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The below is a transcript, sourced from an archived version of the defunct fan website RZWeb.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