The week prior to this gig, I was in Bradford, were in Nottingham at the moment in case you were wondering. Anyway, Id done the Will Haven interview that was in the last YAZ, and organised to do this interview. As long as I turn up during the soundcheck. So I did. And it was all running late. So I waited. Three quarters of Tura Satana run through some stuff, and after a while the final quarter, Tarrie, returns from the city centre. They run through a couple of songs before agreeing things are ok. Apart from the barriers that are at the front of the stage. Tarrie lets out an audible sigh at the sight of them. And then we go down to The Rig part of Rock City to do the interview. It should be quiet enough here. Tarrie is just going to sit and read a copy of whatever issue of YAZ it was that I gave them. Marcelo(drums) and Brian (guitars) are going to do the interview, though it is possible that Tarrie will pipe up with some opinions of her own from time to time ...
Since this was done of course, Tura have possibly gone into limbo. They may have split. They may not. Brian is certainly with Professional Murder Music at the moment. So this may be a posthumous interview. There again it may not. It may actually just be crap. There again it may not. Unpredictable or what? Whew, rocknroll.
Anyway, I still get nervous doing interviews. Why should any band talk to me, are the questions Im asking really as crap as I think they are, are the band bored or having to do this stuff again and just going through the motions. And I have the knowledge that I have a few hours ahead of me, sitting listening to my voice as I sit typing this thing up. And thats the really scary part. And Tura are in a way, a bigger band than many that Ive interviewed. Tarrie does have a reputation, whether that is warranted or not, and so in approaching this interview, Id tried to think up some questions that were hopefully going to be a bit more challenging. Of course, that was me thinking it was just going to be Tarrie answering, so when faced with the prospect of Brian and Marcelo most of those questions go out the window, I have to think for myself, and so Im left with those really boring, shite questions. So I get a little more nervous.
So, lets get on with it then ....
This is going to kill me, anyway, the first couple of questions. Ive seen a few of the gigs on this tour, and the first few were based around Brian being in the band. Does it feel any different for you playing with a new guy in the band, maybe in terms of the sound, maybe the actual performance.
Well yeah, I mean Brians got a different sound, and a different vibe on stage. Its a big difference with us having Scott on stage and having Brian on stage. Brian gives 100% and everybody comments on the difference. Theres a lot less sushi on the road now, which is good.
What was that? asks Brian. Sushi. Yeah, I thought thats what you said!
Youve written one track at least with Brian, which has been played on the tour, have you written any more.
No, but weve got things in the works. I mean Brians constantly coming up with new ideas, cos we are thinking about the next album. Because although its only just come out in the States, out here its been out for about 8 months, and so we have to think abou the next album. So hes been writing riffs, and hes been showing me a lot of stuff recently. Asking what I think, so when we get home, or when were not touring, weve got a lot of stuff, and were working on a cover song for a movie as well. Thats what we were working on during the soundcheck.
Right, I was wondering if it was a new song, which is part of the reason I asked the question.
Well, its basically new, because they want us to cover a Pasty Cline song for a movie, and its like, Im sure you know what Patsy Cline is like, and its how the hell do you make that a hardcore song, so our minds are like trying to come up with some riffs and so were trying to work on that yknow.
You said that the album has just been released in the States. Is that going to be a problem in deciding how long you tour for the album in the States and when you go into the studio and get some new recordings done.
Yeah, I think it is going to be a bit of a problem yknow. I mean, we didnt want to wait this long to release the album in the States. Its kind of like, were looking for a new home there label wise, and so our label was trying to work with us in finding a new label, because theyre not that strong in the States. So they were working with us, and we were postponing releasing it, hoping that a label would pick it up. And we got some solid leads, but eventually we had to release it. And all this stuff takes a long time, so even if we switched labels now, weve got to think about putting an album out here sometime like early next year. Its going to have to be on both sides of the world obviously, were just going to have to be able to limit the touring in the States somehow. But weve got a few months to do it.
Over here, the Manhole album has just been re-released, this time under the Tura name, but with some extra live tracks. How do you feel about that.
