Photo by Alex Post

You know that guy from Aux Raus who keeps putting his microphone up his ass? His name is Bastiaan Bosma and we talked to him in café Wildeman in Amsterdam. Wildeman means, as you might have figured out just by looking at the word, Wild Man in Dutch, so that was pretty appropriate. His colleague Luuk couldn’t make it because he was teaching art, but Bastiaan taught us about the circus, body parts that get broken in moshpits and his favorite kind of groupie.

You also keep taking off the Rock & Rave costume Bas Kosters designed for you? Doesn’t it fit?
The pants are a little bit too big, but that only comes in handy when taking it off. No they are originally from Diesel and they are great! The idea was that the costumes had to match our show, which is a bit of a scary hypnotize-act. Bas Kosters was free in adapting these Diesel clothes and they turned out fantastic.

Why do Aux Raus shows always turn out so crazy?
I think it’s the way we manage to let the audience participate in our shows. That gives our shows an extra dimension. It’s like a fitness instructor showing the moves his class has to make, instead of what you usually get with concerts: that the performers are above the audience. We combine a live act with a dance event. We try to lose the borders between the audience and the band. Because when the audience isn’t dancing, you’ve got nothing.

When’s the last time you did a show that didn’t go that well?
The last time was in Belgrade, in a place where maybe ten people showed up. It was a mistake to book us there. But most of the time those bookings are actually the best ones, because you can still really shock people.

Photo by Alex Post

What is the best idea you have ever heard?
We just started with our Aux Raus franchise. The idea is that everybody all over the world is able to start their own Aux Raus band. From Namibia to the Czech Republic or Spain. People will have to send in an audition tape and if they pass, we will send them our music which they can sing along to. It is the best idea I have ever heard! But maybe that’s because it’s mine.

Describe your ideal groupie.
Well, she has to be a complete knock-out that keeps her mouth shut, haha! Or she should at least not be asking weird questions or keep rattling on about Aux Raus. But she’s allowed to talk about art or philosophy. Basically, she should be Nietzsche in the body of a hottie.

What is the funniest bodypart that ever broke in a moshpit during your show?
I think that must have been a rib! And the guy didn’t notice it until the next day. Malle Pietje & the Bimbo’s (a Dutch band) even made a song about it, called ‘Don’t Break Your Rib in the Pit’. There have also been two girls that broke their feet. I only got my ankle twisted. In Mexico I dived from a three meters high stage into the crowd, but unfortunately they didn’t see me coming… so nobody caught me. That was a bit painful. Hopefully they will catch me in Hengelo in a couple of weeks.

What artist would you like to remix Aux Raus, and what artist would Aux Raus like to remix?
We wish Joost would remix us sometime. But he doesn’t make remixes that often. And we’d very much like to remix a very loud guitar band that has been around for years. Norwegian black death or trash metal, and that we’d put a nice loud gabber beat under there. Maybe Slayer.

Imagine you have to make a contact ad in the newspaper for Luuk. What would you put in there?
Nice, friendly, long haired, intelligent thirty something guy is looking for a pretty, nice girl from Brabant that is prepared for a future with him.

What’s the prettiest thing in your house?
My cat Arie. And after that my girlfriend.