Fiddler on the truth: Ashley MacIsaac opens up about his controversial past

The infamous Ashley MacIsaac returns with a new album, Crossover, and a low profile… so far anyway.

The Cape Breton fiddler is no stranger to controversy. Since his thriving debut in 1995 with the hit single “Sleepy Maggie,” the musician has been nailed to scandalous press.

From disclosing perverse details of his sex life and drug addictions to lifting his kilt and baring it all on national television, Ashley’s showed the world that he knows the name of the game and how to make headlines.

As a result, the MacIsaac name has been dragged through the mud more times than it’s been put up in lights. Whether Ashley is praised or condemned, charmed or cursed, the man is undeniably a sensation, a notorious icon and he has stories to tell.

In the comfort of his home, Ashley opens up about the truth behind the scandals, the rumors and his controversial past.

You’ve been labeled highly controversial for the majority of your career. Why play it that way?

I thought Canada was at a stage where it was going to be instantaneous to write about someone being open with their sexual orientation and drug use. As soon as I had seen the first “controversial” press story labeling me as that, I thought, “Ok, if controversy’s the angle, then I’ll play it that route.”

Do you consider yourself to be a rebel?

No, I’m far from it. I’ve focused on music for nearly 20 years. I gauge my personality as an entertainer and as an employed musician. I’m not much of a rebel. I’m just a working musician.

Were you prepared for the ups and downs that come with your career choice?

It was my choice to venture out and start being involved with record companies, managers, agents, lawyers and accountants. It’s a whole other world of things and it’s not the easiest thing. When you’re hot, you’re hot and when you make big money, you make big money, but that’s not always the case. This is something I knew going in.

Do you see a difference between good press and bad press? Either way you’re making headlines.

Bad press would be when you’re mislabeled and that causes people to find reason to not hire you. Having a career is about longevity. I subsequently sued newspapers or media organizations for things that were said that I felt were defamatory. Those kinds of things can be hard to deal with. Otherwise entertainment press is about sensationalism and getting the most outrageous story.

Is it frustrating when the press focuses on your private life rather than your music?

That’s part of how entertainment is marketed and sold. There were times that it was blown out of proportion and things were taken out of context or used to state things in a way I hadn’t intended. But otherwise I’m a lover of scandalous extraordinary yellow press.

Was there a moment when the media hurt you?

There were a few times that I was labeled a racist and called names in certain gay press. I was labeled words that I don’t want to use based on the age of some of my partners in the past, when I was actually really young myself. I have to take it all with a grain of salt.

During a performance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, you lifted your kilt. You’ve repeatedly said it was unintentional. Was it really an accident?

No. That was no accident. I was wearing a kilt and I’ve worn a kilt many times. The fact is there was a camera angle that showed what was under my kilt. Conan thought it was funny and I thought it was funny. We rehearsed it in the afternoon and the way they played it afterwards was played as funny. The press followed up on it saying that it was a bad thing. They could have just cut it or re-taped it, taking five minutes to redo it, but they were quite happy with it and I was too. For how many years has the question been asked, “What does a Scotsman wear under his kilt?”

You also exposed yourself in your autobiography Fiddling with Disaster: Clearing the Past. Did it clear the past?

Slightly, but more than anything I had the opportunity to write an autobiography at a very young age with a ghost writer. The book was published without my final edit approval and things were misquoted and miswritten. It came off a lot harsher than I would have said. Dates had been changed and I had to fight in court over things that led to other problems. The main enjoyment of it was getting a story out.

What story did you want out?

A young musician coming into the world of media, press and bigotry and trying my best to wade my way through waters. Hopefully other people can take something beneficial from it. That was the main reason why I wanted to write it.

You seem to be open about many subjects when a lot of artists may clam up.

I was brought up that way. The thing with press is you have to give them what they want. You’re answering questions that are often prepared and you have to make it easy for someone to write a story. Honesty can be your best friend and lying can sometimes get you out of problems. Depending on how personal the question is, sometimes it makes much more sense to lie.

That said, how do you feel about liars?

You’d better be a really good liar if you’re going to lie. Don’t waste your time lying to me or about me unless it’s a really good one.

Is it easy being openly gay in the public eye? You’ve been called everything from a freak to a pedophile.

It’s nothing to boast about, but I wouldn’t sit back and have anybody tell me that I haven’t been a battering ram. Over the last twelve years I’ve seen countless stories everything from when I got married to Andrew to the age of my boyfriend over ten years ago when I was only 19 years old. There was only three years difference in our age. After I got married, I have seen hundreds of stories and blogs that were calling it disgusting, shameful and vile, every possible nasty dirty thing. That type of negative scandalous press allows it to be less sensational for someone else. Is it easy to be gay in the press? I think it’s a little easier now and it should be. If they’re talking about you, they’re leaving someone else alone. There was Rock Hudson, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, then there’s Ashley MacIsaac.

Ashley MacIsaac’s new album, Crossover, is available now.

Ashley MacIsaac’s Canadian tour dates:

July 21 – New Richmond QC – Inter Nation Art Festival

July 30 – Montreal QC – Montreal Highland Games and Celtic Festival, George Springate Centre

Aug 5 – Pembroke ON – Waterfront Festival

Aug 21 – Windsor ON – Windsor Music Expo, WFCU Centre

Sept 2 – Welland ON – Merrit Park

Oct 7-12 – Cape Breton NS – Celtic Colours Festival

Oct 22 – Sault St. Marie ON – Kiwanis Theatre

Oct. 25 – Brantford ON – Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts

Oct 26 – Alliston ON – Gibson Cultural Centre

Oct 27 – Markham ON – Markham Theatre

Oct 28 – Brampton ON – Rose Theatre

Oct 29 – Oakville ON – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts

Dec 17 – Victoria BC – Royal Theatre with Victoria Symphony

Posted by Marc Andrew on Jul 5 2011. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.