Please give a brief history of the band, including current line up.
Spanky: Zoe Lee and I started playing together again,
we got Bette via NME (finally! It’s done something useful!) and found G-String
clad in PVC in a club. In no time at all we were gigging and the fun began!
G-String: ToxicSlut were going for about 6 months before Bette and I joined.
They never really got going before because the band dynamics just weren’t working.
When we joined, it just clicked – we all hang out together and like doing the
same stuff.
Discography.
Zoe: No studio releases yet. Just dodgy live recordings.
Bette's aura on stage reminded me of Debbie Harry at her best. If you were
writing a review about Toxic Slut, how would you describe the band?
Bette: I'll take that as a compliment! A friend of ours
has said that we're like New York punk, done in a British style which is
nice. I think there's a bit of glam hair-rock in the mix as well, but that's
G-String's fault.
Spanky: Raw, fun, mischievous and rock!
G-String: Energetic party punk rock band who sing about the finer things in
life like booze, sex and partying! People often say we look like we are having
a good time, which we are!
What is the best gig Toxic Slut have ever done and who else
was on the line-up?
Bette: I've had a great time at all our gigs, even the
ones that have gone a bit Spinal Tap, so narrowing it down is difficult.
We usually have a kind of Top Three Toxi cSlut Gigs consensus on the go,
but I'm not sure what the others would say the Number One is right now; probably
the Saturday gig at the Punk Aid festival in Brixham in April this year.
The crowd was small but the atmosphere was great. That might have had something
to do with the fact it was in a Pontins. The Damned played later on that
evening but by then we were too trousered to stand.
G-String: Headlining at The Verge in Camden. Can’t remember any of the other
bands involved because I was too excited. The place was packed and the audience
was great – dancing and really getting into it. And we rocked that night! Of
course, Punk Aid was also pretty wild.
Do you do any covers in your live set, if so what?
G-String: Sex Party by the Quireboys, Bathroom Wall by
Faster Pussycat, Safe European Home by the Clash, Jailhouse Rock.
What is the favourite song (and what band is it by) of each
member of the band?
Bette: That's impossible to answer, sorry! We've all
had the old Desert Island Discs conversation down the pub, but you can drive
yourself crazy trying to narrow it down. And then you just sound like Nick
Hornby.
Zoe: Working For the Clampdown by the Clash is one of them. (I'm working for
the Civil Service, and I often sing it on the way to work.)
Spanky: Well, we banned the ballad! I like songs that make me want to rock
out so Motley Crue, Yo-Yo’s, WildHearts, I could on for days and to be honest,
naming one song is just too damn hard!
G-String: There are so many to choose from! If I have to choose it would be
something like ‘No Remorse’ by Metallica. So raw and full of energy. What a
shame they are so crap nowadays – whatever happened to them?
Describe punk at the beginning of the 21st century.
Bette: Confused. It's no longer a coherent force. And
the trousers are too big.
Zoe: Interesting question. There are a lot of arguments about the definition
of Punk. Is it an attitude? A sound? A look? A style? Is it a state of mind?!
Personally I would say the scene is in better shape than it has been for a
long time. It's great going to gigs and seeing old bands and new bands on the
same bill and a mix of good U.S., British and European bands too, as well as
good young new bands, like The Filaments and No Comply. There's a good blend
of youth and experience!
G-String: The punk scene is very much still going but it’s not trendy anymore.
There are lots of so called new punk bands like Blink 182 – but really this
is pop rock. Nothing wrong with that, but the real punk bands are still out
there doing the biz and not being recognized by the music industry.
I wouldn’t say we were a typical punk band, we’re kind of a cross between punk,
rock and pop! There are a lot of different influences within the band.
What question would you like to be asked in interviews, but
you are never asked? And what is your answer?
G-String: Who would you most like to shag? Answer: Dave
Grohl. Or Dave Navarro. There’s a Dave theme here…
Zoe: 'Describe Punk at the beginning of the 21st Century'. I've just answered
it, although I probably could go on about it all day.
Bette: I think we need to do a few more interviews before I can answer this
one.
Spanky: With Bette on that one I’m afraid.
Plans, gigs and releases planned for 2003.
Spanky: Gigging again and the demo! Hurrah!
Any final comments?
Bette: Drink ale instead of lager and you won't get in
so many fights.
G-String: Yeah – We Rock!
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