Hi Wendy! We're very pleased to have you here among our Rock Girls! Can you tell us what happened to your former band you played the guitar in?
Why thank you! The 440s? We had been together almost 6 years...Dave (the drummer) and I picked up and left Philly and moved to Tucson the summer of 2001. We reformed here, with G.G. Titan on guitar and Eric Degenerate on bass, who was later replaced by Justin, who is now in our new band Whiskey Bitch. We did a couple tours, one with Cretin 66 and one with the Last Call Brawlers, and played the Heavy Rebel festival last summer. We then just decided that the band had kind of run it's course. We (me, Dave and Justin) had already started Whiskey Bitch at this point, and we were just having a lot more fun in that band, and people seemed to be responding really well. I was enjoying just playing guitar and not being the frontperson all the time, too (though I still do a lot of singing). The 440s played the Confederacy of Scum Supershow in Las Vegas, and that was our last show...a great way to go out!! We still have our website, though (THE 440s OFFICIAL WEBSITE).

The kind of music you played in The 440¹s has been compared to myths as Ac/Dc, Motorhead, Joan Jett and The Heartbreakers. Are really those bands which have mainly influenced u? When and why did u decide to play guitar?
Yeah, as you can see above, those are some of my all-time favorite bands, so it's an honor to be compared to them! I started playing guitar when I was 15 or 16, because me and my friends wanted to start an all-girl band called Sweet Revenge. I got frustrated really quickly and stopped playing for a
while because I never got comfortable with it. Then when I was 19 my roommate played guitar, and he kept looking for a bass player, so finally I told him that I would do it. So I started playing bass in bands, the last one being Dr. Bob's Nightmare, which Downtown Dave was in as well. We have
been a couple and musical partners for the last 12 years...we are no longer together as a couple, but we are still playing together fortunately. As Dr.Bob's Nightmare was fizzling out, I decided that I wanted to pick up the guitar again...that was about 7 or 8 years ago. I wasn't gonna let some
6-stringed instrument get the best of me! So that's how The 440s formed.

But now you¹re in a new group: can you introduce your last band The Whiskey Bitch?
Whiskey Bitch!!! Tony Pickup is on lead vocals, me on lead guitar and
vocals, Terrible Paulsy on lead guitar and backup vocals, Justin "Liberaunchy" on bass and backup vocals, and Downtown Dave on drums and backup vocals. We also have 2 dancers with us when we play, and whoever else wants to join us. Our shows are like one big party!! We always have fun, and by the end of our set, people in the audience are taking off their clothes, making out, etc....and we know we've done our job! The band started off just being a cover band - we did songs by Slade, Leaving Trains, Lime Spiders, Quiet Riot - and then we started writing songs and liking them even better, so we decided to be a real band. The influences are pretty much the same as The 440s, we're just a little more raw, and with 5 of us, including a lead singer, we have the opportunity to be a little more creative with vocal harmonies, etc. Pure rock'n roll!! We just recorded a demo that we will press soon, and our website is coming soon... (THE WHISKEY BITCH OFFICIAL WEBSITE). Look for it!!

With such a monicker I assume that alcohol may be a beloved thing in your band (laughs). Jokes apart, where does the idea of this name come from? I find it really kick ass Rock¹n¹Roll?
Yeah, we all like whiskey, even though 2 of us no longer drink!! I have been sober for 18 years, believe it or not!! But the 3 other guys sure love to drink... which is fine by me, as long as they can still play, and carry their equipment at the end of the night. Tony, Paul, and Justin were in another band together before Whiskey Bitch called Fisty, and that name came from some guy that Paul knew from Florida. Apparently, Whiskey Bitch was Fisty's girlfriend, so the name kinda stuck (after much brainstorming, to no avail.)

Which bands of the past did influence you deeply, since the beginning of your career?
Definitely AC/DC, the Ramones, NY Dolls, Aerosmith, a lot of old blues, and a lot of '80s cock rock.

Where do you take the inspiration for your songs from?
The songwriting process is definitely different in Whiskey Bitch... in The 440s, I wrote almost all the songs - music and lyrics. In Whiskey Bitch, Tony and I do a lot of writing together. Some songs, I write the music for and he writes the lyrics, some are a combination... maybe I'll write the music and lyrics for the chorus, and he'll come up with music and lyrics for the verses. It's been fun having a partner. Paul has come up with some cool stuff, too. However, I'm finding that I do need that intense concentration and channeling of energy and emotion that comes from solo songwriting. I'm
planning on releasing a solo record sometime this year, as well. So inspiration... well, I love rock'n roll, so I just try to write songs that move me, that hit that spot deep inside that just says "Yeahhhh!!" Some of my more introspective songs come from personal experiences, experiences that have not always been pleasant, but have increased my depth as a person. Those are not Whiskey Bitch songs, though. And some songs (more in the Whiskey Bitch style) are just about rocking the fuck out and having fun, or every day experiences that we all deal with.

