Wicked Scheme: Pet Conspiracy Emerges From the Studio

Pet Conspiracy ranks among the craziest of Beijing bands, with their marriage of rock & roll with electronica and with outrageous stage shows that have more costume changes than a schizophrenic superhero. But after three years, they still had no debut album to show for it. So they took a hiatus from the live shows and spent several months in the studio. Before their album launch, we had a chance to sit down with them to chat about gigs, secrets and the breakup with their iconic co-founder Helen Feng.

What are the biggest and the smallest crowds you’ve played for?
Huzi: The biggest one was about 30 to 40 thousand people.
Mary: Yeah, last year at Zebra, in Chengdu. And the smallest crowd … 798, I think.
Huzi: Actually, I think it was at the Song Music Bar & Kitchen in 2009. There were only 30 to 40 people.

If you could eliminate just one thing about your gigs, what would it be?
Huzi: Too hard to answer; our bottom line is so low. Oh, one thing – no payment from the organizers. That should not happen.
Mary: Objection! I don’t agree! That’s Huzi’s personal opinion.
Edo: Interviews before the concert. You get so nervous.
Huzi: But it doesn’t matter if Edo’s drunk.
Mary: Yeah, just don’t interview Edo while he’s sober. But he’s never sober.
Edo (holding a big can of beer): Actually, right now I’m sober.

If the album were a movie, what kind would it be?
Huzi: An erotic, violent and romantic movie.

Would you ever consider performing a show in the nude?
Huzi: If it were acceptable by law and local ordinances, it’s totally possible.
Mary: What?! Really?! Not me.

How’s your relationship with Helen now, post-breakup?
Mary: The decision was made by everybody. She was very cool in the band – we loved each other. The breakup was difficult for everybody. In the end, each of us accepted that we would go off in our own directions. After the first month, all of us were a little bit sad and angry, but we understood. Now we’ve moved on. She also has her own projects. We don’t have any problems.

Tell us a secret about Pet Conspiracy.
Edo: I want to have sex with my manager and have babies with him.

Pet Conspiracy’s first studio album launches on Jun 4 at Tango.