Hardy Fox AOL appearance, March 1995

In March 1995, then-president of The Cryptic Corporation, Hardy Fox, appeared on AOL chat while in Japan to promote The Residents' then-recent CD-ROM projects, Freak Show, Gingerbread Man and Bad Day on the Midway.
The below is a transcript, sourced from an archived version of the defunct fan website RZWeb. Fox appears as "Guest MW".
== Transcript ==
; Guest MW:
: The Residents will not be logging on. It's just me Hardy Fox from the Cryptic Corporation.
; Zorca:
: Welcome Hardy.
; CSEmcee2:
: Welcome, Mr. Fox!
; Guest MW:
: The Residents are currently in Tokyo.
; Zorca:
: Eyeballs and all?
; CSEmcee2:
: We are ready to take more questions from the audience.
; Guest MW:
: Eyeballs and skull.
; Zorca:
: Hardy, the Residents have been putting a lot of effort into CD-ROMS lately. Would you mind telling us a bit about what advantages you see in this medium?
; Guest MW:
: The Residents have always had interests in mediums other than music and CD-ROM's offer the opportunity to explore many of them. And by the way, Sorry I'm late. Big storm knocked out our phones.
; Question:
: Are there any new 4x CD-ROM portables due out soon?
; Guest MW:
: We're only developing software.
; Question:
: Will The Residents record any other albums such as their Beatles tribute" album?
; Guest MW:
: They have tribute albums to Hank Williams, James Brown, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa.
; Question:
: Hardy, do you know if The Residents will be touring anytime this decade?
; Guest MW:
: No plans for touring, but they are directing an opera based on Freak Show CD-ROM in Prague in November.
; Question:
: On the new Gingerbread Man album there are four eyeballs. Is this an old picture or a new eyeball?
; Guest MW:
: Old Picture.
; Question:
: Hi hardy, remember the Eskimo snippet? Besides Hunters do the Residents have any more TV projects in the works?
; Guest MW:
: No, except plans to make a video of the live Freak Show in Prague.
; Question:
: Are The Residents performing in Japan?
; Guest MW:
: No, promotion appearances for the Japanese version of Gingerbread Man CD-ROM.
; Comment:
: Yeah, the PC magazines say Netscape is the best for Macs right now.
; Question:
: What kind of software was used in the production of the CD-ROMS?
; Guest MW:
: Director, Electric Image, Photoshop, Sound Designer. The usual.
; Question:
: Do the Residents do all their development on Macs?
; Guest MW:
: Yes, absolutely.
; Question:
: Are other SF underground musicians such as Irene Dogmatic getting into putting their art on interactive CD-ROMS?
; Zorca:
: I think Survival Research Labs are working on a CD-ROM, although that's not really music.
; Guest MW:
: Irene Dogmatic has just moved back to the Bay Area after many years in New York, but don't know her plans.
; Question:
: Does everyone who knows the Residents personally know that they are the Residents?
; Guest MW:
: No.
; Question:
: Is The Residents WWW homepage up & running yet?
; Guest MW:
: The best homepage is in Canada, I found it using Yahoo. Searching for The Residents.
; Question:
: Was Snakefinger's fatal cardiac arrest due to illicit drug use?
; Guest MW:
: I don't know. He was a long way from home and I never asked.
; Question:
: Do the Residents have a Web page? I haven't seen the Gingerbread work. Is Jim Ludke involved?
; Guest MW:
: The Residents have not created their own web page yet, though several exist. Jim Ludtke worked on Gingerbread Man.
; Question:
: I got kicked off the modem and did not hear your answer. Are there any portable 4x CD-ROM players due out soon for Apple portables?
; Guest MW:
: The answer was: We are software folks, not hardware.
; Question:
: What direction do you feel the Residents will take in the next century?
; Guest MW:
: I don't know. But they do tend to follow the technology.
; Question:
: Hardy, does that mean there is still one eyeball missing?
