My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult - Headquarters/Labels will be needed to keep the word going. A one-man band gets dull.

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03 Nov, 2009

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (TKK), the American electronic industrial band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois, is back on Rustblade records with the "Death Threat" album. It resulted to be a release which is showing again what the act is really about in the first place. When signed to Wax Trax! Records, along with label mates Ministry, KMFDM, and Front 242, Thrill Kill Kult helped develop the industrial music genre. The band evolved creating a sound that mixed electronic club music with heavy beats. A band which didn't bother recycling the recipe over ad over again. It did not exactly make them rich, but then again, they didn't really bother. We caught Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann for a long overdue interview! (By Elise Din)

SL The new album "Death Threat" is out on your own label Sleazebox and on Rustblade in Europe. How did you end up on Rustblade records?

B. We were introduced to them by our drummer Justin. They seemed very enthusiastic and cool, so why not!

G. He's in Italy somewhere with his muse.

SL: Rustblade also released a limited edition version (299 copies) which included bonus mixes, postcard, stickers, a mini-cd and skull pendent. A real gem, why wasn't this released via your own label as well? We Europeans just love limited editions you know ! :)

G. Its cool that excitement still exists with that, I was thrilled about Black Sabbaths Masters of Reality CD!!! I gotta get that, Children of the Grave alt. Mixes!!!! Unreal...

B. It was enough work for us just to get the CD out as is.

SL. In the US the album was originally planned to be only available directly from the band as a physical CD and as a download, why change your mind and include iTunes and other download stores?

B. We always intended it to be available from itunes, etc... just physically from us.

G. I Guess to reach out any way we can in this day & age to be heard.

SL. Our reviewer said that "Death Threat" sometimes sounds closer to a compilation than to a new album of a band. You explore different styles and influences. Can you agree with this?

G. Yeah sorta, this album is allot of different moves/moods about change so naturally it will sound like a compilation as we are as well just a bunch of moods & mood swings.

B. I think most of our albums span a broad range of styles. that's just what we do. we don't like confining ourselves to just one sound - unless of course it's more of a "concept" CD, as our album "Hit & Run Holiday" was.

SL. The opening track "Witchpunkrockstar" kicks The Prodigy's ass by far. And "Foxxxy Rockit" sounds like it has been influenced by Stereo MC's?

B. Thanxxx for your "Witchpunkrockstar" comment!! But... Hmmmm ... I've heard the name 'Stereo MC's', but never their music.

G. I am not sure if I've ever heard em?

SL. You don't really care about trends and compromises, I suppose this has not always made things easier for you?

G. Only in the old days when record companies didn't know where to go with things unknown.

B. well, it certainly hasn't made us rich, or kept us in the graces of the "industry", because basically no one knows what to do with us or how to market us... but that's just fine. we never intended to do this to be famous or anything. again, it's just what we do and we don't compromise on who we are.

SL. With Obama entering the presidential arena, do you see less animosity towards the band compared to the early days when religious groups balked at the overtly occult imagery in both the music and the artwork of the releases?

B. No matter who is president, there will always be those zealots and religious freaks that find "satanic" elements in everything!

G. Xtains (Christians) need to go away,.. but I never watch the news anymore?

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SL. BTW, why was the rest of the 2009 Death Threat Tour cancelled on May 17th?

B. It was just bad timing. There were some personal issues going on with some of the band members that needed to be resolved. The added stress of tour was just too much. Sometimes you just gotta take care of yourself first i guess. It was the first shows we have ever cancelled in 21 years!

SL. The band got a second life by entering the movie industry, what instigated this?

G. Our Management Team in La, 'Three Artists Management' (who handled us through the 90's etc.), gave us a call.

B. I think a lot of young directors grew up with TKK, now they're in a position to use our music in their films. They usually seek us out...

SL. You have been running your own Sleazebox Records imprint since 2001. Wat have been the hurdles to take during the past few years? What aspects do you like and don't? Some bands say that labels are no longer needed, what is your take on this?

B. It's not really a "label" per se - just a name we put on the CD. we don't advertise or deal with distributors. it's just us!

G. Headquarters/Labels will be needed to keep the word going. A one-man band gets dull.

SL. Do you still work with Rykodisc ?

G. They have our catalog, it's Warners Bros now. I think? or they sold it? Or it turned into a Bank? We had a great time while Jeff Rougvie was there (Caroline Nyc.). But soon after he left and no one ever got back to us really and so it all was sorta nothing... zzzzzzzzz.

B. No. they were bought out by Warner Bros 2 years back, and dropped most of the bands. Most of the people that worked at Ryko quit. it was too bad because we had a great relationship, and the people that worked there were very cool. another case of the big guys ruining a good thing.

SL. Groovie, you have been in various side projects, from Special Affect, Drowning Craze and Darling Kandie.

G. I am absorbing ideas now and want to create a Groovie Mann album with... errr. My work title is "Hollywood Zombie", I've written some lyrics so far. I really want to get a new camera! I need to shoot!

SL. Good hunting Groovie! Buzz, you've worked with Excessive Force and Cherrie Blue. Are any of these projects still alive or is it all over and out?

B. Groovie is also planning on another Darling Kandie CD I think. Myself has been doing remix work for various artists, and I plan on putting out a "Bomb Gang Girl" CD next year - something I have been promising our backup singers for many years now.

SL. Any remix work you have been doing lately?

B. I'll probably release some death threat club remixes in the next few months.

SL. What's next?

B. I really don't know. we never make plans. I think most of us are surprised we are even still alive! I for one thought I'd be dead long ago!!!!

G. I suppose some day another album as time goes on, a tour in Japan? Play OZ-fest? Be on a talk show? Play on a talk show? Maybe a small tour with someone really famous?

Band: www.mylifewiththethrillkillkult.com / www.myspace.com/mylifewiththetkk
Label: www.rustblade.com / www.myspace.com/rustblade

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