New Year and New Rock
Girl, the situation doesn't change, folks! This time The Rock Explosion
interviewed Vikki Spit, the bass player of Spit Like This. They
are simply The Trashiest Band In The UK, and Vikki Spit's words
are here to confirm this status. Check it out, Exploders!
Hi Vikki, I'm honoured to have you ready
to answer to my questions. Ok, let's start! Introduce us "The
Trashiest Band In The U.K.". When, how and where did you meet
the other members of Spit Like This? How you won the previously
mentioned title "The Trashiest Band In The UK"?
Well, it all starts in 2000. We'd all survived the millenium bug
and despite popular rumour, aliens hadn't destroyed the world. I
met Lord Zion in a club in London. As time passed and we got to
know each other, it became clear that had a similar vision and so
we decided to form the nucleus of what would become the greatest
band in the world... To get the ball rolling, we needed money so
we hit on the idea of selling my used panties on eBay. This took
off very well and soon we had enough money to get the gear we needed
to record both "The Pop Shot" and "Anarchy For Two"
. In early 2003 we decided it was time to take this thing live and
so we began searching for a suitable bunch of reprobates. Amazingly,
we found everyone within two weeks! It was clearly the perfect time
for us to find them.
We found guitarist Stevie Lee through an advert he had placed online.
After hearing a demo he sent us we had him round and after spending
hours chatting, we knew we had the perfect guitarist. He had the
right mindset and he wasn't scared to do what it takes. Wank Sinatra
knew Zion from several years ago. They hadn't been in contact for
ages though. But one day Z and me were talking about how great it
would be to find someone who could combine rhythm guitar and synth
when the phone rang... it was Wank! Talk about a coincidence! So,
the cocky fucker was in. That only leaves the drummer. We had arranged
for a drummer to come round for an interview, but at the last minute
he called to cancel, he had some sort of emergency so couldn't make
it. On the off chance, we rang another advert we'd just found. The
drummer came straight round and kept us talking for about 2 months!
He bought a tape with him and it soon transpired that not only could
he talk for England, he could drum for England too. That's how we
found Vile Gilez. So, now we had everyone together we started rehearsing.
Things fell together pretty quickly and we had our first gig a couple
of months later. As for "the trashiest band in the UK"...
well, Acey Slade of The Murderdolls was on tour in the UK with his
new band the Trashlight Vision. So he decided to put on a competition
to find the trashiest band of the Country. Therefor we sent him
an email letting him know that we are the trashiest band of ever,
and a few days later, we got an email back telling us we were through
to the finals! We went along to the Camden Underworld where we would
be competitng against 4 other bands for the title. You know what?
We knew we'd won the second we walked in. Us and our slutz (what
we affectionately call our fans) were the trashiest creatures in
there by a million miles! Even so, to play fair we put on a truly
fantastic 20 minute set filled with blood, fire, tits and tatts.
By the end of it, the audience was in love with us. After all the
other bands had their go, it was down to the audience to scream
for the band they thought deserved the title. The best band won,
what more can I say? I have just this second found out that Spit
Like This are in the top ten unsigned UK bands in the 2004 Kerrang
readers poll! Well that's fucking cool! Voted the trashiest band
in the UK and one of the best unsigned bands in the UK all in the
space of 3 months!
Which bands of the past influenced you deeply,
since the beginning of your career? Why and when did you decide
to be a bass player? Is there an episode in your life that forced
you to became a musician?
My dad is a musician and he always encouraged any interest I showed
in music. I decided to be a bassist simply because there are hundreds
of wannabe guitarists out there but nowhere hear as many bassists,
especially not female bassists. The band which has influenced me
most directly would be Vice Squad. I used to live in the same part
of London as Beki Bondage and guitarist Paul Rooney, and they had
a huge influence on me. I used to go along with them to gigs and
work on their merch stall and hang out with the band. As for anything
forcing me to be a musician, well, no one put a gun to my head and
told me I had to! I guess a combination of the people who influenced
me, the fact I loved playing bass and my own view on the world left
me with very little choice than to follow the path I have. I could
never get a "proper" job, I couldn't handle being told
what to do and having to do the same thing day in day out...
Is there any female artist that you esteem
particularly? Why?
Well, I mentioned Beki Bondage before. She is someone I hold in
great esteem. She's a vegetarian (like me) and she doesn't take
shit from anyone! She's a very strong role model for any young woman
starting out in the music industry. I also admire Madonna for her
business sense and her ability to keep selling records after all
these years! She's exploited her looks and sexuality to an amazing
degree and it shows what an intelligent woman she is.
What could you tell us to explain the reason
of the choice of your monicker Spit Like This?
Well... the first night I meet Z and we hit it off we were wondering
drunkenly through the streets of London when one of us (fuck knows
which) suggested a spitting contest. At some point Z said to me
"spit like this" and demonstrated. the phrase "spit
like this" stuck with us and when we decided to form a band
it seemed like the perfect name.
