring the hot water I’ll
bring the towels

Mark: I remember last time!

soozie: Deborah……how long do you think you will be
based in London

Deborah: here’s a scoop for you all…

Deborah: baby 2 is due on the same day as
baby one

Bryan: Makes birthday parties easier.

etroup: wow! time travel!

lhucekb: unreal!!! you gonna give him/her a cool name as
well?

soozie: got any names ready for baby two

Deborah: re london, when they get rid of
daryl somers

lhucekb: you hate d. somers??? could you be more perfect???

Deborah: no name suggestions please

soozie: I always thought you and he had a perfect
connection

Deborah: actually we were thinking about
calling the child daryl

Deborah: but we settled on Ozzie

Pooh_bear: some thing like Considerate Understanding
Nineties Type you once described bert newton as!!

lhucekb: i imagine Syd to have a personality and a
half…she a cool kid?

Deborah: yes

soozie: WASN’T THAT THAT COUNTDOWN BLOKE

Deborah: maybe it was

Bryan: Deb: A question about the album. I felt ‘String of
Pearls’ and ‘Bitch Epic’ both had a definite theme to them, but not
so much 3rd Husband. Any comment on this?

soozie: Why did you write such different stuff in London

Deborah: times were hard

Deborah: what did you think the themes
were on the first two ?

Deborah: my 3rd husband’s themes are sex,
death, memory, and sex

Bryan: Well ‘String’ semes to have a lot about
relationships – and how they can go wrong. I think Bitch’s theme
speaks for itself.

Deborah: we had to live without Daryl,
without Kennett

Deborah: sometimes these things are more
evident after the fact

Veronica: Deborah, do you think you will ever release in
the US?

Deborah: god knows I’d love to

Veronica: it’s damn hard to get your cds over here

Deborah: we wait to see if someone is
brave enough to put it out

lhucekb: you gonna release a live cd like you did with
“Epic Theatre”? if so will it be available seperately as well?

Deborah: what about over the net
?

Veronica: expensive, but the only real option

Deborah: you mean contractual obligation
record ?