The legendary MOTÖRHEAD hero LEMMY KILMISTER passed away 5 years ago today, on 28 December 2015. He was 70. He entered the music world as a roadie for guitar icon Jimi Hendrix and for prog act The Nice (with Keith Emerson).
The leather metal freak’s first band he played in was space rock outfit Hawkind. He was kicked out of the group after he spent 5 days in a Canadian prison for drug possession. So he started his own gang MOTÖRHEADin 1975. They released 22 albums, with Bad Magic as the final one. It came out a couple of months before he died.
One of the most intriguing artists Turn Up The Volume heard all year is Long Beach, California based VIOLENT VICKIE. Her second longplayer called DIVISION is without
a shadow of a doubt one of 2020’s most arresting works.
63 minutes of doom and gloom bliss for graveyard parties and underground discos. Twilight is the color, electro-swart is the sound, petrifying is the psyche. You hear
echoes of Chelsea Wolfe, Crystal Castles, Mazzy Star, D.A.F., Alice Glass among others.
Enough reasons to leave your batcave, to put your Goth outfit and your black
mascara on and meet VV. But first a short visual impression…
Hello Vickie
Thank you for doing this…
Your artist name is VIOLENT VICKIE.
A strange choice? Should we be scared?
“Haha yes! You should be scared! When I came up with it I was thinking
of punk names and I like the alliteration. It’s more about being against
violence against women.”
What is it that attracted you to write/make Goth music?
“Hmm… I guess it’s just what came out? I was introduced to some goth music
in college and it seems to have been more popular in the last few years. I was
influenced by bands like Crystal Castles, Adult., Siouxsie and the Banshees,
and Hanin Elias of Atari Teenage Riot.”
Violent Suzy…
Which track would you pick to introduce yourself and
your music to the people who never heard of you?
“My favorite is Serotonin, but I also like Under The Gun,
The Gloom and Circle Square a lot.”
Why is your new LP called DIVISION?
Does it tell something about the songs?
“Yes. In a lot of the songs I am lettinng go and settling boundaries
with people. I am deciding what I want in my life and what I don’t want.”
VIOLENT VICKIE’s left eye on the album’s artwork is covered.
Why, or did you just like the whole of the image?
“I gave the arist Nick Dynice a black and white photo and he turned it into
a colored one by putting it through a VHS player! It just came out that way.”
UNDER THE GUN is one of the LP’s highlights and the accompanying video clip is a remarkable piece too. Who created the clip and what is it you wanted to visualize?
“My friend Jen Miller and I shot the video in a parking lot and Nick Pagonakis edited and directed it and added some stock footage. I also added some stock footage that I used for visuals for my shows. I imagined a fast-paced urban theme that was critical of the rat race.”
What do you think about the outcome of the presidential election?
“Well he certainly seems better than the other option.”
Suppose you were asked to rewrite and put new music to the National
American Anthem. What would be the outcome, in sound and vision?
“Haha wow. Interesting queston. Let’s make a goth punk version!”
One of your photos on your FB account your sitting on a tombstone
in a graveyard. Is that your favorite place to hang out?
“Yes lol. I DJed a Macabre picnic earlier in the year and my friend Aeaissa Jade took a bunch of photos of me.”
Photo by Aeaissa Jade
Many artists played/released covers in this surreal year.
Which song would you love to cover?”
“I have an unfinished cover of “Are Friends Electric” by Gary Numan.
I thought my vocals went well with it and I like the song.”
What was the best track and album you heard in 2020?
“The Way Back by Dismantled is pretty awesome. I like the beats. I’m also into upbeat cheery stuff like Digitalism. To be honest. I haven’t been listening to many full albums but L’s is great!”
Which song will you play on 31st December at midnight?
“‘Rhythm of the Night’ by Corona. It’s the funnest song to dance to!”
Name three things you really want to see happen in 2021?
“Shows, Shows, Shows! And some tropical vacation.”
May we expect new VIOLENT VICKIE music next year?
“I am releasing a remix album soon. And I may release some songs
on Spotify that I haven’t yet like my cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”.
Thank you very much for this interview, Vickie.
Have a great music/shows loaded 2021.
With much time on their lockdown hands – not that they liked it – due to that awful virus countless artists covered countless other artists. Here are the 5 best Turn Up The Volume heard while being shackled to his home…
Rich girl Luisa Black: “I wanted to bring the darkness of the song forward. That meant stripping away some of those freedom rock elements. Also, and I say this with all humility,
I never loved the middle eight in the original. I think it’s a better song without it.”
The charismatic The Kills amazon about her choice “One of my favorite
car songs. I f**king love “State Trooper”. I’m obsessed with that song. I just
can sit and sing it all day. I love how cinematic it is, I love it’s so visual.”
Tanya about Bob: “I won’t wax on about Bob Dylan’s impact on my love for lyrics, but
the leaning reader in this poem pretty well describes how I have always listened to him.”
If this 1996 Tom Petty pearl’s interpretation by these two magical nightingales
doesn’t touch your heart and soul, you need to see your lockdown therapist.
DISOBEDIENT RECORDS is a small Liverpool-based label working with
hungry mavericks with an indie heart and a sonic searching soul.
Early this month they launched the first compilation of many to come.
Check Food For Thought out here.
A new collection just came out. It’s a dynamite must-have compilation
with no less than 25 bands/artists producing an effervescent, varied
mixture of cutting punk rippers, brisk pop tunes, roaring rippers,
and electrifying stunners. First-class indie hullabaloo!
Oh, and you’ll discover some kooky band names such as Erotic Secrets
Of Pompeii, My Octopus Mind, Dear Asteroid, Dutch Wine and Beige Banquet.
The record is available to download for only £5 on Bandcamp. All the money
raised will go to Reece’s Line. A charity set up in aid of the 18-year Scottish boy Reece Spark who heartbreakingly took his own life this year. A foundation created
to support those who suffer from mental health issues.
Just buy this awesome collection and support
this caring foundation that deals with an
alarming and severe modern-day problem…
Watch the BULLY get BULLIED
for his crimes against humanity, for dividing
the United States of America, for ignoring
COVID-19, for being a 24/7 liar, an evil narcissist
and a 24/7 liar. You’re out, mate!…
Artist: EMMA SWIFT Who: An Australian songwriter. She lives in Nashville, TN with the British
cult musician Robin Hitchcock. A gifted singer inspired by Sandy Denny,
Marianne Faithfull and a plethora of dead poets.
Album: BLONDE ON THE TRACKS – debut LP honoring legend Bob Dylan.
(Blonde on Blonde / Blood on the Tracks) Released: 18 August 2020
Emma Swift: “The album was born out of crisis and made with care, tenderness and hope.
If I am being completely honest, the making of the record was enough for me. But to have people enjoy it and talk about it really is a heart combusting experience.”
Turn Up The Volume: My all-time favorite singer-songwriter Bob Dylan had a vision. On
his eternal wander, without a home, vagabonding like a rolling stone, he heard a singing angel, blowin’ in the wind. He wondered how his tangled up in blue songs would resonate if her nightingale voice would embrace them. The gorgeous angel accepted the challenge and impressed the famous tramp with her beatific and crystal timbre. He turned around and continued his never-ending tour on the rough and rowdy route with a big smile on his face as the mysterious angel made him feel forever young.