Both guys laugh, though Tarrie doesnt appear to. To be honest with you, were not too happy about that, because they did it without our consent. We didnt even hear the live tracks before they released it, so we were kind of upset about that. So there was nothing we could do about it. I dont know, I guess it couldve been worse yknow. But it couldve been better to reckons Brian. Yeah, it couldve been A LOT better, and thats why were kind of upset. It was already a done deal by the time we even heard it, so it was a bit of a drag.
Ideally then if it was to be re-released, what would have been the way you wanted it.
I think the live track idea was a good idea, but we didnt even get to choose which tracks were on it. Tarrie is listening and pipes up I wouldve made it inside for Tura Satana fans, not Manhole fans. Yeah, everything inside the record, inside the booklet says Manhole, and on the cover and back they changed it so thats kind of fucked.
Bands dont seem to have any say though, because like Sepultura seem to have had their albums released about 5 times in the last year over here. And eventually the fans get on to the bands about it, whereas it seems to be more the label cashing in.
Yeah I mean it was unfortunate that there was nothing we could do to stop it. It just happened. But hopefully people liked it yknow, so theres always a positive about things.
The last time you were over here, I saw a few gigs, including the Manchester one. That one Tarrie said, was the anniversary one (from when the band were thrown off the Fear Factory tour). I was wondering if that one, or any other particular gig holds any special memories.
Yeah, there are a lot of places that do hold special memories, and Manchester and London are the two places that do have the most memories for us. I mean Manchester probably more so for Tarrie, but they definitely mean something.
Its just that it was the first gig Id seen in Manchester, and it seemed to be the wildest Ive seen for a while.
Yeah, it was pretty wild, there were kids jumping off the PA speakers. It was crazy.
I saw the Bosstones there a few weeks ago, and they had to stop about 3 times because of the number of stage divers and people on stage. They had a problem with the security.
Wait stop a minute er, commands(!) Tarrie, who is still reading the zine. Human Waste Project have their own magazine now? she asks in response to a flyer that was in there about a HWP zine that was being produced. So I try to explain. However, HWP had just been released from their deal in the States. I dont know if the zine ever did get released.
Some guy picked us up about that, and was thinking of putting out a fanzine on our band as well. Might be the same people.
So we return to the Manchester tale, and I was just wondering how you felt about that sort of thing and stage divers in general.
Me personally I dont mind kids stage diving when they get up and they get off. When they start hanging around on stage and jumping around, and jumping on the equipment, then it becomes a problem. Of course we want the fans to have a good time, and we want them to go nuts yknow, but you cant stop the band from performing. That kind of defeats the purpose. Yknow, you go to see the band and to see the show, but if you start fucking up the band on stage.
Tarrie joins back in at this stage. Sometimes it gets fucked up too yknow when guys get up on stage and try to grab me. A guy last night in Manchester, there was a guy in the pit, and I kept leaning over and touching hands with kids and he kept grabbing me. And then he got more violent each time he came up to me, and he was trying to pull me in, bite me, trying to do all these things to me. And he tried to get on the stage, and the security wouldnt let him, he just got rabid then. And sometimes people try to get on the stage, and they try to do things to you and grab you and kiss you. Its like I dont want to have to sock it to some fan and hit someone, but when they get too touchy-feely, its kinda crazy yknow.
Thats kinda what I was talking about when it starts interfering with the show and the band, then it defeats the purpose of having a good time.
Theres the safety as well. I recently saw Pitchshifter in Leeds, and it wasnt a huge crowd, but people were still diving, and JS had to stop to ask people to catch them BEFORE they hit the floor. And then half-way through there was a call for someone to call an ambulance.
Yeah exactly, you dont want to see people get fucked up. Some kid got mashed last night at our show. Had to call an ambulance. Broken leg and concussion, see thats not good. We dont want to see people get hurt like that. But if youre going to play, youre going to pay.
Time for me to draw out that old faithful that has served me well. Do you notice much or any difference between crowds in the States and those in Europe.