; Guest MW:
: It means one eyeball is hexed.
; Question:
: Ask them what do they like about film and television scoring.
; Guest MW:
: It pays for their more esoteric projects.
; Question:
: Do they use power macs?
; Guest MW:
: Yes, but not exclusively.
; Question:
: I need to know where I can download Neverwinter Nights?
; Guest MW:
: Not here. Never heard of it.
; Question:
: Are the residents able to support themselves doing what they love-whatever that is-or do they have to work at real jobs?
; Guest MW:
: They support themselves doing their art, which is what they consider their real job.
; Question:
: Hardy, have you ever personally met all of The Residents?
; Guest MW:
: Yes, I work with them regularly.
; Comment:
: Hello, my name is Steve. I was wondering if you could talk to people in Australia, Japan, or Hawaii?
; Question:
: Have the Residents ever worked on Amigas before?
; Guest MW:
: No.
; Comment:
: I've seen the Canadian Res page but I'm waiting for the Official Product.
; Guest MW:
: Just a lack of time to get it done.
; Question:
: Do the Residents have any plans for collaboration with other artists?
; Guest MW:
: They have been working on a project with Fred Frith for years. It may never be finished.
; Question:
: Are the Residents involved with S.R.Labs? Would Cleveland, Ohio be a viable venue for a Residents' performance? Please say yes, thanks.
; Guest MW:
: Not involved with S.R. The Residents have already played Cleveland twice.
; Comment:
: It was really great to see my two favorite artists The Residents and Todd Rundgren work together!
; Question:
: Will the Residents make anymore music videos?
; Guest MW:
: Only plans are for videos within CD-ROMS.
; Question:
: What did they write for TV and film?
; Guest MW:
: Pee Wee Herman shows, several MTV things including for Liquid TV, and of course, Hunters for Discovery.
; Question:
: When will NOT AVAILABLE be available again?
; Guest MW:
: Not Available is available.
; Question:
: Will we ever know who they are?
; Guest MW:
: Why does it matter?
; Question:
: Can the Residents be killed by any but supernatural means?
; Guest MW:
: Not yet.
; Question:
: Do any of the Residents have a favorite movie?
; Guest MW:
: John Woo's The Killer.
; Question:
: Do the Residents live in San Francisco still?
; Guest MW:
: Yes and no.
; Question:
: Will the tribute albums be reprinted again?
; Zorca:
: If individuals can't find Residents music and CD-ROMS locally, is there a mail-order address?
; Guest MW:
: They are available in Europe now. Hope to release in USA soon. Mail order: 1-800-795-3933.
; CSEmcee2:
: We have time for one more question.
; Zorca:
: One of the things that I particularly like about Freakshow was the emotional involvement. You learn to love Wanda. This is rare in CD-ROMS. Would you care to address this?
; Guest MW:
: Freak Show CD-ROM was conceived to be an emotion-based project, which is unusual for the medium.
; OnlineHost:
: All good things must end. We've run out of time for this event.
; Zorca:
: Hardy, thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few question here.
; Guest MW:
: Enjoyed answering questions.
; Zorca:
: We really do appreciate it. Say hi to the Residents.
; Guest MW:
: Let's do it again sometime!
; CSEmcee2:
: We at Center Stage were delighted that you were our speaker.
; Zorca:
: You're on!
; CSEmcee2:
: And thanks to our audience for their questions. Good night everyone!
; Guest MW:
: Coming in October: The Residents Bad Day on the Midway.
; Zorca:
: Ciao all, please come back next time, same time same station.
== See also ==
* Hardy Fox
* Freak Show
* Gingerbread Man
* Bad Day on the Midway
* A Day Hanging Dead Between Heaven and Earth
== External links and references ==
* America Online Appearance (March, 1995) at RZWeb
Category:Reference texts
Category:Hardy Fox
Category:Interviews
Category:Freak Show
Category:Gingerbread Man
Category:A Day Hanging Dead Between Heaven and Earth