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Vains Of Jenna
July 2-8, 2009
Photo by Lionel Deluy (www.lioneldeluy.com). Used with permission. Courtesy Vains Of Jenna
Vains Of Jenna may be one of the best known Swedish sleaze bands in the world. They've worked hard to get their music out to people everywhere and they've been succeeding.
The band has been together since January of 2005. Originally from a small town in Sweden called Falkenberg, the boys in the band now split their time between Sweden and L.A.
VOJ's members are Lizzy DeVine (lead vocals), Nicki Kin (lead guitar), JP White (bass) and Jacki Stone (drums). Their shared influences include bands such as Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Hanoi Rocks and more.
The band quickly put together some demos and released a four track EP, "Baby's Got A Secret", which caught the attention of Stevie Rachelle (Tuff member, and owner of Metal Sludge). He signed on as their manager and after a European tour had the band relocate to Los Angeles.
VOJ was offered a gig at the world famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Hollywood, California. Of course, they jumped at the chance to play this legendary venue.
The band made such an impression on their American audience that they landed themselves in Gilby Clarke's Redrum Studio just days after their Whiskey performance to record some of their tracks, with Gilby producing the demos.
The following year saw Vains Of Jenna touring the U.K. and southern Europe to much critical acclaim. Then, that summer, the band returned to the U.S. for an East Coast tour.
While on tour, Bam Margera, famed skateboarder and television personality from MTV's Viva La Bam and Jackass, signed the boys to his label, Filthy Note Records. Bam brought the band to his mansion where he produced their video for "Noone's Gonna Do It For You". VOJ then released their first full album, "Lit Up/Let Down" in October of that year (2006).
Vains Of Jenna embarked on a U.S. tour, with Fireball Ministry, to support their new album, playing numerous clubs. They also toured with Wednesday 13. Then, in the summer of 2007, they went on a 55 city tour with 80s glamsters Poison and Ratt.
VOJ returned home that fall, and a few weeks later returned to the U.S. to join the "Viva La Bands" tour with G.W.A.R. and Cradle of Filth. This tour introduced the band's new single, "Enemy in Me", which was included on the "Viva La Bands - II" album.
In 2008 VOJ headed back to Los Angeles to write and record new music. In between sessions they performed a few dates. They also made appearances on the TV shows "Jackass 24" (on MTV) and "L.A. Ink" (with Kat Von D).
The band made their way back to Europe early this year to tour England, Italy, Denmark and their home country, Sweden. This successful tour of sold out shows included a performance at the Sweden Rock Festival.
Vains of Jenna has now returned to the U.S. and will be touring the states once again, including a date this Friday July 3rd here in Tempe, Arizona at Club Red (of course, you know I'll be there!).
Not only that, but they will be releasing a self-titled follow-up album later this year. The first single from the new album "Get It On" will be released this month, and can actually be heard now on the band's MySpace page, where you can also keep up to date on current tour info.
The new single kicks ass, so make sure you give it a listen. I'm looking forward to the show this Friday night and I'll have pics and a show review coming up soon, so stay tuned! (Show review now up!) Also, make sure you read my interview with VOJ drummer Jacki Stone.
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The Rock-A-holics
December 15-21, 2008
Our spotlight band during this week were those dirty boys from Detroit, Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics! Members are vocalist Vic Wayne, guitarist Vee Lee, bassist Rick Baig, and drummer Tim-Zee Krash. These guys produce sleazy, down and dirty, gutter rock, and I mean that in a good way. When I think of sleaze, this is the kind of music I think of. They themselves describe their style as "sleazy panty wetting rock n roll", and I have to say that's an apt description.
The group is currently in the studio working on a new CD and I'm anxious to hear it! They've got a lot going on, but I'm going to let Vic and Vee tell you all about it in this interview I conducted with them recently. I want to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to do this interview, and a special shout out to Vic who was fighting off the flu bug, but cool dude that he is, did the interview anyway. Thanks!
Transcript of interview conducted by Tawny Khat on December 12, 2008
All photos used with permission courtesy of Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics
EP (Electric Pussycat): OK, let's get started. First, tell me a little about how and when the band formed.Vic: Um, about a year ago. Me and Vee were also in another band together. So, uh, we've known each other for a while. And, at one point I had all different members in the band, and then that kind of fell apart. And, I got Vee back in, and then it just kind of went from there.
Vee: You rescued me from a crazy girlfriend. (laughing)
Vic: (laughing) Yeah.
EP: (laughing) OK, um, what are the members' backgrounds, previous bands, that kind of thing?
