GUTTER QUEENS

I saw an article about these glam goddesses in Kerrang! and immediately thought that this band from Switzerland had to be featured in Veglam Zine, Switzerland or France are not countries where one can find many bands like this. So, from their debut under the name JUVENILE CRIME in 1992 to their projects, Sarah Mephista Memphis tells us more...

Can you introduce the band please ?

Sure, there's our wonder woman on drums, Elvira Tarantella. Then our beautiful she-male Jim Juvenile on vocals. We have Zygi the Wild One on lead guitars, he's a killer songwriter and the backbone of the band. Then there's our newest member Calmo Sideburn on bass and myself as a guitarist.

What have you released so far?

In 1995 - a long time ago - the band released the demo tape "ROCKAHOLE". It came along with a very cool Comix of Marc Paterson. The sound was more Punk Rock back then than nowadays and was released under the old band name "Juvenile Crime". With the name change to "Gutter Queens" in 1997 the band released a demo-CD called "BORN TO BE CHEAP", which is now sold-out.

How would you define your music?

We call our music Glamrock, but it goes far beyond a category. We take the best from everything in Rock: a little bit of Punk Rock, a little bit of Heavy Metal, a little bit of Glam from the 70's and a dash of Sleasze.

What kind of people come to your shows? What band have you played with?

All kinds of people come to our shows. Mostly it's the Rock'n'Roll People. But a lot of "normal" folks come too, coz they're very curious about us and usually end up loving us. That's very exiting! Recently we played with the Peepshows from Sweden in Lucerne and the Backwood Creatures from Germany in Basel.

Can you tell us what bands / places / fanzines, etc. from your area are worth mentioning?

Ooh, i have to admit, there's not much around here... Although we see quite a few youngsters coming to our shows telling us they've got a band too. So, i guess there's still hope! But we do have very cool Record Stores and Second Hand Shops.

I read an article in which Rikki Rockett said that in a way, Glam is revolutionary because when it appeared, one of its goal was to smash gender boundaries that society impose on individuals, do you agree?

Yes, totally! Which music category needs the most make-up and hairspray? It's Glamrock. And if you look at Rikki on the cover of the first Poison LP, you're tempted to think he's a lady. We just luv women's clothes. And it's not only us. How come flicks as the Rocky Horror Picture Show were so great? Because of the gender bending gear and attitude! With the Gutter Queens we take it even a step further. We're accused of taste bending too!

What would be your playlist for the last months?

For sure something of Turbonegro and some classics as Mötley Crüe, Poison, GnR or Faster Pussycat. Then i was listening a lot to the new Pretty Boy Floyd and Buckcherry. D-Generation is an alltime fave and of course the New York Dolls and Hanoi Rocks. Backyard Babies or Hellacopters are great, too. I can't decide!

Do you work/study outside of the band?

Yes unfortunately! I'm a public relations employee in a small agency. Zygi's a printer. He couldn't figure out how to produce some money, though. Actually it's hard to get the paper... Elvira works part time in a shop and Jim's a polygraph. He works part time too, because of his sweet daughter Mina. Calmo is a secretary, there he learned how to paint his fingernails.

What are your projects?

We just got featured in Kerrang! which gave us a big boost outside of Switzerland. We hope something good's coming out of the contacts we made right now. Then we will go to the studio to record three to four songs for our first official release - a seven inch vinyl-single for Sheep Records. That's a small independent label from Zurich. Two songs will be on the single and the others could be contributed to some compilations. Then hopefully we can tour Europe!

sarah mephista schmid, the GUTTER QUEENS, ruetschistrasse 16 - ch 8037 zurich

sarah@senarclens.com www.geocities.com/gutterqueens/ interviews