The Horrorpops Are Delicious

Fri 17th Jun, 2005 in Features

After release of their album Hell Yeah and a new one due out in September (Bring It On), HorrorPops have had plenty to keep them busy. With their tour in Australia and Japan about to head underway, lead singer Patricia has her reservations about heading down under. “I’m pretty excited but at the same time I’m shit nervous. Our former guitarist lived there once for three years and claimed it was the rock ‘n roll country of the world. So we’re pretty keen to get out there to show them our stuff, but we’ve got a lot to live up to.”

Indeed. Though HorrorPops are keen to strut their stuff here, there are plenty of our musicians that get Patricia rockin’ out, and in true Horrorpops style, she doesn’t restrict herself to anyone genre. “I really like Kylie, but doesn’t every one? I think she’s great.” Yes, Australia’s pop princess has found her way into the heart of a true Scandinavian rock ‘n roll girl. “Also I love Nick Cave. I think his songs are beautiful. I’m in love with him. I suppose like every other girl.

“The Living End are great too. They’re awesome. There are so many more, but if I go on we’ll be here all day.”

The band are well known for their versatility. They’re all formally from different bands that were categorised incongruently from one another. So coming from different bands, is it hard to figure out what kind of music you want to convey? Patricia thinks not. “When Horrorpops formed, we all came from strict cultural backgrounds. My former band was kind of indie punk rock and Kim [Nekroman’s] band was a psychobilly band. When we formed, we just wanted to play and not worry about what to play. It’s like if you go through someone’s record collection, you’re not usually going to find one of the same thing. I mean if you went through my record collection you’d find it’s not restricted. I think I’ve got a Barry Manilow record hidden in the back there somewhere.”

“We don’t mind if other people categorise us, but as long as they know we’re rock ‘n roll. That’s what we’re about.

“It’s a shame that people have lost that concept, because in Europe it doesn’t seem to exist, they’re all about techno these days. And in the US, with MTV and everything, they seem pretty focused on hip-hop. Then you get people who feel they have to sub-categorise rock n roll. But why can’t it just be rock n roll? Just bring all the different concepts together and play what you want to play.”

Patricia is certainly all about having fun. You wouldn’t be able to get any bad dirt from her because she’s just so straight up. When pressed on whether there were any arguments over what sort of music the band wanted to produce, she gave a short giggle at the ridiculousness of the question. “There have never been any arguments. There have been a lot of laughs, which has made it easy.

“Like when we first formed, we would come together to practise and someone would come in and say ‘hey, I’ve got a new surf song, want to hear it?’ and we’d all have a laugh but still be happy to listen to it.”

A lot of Patricia’s bubbly attitude seems to come from the closeness the band shares. Touring seems to be a never-ending party for HorrorPops, and they definitely seem like a restless bunch. “When you imagine it, you’re travelling around the world with five of your best friends, having the time of your life. No night is boring. 

“Sometimes if you just decide to go out, you could end up at a seedy bar or no one could show up, but with touring its always fun. You’re playing your music.”

The latest instalment to the band is former AFI and Tiger Army bass player, Geoff Kresge. There choice for their newest band member was simple as Patricia puts it. “Our band is really about our friendship. The six of us are all best friends and when our former guitarist (Karsten) left, it was a bit of a blow for us. We were wondering what to do, like, do we spilt up? And the we thought no. We started considering who we wanted to be our new guitarist.

“We’re more about friendship then musical talent and we realised we were such good friends with Geoff, and that’s why we wanted him. At first he was like ‘don’t you want to hear me play?’ and we didn’t really care because we all got along so well.

“He’s turned out to be the best guitarist we’ve ever had.”

For anyone that’s been lucky enough to see one of their shows, the band are full of antics during their gigs. Patricia was quick to declare that nothing that happens on stage is rehearsed. From No No and Kamilla (the band’s go go dancers) to the lolly sucking craziness (yes, they delight in sweets on stage), it all comes naturally. “It’s a party what happens on stage. I think sometimes it can shock our audiences.” Once reassured that Australian audiences love rock ‘n roll energy, Patricia was relieved and went on to explain the spontaneity of a HorrorPop performance. “Sometimes will just be playing and something will happen and will all be like ‘Fuck! Did that person just do that? Fuck, they did. Let’s go with it!’”

Along with the crazy shenanigans comes the outlandish fashion. When mentioned, Patricia gives her opinion on rockabilly becoming fashionable. “It is getting popular, my God it’s funny. I’m not against people making something mainstream. We don’t victimise. Like it’s a good thing in some ways. There was a time when you couldn’t get creepers anywhere and now they’re all over Europe. I don’t have to travel around the world to get them.”

Of course, the Vogue interview was bound to come up. “That was one of our funnier interviews. All of our mums have it stuck to their walls.

“I was kind of proud because I’ve dressed the same since I was twelve and dressing like that and being a girl from Scandinavia, I used to get the shit beat out of me. I used to get called a whore and all sorts of things and now the ‘look’ is fashionable, I can say I’ve stayed the same and that’s what makes me happy.

“Fuck yeah, we’re in Vogue.”

Trying not to sound cliché, Patricia gave that now common, nervous, giggle when asked what the best thing in her life was right now. “Um, well right now, I’ve just come out of a long bath…” (Cue the giggle). “No really. On our album we have a song and the chorus says forever we will be together in our lust. And that is what I believe of our band. The best thing in my life right now is the band.”

Don’t miss the lolly sucking, the evil go-go dancers and the flavoursome HorrorPops experience:

Thursday July 28 Enigma Bar, Adelaide
Friday July 29  Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday July 30 Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Sunday July 31 Annandale Hotel, All Ages 
Wednesday August 3 The Rev, Brisbane
Thursday August 4 Lions Den, Brisbane All Ages
Friday August 5 Coolongatta Hotel, Gold Coast
Saturday August 6 Amplifier Bar, Perth