Vic: Uh, well as far as I go, I'm not even mentioning my last band, because they ripped off my band name. But, we did a tour with LA Guns with them down in Florida. Vee (ha ha), he's got a million of 'em.
Vee: As far as who I've played with? I've played with Sebastian Bach, Kid Wicked years ago, and uh The Jesters in Detroit. I don't know I could go on and on. I don't know how many you want.
EP: That's probably OK. What about the rest of the guys?Vee: Oh, and the singer for Shock Therapy died just a couple of weeks ago, so I should probably mention them.
EP: Oh, wow. OK.
Vee: I've been in a band with them, too. Shock Therapy.
EP: Wow, sorry about that. Uh, what are the main influences? The bands you guys are most influenced by?
Vee: Uh, we've got a lot of stuff really, anything from Aerosmith to Sex Pistols basically. We're pretty well rounded with influences. I don't know. Vic, what do you got?
Vic: Oh God, I mean you can go on my page and check out my project play list. I like everything from, uh, Jerry Lee Lewis to, I don't know (laughing), to Oasis, you know. I mean, I like a little bit of everything, pretty much.
EP: OK
Vee: I like classical music. You know, concertos and stuff like that.
EP: Yeah, I love Mozart myself. Now, are all you guys taken? I've got to ask one for the girls out there.
Vic: I'm free. (laughing) I can't necessarily speak for everybody else. But, we're a rock n' roll band...
Vee: Yeah.
Vic: What do you expect?
EP: Yeah (laughing). OK, what was the coolest show or venue that you've ever played?
Vic: Uh, up until now I think... Do you mean with this band or previous bands?
EP: Well, with this band.
Vic: With this band. Definitely, we did a couple gigs with Wednesday 13 last year at the I-Rock here in Detroit, and it was just awesome. It was great. Uh, we got, like, a couple big gigs coming up now. We're opening for Faster Pussycat here on New Year's Eve. That's gonna be a great one.
EP: Cool, yeah.
Vee: At a place called Blondie's that's started up again. A place downtown. They're pretty famous for a lot of famous acts here and stuff.
Vic: And, then we have LA Guns April 11th. Same venue. And, I think were gonna, like, make that sort of our CD release, too.
EP: Oh, great!
Vic: So, that should be pretty cool, too.
EP: Yeah! So, what was the worst show or venue that you've played?
Vee: Oh, I don't know. Let me think. Uh, worst venue and show. Got to have both those together.
EP: Well, either/or, actually.
Vee: Ah, I don't know. There was one where... Oh yeah! We should mention the....we shouldn't mention names...
Vic: (laughing) Yeah! And, probably not a good idea....Vee: (laughing) The place that starts with an "R".
Vic: (laughing) Yeah, yeah! That's the one, yeah.
Vee: (laughing) They put us on first.
Vic: Yeah, and really treated us like shit!
Vee: Yeah, all our people came like later, and we'd already played.
Vic: Yeah, tell her the story about the money.
Vee: (ha ha) You tell it.
Vic: Oh, this was great. This was classic. They didn't want to pay us, and finally the lady walks up to Vee and, uh, Vee's known this lady for like years, you know. She's this promoter. I don't think she's doing anything for the club anymore after all this went down. And, she handed him 15 bucks. So, and he was like, "What the fuck is this?" and he turned around and shoved it down the waitress' tits, and the waitress was like, "Thanks!" (laughing) You know, it was just an insult! What the fuck....
Vee: And the promoter; she looked at me and just shook her head and walked away.
Vic: Yeah, what the fuck are we supposed to do with 15 dollars, you know?
EP: Right. We used to have a club here that was known for that kind of thing, actually. (laughing)
Vic: You know? I...to even get a water I had to go behind the bar and make my own water for chrissakes.
EP: Oh, jeez.
Vic: And, the water tasted like shit to top it off!
EP: (laughing) Do you have any interesting road trip stories?
Vic: Ah, not really, 'cause we're new.
EP: Yeah. Haven't done any road trips yet.
Vee: (laughing) What about...
Vic: We haven't been out there. I mean, we got old ones.
EP: OK, give me one of those.
Vic: From the former band? Oh God, the LA Guns tour. There's just, oh God, there's tons of 'em. Uh, there was these two promoter chicks running the whole thing, and I...I'm trying to get laid, you know. And, these chicks kept throwing a monkey wrench every time, man. One time they kidnapped me....
EP: (laughing)
Vic: Pulled me in the car and took off with me, man.