Describe us with your own words the songs
of your last EP "Dragged Kicking & Screaming". Can
you do a track by track in which you talk about songwriting, lyrics,
meanings, etc. of each song?. Is there a reason why our readers
have to buy it absolutely ?
Your readers have to buy it because it is not only fantastic to
listen to, but it's also very pretty! And I got my butt tattooed
just for that cd, so go buy it! As for describing meanings etc,
I have to say that Z writes our stuff, so I suppose it's not my
place to explain what he has created.
You're our first Rock Girl from England! Which are the today English
bands that you really like and the ones you really dislike? In particular:
The Darkness, Antiproduct, Zen Motel, The Stabilisers... let me
know your opinion about these four bands. Please, be nasty!
I fucking hate The Darkness! I fucking hate them so much! That twat
in the white spandex shudders their whole image and sound. It is
like a watered down, sanitised, nice and safe version of original
glam. It's glam rock that has been pulled out of the back of the
cupboard, dusted down, had all the sharp edges removed and has been
made safe and approachable for the mainstream. I see them as a joke,
sort of spinal tap. Antiproduct are cool, A-product was the master
of ceremonies at the trashiest band competition, he's a funny guy.
He was running for president. As for other English bands, there
is nothing that interests me. As far as I am concerned (and as we
know, thousands of other people are concerned-they all voted for
us!) Spit Like This are the best band in the UK. I don't need to
pay attention to other UK bands!
Ok, you shared the stage with Crash Kelly, The Damned and some other
bands during your past gigs. Tell us which are the craziest bands
you shared the stage with. Please, describe the related crazy experiences.
Well, my band has always been the craziest on and off stage! On
stage we have pyrotechnics, girls running on and getting thier tits
out, blood being spat at the audience....while off stage all kinds
of shit goes on, places get trashed, we get trashed, all sorts of
body parts appear... Besides we bonnet surf, that's fun! You play
a gig, and get pissed to the point where it seems like the best
idea in the world to throw yourself on the bonnet of your drummer's
car and surf on it as he tries to drive by! The only other band
I remember being any fun is The Damned. There is a photo somewhere
of Vile Gilez and Captain Sensible mooning the camera. Apparently,
we're the only ones who know how to party!
If I'm not wrong, you use to call your fans
as "slutz", why? Spend some words to describe the "slutz"
and their support:
We do call our fans slutz, it's an abreiviation of "Spit Like
Us Too". See, first letter of each word? Our slutz are fantastic!
Whether sucking Stevie's cock in an alley or getting their tits
out whilest we are on stage, they always provide us with entertainment.
I actually have a pet slut called Slutter. She has a big leather
collar and a chain and she drinks her booze from a dog bowl. She's
generally well behaved but sometimes she needs to be told off. Our
slutz can always be relied on to fight their way to the front of
the stage and sing along- and be covered with blood!
What do you usually do before
going on stage? Do you have any particular usage or kind of spell
against bad luck?
Generally I hang out with the band or the slutz. It's always cool
to meet new slutz at different venues around the Country. I don't
really have any sort of spell or good luck charms. I just enjoy
myself as much as I can on and off stage.
Which are the future plans of your band? Can you make us some anticipactions?
Are you planning the release of a full-length album or a European
tour including Italy or something else for 2005?
At the moment it looks like we will be back in the studio in early
2005. Not 100% decided on what we will be doing, so I'll keep quite
about the details... as for an European tour, that would be cool!
New things pop up on a daily basis here in Spit Like This world,
so I'd say we could well be in Europe in 2005... watch this space!
In your opinion which are the positive and
the negative aspects in being a "attractive" girl in the
today rock scene?
In some ways it's fucking great, in others it's a real headache.
On the positive side, you get a lot of attention as you are something
of a rarity. I generally get my own way about things as well. A
low cut dress and a smile can get a girl a long way! I think I'm
also a good example for other girls wanting to get into bands. It
can be pretty intimidating as it is such a male dominated world,
but I've had emails from girls telling me that I gave them the balls
to go ahead and start a band. That's pretty cool. On the negative
side, lots of men instantly assume that a girl cannot possibly play
an instrument, especially not in a rock band! So many times I have
been setting up my gear or been carrying in my guitar when some
guy will say "are you with the band love?" like I'm a
groupie or something like that. They get snarled at! People often
assume that I'm there just to look good and that I can't actually
play. After our set I quite often hear people say things along the
lines of "I thought she was just a hot chick, I didn't realise
she could actually play!" it's cool that I can change people's
presumption of me like that. Maybe when they see other attractive
female muscians in the future they won't just instantly assume thay
can't play. Oh, I get to sell my old worn out stilettos to fetishists
at more than what they cost new. That's a good point.
