By Bob Pomeroy

Jad Fair is an underground rock legend. He's the mastermind behind Half Japanese, one of the world's most enigmatic (some would say annoying) rock bands. He's been the champion of Moe Tucker, Daniel Johnston and DQE (a.k.a. Grace Braun). Jad's active encouragement and participation helped these performers gain public recognition. Jad Fair was even the subject of a song on the second (and final) Pee Shy album.

In the past year (ok, a little more than a year) Jad Fair has made three cool albums in collaboration with three fine artists: Grace Braun, his brother David Fair and Yo La Tengo. The disc with Grace, called DQE and Jad Fair is a fun collection of country flavored songs. Monster Songs for Children finds Jad taking a vocal back seat to brother David's Captain Beefheart growl on 24 fractured blues numbers. Strange But True finds Jad singing some more of brother David's lyrics. This time, he's singing stories culled from supermarket tabloids with Yo La Tengo providing the back up. All are fine discs worth owning and cherishing.

The wonder of the Internet allows easy communication even with people who are half a world away. The following is my e-mail interview with Jad Fair. Questions have been edited for length.

Moe: This disc came out awhile ago, but I wanted to ask about the Jad

Fair and DQE CD. Last issue, I did a story on Grace Braun and she said

she considers you one of her best friends and greatest inspirations.

Could you tell me a little bit about your collaboration with Grace.

JAD: I was very happy to work with Grace and Dugan. Grace has a great voice

and is one of my favorite song writers. I hope to have the opportunity

to record with her again.

MOE: Monster Songs For Children is the first collaboration with your

brother David in quite a few years (or at least I think it is). How did the Monster songs

concept come about? What was it like making the record?

JAD: David and I released an album a few years ago on Vesuvius records called

'Best Friends'. We plan to do some more recording this winter. . We approached the recordings in a simple manner. All of the percussion is very simple, which I think works well for as a record for children.

MOE: Were there any monsters you wanted to include that the alphabetical order wouldn't

allow?

JAD: We got most everyone we wanted to.

MOE: The new disc with Yo La Tengo is also a bit of a collaboration with

David. How did the concept for making the album come about?

JAD: When David first wrote the words he had in mind a book. When I had the

recording session with Yo La Tengo I wanted to try the words as songs.

I'm pleased with the results.

MOE: What was it like making a record with Yo La Tengo?

JAD: They're real fine people and great musicians. They could not have been

any easier to work with. I've known them for a long time and get along

with them real well.

MOE: What is your favorite tabloid newspaper?

JAD: National Inquirer for gossip and Weekly World News for news and world

events.

MOE: Your support was very important in reviving Moe Tucker's musical

career and freeing her from the clutches of Wal-Mart. More recently, you've

worked with Moe when she produced a Half Japanese record. What was it

like working with Moe back in the JAD MOE KATE BARRY days and how is it

having her be your producer now?

JAD: The Velvet Underground was one of my favorite bands while in High

school. It was a thrill to work with her. I love her solo recordings

too. I can't take credit for getting her away from Wal-Mart. That had to

do with a renewed public interest in the V.U.. I admire Moe a lot.

MOE: What's the status of Half Japanese?

JAD: We released new 2 CDs last year. (Heaven Sent, and Bone Head) This

year Drag City will re-release Our Solar System and Sing No Evil. We

don't want to put out a new CD on top of those, so it may be a while

before the next new one.

MOE: Are there any new collaborations in the works that we should be on

the lookout for?

JAD: I just finished working with Teenage Fan Club. It went very well. This

winter I'm going to work with Daniel Johnston, and my brother David.

MOE: Thank You.