Is there any band on today's rock scene that you particularly admire for some reason and would like to cooperate or share the stage with?
Hell yes... Turbonegro is one of my favorites, and it would be my dream to tour with them. I love the music, the guitars, the gimmick, the cheese... oh yeah, and Euroboy!! And The Darkness, for the same reason. They are certainly not my favorite band, but I am happy to see the glitz, the glamour, the rock'n roll excess once again, and to see people responding to it. Down with baggy shorts and baseball caps!! You're supposed to be able to tell the difference between the people onstage, and the people in the crowd. I love dressing the part, and I think people really appreciate that. I am honored to have shared the stage with Motorhead, in The 440s. Would love to do it again!

I know you met Angela Foxx on your way to Rock. Now she¹s started a new adventure in Iron Head. What would you feel to say about her?
Angela is a sweetheart! The 440s were supposed to play a show with The Runarounds last summer during our Heavy Rebel tour.... let's just say plans changed when Johnny decided to punch out the promoter... sticking up for Angela, of course! We stayed at their house that night, and fortunately did
get to see them the next day at Heavy Rebel, and they put on one hell of a rockin' show. I'm glad to see they're still going strong as Iron Head.

Do you have any song you feel particularly close to? (not necessarily yours). Is there a song you like to hum when you feel blue, or when you feel happy, or under the shower?
No, actually, not any particular song. Just whatever happens to be in my head at the time.

I know you¹re fond of tattoos. Why do you like this kind of physical decoration? And which is the tattoo you fell deeper linked too?
I've always been attracted to tattoos, since before I can even remember. My mom tells me stories of me asking to get tattooed when I was 7 or 8... I don't have any recollection of that! I got my first tattoo when I was 15... a tiny heart on my ankle, that I hid from my parents. I ended up waiting quite a while before I started getting tattooed again... I guess I was 24 when I got my next one, and I've been collecting ever since. For me, it's part of my committment to leading an artistic life. I have alienated
myself from certain forms of employment, and that's okay by me. I love looking at things I find beautiful, and it makes me happy to see them on my body every day. I've always been a very visual person. I haven't regretted any of them. I was apprehensive about getting my hands done, but now I'm so
glad I did, because I love them. I feel a connection to all of them. Some of them I have designed, and some the artist designed, and some we designed together, but I love them all.

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 internet is great...no matter where I live, I know I can connect with people about music, etc. Hell, that's why I'm doing this interview!! I've made a lot of band connections this way that I would never have had the opportunity to make otherwise. As far as downloading, I don't do it simply because I don't have the patience. And I like having the real product. And if I really like a band, I want to support them. I think it's great to be able to listen to a little snippet of a song to hear what a band sounds
like. But people these days seem to have this attitude that it's their God-given right to own all their music for free, forgetting that there was a lot of time, energy and money put into this. If everyone's getting their music for free, how are musicians ever gonna make money? It don't come from
nowhere. It's as if some people think that it's the musician's responsibility to provide them with listening material without compensation, because they should be glad that someone's listening to their music. Something's gotta give.

Have you still got a dream unrealised? If it is so and if I may ask, what is it about?
To make money making music!

Being an attractive girl in the rock scene has showed you also negative aspects? Do you find any problem in being a female rocker?
Overall, I'd say it's an asset. It's definitely an attention-getter. Of course there are still sterotypes, but it's more just an annoyance than a real obstacle. Like the soundperson automatically turning up the other guitar because it's assumed that the guy is the "lead" guitar player, when in reality we both are. And I feel I have to prove myself as a musician a lot more that a male would, but that's okay, because if I just do what I love, then people respond.

Who is (or has been) the most attractive male or female rockstar of ever?
Male... Joe Perry & Iggy Pop, female... Joan Jett & Theo Lunachick!

Now think to some adjectives or whatever else you feel to add near the following words and names:
Devil: Dogs!
Angel: Fuck!
TNT: Dynamite!
Dogs: D'Amour!
Cats: Faster Pussy...
Beautiful Creatures: Bang Tango!

Can you tell us something particularly memorable occurred during one of your gigs?
A lot of crazy stuff has happened during our shows, but the one thing that still makes me laugh (besides me kissing a midget!!) is when we had a kissing contest. I usually get 2 or 3 shots of whiskey to bring onstage when we play, and think up various ways in which people can "win" a shot. So the first shot I said would go to the first girl who came up and kissed me. Done. The second shot would go to the first guy who kissed Tony. I didn't know if he would be pissed, but he seemed game. So the most "ungay" guy in the bar came up...big, muscley, jocky, kind of college kid, and kissed Tony on the mouth, tongue and all! As this was happening, I realized his "prize" had been spilled, but I didn't tell them until afterwards. He didn't even seem disappointed! Damn, where's a camera when you need it?

What is the craziest thing ever done in your life?
Joined a band. Oh, you said crazy, not stupid!

And now a hotter question: where¹s been the freakiest place made love in?
In the back of the van, on tour, while the 2 others were in the front seat driving and navigating. At least that's all I can think of right now!

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 making me Rock Girl of the month! I hope to get over there sometime soon and spread the rock around Europe. Keep it alive!!

Intervista realizzata da Bruno Rossi
Traduzione di Margherita Realmonte