Vee: They tried to kidnap me, too, and fly me back on the plane. They were like, "No, you're not going back with the band. You won't have no gigs for, you know, another couple of weeks, so you're staying with us and we'll fly you back." And, I was like, "Hey man. What the shit's going on, man?" (laughing) I was like, "I'm just gonna go talk to these guys," and I jumped in the car with 'em and took off. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Um, so which band....who would you like most to do a show with or go on tour with?
Vic: Um, LA Guns is great. The Phil version, not the Tracii version. Uh, I don't know. What about you, who would you like?
Vee: Faster Pussycat's cool. We had an offer to do that, but they basically wanted us to drive 'em around.
Vic: No, it was Bang Tango.
Vee: Bang Tango, yeah.
Vic: Yeah, this bunk promoter down in Ohio. We hired this guy, and he wanted us to pretty much provide Bang Tango with a ride, and no money in it for us.
EP: (ha ha) Ohhh.....kay.
Vic: You know? It's like, what?
Vee: And, gas prices were skyrocketing.
Vic: It's like, so we're supposed to drive Bang Tango around the country, drop them off at their hotel rooms, while we're starving and sleeping in the van. OK.
Vee: Yeah, and play for free.
Vic: Oh yeah, and play for free. You know, where do I sign up for that one?
Vee: And, he said, "You know what? We'll get you a case of beer."
EP: (laughing)
Vic: Yeah! Whatever, man, you know. Please!
EP: (laughing) That sucks.
Vic: So, we got rid of that guy.
EP: (laughing) Yeah, I don't blame you.
Vic: Yeah, (ha ha) you know. I mean, God, who wants to do that, you know? I mean, nothing against Bang Tango. It's just, come on, you know. What kind of fool is gonna do that?
EP: Yeah..... You mentioned a CD release. Are you guys recording right now? What's going on with you right now?
Vee: Yeah, we're supposed to go in again tomorrow and do some more work on it. It's gonna take probably a few weeks getting the tracks down and stuff, and a long time of mixing it. So.....
EP: How many tracks do you expect to have on the CD?
Vee: Well, we're thinking at least 7 or 8, you know. Maybe more.
Vic: If things go well, we'll make it a full album.
EP: OK.
Vic: We just got to see how it goes. What you're hearing on the (MySpace) page right now is just homemade demos. That's not even the full band. That's just me and Vee sitting around doing this stuff...
Vee: With a drum machine.
Vic: Yeah.
Vee: That plays bass. I had to program the drum machine.
EP: OK.
Vee: I do all the strings and instruments, and Vic, well, he just drinks and sings. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Sounds pretty good then. I didn't know that. That's pretty cool.
Vic: Yeah, it's not the band. Wait until the CD is done. The band is so much better. Like, oh my God! We're probably gonna regret that we threw those demos up when we get, you know, the finished product. You know?
EP: Yeah. Well, you have to be sure and get a copy of that to me so I can review it.
Vic: Well, yeah. For sure, definitely.
EP: OK, um, so what are your plans then going into the future? You mentioned the two shows coming up with Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, releasing the CD. Anything else?
Vee: We want to do, like, a major promotion of the record. Try to see how good we can get that going, and then try to plan a tour from there.
Vic: Yeah, we're thinking about just, after New Year's, not doing any shows up until the LA Guns gig, and just kind of sit on the CD. And, then BANG, come back out. You know? It means we need to get hooked up on a tour or something. But, you know, we'll see. We're just kind of, you know, just taking it as it comes.
EP: Right.
Vic: We'd really like to get in Chicago. I've been trying forever to get in there, but it's like, it's just hard as hell. And, there's a ton of people there that want to see us.
Vee: There's too much corruption going on. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Yeah. I know you guys have some fans all around the world.
Vic: Yeah, thanks to MySpace, you know.
EP: Yeah, yeah. MySpace makes it really great to get heard all over the place. Do you have any last words for fans?
Vic: Just, thanks for the support. And, thanks for checking out the interview. And, we hope you dig the CD when it's done. And, also, thank you, too.
EP: Oh, you're welcome. I really appreciate you guys doing the interview. Like I said, be sure to get me a copy of your CD when it's done.
Vee: Yeah, maybe we can do another interview when it comes out.
EP: Absolutely! I'd love to do that.
Vic: Good talking to ya!
EP: You, too. Thanks a lot, and I hope you feel better.
Vic: Thank you.
EP: Bye bye.
For more info regarding shows and the CD release date, be sure to check out Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics' MySpace page!
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