Fuck yeah comes the reply from Tarrie. Fucking Europe is completely different from the States. Yknow, we do a show in the States and people will just stand there, especially in Los Angeles and New York. They stand there and want you to impress them. Most of the crowds that come out are other musicians who all think their shit dont stink and come to your show to judge how bad you are and talk shit about you to everybody. Thats what goes on in LA a lot. All the shows in LA you can look in the crowd and see about 100 people from other bands. And theyre all talking shit about you, whose not at your show. Its more of a real fucking scene, its like a club scene. Whos who and at whose show. Instead of like here today, a bunch of girls came out six hours early before the show cos they just wanted to be here. To me, when we do shows at home, it sucks a lot of the times for me. Its like, ok, I can go onstage tonight and have people talk shit. Thats basically what goes on. But thats in place like Los Angeles, and you have to accept that in certain cities it is like that, and Los Angeles is one of them. But then you do have a lot of towns where kids do appreciate the bands like out here. Theres a lot of places like in the mid-west where kids dont have what we have in LA. In LA you have everything and people are pretty spoilt. A lot of bands come from out there, theres so much shit to do out there. Whereas here there isnt as much to do, and they really appreciate the bands. Yknow, there are places that around in the States that are like that, but then there are places like LA which arent like that and just wait to be impressed.
I mean, I dont get MTV to know how good or bad it is, though I always seem to hear bad things about it. And I wonder if you think the situation in the States is a by-product of MTV.
To me, they still dont have a rock show. They have Superrock which is hosted by a fucking idiot who is an ex-model. She has a pretty face and a nice ass, and thats why shes hosting the show. She has no brain and no clue and no talent. And its like, the girl cannot interview a rock band to save her life. She knows nothing about rocknroll. She has cue cards which are handed to her. When she interviewed me it was pathetic, and its like they dont have a rock show like they had in the States when they had Headbangers Ball, where at least people were knowledgeable about rock music and they could actually talk to people and interview them and know about their music, and they themselves were maybe even a fan of the music and knew what the band were doing. And there was a great energy. And instead to me everything now is alternative bullshit. In the States its very popular right now with the Ska, that whole crap scene, and its like pop music like Puff Daddy is on every fucking 20 seconds or whatever. But theres so many bands like Machine Head and you just dont see their videos. But theres such a huge market and we know that cos a lot of kids have come out. When is somebody going to realise that there needs to be an alternative to the alternative.
But the thing is, this kind of music that we do, and like Machine Head and bands like that, its that we are the black sheep of the music industry. It doesnt go ignored, because you cant ignore it, but at the same time they dont really push it. If they did, it would probably be a lot bigger than it is. But the good thing about this kind of fanbase is that they fans are very loyal and very into the scene. Whereas the people who listen to the mainstream music or whatever, they change every day, they dont really have a loyalty to certain bands yknow. Once that fades out, theyll move on to the next thing. Course MTV is a tool to expose a lot of bands, if they want to, but this music is kinda looked down upon.
Always has been, always will be.
Yeah, but to tell you the truth, I dont mind it being like that. I dont think were doing this kind of music to be mainstream or to be the next big pop stars. If we were, wed be playing pop music. I kinda like the underground scene, and I like the hardcore kids.
Going with that then, when you started the band up, did you set any goals to achieve, and now a few years down the line have you achieved what you wanted?
I mean weve made some mistakes along the way. Its hard to say, I mean, you cant expect anything. Of course you want your band to do as well as it can possibly do, but in the end the main thing is that you just have to concentrate on the band and the music first. Whatever happens after that happens. hopefully in a way, people have accepted it and like it, but it does take a good label and money in order to get your band out there so that people can see it and decide whether they want to buy it. Our labels not really that big of a label, so weve really had to fight for everything that weve got. And that makes it feel good for us right now, cos everything that weve accomplished, weve really had to do it on our own.
Do you think good major labels exist?
Yeah definitely.
I mean, like Hollywood Records (HWPs label) managed to run up $100 Million in debts.
Yeah, but Hollywood Records suck shit though. I think its a good thing for HWP. I mean look at ICP, they were on the same label and got dropped, and look at them now. I think the same thing will probably happen with HWP (course it never did.). But yeah, there are good major labels, I think it all depends on who is working with you at the label. The people who worked for Korn when they first came out did an excellent job. They kept that band out on the road, a lot of tours. That goes along with your management, you have to have good management working for you. But I think that label did a great job with that band, and really kind of opened this scene up a whole lot.
