Working With Little Annie -- Joe Budenholzer of Backworld

Working With Little Annie

An Interview with Joe Budenholzer of Backworld
By
Mr. Greg
Fall 1999

Last Edit/Update
02 January, 2000

Joe Budenholzer, the mastermind behind the band Backworld, is the perfect man to interview about Little Annie Bandez. He has worked with her on stage, in the studio, and is a personal friend of hers. This interview, while brief, offers insight into the truly endearing and gifted artist Little Annie.

Who is Little Annie?
The most important fact about Little Annie is that she is a sweetheart. Having spent decades dancing on the razor's edge of cultures -- Warhol's Factory, punk rock, New York City and London's avant-garde and drug cultures -- Annie has not only survived but thrived. Unlike the burnt and bitter wounded escapees from the edge, Annie expresses constant gratitude for and understanding of her life on the edge. Even more amazing than her hones ability to survive is her use of all these experiences to improve her crafts, her work.

Annie has been exploring her crafts -- poetry and performance -- for several decades. Genuine and honest, her works explore heart break, emotional cruelty, and social games among many other themes. A keen observer of human betrayal, Annie has maintained her own kindness and loyalty while sharing her experiences with cruelty and love with others.

Annie has spent the majority of her time performing music with bands like Cr (at) ss, Current 93, Coil, and numerous dub bands on the On-U-Sound label. She is a traveling Diva, singing in genres ranging from punk and industrial to dub and apocalyptic folk. Given the chance, Annie would readily explore more genres.

Annie's most recent efforts have centered on a more recent love, painting. She has also been honing her writing. With her paintings on the market and a forthcoming book of poetry and prose, as well as multiple recordings being mastered in England, Little Annie is preparing to reemerge into the underground. Hopefully this interview will offer some insight into the aesthetics and life of Little Annie.

Mr. Greg: When did you first meet Little Annie?

Joe: About two years ago. We were introduced briefly by a mutual musician friend who was performing with her when she first returned to NY from London. But we didn't really become friends until about a year ago.

Mr. Greg: What was your first impression of her?

Joe: My first impression was that she was an extremely outgoing and energetic personality. Somewhat scattered, but with loads of talent.

Mr. Greg: Have you ever performed live with Little Annie? Where, when?

Joe: We did one show where we shared the bill at the Knitting Factory here in NY but we weren't performing together. We did eventually perform together two nights opening for Current 93 this last winter.

Mr. Greg: What was it like?

Joe: It was an incredibly intense performance. Annie is so loved by her audience and is adept at converting the uninitiated. Immediately she had the audience in the palm of her hand. Annie was a chameleon, changing from vulnerable innocent little girl to brash streetwalker to shamanistic she-devil; transforming herself at will before the astonished eyes of the audience. I only had to try to keep up with her permutations.

Mr. Greg: What do you believe Little Annie brings to studio or live sessions which is truly unique, which makes her Little Annie?

Joe: She brings love and light (and darkness). She makes sure that everything is fun and that everyone's having a good laugh. However, her performances can be very deep and dark, revealing wide dimension of her experiences. She is also humble and cooperative, which, from the producer's point of view, is very helpful.

Mr. Greg: What do you like most about collaborating with Little Annie?

Joe: It is a great excuse to get to spend time some with her.

Mr. Greg: Do you have any future plans to work with Little Annie in Backworld or on any other projects?

Joe: We recently wrote and recorded a song together which will appear as a German single.

Mr. Greg: How would you introduce a new friend to Little Annie at a cocktail party?

Joe: "This is my friend Little Annie, the role model for a generation of drag queens!"

Mr. Greg: What do you see as Little Annie's greatest gift?

Joe: Her love of God and all God's creatures.

[To learn more about Little Annie at Last Sigh, click HERE]