Have you still got a dream unrealised? If
so and if I may ask, what is it about?
Oooh! Spit Like This to have total world domination, a taylor to
make all my clothes especially to fit me! A Rolls Royce hearse!
loads more tattoos! my own horses! my own personal race track to
race things like caravans and buses only for fun! I want so many
things...
I know you're fond of tattoos. Why do you like this kind of physical
decoration? And which is the tattoo you feel deeper linked too?
I like tattoos because they are a deeply personal piece of art.
You have to be devoted what you are saying through your tattoos
as they will be with you for the rest of your life. I have never
rushed into a tattoo and all of mine are images which I have carefully
chosen. I feel linked to all of my tattoos, they all have a special
meaning to me. Explaining all of them would take forever so I'll
just go through a few of them. The tiger on my right arm was the
first tatt I ever got. Z bought it for me on the same day we got
together. I'd wanted a tiger tattoo for years. I'd been inspired
by the William Blake poem "Tyger Tyger" that really struck
me for some reason. The pink and black hearts with the flames on
my right breast is me and Z. I'm the pink heart and he is the black
one. He has the same thing on his neck. The meaning behind that
one is pretty clear! The Spit Like This tattoo with the four skulls
and the crossed warlock basses on my left arm is special. Everyone
in the band got a band tattoo at around the same time. Me, Z and
Stevie each got a version of this tatt, each amended to our own
style. Wank and Vile Giles got Spit Like This written down their
fore arms. I love the fact that every member was devoted enough
and enough faith in what we are doing to permanently have it inked
on their bodies! I also have a pink skullox (our logo of the skull
and crossed warlocks) on my butt. I got that one done specially
for the cover of "Dragged Kicking And Screaming". We took
loads of pictures of it whilest it was being done and I actually
drank a fair bit the night before to ensure that I would bleed more
than usual while the tatt was being done. All in the name of my
art... the tatt looks great and I love it.
What is your fav drink, your fav movie and
your fav best 5 album of ever?
Yet another fav question! Ok, I don't really do number one favourites
so you will have another list...
Drink: Baileys, JD's, Dark Rhum, Vermouth. (and most other forms
of alcohol)
Movies: "Hedwig And The Angry Inch", "Natural Born
Killers", and "Zoolander" was funny as fuck.
Albums: now this is the hardest one, I have to think hard about
this and I'm still not 100% certain but here goes...
Def Leppard's "Hysteria", Benfolds Five's "Rockin'
The Suburbs", because its fucking great. Love Hate's "Black
Out In The Red Room", Madonna's "The Imaculate Collection",
Motley Crue's "Decade Of Decadence".
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?
The interent has enabled thousends of people to find out about us
and hear our music, it's a fucking brilliant way to get your name
out there. As for sharing music, I don't really have a problem with
people swapping a track or two. I think that downloading entire
albums for free is too much though. Some people have to make a living
here! I don't think downloading music from the net will stop people
going out and buying actual albums. If you are a fan of the band
you want the cd, you want the packaging and everything that goes
with it.
What is the craziest thing ever done in your
life?
I used to sell my worn panties on ebay, and I once had a request
for a pair to be worn and then pissed in and bagged up in an air
tight bag. I put them in the bath tub and Z pissed on them. Then
we bagged them up and sent them (with a bonus sachet of piss) to
New York. Just after 9/11.... I can just picture the faces of the
customs officers who checked that package! Only this week I had
a request from a guy in America to buy my worn out shoes... fine
by me! I'm not known as a fetish queen for nothing...
Where's been the freakiest place made love in? In your opinion where's
the best place to do sex?
Ehm, in the back of the boner (our hearse) in the graveyard on some
crypt, in the forecourt of a car showroom, in a train station platform,
in the middle of the road.... pick your favourite! As for the best
place, somewhere warm. I don't like the cold.
Ok, now you have two options. Choose one and
let us know why:
All in the name of rock or all in the name
of money: In the name of rock! If all I cared about was money
I wouldn't be in this business!
New York Dolls or Sex Pistols: Sex
Pistols, what a bunch of rotters!
Motley Crue reunion or Twisted Sister reunion:
Crue! Crue! Crue! No question about it! And I will be there in London
on the 19th of June 2005 drunk as hell and loving it!
Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin: Deep Purple.
Religion as opium for masses or opium as religion
for masses: Me as religion for the masses would be best.
Acid Pills or Snow Blind: Snow blind.
Now gimmie please!
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.
Well, thankyou for asking me to be your January rock girl, and I
hope you all have a great Christmas and a fucking drunken new year!
I really think that 2005 is going to be one hell of a year for Spit
Like This, busy and cool as fuck! Now I have to sod off cos we're
doing a Christmas party gig in London and I have to go get my shit
together. Keep spitting!
Intervista realizzata Bruno Rossi e tradotta da Margherita
Realmonte
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