As wed wandered down, Id mentioned that a lot of the questions were aimed at Tarrie. Both Brian and Marcelo had expressed an interest at answering them, so its time to roll them out and see what happens. Tarrie also said that she wanted to watch them answer .... However, she left the room about a minute ago. Now remember, I was going to maybe play devils advocate here.
Yeah, give me the Tarrie questions says Marcelo.
Ok, the first one was based on equality for women and respect from men. And I was wondering if Tarrie wondered if that was being achieved at the moment. So time for the guys perspective instead.
From the guys point of view, well I mean being around someone like Tarrie, equality towards women, I dont know how it is in this country to tell you the truth, but its hard to say. I dont think its equal by any means. I dont think its equal at all. Sorry, I didnt mean to interrupt you apologises Brian, I just havent said anything. Right, so heres the chance then. I think its come a long way from where it was, but it still has a long, a long long way to go. And I think in the future it will continue to be a little unequal. I think there will be a point where maybe people will look at equality and sexes and say ok, were pretty equal, but I think it will be a very very long time until someone can honestly say its equal. And thats just because theres been so many prejudices and pre judgements in the past. You cant take away whats happened in the past.
Theres a lot of men out there that dont look at women as equals, whether its for religious beliefs or whatever. Theyve always looked down on them.
Just like Cello just said, a lot of men look down on women, or look differently at women, its the same way with everyone. The problem with equality is, if everyone, if both sexes were to be equal, then that would mean that everyone would have to think the same way. And that cant happen because everyones an individual. So there are going to be some people who dont think its equal, and some people who do. And for the people that dont think its equal its going to be a continuing battle to try and get it equal. And for the people that do, then its going to be ok. There can be women today going yeah its fine and there can be women going no, its not. Its a continuous battle.
Im not a chauvenist or a sexist or anything, starts Marcelo. Yes you are teases Brian before the drummer continues, but I dont see thing really changing, at least not in my lifetime. It is a mans world out there and certain powers that be wont let it change. I mean, if it was up to me, sure Id make it equal, but I just dont think its going to happen.
Its like what he just said, its a negative issue. Its hard for someone to sit here and say yeah, its never going to be equal because that sucks and is a negative way to look at it. But I think if you look from the begining of time, its even been inbred in religion that men and women arent equal. Right from the begining where it said that Eve was formed from Adam. It took Adam to make Eve, which basically makes it look like women owe men something, and thats bullshit. But thats just the way the history has been.
Yeah, it seems like more people are aware, but that just feels like political correctness at the moment than any real change. If you scratch below the surface, nothing has really changed.
Tarrie might have given you a different point of view on that, but I guarantee she would have said that were definitely not equal. And were not saying that either.
I saw the gig last week in Bradford where Tarrie dragged the guy on stage and went what did you say, bitch or something. And she had a go at him for saying that, which I thought was fair. But Ive read a few interviews recently with various bands, and the guys are constantly referring to bitches. Bitch this and my bitch that. I dont know if it is a cultural thing in the States or not, but to me, calling a woman a bitch has always been an offensive and derogatory term.
The thing is, all those guys in all those bands that want to talk like that, tell them to go home and call their mom a bitch and see what happens. Tell them to go and call their sister a bitch, or their girlfriend or their wife. They aint going to do that. Its all big talk small man.
But its all the same scene almost. You have Tarrie on one hand fighting for one thing, and then these guys on the other hand using this, almost undoing what Tarrie is trying to do.
Bitch is a very loose term, I think they use that term when theyre referring to girls that they dont necessarily respect. You know some girls around these bands dont act respectively. Ill give you another example right now. Being a man with a women as the frontperson. I have had many people when I first joined the band in the US, who maybe hadnt heard of the band, or had maybe heard a little of the band but not heard the music, say how the hell can you be in a band with a girl singer and that kind of music? They dont get it. But when they hear it, its like wow, cos they didnt expect her to be like that. But theres already that negative thought there because shes a woman. Thats a perfect example of people thinking that men and women arent equal. Who says a woman cant do it, she does it and she does a good job of it.
Yeah, and its the same with coloured people playing this music. The first band that I knew of doing that were Bad Brains,
Bad Brains are a fucking awesome band.
