Traci Lords (click for more)

Bruce Wagoner unveils his new documentary based on interviews with former porn stars asking ‘What happened next?’ While Traci Lords (not in the film) went on to make music with psy-trance legends Juno Reactor not many of the other actresses appear to have fared so well . . .

Posh people’s etiquette organisation Debretts have recently issued fresh guidelines for mobile phones and ring tones so Skrufff asked a bunch of producers including psy-trance/ electronic legend Steve Hillage (System 7) about their personal preferences . . .

Click for more on System 7 (& their latest album)

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What’s your main ring tone- and what does it say about you? (Debretts’ options include ‘ head-banging rocker, fashion-conscious teenager, gamer, sci-fi nerd, smooth seducer, tv addict, ‘invisible’)

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “To tell the truth I’ve stopped using a ring tone for the past couple of years. I just have my phone on vibrate – and of course the screen lights up when someone calls. Yes I miss a few calls but if someone leaves a voicemail. I’m usually pretty efficient about getting back. What does this say about me? I suppose I’m being fairly discreet by not having an audible ring.”

Skrufff: When was the first time you got a custom one?

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “I’ve never had a custom ring tone. (System 7 partner) Miquette uses a few sometimes. She sometimes has some weird Forbidden Planet/Twilight Zone thing that rings just when I call her – I suppose she assumes I’m going to say something weird and bizarre to her . . .’

Skrufff: How important are ring tones for your business?

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “Now, they’re not at all important. There was a mini-boom in ring tones a while back, which seems to have faded away now. Although we still sell quite a few System 7 track excerpts as ring tones in Japan. They are called ‘Utas’ in Japanese.”

Skrufff: What winds you up the most about how other people use mobiles (does it bother you if friends have mobile conversations in front of you?)

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “Obviously when people speak for hours on the phone when you’re trying to have a conversation, yes, it can be very annoying. People having repeated loud business conversations on the table next to you in a restaurant can be extremely annoying, although to be honest I’ve probably been guilty of this on occasions. I generally try to go outside if I have to have an intense phone conversation at a restaurant.”

Skrufff: Have you ever had a full-blooded row’ on your mobile (ie in front of people?)

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “Yes.”

Skrufff: Debretts say ‘don’t make calls to people from inappropriate venues; a call from a bathroom is deeply off-putting’: have you ever done that?

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “Yes – in the bath sometimes – but I try not to phone from the toilet.”

Skrufff: Do you have any links where people can buy your ring tones?

System 7 (Steve Hillage): “Mostly in Japan – but it’s all in Japanese. I think iTunes version 10 has a facility to convert tracks that you own into ringtones, but I’ve never verified this.” (Make free Iphone ringtones: http://bit.ly/bGath1 )

System 7’s latest album UP (released last June) is out now.

http://www.a-wave.com/system7/

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff