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Interview with The Time
Date: May 27, 2002
Author: Corinne Giner

This interview with Monte Moir and Torrell "Tori" Ruffin
from The Time was done by Corinne Giner in April 2002 for the French funk website http://www.funky-people.com. A French version of this interview can be found on that address.}}}

Corinne Giner: First of all, thank you for accepting this interview to Funky People, a site willing to make a tribute to the best actors of the Funk scene for the greatest pleasure of French Funkateers!

In your case, it’s a band that cannot be ignored that we “welcome”, so you can imagine our pleasure… So, it’s been a long time since we heard from you here. Could you present us The Time, version 2002?

Monte: The Time in 2002! I would have never thought we would have stayed together so long. Morris, Jerome, Jellybean and yours truly are the remaining original members. We also have Chance Howard (keys), Rick Smith (bass) and Tori Ruffin (guitar) who have all been with us for a few years now.

Corinne: It’s been more than 20 years that you play together. How do you explain this longevity which is so rare nowadays?

Monte: We have been through a lot together and although we don't always agree, there is a bond that seems to hold us together. I think we realize how fortunate we are and what a unique position we are in, and that helps to keep any differences we may have in perspective. It's not unlike the ups and downs of a marriage. But, there is no shortage of laughs when we get together. Considering who some of my band mates are, I'm sure that is not too hard to imagine.

Tori: I think that ultimately the goal of every musician is to make music and be able to do it for a living. Although everyone has side projects, the Time provides an opportunity for everyone to play in one of the funkiset bands on the planet, tour the world, or that least the states lately and make a living… you know money, clothes, credit cards, fireplaces, with a brass waterbed, and shit!

Corinne: Monte, as an original member of the group, can you relate us about the evolution of the band since you started? Because Prince then was very much involved and today you’ve become, thanks to your individual talent and ability, totally independent… with the same quality level.

Monte: Prince was very much the architect in the early days. More than anything he showed us what is possible with a vision and hard work. I am very thankful to Prince. He put us on the map and showed us the ropes, so to speak.

I think the biggest change over the years is that there is more onstage humor coming out of Morris and Jerome these days. In the earlier years, there was more of a serious hard-edged attitude. The music always and still does feel great.

Corinne: What about you, Tori? How did you feel when you knew you would take part in the group? Were you a big fan before joining the band?

Tori: I was a big fan of the Time and had played the songs in cover bands etc. A funny story is I was traveling up to San Francisco with Freak Juice, at the time it was called "Civil Rite", and the bass Player, and my original Drummer, had not heard of the Time or vaguely "Youngsters". I immediately pulled over to the nearest recka store and got to Time CDs and made them listen cause I felt if we were going to truly record a CD we'd all have to be on the same funk page! Any ways, after the gigs in Sanfran, when I returned Morris was on my answering machine asking me to join the Band! I was definitely excited. Now keep in mind I had worked with notables as Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Brian Mc Knight, all sorts of R&B recording artist but this was really exciting cause they are one of my favorites!

Corinne: After so many years of collaboration, could you tell us what the contribution of each member is to the band? Musically of course but also what about your respective personalities? For example, we imagine the difficulty for releasing a song as Morris and Jerome seem to be the clowns of the group that probably provokes big laughs from everybody? What’s the reality?

Monte: It's always very collaborative to me, Jellybean has always been the heart and soul of the band. He's the anchor. Jerome is very creative and has an unbelievable amount of energy that is very contagious. He and Morris definitely have a natural chemistry on stage and off. There is a lot of silliness (as you might imagine), but when it's time to work, it's all about the work. And we do what we have to, to get it where it needs to be.

Tori: Everyone is a great writer in there own right and so as far as I can tell from working on the new CD with the fellas everyone kinda creates their own part with input from the fellas, when they record they just lay it down funky and go from their! Monte contributed amazing ballads and of course keyboard wizardy. Terry and Jimmy had some grooves and lyric ideas along with Jerome. I gave a 2002 funk rock alternative track, Bean (Jellybean) laid some amazing beats and grooves etc.

Corinne: You made your last LP in 1990. But from Pandemonium and in spite of regular shows in the States, we have only a few news from your band. Do you realize the frustration for your fans? Can we hope a new album available soon?

Monte: It's not something I'm really aware of until someone brings it up. It's hard to know the impact something has on us when we are living our everyday normal lives. It's great to hear people still enjoy us.
We have worked on some new material but there is no date I could give as to when or even if it will be released. We hope it is more sooner than later.

Tori: If it's frustrating to the fans then it is twice frustrating for us! We quite frankly have been promised things, i.e. releases, record deals and tours etc. By the almightys in Minne and none of which have come to Fuition. Hopefully some of the music will see the light of day I can tell you this it's definitely one of the best yet!

Corinne: In the same way, your last concert in France was in 1996. Do you plan a tour in Europe?

Monte: I would love to get back to Europe. I had an especially wonderful time in France. I met a few people I am still friends with. Just about everywhere we went, Jerome and I would go out wandering the streets whenever we had time. There are no current plans to go back soon, but I would love to. I know we all would.

Tori: We would love to tour Europe I know if any legitimate offers come through we will be there in a heart beat. Now Freakjuice will come for ya for a hot sandwich a case of coldones and a place to crash! We will even through Prince and Time covers! Come on let's make it happen yeah baby!

Corinne: The Bird or Jungle Love have become some hymns for funk fans worldwide. Any laugh or choregraphy of Morris and Jerome can make crazy any normal Funkateer… Do you have an idea of the place you have in your fan’s hearts?

Monte: That's nice to hear. It is not always easy to know how people feel, especially when we haven't been there for a while.

Tori: I can only hope that the passion stays there for this band cause they are truly the last of the Mohicans. Again I've worked with many acts and there is nothing like the Time out there and they truly deserve to put out new music and go on funking and rocking the world! Please start a decent one thanx.

Corinne: And in spite of all this passion around you, there’s no REAL internet site about The Time? When you, Monte, have your own site. It’s a new enigma for us and we live this situation as a real injustice. Could you tell us why?

Monte: It's a mystery to us too... We should have one shouldn't we?

Corinne: My favorite titles per album are: The Stick (from The Time), The Walk (from What Time Is It?), Jungle Love and “The Bird (from Ice Cream Castles), Jerk Out (from Pandemonium). I’m an unsatiable funkateer as you can see… What are yours and why?

Monte: Off the top of my head, I like Gigolo's Get Lonely Too. 777-9311, always loved the drum beat. It was also Dez Dickerson's home number. He got a lot of shall we say, unsolicited calls after the song was released as a single, which was quite funny. He had to change his number. Get It Up, it was the first Time single. Cool-great energy. The first video we ever did was for Cool. This was right before MTV got started so there were not many ways to get it played.

Tori: Hey funkafanatic let's see A Get it up cause it's inspirational, Wild and Loose cause that's how I like my women , Ice Cream Castle cause I think variety in life is important and if you're hot you're hot, color is no issue. Skillet cause fish are jumpin’.

Corinne: Out of the group, each of you have a solo project that are important for you… You have a free hand to present it now…

Monte: I just released my first solo CD called This Side Of Paradise. I'm real excited about it. The response has been great and we are gaining momentum it seems day by day. People ask me to describe it. I'm not sure it is always wise to try and describe what one sounds like though it does have a lot of different influences and is more in a pop vein. It is definitely a departure from The Time. It's available through my web site http://www.montemoir.com. Please come by and check it out. Write me an email. I love to hear from people. I am also in the process of assembling a band to do some dates in the States later this year. This is something I have been wanting to do for a very long time and have been working hard to establish this side of my career.

Tori: Morris, is always working on stuff for the Time and solo Jerome is doing a play. My self and Mont, Freak Juice can be found at http://www.cdbaby.com or for more info you can also order at http://www.lama.com/freakjuice. We appreciate and need your support!

Corinne: All along your career, you must have met lots of artists you admire. Which are the ones that impressed you the most and you learned a lot? An anecdote to relate to us?

Monte: I've met a lot of great people over the years. A couple of them come to mind. One is Quincy Jones. I had the good fortune to meet and hang around him a couple of times. One time was at dinner with Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam. He's all about the music. He has a wonderful energy and is very genuine and generous. Prince, obviously. His talent, inspiration and work ethic is amazing. I don't need to tell anyone that. He's always looking for possibilities. I don't see him as much these days, but do consider him a friend. I've always been a huge fan of people like Neil Young, James Taylor, and Sting, though I've never met them. There are so many great people out there.

Tori: I just got off a tour with Mike Franti from Spearhead and his work ethic and positive message of peace and love was really inspiring. Also I was able to tap into why he started playing music, and that was for the love of music. Fishbone the guys are really creative and for the free spirit and how they stick to their guns for musical integrity. I've learned a lot from The Time about putting on a kickass show no matter how big or small. I've also learned from some artists on what not to do and how not to treat people which can be just as helpful!Those names shall remain anonymous !

Corinne: Question for Monte: I’m a great fan of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis productions. You know them well ‘cause in addition to Pandemonium, you took part (with Jellybean) of numerous Alexander O’Neal albums (Monte wrote If Your Were Here Tonight… Ohhh, I’m melting down!), Cherelle, SOS Band, Janet Jackson (Monte wrote The Pleasure Principle) so much artists that I adore too... What is the domain in which they’re still impressing you?

Monte: They are impressive all around really. They are great businessmen. They've been very consistent with regard to the quality of their music and obviously have written some great songs over the years. And they have always had a very clear vision of where they wanted to be in the music business.

Corinne: Among new talents, emerging now, who are the artists you like, or that you think will have a great career? And what about the renewal of Minneapolis sound/musical scene?

Monte: I've been really getting into Indie Arie lately.

Tori: I tell you this 99% of the R&B is whack! As far as new artist I enjoy Incubus, Deftones and Lincoln Park on the rock side. I love west coast Hip Hop cause the use a lot of Clinton samples and this producer Battlecat, has some of the funkiest grooves out there. It has to be funky on some level, it has to hit me hard as far as groove is concerned. If it has a phat groove I'm down!

Corinne: Now the traditional Funky People’s question for finishing on a high note: which are the 3 best funk albums of all times for you? I know it’s a hard question but you must reply!

Monte: Sly Stone - Anthology, Tower of Power - Back To Oakland and Marvin Gaye - What's Goin' On. Any number of Prince records. Especially the earlier stuff.

Tori: Favorite all time that’s a tough one but George Clinton’s Knee Deep whatever album that's on. What Time is it and the Pleasure or Word up album by Cameo.

Corinne: I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I do. I can’t resist the curiosity of asking you some questions about your past collaborations because those people are really in my (and I’m sure a lot of other Funkateers…) funk culture too. Hope you don’t mind

Now I have only one request… Let the rest of the Band know how much we love you in France and how it’s hard for us not to have hearing from you or see you live for so many years… We hope our roads will cross soon

Monte: I will let the band know of your kind words. Thank you so much to everyone for your support over the years. I hope our roads will cross soon as well. Until then... thanks.

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Funkygirl for http://www.funky-people.com

NB: A big thanks U & 1 « Spécial Dédicace » to my friend Gi: « We’re partner in crime you know Sis’ » ;o)))))

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Thanx Bart!