And at the moment say we have Sevendust, or Dub War.
Its just like that in the rap world too, a white guy coming into the rap world, everyone looks down on them. I know she probably got a lot of shit because she was a white GIRL in the rap world. Well the punk scene was a little different when the Bad Brains came out, cos they were so awesome man, like one of the biggest punk bands ever yknow. Theyre up there with the Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, Black Flag. I think we answered the question pretty well!
(Ah yes, Dead Kennedys and Bad Brains. Essential purchases. Check them out, Rock for Light by BB, or Fresh Fruit ... and Frankenchrist by DK. They are my initial recommendations).
Another thing, and Im not sure on how true this is, but Ive been reading reports that Limp Bizkit in the States have done deals at gigs, where the first 200 girls get in free.
Yeah, thats true verifies Marcelo. But its kind of shitty. I personally dont agree with it, theyre just trying to attract girls into the gigs.
And then theyre getting them to get up on stage and lift their tops. some are saying its strippers, some are saying its 15 year old girls.
Its just like going to a club in the States, I dont know if you guys have this here, but there are nights in certain clubs that theyll call like Miniskirt nights, and girls can get in free if they wear short skirts. And thats a sexist things. See, this is the thing that really pisses me off, because I didnt know about that.
Well I dont know if that bits true either.
Brian verifies it. It is true. This is the kind of mentality that we had in the 80s with cock rock metal bands and to me, this scene isnt about that shit. That shit is bullshit that faded out a long time ago, and I hate the thought of bands trying to bring back that kind of mentality.
Tarrie returns at this point. What? she enquires. Nothing both guys say in unison. It feels like they dont want Tarrie to hear, or get her started on this one. Dont tell her, dont tell her Marcelo urges. Eventually he decides to explain to her. Unsurprisingly, Tarrie has something to say.
I was there at the show in Hollywood. And you want to know something sicker. The thing is, they wanted all these women, and at that show it was the first 500 women, not 200. And what so sickened me, was that the theme of the night, was holiday in Cambodia. And you think about what that whole thing represents to women, the whole thing of what the men did to the women over there. And they had strippers come on, and dance during the show. To me, about Limp Bizkit bringing out strippers and dancers during the show, to me Limp Bizkit are frauds. Theyre as fake as their name, $3 Bill Yall. Its not even funny.
Its true if you think about it. Ill give you an example. Ive got a girlfriend who I live with back home, and she likes Limp Bizkit. But personally, would I want her to go to a show where she was going to get in free cos she was a female? Fuck no. Especially with the mentality of knowing that was the reason why they wanted her in there. Thats bullshit. And Im sure at some point it will catch up with them. Its got to.
Well, as I said, I didnt know if it was true, these were just reports that Ive read.
Ive never seen them, Ive never wanted to see them. I dont care. I dont have a problem with Limp Bizkit. If the only way that they can get popularity is through using girls, thats the weakest excuse Ive ever heard. Thats the only way that you can get girls, then youre just a sorry excuse for a man. Yeah, and it doesnt even come down to being in a band. Even if youre not in a band, and you have to go to some kind of level like that. Its like I said before, I wouldnt want my girlfriend to go to that. I dont have a problem with Limp Bizkit, I dont know them, I dont really care to know them, I dont have a reason to, Im not really into their music, but I wouldnt go.
(Do you believe it, that bastard Psycore drummer that ruined last issues Will Haven interview is at it again. See, a bad zine writer always blames the drummer. Its what theyre there for. Only this time, because of where we are, hes not intrusive. Ha, revenge is sweet. Me, bitter, childish and immature. Not a bit of it!)
I dont like the album much, but it seems to me at the moment, that if youre into this genre, if youre into one band, then you have to be into them all.
All I can say to that is, tomorrows a new day, and shit changes every day. I can literally remember the day when grunge started getting all popular, and I can remember the day when it started going downhill. I can remember so many kids totally into Pearl Jam, and look at them now.
I just want to know what happened to all the kids from the 80s, that were at the metal gigs.
