Interviews

Wednesday 13 interview

Published

7 years ago

November 11, 2016

Ron

Wednesday 13 interview

By Ron Senyo
Photos by Andrew Bastion & Ron Senyo

Wednesday 13 is perhaps one of the most enigmatic entertainers in rock music today with amazing costumes, killer songs, and a “fuck you” attitude to top it off. The energy produced from the combination of Wednesday and guitarist Roman and the rest of his team of ghouls is top notch. are bar none. His pretense for horror laden punk has made him a staple in the music scene beginning with his bands Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 and The Murderdolls. His main focus now is his solo band simply titled Wednesday 13.

Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to man and the legend, Wednesday 13 after his show at Tubby’s Nightclub in Pennsylvania. I have be blessed with discussing different topics with Wednesday and guitarist Roman on many occasions, but in this day in particular I got the chance to pick the brain of Wednesday 13 and ask him all the important questions such as: the meaning of life and death, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.

Empire: The new album is called “Condolences” any reason to why the album title?
Wednesday 13: Yeah. Basically it was the end of last year, Bowie passed away, Lemmy passed away, and we had a couple of our personal friends pass away. I kept seeing all this death in the air. Everyone was writing sorry for your loss, condolences… condolences. So I grabbed my guitar one day wrote this riff and chorus for “Condolences” and that became the first song to get the gears started for the new album.

Wednesday 13 By Andrew Bastion for Empire Extreme

Empire: How was it working with Mick Mars?
Wednesday 13: It was awesome. It was an experience. He came in went over a few songs that day. It was super cool I grew up listening to Motley Crue and was cool sitting down with him. It was like it wasn’t Mick Mars, at first it was but after we got into the studio it was just like working with anyone else.

Empire: Speaking of Murderdolls… Any plans for reunions or new albums with Murderdolls, Bourbon Crew, Gunfire 76, Frankenstein Drag Queen?
Wednesday 13: Nope (laughs). I’m too busy doing my own things. We might be getting some Bourbon Crew stuff first of the year. Our record will be out in April, we are touring for it. So plate will be full with that.

Empire: Any news on the Movie?
Wednesday 13: Nope. I put that to bed years ago. I’m just focusing on the new record and Wednesday 13 stuff.

Empire: I would imagine it’s a lot to put on your plate at one time, like how Rob Zombie can do music, movie and tour at the same time.
Wednesday 13: Yeah, I like to concentrate on myself. I feel for me if I do too much then I don’t do enough for the project, so I like to put my full dedication to it.

Empire: I recently saw that Laney (wife of Twiggy Ramirez) made you a mask. How did that come about?
Wednesday 13: Actually she’s been a friend for a while. I’ve known Twiggy for several years, and it came time to start working on some ideas I had for the stage show. I got in touch with her. She actually lives down the street from me. I’ve known that she’s done some amazing stuff, so I just asked her and she said “Yeah I would love to”.

Wednesday 13 by Ron Senyo for Empire Extreme

Empire: I’ve seen that you have been doing horror conventions. How was that been compared to doing shows?
Wednesday 13: Yeah, if I have any spare time between tours I try to do those things. It’s really cool to meet lots of cool people at those things. The movie and music world are not really far apart. It’s the ultimate world for me.

Empire: When you get invited to those, do you geek out. I’ve seen Twiggy before at a con and he always talk about how cool it was sitting next to horror celebrities that he grown up watching?

Wednesday 13: Yeah, I have tattoos of some of the people and I get to sit right next to them and it’s pretty amazing. I’m like oh there’s Linda Blair or Gunnar from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Empire: Any crazy reactions when they see your tattoos?
Wednesday 13: Mostly just flattering. The same way I am when I see fans that have tattoos of me or stuff I’ve done. I showed Dee Wallace my Critter tattoo and she squealed so loud that the whole con turned around.

Roman by Ron Senyo for Empire Extreme

Empire: Like she’s never seen a Critters tattoo before?
Wednesday 13: Nice “ laughs” don’t think I have either.

Empire: What’s your favorite obscured horror film?
Wednesday 13: Trick or Treat. About Sammi Curr, that’s a good classic horror metal movie.

Empire: That’s the one with Gene Simmons?
Wednesday 13:Yeah, he has a small roll in it. Ozzy is in it for five seconds too. It’s a cool movie.

Empire: Most people when they think of Trick or Treat it’s the newer one with Sam pumpkin monster in it.
Wednesday 13: Which I’ve never seen
Empire: I like it, it’s really good.

Empire: If you could have anyone cover one of your songs, who would you like to hear do that?
Wednesday 13: I don’t know, I can’t even imagine someone wanting to cover one of my songs *Both laugh* I wouldn’t know how to answer that.

Wednesday 13 by Ron Senyo for Empire Extreme

Empire: So how much do you actually like to say FUCK?
Wednesday 13: I don’t know, that song is… I don’t know how may years old now, probably almost 20 years now

Empire: Still like to play it and say it?
Wednesday 13: I do, apparently my bass player likes to say it more than me.

Empire: I’ve always watched your online videos of you guys during the tours. There is one video that always stuck in my head, so everyone wants to know. Do you still “Lick it, before you stick it”?

