Koffin Kats Interview

Interview by: Josh King
Big Wheel Reporter
 
No matter if it’s a full moon or not The Koffin Kats are always up to something be it playing shows or in the studio working on another record. For the past six years this Detroit band has been blasting out their own style of punk-rockabilly to anyone willing to listen. Having already released four of the most outstanding psychobilly records under their belt, they have now just put out their fifth titled “Forever For Hire”. With their new record they have really hounded their sound with this release. They have mixed the howling voice of Vic Victor perfectly with the speed of guitarist, Tommy Koffin, along with the thundering drums of E-Ball Walls.

For anyone into the punk-rockabilly sound or not, you will be impressed by the Koffin Kats new record “Forever For Hire”. I got the opportunity to speak with lead singer Vic Victor on a number of things, as he and the rest of band find themselves hitting the pavement in the middle of their current tour.

I hope I’m not the first to say this but Forever For Hire is an amazing record.

Vic Victor: Hey thanks! It just recently came out and we have been on the road, so I haven’t actually heard too much feedback yet. Nobody has told me they hate it yet… but I’m sure that will happen too!

When did you guys decide to record this record being that your last release Drunk In Daylight was about year ago?

VV: Well. The material for “Drunk” was already feeling old to us as the demo was recorded over 2 years ago. So even after it being out for almost a year I felt it was time to get back to writing. When we write a record the music usually happens within one month.  The lyrics are finished in the studio sometimes the day I have to record them. I only work well under pressure!

How did the writing come with this record and was it different from your past releases?

VV:I wrote a good portion of it with an acoustic guitar and a tape recorder in my room. That was about the only difference than our usual ‘get drunk at practice and somehow a record happens’ routine. I took the recorded ideas and we got together as a band a few times a week during the month of April and we did the demo in May. We fixed a few things that were sounding too generic but I guess nothing too different from past recordings. This is second record we recorded a demo before and I think it helped.

I have to ask how did the songs Heading Of To Battle and I Saw My Friend Explode Today come?

VV: First I must say we are not, nor will ever be a political based band. Those two songs were inspired by the kids that would come to our show while still active in the armed forces or had just gotten out. They would tell us some horrible stories and that our music was what helped them get through. Or that they had turned their troop onto our music. That’s a crazy thing to hear. Some of them wanted to be over there. Some of them had no idea what they were getting into.

What makes this record standout from you previous records?

VV: We were going to go the route of recording at the more affordable basement studio. Fortunately our friend and co-producer of “Forever”, Spencer Maybe, convinced us to go into the studio he worked at. All we had to see the drum room and hear that Ted Nugent and The Cult recorded there in the 80’s. Sold! It was recorded rather quick to so that always helps the songs stick to their original idea and sound.

Now you guys went with STOMP Records for this release, how did that call come to be?

VV: We were going to release this independently from any label. Stomp started working with our booking agency with some other bands and caught wind that we were recording and took interest. A sweet deal that didn’t scare us away was hashed out. It all happened really quickly. We are very happy to be with Stomp.

Being that you guys are once again touring, what is it that makes a good Koffin Kats show?

VV: We don’t do anything magical!. Simple, 1-2-3-4! Ok! Next song! 1-2-3-4!!! Oh and don’t stand still. Nothing sucks more than paying to see a band that couldn’t give a damn about being on stage.

Having spent so much time on the road, what’s the craziest thing you’ve scene?

VV: We’ve seen everything from people sliced up with straight razors at a show in Indiana to a van rolling off the road in front of us in Serbia and bodies flying out. Our bus being towed out of a field at a muddy festival in Prague by a tractor was different. If we only went out for a month or two out of the year it would be easy to pick out one wild and crazy night. With us and our 2 road dudes at least every other night is something stupid awesome!

When you guys aren’t touring or in the studio what do you do with the rest of your time?
VV: Work! In all honestly we make just enough money to keep this band going on the road but as soon as the shows stop. It’s time to go back to the day jobs. Tommy and I are carpet scrubbers and Eric is a cook. That’s the biggest reason that we have been able to tour so heavily is that we have jobs we know we can come back to. We never take that for granted!!
 
Being that this is your fifth record in six years and you’re always crossing the country touring, where do you see The Koffin Kats down the road in say five or ten years?
VV: Hopefully doing the same thing, this has become such a way of life for us that when are home too long we start feeling the itch to get back out there. Just like how it doesn’t feel right to wait over a year to write more music. Once you make the stage your life, it really does become a good drug.
 
For the people who don’t know about who The Koffin Kats are what should they know?
VV: Three dudes in a band from Detroit that love to embrace every aspect of rock and roll with the belief that you must give the fans more than they paid for visually and musically.

Any last words you want to tell the readers?
VV: Thanks to everyone who supports us – past, present, & future. Hope ya dig “Forever For Hire” and see ya out there somewhere!

Band MySpace: www.myspace.com/koffinkats