It's been a long time that i follow the steps of Karinations, band in which the wild Nikki Core plays the bass. Nikki answers to our questions in her own way: no time for doubts, just pure sleaze and straing in your face attitude! Hey, remember: don't associate Bush with rock, or a Nikki's fist are ready to hit your face!

Hi Nikki, nice to talk with ya! I would like to start with a question about your new release that will be out soon on Sleazegrinder Records. Please, introduce your new work to our readers...
The new album is called "American Standard" and will be out, hopefully, by the end of September. The album was written and played on by Me, V, and guitarist/producer Cashton Keyes. Buy it, and fucking love it.

When, how and where did Karinations adventure start? Please, introduce us your band. Why did you choose Karinations as monicker?
KariNations was started by V and some other fools a few years ago. When I joined V, we pretty much made a whole different band, but with the same/similar concept. The name comes from the Russ Meyer film, "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls". There's a chick band in the movie called, "The Carrie Nations". V and our old guitarist, Johnny Lightening, was at a party one night and this movie was on tv. Everyone cleared the room. They thought the movie was that bad. V, being the freak that he is, thought that if this movie was that bad that it cleared a room, it must be pretty fucking cool, so he named us after it.

Listening the unmastered single "Abomination" from upcoming album i can notice that your sound is oriented to a vicious and sleazy rock'n'roll in the veins of bands as Motley Crue, Sex Pistols, Kiss, etc. with a modern touch injection! Do you agree with my opinion? Would you prefer to describe us, in your own words, your sound?
That's pretty right on. We aim to entertain. Rock and roll isn't supposed to make you think, and pick things apart and analyze them. We're straight forward skank-ass sleazy rock, and your girlfriend loves us.

Which bands of the past did influence you deeply, since the beginning of your career? Why and when did you decide to be a bass player?
Joan Jett was always a huge influence on me. Blondie is another one. Wendy O, and Bianca Butthole. I actually never wanted to be a bass player. I joined KariNations as a guitar player, and even played guitar on the album. I left the band for a summer and when I came back, they found a replacement for guitar, but needed a bass player. After about a week of drinking, arguing and fighting with V, I finally agreed to play bass. That was almost 2 years ago.

Now would you tell us about your greatest and baddest concert experiences of ever. Also, Can you tell us something particularly memorable occurred during one of your gigs?
Okay, at the last one we had, the other night, I was on stage, a few songs into the set, and I think I was singing Baby Kill Grenade… Now, it's been this tradition that V, usually, spits beer all over me. Not really tradition, but just a dickhead thing he does. We like to fuck with each other. So it caught on, and now the audience does this. So I'm singing and this chick is standing in front of me and spits a big mouthful of vodka in my face. Ever get vodka in your eyes? No, why would you? Unless you're me. So I'm fucking hurtin', thank god I was high as a mother fucker so it didn't stop me. After this, the girl takes the cherry from her drink and I ate it out of her mouth. Then she jumped on stage and I gave her a lap dance while we played "The Victim". Ever see a chick play bass while giving a lap dance? So that made me feel better. But, fuck, that sucked.

What do you usually do before going on stage? Do you have any particular usage or kind of spell against bad luck?
Before I go on stage, I'm usually in the bathroom chugging a drink and blowing lines…

Which are your future plans after "American Standard" release? Can you do us some anticipations?
I don't have a lot of plans set in stone. I don't like to plan. It makes life boring. I like to fly by the seat of my pants and let consequences predict my next move. Wherever I end up, I make the most of it, and have fun doing it.
Though, I would love to do a solo album.

I think that Boston rock scene is really amazing today! There's some Boston based band that you really appreciate to suggest to our readers? Viceversa there's some ones that you really dislike? Please, be brutally honest...
Rock City Crimewave. There are other good bands, and I go to a lot of shows, but RCCW by far stands out from any of these lame Boston bands. I dislike any band that would get on stage and wear trucker hats and t-shirts and jeans, and stand there staring at their shoes….and there are way too many of those in this city.

In your opinion which are the positive and the negative aspects in being a "attractive" girl in the today rock scene?
The positive is that I can catch people's attention, and hopefully effect them in some way when they hear the music. The negative aspects? I dunno. I think chicks that play "integrity" music would say that they are sometimes not taken seriously because of how they look, but, fuck chicks with integrity. I'm not a musician anyway. I'm an entertainer.

