Meteors Interview
With permission of
Punk & Oi
Magazine
Please
give a brief history of the band, including current
line up.
P Paul Fenech - Lead Vox &
Guitar
Wolfgang Hordemann - Drums
Shaun Berry - B/Vox & Bass
The Meteors started twenty years ago as an
antidote to the soft rockabilly that was popular
at that time and they have now evolved into
their own personal brand of music - PSYCHOBILLY.
(Look it up in the Encyclopedia of Rock) - and
The Meteors are Kings of it !
Their audience has steadily expanded, as has
their acknowledged influece on scores of other
bands, and includes not just psychobillies, but
everybody from rockabillies and punks, to bikers,
skinheads and most alternatives. They are the
original creators of Psychobilly Music, and
although they have spawned hundreds of
imitations, The Meteors are proud to be the only
pure psychobilly band ever. Their songs
inspiration comes from many sources and
interests; Horror, Perversion, Rock'n'Roll,
B-Movie sci-fi themes. They list their hobbies
as motorbikes, rock'n'roll, and burying the
living, and their heroes as Michael Myers and
Charles Manson.
They have now made dozens of official albums, (a
complete discography is enclosed) and countless
singles, not to mention dozens of compilations
and re-issues. Many were made in their own
commercial recording studio, "In Heaven",which I
set in a westcountry church. Lead-man Paul
Fenech has also released three solo albums.
World-wide sales have increased steadily over
the years, and they have toured almost
continuously to support these releases.
They have even been seen on the big screen more
than once, most recently as they played "The
Bitch Boys" in the British romantic comedy "Don't
Go Breaking My Heart" alongside ER hunk Anthony
Edwards and Jenny Seagrove. (Who would have evr
put Elton John and The Meteors on the same CD?)
They have also contributed tracks to various
horror video releases.
Their live show is wild and addictive, (they
have done it over thousands of times) and has
been seen in just about every country in the
world, including Japan, Israel and several
successful tours of America, and every major
city in Europe and Scandinavia. Everybody is
welcome at a Meteors show, and the band make a
point that The Meteors Live is a political or
religious free zone. People should come to enjoy
the music, and to wreck if they are brave enough!
It's wild and sweaty, but nobody gets hurt.
They are supported by a flourishing fan club,
with thousands of members worldwide, each of who
get free regular letters about releases, tours,
band news and new merchandise, and there are
several Internet web sites devoted to them.
Their own site is worth a visit at:
www.kingsofpsychobilly.com
(They have been voted Number One Band, and
Number One Song, continuously for the last year
and a half on The Psychobilly Homepage) and they
receive daily e-mail from fans from every corner
of the earth.
Although there have been line-up changes over
the years, (Paul Fenech being the only original
member) the search for the perfect combination
is now over, as the current line-up has been the
longest lasting musical partnership, far
outlasting and proving much more fruitful than
any of the previous combinations.
The Meteors are a known name, experienced,
professional working band, with an established
audience. Their most recent release is "The
Meteors Versus The World"
What
is the best gig The Meteors have ever done and who
else was on the line-up?
S
B - The next one !
P F - They're all brilliant for different
reasons, but I have to agree with my simian
friend.
If you
could see any band play live, either of the past or
present who would it be?
S
B & P F & W H - US!
What
is the favourite song (and what band is it by) of
each member of the band?
P
P F - Favourite Meteors song at the moment is
"Straight To Hell" . Favourite other song is
"Lil' Red Riding Hood " and "Paint it Black"
S B - The Pain Game, by The Meteors
If you
could be any age again, what would it be and why?
P
P F - I like it now
S B - I ain't got a fuckin' clue!
'Cartoonz'
are number 2 in the British charts, with somthing
they call 'Roackabilly/techno', what do you think?
P
F - I don't think about pop music at all.
S B - The biggest load of shit I've ever come
across
Plans,
gigs and releases planned for 1999.
20th
Anniversary double album, another solo album, and
another album with the Surfing Dead probably.
Livewise, we are gigging almost all the time, and we
will let you know all dates as they are confirmed,
here's what we have so far:
26.5. SAARBRUCKEN, GARAGE
27.5. HEIDELBERG, SCHWIMMBAD MUSIKCLUB
28.5. WURZBURG, AKW
29.5. WAREGEM (B), STEEPLE
30.5. MARL, SCHACHT 8
1.6. DRESDEN, TAR CLUB
2.6. BRAUNSCHWEIG, FBZ
3.6. HAMBURG, LOGO
4.6. BERLIN, KNAACK
5.6. GUTERSLOH, ALTE WEBEREI
6.6. TILBURG, 013
12.6 AUSTRIA
Also, we have some dates coming in for The Legendary
Raw Deal
30.9. t.b.c.
01.10 t.b.c
02.10 - Ahlten (Hannover) Zur Erholung
03.10 - t.b.c.
The new Raw Deal album, "Southern Boys " will be out
early next month on Raucous Records for CD, and
Crazy Love Records for Vinyl. Raucous have also just
released"The Peel Sessions 1983 -1985" which will be
available from the end of this month.
Any
final comments?
As
always, our number one rule:
We play our music for people that like it. It's
not about a haircut or fashion, or howmany times
you've been before. If you like The Meteors,
thanks a lot. If you don't ... Get Fucked.
Please note that the
opinions expressed by band members does not
necessarily reflect the views of this website.
Punk & Oi in the UK Limited are in no way liable
for comments made by interviewees.
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