Page 12 - ISSUE 16

PAGE 12
Here in the UK we had a pro-
gramme called ‘Top of the Pops’
and it was every Thursday. As
kids we loved to wait up for this
and see all of the bands that
had sold records that week. The
show created a buzz and bands
sold singles as a result. Nobody
seems to care much about week-
ly sales anymore, we never hear
about that sort of stuff.
‘STAKKATTAKKTWO’ could
have gone platinum by now, we
wouldn’t know!
Rocknation: Your 2nd release
The Biz Suxx, in 1988. The
album spawned a single
‘Nukklear Rokket’ which had
a promotional video that was
produced by Bruce Dickinson
of Iron Maiden. Bruce plays the
protester in the video whilst the
performance was filmed in the
car park at his home in Chiswick.
How did you hook up with Bruce
in producing this video?
Wrathchild: Marc bumped into
Bruce at a club in London and
mentioned to him that the band
was looking to do a promo to
‘Nukklear Rokket’. Bruce was
starting up a video production
company and agreed to put out
the vid. Phil (Wrathchild) was
friends with Bruce way before
Bruce joined Iron Maiden (when
he was singer with NWOBHM
wannabe’s ‘Samson’ in fact) and
so the deal was done. We had a
great time shooting that vid’. It is
typical of Bruce, who is a huge
‘slapstick’ and ‘Monty Python’
fan, who came up with the script
and who couldn’t resist appear-
ing in the shoot (as the mad pro-
fessor!). We never really under-
stood his concept for ‘Nukklear
Rokkit’ but turned up for the free
beer anyways! On the whole,
though, the best vid’ by far must
be ‘Stakk Attakk’ which was shot
by Channel Four’s ‘The Tube’.
It was filmed, mid winter, in the
Black Country Museum, near Bir-
mingham, UK. It was so cold that
the canal which runs through
the museum grounds had frozen
over and the main camera was
set up in the middle of it which
gives a unique overview of the
stage set. The video could not
have happened but for the frozen
canal ! That vid’ was presumed
lost but someone put it out on
youtube and it still rokks!
Rocknation: Your band’s third
studio album ‘Delirium’ featured
Grim Reaper’s Steve Grimmet
on backing vocals. Please tell us
about working with Steve in the
studio and did you drink alot of
beer?
ROCKNATION ISSUE 16
Wrathchild: Steve has been a started out in a punk rock band wearing a ‘thong’, they were
friend of ours since way before together, they know what its like all the rage back then, kept the
Grim Reaper. We had many par- to have their backs against the razor thin back string must have
ties together before even Wrath- wall. Fact is, Heavy Metal Re- wedged itself right up between
child formed. He was back in the cords fell out with ‘Wrathchild’ the cheeks of his arse! We never
UK around the time of ‘Delirium’, and with another cult UK band found any booze either, so the
I think the Reaper had split up, ‘The Stone Roses’ who have whole experience was of the ‘all
and so naturally we invited him just reformed and who stand pain but no gain’ variety!!
to come stay with us in Wales, to make millions from a sold Rocknation: Please name some
UK, where we were recording out UK tour. You could say that influences that gave Wrathchild
and ‘fill out’ the vocal lines to Heavy Metal Records look pretty their style
some of the choruses. He has a silly right now! Wrathchild: Phil (Wrathchild)
huge voice and range. Prior to Rocknation: Please name some loves all guitarists and is con-
recording ‘STAKKATTAKKTWO’ of the bands you toured with in stantly striving to perfect his
we did a demo of ‘Sychophantic Europe and who was the best to ‘sound’. Marc loves ‘KISS’ most
Suicide’ with him at his home share the stage or on the road of all but you can’t pin his song-
studio, which actually might with. writing influences down. Eddie
have been better than the ver- Wrathchild: We loved touring (Star - drums) buys just about
sion on the new album! He is a with W.A.S.P. back in ’85. We every CD ever recorded ‘cos
real cool guy to work with. Grim probably pulled in as many he’s a huge metal fan. Gaz
Reaper was a great band. Since punter as them which is why we (Psychowrath’ Harris - vocals) is
then, Eddie (Star) our drum- suddenly found ourselves to be very quiet about his CD collec-
mer is now married to his then on the road with them. It was tion. Maybe we should raid his
former wife, which complicates great when we pulled up outside house and see what he gets off
things a little... some venue to see a huddle of on in his spare time!! As a band
Rocknation: RCA records people around Chrissie Holmes we all love huge choruses and
wanted to buy out your deal and Randy Piper, only to wit- creating a sound that can only
with Heavy Metal Records, do ness them running to our tour be experienced at a ‘Wrathchild’
you feel the band would have bus the instant we pulled up! show. Otherwise, what is the
exploded in the USA if that deal At the Lyceum, London, all we point in performing and creating
would have happened? could hear as we prepared for music if you can hear it anyway
Wrathchild: We don’t dwell on our show was ‘Trash Queen’ on any old record?
‘what might have beens’. Fact is being chanted out by hundreds Rocknation: If you could tour
Heavy Metal Records were too of fans gathered on the pave- with any band in the USA who
stupid to let the band go. I sus- ment outside our dressing would you pick and why?
pect they have more sleepless rooms. The worst thing about Wrathchild: Ha! Marc would love
nights over that than we do! Of that tour was wandering into to tour with ‘KISS’ of course.
course Wrathchild could have W.A.S.P.’s dressing room, in That would be a great combina-
featured alongside all the Ameri- search of booze, only to be tion. Phil would love to tour with
can greats of that period. Or we confronted by Blackie Lawless’s ‘The Who’ or a reformed ‘Led
might have had our arses kicked bare ass as he was bent over Zeppelin’. Jimmy Page has been
all the way back to ‘blighty’ – trying to pull on his trade mark an early influence. Eddie and
who knows? Marc and Eddie black leggings. Actually he was Gaz would play with anyone so