I know you're fond of tattoos and piercing! Which is the tattoo and the piercing you feel deeper linked too? If I'm not wrong, you're also a body piercer. Why did you decide to start with this kind of work?
I love every one of my tattoos, and all of my piercings. I don't think I could tell you which one I feel deeper linked too. I guess I couldn't do without my "Daddy's Little Girl" script on my chest, and all 5 of my genital piercings. Y'know, the important shit. I used to hang out at piercing shops, (this was before tattooing was legal in Massachusetts), when I was 13, 14 years old, and I was fascinated not only by the work, but by the lifestyle/way of thinking and living. I found that working "normal" jobs, like, say a sales girl in the mall, (which would be what was typical for a teenager), just wasn't my thing at all. I cannot see eye to eye with the general public, and I don't think thei're always right, and if I don't believe in something, I can't sell it, and if I wouldn't buy it for myself, I can't pretend like I would. I'm not about money, and I could give a fuck less what hierarchy I was pleasing by selling for them. In the Body Mod world, it's all about individuality and art. Though, I do have to sell and make money (i.e navel piercing, after navel piercing…), I can still say what I want and look how I want and am able to keep my honesty and artistic integrity. So by hanging out and absorbing all of this, I was able to attain an apprenticeship at 18 years old, and it's all a blur from there.

Ok, now is time fpr our "to be or not to be" quiz. Choose one of these options and let us know the reasons why!
Making enemies is good or making friends is good: Making enemies is fun. I have enough friends. What's important is not someone liking you or disliking you, it's making them remember you.
A lot of strong drinks or a lot of sex: A lot of strong drinks, then fucking till you pass out or puke, which some freaks like, so uhhh! Yeah! To quote Mr. Mike Trash (who unknowingly quoted Mr.GG Allin), drink, fight and fuck.
Live it and love it.
Look rules of music rules: Music is the most important, but you need a look/image if you're trying to sell it. Of course people judge the book by it's cover, so image is important.
The Stooges or The Dictators: The Stooges. It's Iggy Pop…come on now!
Rock against Bush or rock pro Bush: Rock and Bush should not be used in the same sentence. I'm not thinking about politics when I play music, and anyone that does and have the balls to call it "rock", seriously needs to get their nose broken.
Live fast, die young or rock hard, ride free: "Die Young, Stay Pretty" is tattoo'd on my arms.

What's your opinion about internet and about exchanging music on-line, sharing mp3 files and so on? Which are the best and the worst aspects of the net?
I don't really have a strong opinion either way. On one side, I can see as an artist just wanting people to hear your music, but I can also see the business side of it where you need to sell to make money. In the grand scheme of things, just shut the fuck up and smoke some pot.

What is your fav drink, your fav movie and your fav best 5 album of all the times?
My favorite drink is called the "Nikki Core" at a local hipster watering hole. It's Vanilla Stoli on the rocks with extra maraschino cherries. My favorite movie is probably Gia (with Angelina Jolie), or the Boondock Saints. Tank Girl is up there too. Best Albums: Guns'n'Roses - "Appetite For Destruction", Motley Crue - "Too Fast For Love", Backyard Babies - "Making Enemies Is Good", The Dwaves - "Come Clean", Blondie - Self Titled (First Album), Rock City Crimewave - (I think it's self-titled)...

What is the craziest thing ever done in your life?
Ever? Hmm… I'd have to think about that one. I pretty much do something unheard of and really stupid every week. Next time I'm sober enough to recall something, I'll let you know. Though, I cant decide, looking back, if meeting V and becoming partners in crime with him was the craziest, smartest or the dumbest idea in my life.

Where's been the freakiest place made love in? In your opinion where's the best place to do sex?
Freakiest: In V's Star Wars room. That's fucking scary. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time, but when I woke up sober and looked around, and thought of the things I had just done as I looked at Chewbacca, I suddenly felt very, very dirty. Another cool spot, (where some people may think is freaky), is on a gynecologist table. I had one in the piercing room at the last shop I worked at. Also, in the back of the KariNation's van on the highway in NY on the way to a gig. The best place is anywhere. You're fucking someone, not a place. Why think about where you are, (or even, who's watching)? When you feel the urge for some deep dickin', sometimes you just gotta forget about everything, drop trou, and hop on.

That was the last question and this is a small room to give you the chance to say whatever you want. Thank you for your kind cooperation and greet Italian Exploders as you prefer...
Thank you for hassling me till I finally got off of my lazy ass and did this interview. Keep rockin' boys and girls, and remember, Nikki Core loves you, and your sister!

Intervista realizzata da Bruno Rossi
tradotta da Margherita Realmonte