WAT is our New Testament

Laibach about nazi uniforms, Europe, America and the NSK

by Lars Kophal

QUESTION: First, let's get the most visually obvious out of the way: those nazi uniforms. This might appear as basic, first-degree provocation (just like the fact that the provocative-ly titled "Anti-semitism" is sung in Slovene, thus making Laibach's take on that sub-ject undecipherable outside Slovenia). Scandal as a marketing tool? or is there some point in the fact that you are using both German and American uniforms, for ins-tance?

Laibach: In Laibach there is always silence or scandal. This is our natural state of mind, our natural behavior. We like conflicting situations. We always felt that a per-son's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic. And for us only such `provocation' counts. As far as uniforms are concerned - we simply enjoy wearing them; nazi uni-forms in particular make us feel like aliens, like "mensh machine". The Anti-semitism song is sung in Slovene because Slovene language is very similar to Hebrew and if spoken in reverse mode, it sounds like Arabic. Of course we are very concerned about the problem of anti-semitism, who isn't? As a term it goes back to the eigh-teen-seventies, but in fact it is an old concept, the expression of the Dislike of the Unlike. Historically anti-semitsm goes back even further, to the century before the beginning of the Christian era, in Alexandria, and later on in classical Rome and from there with the spread of Christianity all
over the world. Today anti-semitism is still one of the major international topics. It is the most potent instrument of policy and it has established itself as an instrument of reaction. As an excuse it can be a tremendous force of (and for) evil nevertheless how abstract its use and definition today may be. This song speaks about such evil.

QUESTION: In a 1996 interview, you said Laibach wasn't eurocentrist et couldn't be bothered about the differences resulting in tensions between the USA and Europe. Is it still true, in the light of the recent events and renewed American imperialism?

Laibach: We love Europe, but we are not eurocentrists, and the existing tension between USA and Europe cannot be the reason to change our standpoint. We simply cannot afford to judge or to belong to anybody but our own NSK state. The conflict between Europe and USA was something to be expected as soon as Europe decided to emancipate from the USA, especially after the `threat' of Warsaw pact has disappea- red. Let's not forget that Eastern European countries like Hungary, Poland, Romania, etc. did get rid of the Russian army quite smoothly. On the other hand American mili-tary troupes are still very much
present in Western Europe, and this is the question United Europe will have to solve sooner or later before going any further. The fact is that American war against Iraq was not only an episode of the family revenge but it was also act of domination, directed against EU. Anyway - one conflict or one soldier less or more is not going to change Laibach's opinion.

QUESTION: WAT seems to revolve around the concept of time, the end of times, and Laibach history through time. Musically, Laibach have gone full circle, with a sound reminis-cent of NATO as much as of Macbeth. Thus the song WAT in particular could even be interpreted as Laibach testament...

Laibach: Yes, our New testament.

QUESTION: Are the four classic members of Laibach still active/touring with the band? How much open to new individuals is the Laibach collective?

Laibach: Laibach is a group, practicing a collective idea and collective approach. It is con-sisted of several members and many individual collaborators. A Laibach member can only become somebody, who is able to `switch off' his individuality, his individual needs and frustrations and who is able to fulfill the rest of the 10 Laibach items of Covenant. No one automatically stays a Laibach member for a life; if he is not able to follow the rules and cannot devote himself to the idea anymore, he can lose his membership temporary or forever. But the `classic' Laibach members are still active and touring with the band.

QUESTION: What about the NSK State? Now that its concept has been fully theorized, applied and explained, are there plans to further develop it?

Laibach: NSK state is developing by itself. Everybody can become an NSK citizen, obtai-ning NSK passport. The state has no formal "government" and no central "committee" but only citizens, bureaucrats and executioners. The last two are dealing with technical issues - keeping the Utopia formal. NSK citizens are nowadays mys- teriously multiplying and NSK "embassies" are growing all over the world, without any real master plan behind. We ourselves are citizens of the NSK state, no different from all others, who can identify themselves with NSK state codex. We don't have or want to have any control over it any more. NSK state therefore quietly exist every- where, as a kind of parasite, and it is slowly spreading its healing virus to its victims in all four directions of the world. Today the state already has more citizens than An-dorra, Monaco and Vatican, so it might also have more sheep than Pope does. They might not necessarily be aware of it yet, but sooner or later they will all belong to our herd.

QUESTION: Concerning the world situation, how do you see the situation evolve in the next ten years? And further down the line?

Laibach: We cannot really predict the future; we constantly live in repetitive time loops of today and our yesterdays future is turning into our tomorrows past before 24 hours passes. We only sense that the future today is not what it used to be and most of it seems pretty unsure; but then it always has been; and we who have seen great changes must have great hopes, no matter what.

QUESTION: Where will Laibach be in ten years?

Laibach: If not where there is no flies, than it means that we will pretty much move on the same coordinates as now.