Theyre lost in LA. Its kinda a mixture now of metal and punk. Theres not really a punk scene anymore in LA, I dont think, except for these old bands from the 80s trying to make a few bucks now, cos they pack the places out because every punk kid that is into Green Day right now, will pay to go see Fear and the Circle Jerks play yknow. Theyre in their 40s now, but they still pack them in. But theres not really a punk scene anymore. The punk of the 90s to me, has been bands like Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. The thing is, when punk came out, it was something different, a rebellion against the rules. And if you look at bands like NIN, and I guess, say Marilyn Manson when they first came out. Its kinda sad to say now, but it seems like everyone now understands Marilyn Manson. But when they came out, people were freaking out, they were being banned everywhere they played. And that, is what I would consider punk rock of the 90s. Bands that are really trying to go somewhere else and do something differnt.
It seems stupid at the moment that youve seemingly got to have a tattoo, or have a certain piercing or a certain haircut to be considered a punk.
Yeah, thats totally what its not about. Its about being yourself, and attitude, not about a hairstyle. It was like, I did an interview for a college place about a week ago, and they asked what do you think about these kids with all these weird piercings, and all these weird haircuts and stuff. And I said theyre expressing themselves the way they want. They said dont you think its bad for them? And I said no, I dont think its bad for anyone. Because in six years from now they could be a completly different person. Youve just got to let them live. Everyones got to live and learn. You know, if you want them, get a million differrent piercings and have a million different holes, if thats what you want. But in a couple of years time, if you regret it, well tough. Yeah, its do it because you want to do it, not because someone else wants you to do it to fit in. Live life for yourself, dont be influenced by other people.
Tongue in his cheek, Marcelo adds, bands are the worst influence you can ever have. Dont take them as role models, cos theyre the fucking worst. Were all drop outs or something yknow.
Well, I think youve managed to get through the Tarrie questions anyway. There was one thing I was going to ask her about though, and that was Jack Off Jill and whether you were going to try and get them to come over here and tour with you.
Yeah we did. We wanted to bring them over, but their label wouldnt give them the support.
And theyve picked up Marilyn Mansons old guitarist now. I reviewed the album a while back, and the first thing I thought was a female Marilyn Manson.
Yknow, thats a bad marketing thing to do, sell them as a female Marilyn Manson, because theyve been around since before Manson. Well I dont know how long theyve been around, but I saw them a long time ago in LA, before Manson was huge. And I thought they were good. Sure there were some similiarities, obviously they were influenced in some way, or theyre both from the same town, I know that. But I dont think they sound like Manson a lot. I like them, I think theyve got their own sound. I think JoJ are one of the better bands coming out right now. The only problem I see is that they need a label that can push them, cos theyre on a really shit label. Theyve got some cool stuff. Theyre really good live too. Weve had a lot of people asking about them out here.
Going with similar then, are there any other bands around at the moment that you recommend.
System of a Down. There are a lot of new bands. Theres a couple of bands in LA that since Ive been touring Ive not kept up with. But Static are supposed to be good, Cold, Ive only heard some stuff, and we did a review of their single and I really liked the song. Far, and thats because theyre doing something different, theyre doing their own version of what they want to do. Most of the bands that I like are underground and arent up there yet. But mark my words, System of a Down are going to make an impact. Kilgore. Another band to mention, I was just thinking, is Will Haven (who just happen to be supporting tonight). Theyve only been out here twice, theyre still small and getting up there, but theyre awesome.
At this point, Chopper the roadie sticks his head round the corner to see if the guys are ready to get some food. Perfect timing really seeing as how weve reached the infamous final question. And this interview it is ....
I never know how to end, so anything more to add?
People always ask us if theres questions that we want, but yknow, I never know. I just want people to know that the next Tura Satana album is going to be sucker man. Its going to be way better than anything weve ever done, so if they like what we have done so far, theyre definitely going to like the new one. Im interested in seeing who is going to want to take on the project of recording and engineering it, because its going to be intense.
Rolf Harris comes the reply from Chopper the roadie.
And what better place to stop than with the image of Rolf Harris producing Tura Satana lodged in your noggin.
Live pictures by Fredja and Paul from the Tura Satana website. http://members.tripod.com/~tura_satana/mainpage.html Used with permission. Please check with them, don't go nicking from this page ok!
The others I nicked from the magazines that I paid for in the first place.