Wednesday 13: I try to, I try to * both laughing* As often as I can…

Empire: That video always if you’re having a bad day I put that on it makes me laugh hysterically and makes the day much better.
Wednesday 13: Nice (laughs) we were obsessed with making videos on that tour

Empire: If you could bring back any musician from the dead, who would it be?
Wednesday 13: Bowie! Bowie would be the answer.

Empire: Anything want to say to the fans?
Wednesday 13: Thank you for all the support and we have an awesome new record coming for you. I think it’s going to be best one yet, a fan favorite, it’s definitely mine.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

See author's posts

Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE

Published

1 month ago

March 4, 2024

Ron

Where does the band name come from? Wanting to be the best version of yourself at all times. The name is a reminder to hold ourselves accountable.

How is the music scene in Michigan? The Michigan music scene has always been vibrant and in my opinion, important. Do we get the credit we deserve? Absolutely not. But for the state that brought you Motown, Eminem, Lizzo, The White Stripes, I Prevail and so many other incredible artists – it’s kind of hard to believe that Michigan remains a hidden gem.

How’s the reception from the fans of the latest album “Omen”? It’s been incredible. From seeing people singing along at shows to us seeing new supporters of all different ages, colors, and creeds joining the journey. Omen has been a pivotal album in our career and we’re proud of it!

If you could tour with 2 bands, which bands would you want to tour with? Spiritbox and Bad Omens. They’re both making waves, changing who the metal audience is, and surely they’d be fun to hang around with.

Where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics? Honestly, the lyrics are our stories. The stories of our struggles, our trials and our tribulations.

What’s been your favorite tour or show? We just got off of a tour with our labelmates, Any Given Day. They treated us to a handful of sold out shows over in Europe, which at this point we call our second home. Those were great shows, but any show we’ve done in Europe is typically one for the books!

If you could bring back a dead musician, who would it be? Prince for sure. An incredible musician I would love an opportunity to chat or make music with!

About Author

Ron

See author's posts

Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE

Published

2 months ago

February 16, 2024

Ron

Being Married and being in a band together. Do you feel that makes it easier or harder?

We love to do the Devil’s work together so for us its a match made in hell.

What’s your favorite horror movie?

That’s hard to narrow down but the first few that come to mind are Rosemary’s Baby, The Devil Rides Out, Wickerman, The Devils Reign featuring Anton Lavey, Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, anything starring Vincent Price. We also got to see an advance screen of “Late Night with the Devil” featuring a very evil performance from our friend Dave Dastmalchian. We’re also looking forward to Bryan Fuller’s “Dust Bunny” and are positive it will be a new favorite. The list goes on…..we are huge horror fans.

Favorite Non Horror Movie?

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (which is horror/noir adjacent) and The Burbs (also horror adjacent…haha.)

All of Quentin Tarantino’s films- our latest favorite is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, because 1960’s LA…

What misconception of Satanists would you like to educate people on?

We’re not here to proselytize, force our beliefs on people, or educate people on them Selves, Satanism or anything else. If people are interested in exploring Satanism, we encourage them to do their research and question everything.

If you could bring back any dead musician, who would you pick and why?

We would have loved to do a song with Ronnie Spector who recently passed. Also would have been amazing to collaborate with Jack Nitzsche who arranged so many amazing songs.

If you could tour with any 2 bands, who would you want to tour with?

The Ronnettes & The Shangri-Las.

What has been your Favorite Tour so far?

The God is Dead Tour that we’re currently on is definitely the most evil and blasphemous tour yet. We find it very pleasurable to be able to continue expanding the rituals and seeing our nightmares come true on stage.

You were on “Dragula” with the Boulet Brothers, how was that experience?

It was a fiendish delight to collaborate with some of our fav monsters.

What was it like Touring with Danzig?

Another nightmare come true! We’ve both been fans for a long time and we’re obviously inspired by the wicked world Glenn has conjured. So to get to spend time with him and watch him live every night and to now call him a friend is completely surreal. He’s a legend— but was also one of the coolest, kindest, most unholy people we’ve had the carnal pleasure of touring with.

How’s the reception of the last album “God is Dead”?

Personally, we love the record and are very proud of what we’ve accomplished. As far as other peoples’ reactions…. we don’t know and don’t care! We pleasured ourselves and that’s what matters most.

What got you interested in the style of music you play? And how would describe your music?

We’ve always loved classic American music from jazz to blues to country to rock and roll and so on. We also love the pageantry of heavy metal and theatre. So for us it was a very organic culmination of our obsessions. Rock and roll has always been the devils music.

Have you visited the Satanic Temple in Massachusetts?

No we have not but Lucien did attend one of our rituals so we had a chance to share where we get our babies blood and all things Satan.

Have you had any bad encounters at shows because of the misconception of satanism?

No! We purposefully foster a live show environment where all are welcome, all should come being the most important person in the world which is themselves, whatever that may be. Even Christians! We believe music is meant to bring joy, transcendence… We just want to share the things we love; pink, rhinestones, big hair, great rock ’n’ roll, Satanic ritual, you know… but we have had churches assemble outside our shows, screaming through distorted PA speakers that God is not dead & wishing us all a “terrible time”. Why would their God not want us to have fun? This kind of behavior is only makes us more proud to be who we are and do what we love.