I met Mike Trash, leader of the NY based band The Erotics, a long time ago on the web, through the endless mazes of the Internet and, since then, I spent so many nights awake listenening his "Space Age Mafia" while updating The Rock Explosion, that I can't even imagine. I only know him by some mails, but the idea I got of Mike is that he should be a very pragmatic guy. I can't say if in everyday life or during a rock'n'roll night he can really become a chatterbox, but for what I can suppose of Mr.Trash, he should pull PC keys without redundance and when he writes he leaves his unique sign, as the sound of The Erotics sets any rockers soul on fire. So one day I had the wonderful idea to ask him to realize some interviews for The Rock Explosion and few days later I received these questions he submitted to Scotty, bass player of The Silencers, and runner of the Heatslick Records, a label which can count on names like Junkyard and Motochrist. And now swallow the following lines!

How long have The Silencers been together?
The Silencers have been together since April 2004.

Describe the influences and sound of the band.
The influences are a direct combination of 70's New York punk and 80's L.A. rock, an unusual amalgamation to be sure, but one that works and has given the band an original slant and a great sound. We're just plain simple rock 'n' roll!

Describe the members of The Silencers, starting with yourself.
Well, I play bass. I used to play in a band called Blvd. Strays before The Silencers but that band broke up. I am originally from Los Angeles. Darryl is our rock 'n' roll madman singer and rhythm guitarist. He played in The Hell Brothers before The Silencers and he is from Canada. Axel is our German lead guitarist. Darryl and I met him at a show in Oakland, and he was wearing a Dictators shirt. We knew he was our man! Will is our merry old drummer from the U.K. We got Will through Axel as our first drummer quit and Will was looking for a gig! He fucking rules. Plain and simple. As you can see we are a very international band. It's really cool like that!

You guys are based in the San Francisco area, what is the scene like there for sleazy rock'n'roll?
I wish I could say it was good. It's pretty lame actually. San Francisco is a great city but the rock scene here sucks. Back in the 80's when bands like Vain, Sea Hags, and Jetboy were around, San Francisco was amazing! We had our own little thing going on separate from Los Angeles or New York City. But when the whole dot-com thing came in that really hurt San Francisco because all the musicians were forced out of their studios by yuppies who made them into offices and a lot of clubs closed too. San Francisco has really never recovered from that. Today, San Francisco is a total scene for indie rock and electronica. We have a small rock scene here with bands like American Heartbreak, Flexx Bronco, The Substitutes, Golden Gods, and some others but it's far from being a staple for rock!

When can we expect a release from The Silencers?
We're putting out of small limited edition EP this month and we're doing a track on the new Heat Slick compilation too. After that, we'll be doing a split CD with NYC's, The Kowalskis, next year.

How much has MySpace helped to expose the band?
MySpace has helped a lot! It's a great avenue for free exposure. If you have a band and are not on it, get on it now!!! You're a fool if you don't!

You also run a well know record label called Heat Slick Records. When did you form the label?
I started Heat Slick in 2002.

What are your goals with Heat Slick?
My goals are to just release good rock 'n' roll by bands that can produce good rock 'n' roll! I am not in this for money or too quit my day job. I used to be like that but I finally decided that I didn't need that. I've always done it for the music and always will!

You have released a very successful compilation, with another one on the way. How did you get suck legendary bands such as Faster Pussycat, Hanoi
Rocks Junkyard etc. to submit tracks?
For the first compilation, I just contacted either the bands or their labels and licensed the tracks. Junkyard, I already licensed thier new EP so I just took the track of that. For the new compilation, I had Hanoi on it but their label backed out on the very last minute which really sucks!

That about wraps it up, do you have any last words?
Thanks for the interview Mike! I love The Erotics and cannot wait for new stuff from ya. Look out for the new Heat Slick compilation soon! The new Silencers release soon and lots more. And please visit www.thesilencers.net and www.heatslick.com.

Intervista realizzata da Mr. Mike Trash from
Traduzione realizzata da Margherita Realmonte