Marsters mind! Captain John quizzed?

source: Torchwood magazine, issue 6 (on sale June 19, 2008)

author: Sarah Herman

transcript by: Deb (THANK YOU!) - forum CDS

photo source: BBC.co.uk & Civilized James Gallery

From The Hellmouth to The Hub, Via Clark Kent's sleepy home town in Smallville, James Marsters has travelled the world of cult TV, taking a guitar called Malcolm everywhere he goes.

What is the full name on your birth certificate?

James: James Wesley Marsters. I thought about changing my name to just James Wesley at one point because I like the name, but I got a job and got known as James Marsters, and it was too late to change it.

What is your nickname?

I don't really have any these days but when I was growing up ,my nickname was Monkey , because of an unfortunate coat my mother bought me and wouldn't replace it! It had a hood on it and when I put the hood up in the rain I looked like Curious George. No one calls me Monkey any more.

What is your earliest memory?

Swinging on a swing set outside my house when I was two years old. My mother was building a set of dresser drawers for my toys and I had to wait outside. I can remember enjoying the day but also very much wanting to see what she'd made.

When was your first kiss?

Wow! It must have been in fourth grade with a girl called Kelly Wood. I had a crush on her for two years so it was quite a triumph for me!

What was the last dream you had?

I haven't remembered too many dreams recently, which concerns me. I guess the last dream I can remember was falling off a bridge, facing up towards the sky. I was falling towards a river and the sky was beautiful with white clouds and my friends were on the bridge. Then the bridge blows up and the flames are coming down toward me, but I still feel safe. I've no idea what it means!

When was the last time you cried?

It was last night. I hurt my girlfriend's feelings and I made her feel less special than I should have. I've got a long way to go to make up for that.

When were you most embarrassed?

Oh boy, there are so many times! Which one do I want to tell you about? Probably in the second grade when my best friend told Kelly Wood that I had a crush on her! I just wanted to die.

What makes you happy?

Music, my children, and a good night's sleep.

What drives you mad?

Cruelty, waste, missed opportunities and malice.

What are you scared of?

Becoming cruel, becoming angry and losing my perspective and then hurting somebody who doesn't deserve it.

Do you believe in the supernatural?

I believe that it is possible, but it's one of those things we so badly want to be true that we might see things that are not really there. I read a book called Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madnnessof Crowds, which was written in 1841, and it says there are three things we will never get over: ignorance of the future, death and toil. And if anyone tells you they have a magical key that can get you over any of those three, then they're probably selling you a bag of air.

Is there life on other planets?

I think there must be. Current thinking in science is that life is inevitable. They found that as soon as the Earth's crust cooled, life sprang up on Earth. It really only took about 500,000 years between the time that it was covered in lava to the time when there was life. You can't kill some bacteria, even in space, so transpermia ( the exchange of microbial life between planets ) is really not such a weird notion actually.

What is your most treasured possession?

After my children, my guitar. I have many guitars but I only have one good one left. It's a Gibson and it's been all over the world with me. His name is Malcolm and I never play a bad gig when I have Malcolm in my hands.

What are you drinking?

Red Bull. I've got a busy day so I'm taking the sugar and the caffeine wherever I can.

What are you reading?

I'm reading a book called The End Of America by Naomi Wolf, which postulates that there are ten steps for turning a free and open society into a fascist state, and argues that the George Bush administration is apparently following it to the letter. It's a very scary book - areal eye opener. I'm an Obama man myself, though I think Hilary Clinton is a wonderful senator. Barack Obama is just composed of inspiration! If the Democrats don't win the next election, I will probably apply for citizenship in the UK.

What is on your MP3 player?

Oh My! I have it right here! It's chock-full actually. Let's see... we've got Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Beck, Big Boy Henry, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Dave Matthews, Dexter Gordon, The Doors, Eric Clapton, Evercleer, Fred Astaire, Gorillaz, Herbie Hancock. That's just going as far as H! Shall I stop there? I'll stop there.

What single item would you want with you on a desert island?

It would have to be a guitar. I could play it and I could make a very small boat out of it. I would have to lose a lot of weight but it might just work!

What single question do you wish you got asked in interviews?

I don't really have any agenda when I do an interview . I like to shoot from the hip. But I guess I wish someone would ask me about particle physics or astrophysics once in a while.

Tell us something about particle physics or astrophysics.

I think we're at a very exciting time for both of these branches of science. The scientists are saying that not only do we not understand anything about it , but also we might not be intelligent enough as a species to ever really understand it. And I think that's the beginning of wisdom, to admit our own shortcomings. I think that now we might even crack time travel, because for the first time we are finally humble.

What's the strangest place you've ever seen a picture of yourself?

Tattooed on someone's shoulder! That's a really dedicated fan.