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Aardschok - July 2004 (Dutch)
Interview by: René Vanes
Translated by: Hannah Rigby (AKA Mortica)
Wednesday 13, frontman
of the actually deceased Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13
and vocalist of the Murderdolls, has been busy with a half soloproject,
half compilation-album. He needs to do something now Joey Jordison
is off promoting ‘Vol. 3 The Subliminal Verses’.
It’s all a form of fun. Wednesday 13 knows very well that
the American culture has always been looking for a link between
humor and the melancholy. If you take the Adams Family, Alice Cooper
or the film festival of bad taste, it exists and the number of people
that flee to all kinds of horror grows worldwide everyday.
Aardshock: After
the coming of a whole new collection of shockrock-bands the question
rises why frontman Wednesday 13 doesn’t think the time is
right to resurrect the Frankenstein Drag Queens.
Wednesday 13: I don’t really see this CD as a solo-album,
you know. It’s a historical view of the Frankenstein Drag
Queens. The reason why the record is called ‘Wednesday 13's
Frankenstein Drag Queens’ is that I’m the only one that
has played and sang on the whole record. Except for a few drumming
parts. When I met Joey in 2001 and started Murderdolls, I was already
busy with this CD. I had put it on hold for then. When the Murderdolls
were done with touring, I went into the studio to finish the CD.
There was no talk of an actual band. But it isn’t a solo-album,
but a collection of old songs and ideas.
A: Wasn’t
the rest of the band interested anymore?
W13: The members of the band used to come and go alot. With the
last line-up, including the guitarist whom I really trust, I now
work together with again. They are also coming on tour. The
others don’t have the urge to tour with Frankenstein Drag
Queens anymore. For me, there was no other choice than show the
last bit of material to the rest of the world. As an honor. The
rest is ok as it is, I think. If people are like that, you shouldn’t
try with all your might to keep the band together.
A: How many CD’s
do you think there is to fill up with stories about scary monsters,
weak horror movies and antique graveyards?
W13: It’s good you ask that because I have songs for at least
30 CD’s lying around. The possibilities are endless! In a
review of our last record I read that all our songs were about killing,
dying and death. The the critic was right. I write songs in that
manner. I don’t try to save the world and I don’t write
about things that could make the world a better place. I write about
stuff that entertains me. And that comes from watching television
and movies. That is where my inspiration comes from. You can never
have enough songs about graveyards and zombies. And without madness,
I do have 30 new songs ready for a next CD. I have found out that
horror movies are really loved over the whole world. Loads of people
like the strange, the ominous and the dark aspect. I don’t
know how that is in the Netherlands. Here in America you do see
a lot of it being linked to music. From punkrock to the new style
of horrorhardcore-bands. There are hundreds of bands like Frankenstein
Drag Queens.
A: In the Netherlands
we don’t really have a Halloween-culture. Gothic is ok, but
the people won’t get used to Halloween. (Note from translator:
Wait a sec! People here are used to Halloween; we just don’t
go trick or treating.)
W13: That’s your loss.
A: Don’t
you think that Joey has got far to much credit for the Murderdolls
whilst you were big musical power behind the band?
W13: I did my thing with FDQFP13. Nobody actually knew what
we were doing. A few records silently disappeared in anonymity.
Nothing was sold and there were no tours. When I had the chance
to play together with Joey, I finally got the stage I wanted to
manifest on. I had a reach. A higher level. Of course that also
came from Joey and Slipknot. They have sold millions of records.
I knew for myself that the Murderdolls-material existed of FDQ-material.
Joey might have gotten allot of attention, but I have gotten an
enormous amount of respect from musicians. They had realized that
I was one of the creative powers behind the Murderdolls. It doesn’t
bother me and it hasn’t really led to tensions. The weird
thing is that since I’ve joined the Murderdolls I hang around
more with people. I never really had alot of friends. And
I’m not the type that goes to hang around in the mall in my
hometown. Since I’ve joined the Murderdolls I’ve been
hanging around with alot of different musicians from all over the
world. Ginger from the Wildhearts has become a friend of mine. Musicians
who I’ve listened to for twelve years or longer. The same
goes for a band like Type O Negative. Really great guys to hang
around with. But I have no ready ideas standing for a collaboration.
Of course I would love to work together with Alice Cooper. Who doesn’t,
especially if the man himself tells you straight in your face that
he is a big fan of the Murderdolls? That rocks!
A: Is there a priority;
Murderdolls or solo?
W13: The Murderdolls only exists at a Slipknot-break. Now
Slipknot have released a new record there will probably be a two-year
tour. As musician I won’t sit still, let alone wait for something
or someone. Just like the period before the Murderdolls I’ll
record something, perform with an occasion-band or solo. I fill
everyday as it comes. And I do that alone. When Murderdolls decide
to come together again, we’ll be together the next day. Until
then I’ll do my own things, play a lot and take care that
my name appears in the media. I make music and I love doing it.
With who or how doesn’t matter to me.
A: Misfits + Alice
Cooper = Wednesday 13?
W13: Yeah, something like that. I get compared to the Misfits
a lot. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of that
band. They have released some great material. But the humor in my
songs comes from Alice Cooper. Just like Mötley Crüe,
Twisted Sister and Skid Row. The music goes further back to the
Ramones and the Sex Pistols. The result is that the music and the
lyrics from every band named above are mixed in my work. Thought
or not, the danger and the shock-effect are back on the stage. That
too is called entertainment.
THANK YOU so much to Hannah Rigby (AKA Mortica) for translating
and submitting this!!!!
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