Hardcore shows too passionate for you? Metal gigs too aggressive? Punk crowds too smelly? Electrik Dynamite are here to save you! Grab that hairspray, slip on those tight jeans, and crank up the stereo with some ‘Hair.Denim.Sex.Metal’. In between playing shows with some of Australia’s most brutal metal bands, bassist Ice answered a few questions about recording with a Lord, stalking Steel Panther, and well sex, drugs, and rock & roll.
How did Electrik Dynamite come together and start blasting out 80s metal?
It was actually a brainchild of myself and our ex-guitarist Tim Bates (who runs a recording studio called “Attack” out of Woodstock Studios), as we were both obvious rock fans stuck inside the hardcore/punk scene. We just wanted to do something fun, and not ‘scene’ related, whilst taking influence from bands like Motley and Maiden whilst mixing it with current metal. Since then we’ve sonically matured, and thus streamlined our sound into what you hear today – and we’d have it no other way.
Electrik Dynamite play 80s influenced metal but you play shows with bands as brutal as Signal The Firing Squad and Resist The Thought, and alongside punk legends 28 Days. Do you win their fans over or are you dodging flying bottles throughout the show?
Every show we play we win over a portion of the ‘haters’, that being said, we’ll always have haters and there’ll always be people that refuse to give us a chance – especially the ones who deep down know they’d probably love us if they did. I think the thing that helps when playing with the heavier bands is that we generally have a rad rapport with them, and their support in wearing our merch, plugging our band onstage etc makes punters realise that it’s totally sweet to dig ED. Either way, it’s definitely strengthened us and given us some backbone and I feel playing with those kind of technically proficient bands have done nothing but make us a tighter live act as you need to be to even consider sharing the stage with the likes of the aforementioned.
‘Hair.Denim.Sex.Metal’ was recorded with the highly talented Lord Tim. What was that like? Did he outplay and out sing all of you?
I was scared shitless going in to record with him, as I’m not the most virtuosic musician in our band – I figured I’d be embarrassing, haha! But in reality, LT was nothing but a legend. A total professional, with the end goal in mind – he wanted what was best for us, because in turn, it’d be best for him, his studio and the sound. That guy is a serious freak when it comes to music, skill and technology and it was an honour to get to record with him. He was nice enough to lend snippets of his guitar chops during the song ‘After Dark’, and you can hear him absolutely rip in the first 3 mini solo breaks. We’d definitely go back and record with him, it was almost some of the easier weeks we’ve collectively ever had in a recording studio!
Steel Panther will be here for Soundwave 2012. Will you be hunting them down with Electrik Dynamite merchandise?
haha!!! Hell yeah we will. As it is, our drummer – Stinger – has already been tweetin’ their drummer, Stixx!! But in reality, I’m just psyched to see them – especially being a fan since the latter days of their prior alias ‘Metal Skool’. I had been meaning to holiday in the USA, and always wanted to hit up LA and catch them… but we’ll get to see them here soon enough, so that is definitely rad. I must say, if they do some sideshows – I couldn’t think of a band more fitting than us for support!! wink wink.
Back in the 80s the world had metal stars such as Nikki Sixx and Ozzy Osbourne touring the world and leaving a path of destruction behind them. What current artists do you feel have picked up their old rusty needles, bar tabs, and taken their place on stages?
I honestly believe a lot of the younger bands that love the 80′s era realise that shit was best done by the true acts of the 80′s. I think the beauty of the modern ’80′s’ style band, is most of the time it takes influence from the 80′s – whether it be small or large – but delivers it with a modern edge. There’s no way to emulate the greats respectfully, and I feel bands who dig chucking TV’s through hotel windows, etc only come off as twats in this era. That being said, everyone still loves to party – and the vibe of sex, drugs and rock and roll is still alive – it’s just a matter of the individual picking which parts of those they adhere to!
Are there any other 80s influenced metal bands in Australia that we should take notice of?
A heap!!! Elm Street are one of the best bands in the world, and they’re taking the true power of traditional heavy metal and modernised it with their exceptionally talented youth. Those kids are going to do massive things, and I watch them – jaw agape – every time. A couple of old friends from up in Brisbane have started a band called ‘De La Cruz’, and they’re one of the most true 80′s sounding bands I’ve heard in forever, and they do it so damn well it’s not funny. You’d also be hard pressed to look past bands such as Generation Swine, The Deep End and to a lesser 80′s influence, bands like Ten Thousand, Taberah, Shots Fired and Inebriator.
Coming from Melbourne and sharing the cities’ stages with The Galvatrons we are hoping you will be able to inform us on their current status? What are Johnny and Gamma doing!?
We’d also like to know for realsies! Through various people, we believe they’ve called it quits but never officially announced it – I believe an ‘indefinite hiatus’ was a term I heard a few times, which is such a damn shame as we only got to play with those guys once – and it was in Adelaide. They were damn cool, and always dug seeing them live. Either way, Johnny and Gamma are both exceptionally talented musicians – so I hope to see them doing something again soon, although, like most musos, they probably already are!
Any optimistic plans for an overseas tour?
Hell yeah. We want to get out of Australia – and that’s no disrespect to the awesome music culture here. We’d love to get across to Japan, as 80′s shred and guitar solo’s are still massive (as they should be!) over there. But that being said, we’re looking at ways to get to the UK and USA, even if it’s totally DIY and we loose thousands of dollars on it – it’s a risk we collectively want to take, and it’s something we all want to do. We’re a live band, and we need to be on the road!
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