Many industrial bands like yourself, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and others formed in the Midwest of America. What is it about that region that you think could have spawned such an aggressive and diverse style of music?
Something in
the water perhaps? Sub zero winter temperatures. Lack of sleep. Too much coke,
speed and vodka? Probably all those factor in.
Did you ever think that you would be doing this for 25 years?
I thought
for sure I'd be dead by now, so the answer is definitely no! But since that's
not the case, I'm glad I have it to do.
Now that the band has celebrated their 25th anniversary, what is
your fondest memory doing this?
Just meeting
a lot of cool, great people / fans over the years, many of whom still come out
to shows after all this time... sometimes with their kids! It's kinda
like facebook, but you actually get to engage in conversation and share a drink
or two with strangers instead of posting pictures and commenting.
25 years later, is this still just as fun as it was when you first started?
Fun? I
suppose it's good to be able to create and have others enjoy it.. But to me fun
is jet-skiing or something like that. This band thing can be a lot of work!
Elements of the occult, sexual fantasies, grind house films, have all played an
important role in the bands image and music. Who came up with the idea to use
these elements?
It's kind of
how Groovie Mann and myself bonded and became friends when I first moved to
Chicago. We would get burritos to go from the mexican market down the street, along
with a few VHS tapes. They had an amazing collection of b movies, and foreign
horror flicks for rent. We would stay up all night watching and laughing for
hours. We share similar tastes when it comes to bad taste. We just naturally
incorporated those elements into our musical styling.
One of the first labels you signed with was the legendary Wax Trax! Records, a
label that took chances on left of center musicians and something new. Do you
feel they were pioneers in what they were doing? How come we see a lack of Wax
Trax! beliefs today, even though labels seem to be the decline?
Jim and
Dannie just loved music! And sometimes the more off the wall, the better. They
both had a unique outlook on life and art. It takes people with a lot of
passion and vision to take the chances they did. People nowadays are just
looking for a buck, or to be famous. That wasn't the case with Wax Trax.
You at points were unfairly labeled to be a “Satanic” band due to the amount of
devil and occult imagery you were using on stage and in your public persona,
yet, none of your music ever really had anything to do with this. Did it piss
you off that people would rush to judgment before listening to anything?
Of course
not. We love exploiting religious imagery of any persuasion. It's fun to watch
people get so worked up over such nonsense. Those kind of people have no affect
on us. They need help. That's why they use religion I guess.
The last record you released was 2009’s Death Threat, is a new album in the
works?
We did a
song around Christmas, which kind of set the mood - but lately we have
been busy finishing up our debut "Bomb Gang Girlz" album which comes
out July 31st! Next we are getting ready for tour this fall. After that we will
hit the studio again and see what happens...
After all these years making music, is it more of a process putting together a setlist for every gig?
Sometimes. This year was a little more challenging because we wanted to showcase something
from every album. the set list is also dictated by whatever the band's
incarnation is at the time too. We can't do a lot of songs with
"diva" back-ups vocals without Jacky Blacque with us. We can't play
our guitar songs without a guitar player in the line-up.
This
band has seen and done it all in terms of exposure within the music industry,
seeing the downfall of major labels, the internet boom, music videos actually
being played on TV. What advice do you have for younger bands starting out
today?
Just stay
true to your art/music, and know you can only really rely on yourselves. Others
just want to ride your coattails until you trip and fall.
What
are your thoughts on the music industry today?
I really
don't pay much attention to music, or the associated industry. As a band, we
never really did. We never really fit in and played along. We didn't want to.
We just do what we do and pay any attention to the so called music biz.
Do
you ever feel jealous or angry, if not both, about how fast it is for someone
to get recognized today, unlike when you started out starving for what you were
doing?
Not at all.
We never wanted to be famous or anything like that. We weren't looking to get
rich. I hate being recognized. Just cuz your famous or your songs get played
continuously on the radio doesn't necessarily mean your any good at what you
do, or even that you're remotely interesting or talented for that matter. Look
at Lady Gaga. Snore! If someone thinks she's outrages, then they haven't been
exposed to a lot in life.
The
band went through a big line-up changes through the years. Is the current
line-up of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult seem secure and intact right now?
The band is
myself and Groovie, and whoever/whatever characters we feel fill the roles
needed for any particular chapter in our sordid little tale. We will always
evolve. It's part of being a kult. Lol. We do have some great current live
musicians this tour. Justin Bennet, our drummer, has been with us for 10 years
or more. Bassist Mimi Star will return this year. She is awesome. Jacky will be
making guest appearances in select cities.
How
long will you keep doing this for?
Who knows.
perhaps this could be the last tour, or not. I don't speculate. We kind of live
by the "every day could be your last" philosophy. I wouldn't want to
make a big deal and announce a farewell album or tour, just to turn around 4 or
5 years later with a "comeback" album/ tour. That pisses me off when
bands do that. And so many do! I guess they spent their inflated "last
tour" ticket price cash too fast and have to start touring again.. I guess
we'll just go on until one of us keels over dead. ..or gets committed!
