Half-Assed Orgy Page

Hooray for Hollywood!! Hooray for silicone breasts, sincerity bypasses and blazing sunshine. Hooray for Disneyland and California Dreaming, for cock rock and big hair, cocaine habits and no smoking bars. It's all here in the sprawling emotional wasteland that is Los Angeles. But beneath this vacuous façade there's long been bubbling an alternative...
It started with a band from Bakersfield who detuned their guitars, listened to hip hop and dressed in sportsgear. They are Korn and they kick-started a scene that's gone on to rule the alt-rock airwaves and given metal an adrenaline injection. Without them there would be no Deftones or Coal Chamber, no new breed poised to take over the mainstream and give it the damn good kicking it needs. And in turn it's led to an even more thrilling renaissance.
LA is currently in the throes of an '80s revival inspired by the Goth, New Romantic and Industrial bands of that era. Who would have thought that the likes of Duran Duran, Bauhaus and A Flock of fucking Seagulls would be the most inspiration behind one of metal's most exciting twists in years. But it's their legacy along with Skinny Puppy, Ministry and the Korn revolution that has given birth to the new Glam.
While glam rock over here is generally assumed to be a '70s phenomenon based around Bowie, Bolan and brickies in drag (Slade, Mud etc), in America glam is more sophisticated. It's the MTV of the 80s, slick, sexy and colourful. It's pretension and poise. And at the forefront of this revival are three bands who look set to conquer the world over the next 12 months: Orgy, Videodrone and Static-X. All wildly different in sound and look, they share the same influences. Not for them the whining and misery of grunge. Theirs is a more subtle world, although it can still be heavy as a sledgehammer to the solar plexus. They tackle personal, bleak issues but are happy to be alive and doing what they're doing. They're gonna be metal's new poster boys.
Orgy you should already know, with their fabulous reworking of New Order's 'Blue Monday' and album Candyass out now.
Both Static-X and Videodrone are heaped with expectation, about to unleash their debut albums later this year.
rock sound delves into their world to find out what it is about the '80s, metal and 'futurism' that inspires them.

ORGY

The really small blue writing at the bottom is supposed to say "Amir leaves Ryan and Jay to go in search of his make-up bag" *lol* ^_^

Line up: Jay Gordon (vocals), Amir Derakh (g-synth), Ryan Shuck (guitar), Paige Haley (Bass), Bobby Hewitt (drums)

Sound: Like Duran Duran, being pummelled into submission by Ministry. With Gary Numan on vocals.

Album: Candyass, out now.

Tell us more: Jay Gordon, the band's vocalist and Amir Derakh produced Coal Chamber's first record and are part of the LA 'scene'. Orgy's brand of 'death pop' is chewing airwaves across the States, spurred on by the success of their version of New Order's 'Blue Monday'.

Live shows: "We knew what we wanted right at the beginning," says Amir. "We had to make the record and then figure out how to play it live without resorting to the backing tapes that other bands often use. We've pretty much cracked it now. The Family Values Tour was great and now we're going back out with Love And Rockets."

When are you coming to the UK?: "Sometime this year. We've talked with Rammstein about doing a joint tour."

STATIC-X

Wayne (r) rockin' the Robert Smith look

Line up: Wayne Static (vocals/guitar/programming), Koichi Fukuda (guitar/keyboards/programming), Tony Campos (bass), Ken Jay (drums).

Sound: Like Fear Factory and White Zombie viciously assaulting Helmet. Gone techno. With a splash of death metal backing vocals courtesy of Tony.

Album: Wisconsin Death Trip, out soon.

Tell us more: "I grew up in a small town in Michigan - the asparagus capital of the world," say's Wayne. "I moved to Chicago first to form a band (Deep Blue Dream) - it was the closest big city. I met Billy Corgan through the scene and he played with us for a short while. It was round the time he formed the Pumpkins. I was a little bit jealous when he did so well but now I have my shit together so it's encouraging to see an old friend doing so well."
What's the album title about?: "It's from a book of photos and newspaper excerpts from a small town in the 1890s. They took photos when people died, like babies in a coffin or even a family would have their photo taken and they'd superimpose the dead person into the photo. Their eyes were closed so they'd paint eyes over the eyelids. They're pretty scary images."
When are you coming to the UK?: "We're coming over in May - it's not confirmed but we hope to play Dynamo in Holland and we're talking about doing a few weeks with System of a Down. We're also meant to be doing Ozzfest in Europe in July."

VIDEODRONE

Ty (centre): Come to daddy

Line up: Ty Elam (vocals), David File (guitar), Rohan (keyboards), Mavis - yes, real name (bass), Kris Kohls (drums).

Sound: You name it. Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Roxy Music, Duran Duran...

Album: Videodrone. Out soon.

Tell us more: "We started out as Cradle of Thorns when we were 18. We practised in the garage and drove our parents crazy. We got a deal but soon finished it because everyone kept mixing us up with a New York band called Crown of Thorns. We'd have their fans showing up at our show. And then there's this vampire band from England (rs: Cradle of Filth?). So we changed our name for this record and this deal. And there's a whole different vibe and feel now which this name fits."

What's the album about?: "I'm singing about myself whereas on past records it was more about my beliefs. When we were making this record I was at the bottom of the hill so to speak. Not just in self-esteem but chemical dependencies, separation from my children. I was all fucked up and I still am, but I'm a lot better now. So it's like: Shit, I've gotta play these songs every night and go through it all again."

When are you coming to the UK?: "We plan to stay on the road for the next two years so we really hope to come over this year. I believe that the best music has always come from the UK so we can't wait to see the reaction."

rock world have been granted an exclusive interview with Amir Derakh (Orgy's guitar/synth wizard), Wayne Static (Static-X frontman) and Ty Elam (Videodrone's vocalist). All are in the middle of hectic schedules. Amir is on his way to a meeting about Orgy's new video, Ty is just about to start a tour with Korn and Rob Zombie, kicking off in Arizona later tonight, and Wayne Static is tired after having played a riotous show the night before. But all are keen to talk about their music. Here's what they had to say.

rs: How much of a musical debt do you owe to Korn?
Wayne: There's always one band that changes a genre so much that other bands can't help but follow and Korn's great. I love Korn - they definitely influenced me, but at the same time there's no excuse for bands just ripping them off. Everyone will digest it and grow on to something else."
Amir: Yeah, I agree. Nobody would ever deny that most of the new bands owe a debt to Korn, it's definitely there. They did something that no-one else had done before. It was such a fresh sound and they're now crushing the world with it, you gotta respect that.
Ty: We grew up with them in Bakersfield. When they moved out and got big we weren't so close but back in Bakersfield we were all real close-knit.

rs: Is it healthy for them to have such a big influence on this scene?
Ty: Very, but I think the main influence at the moment is Mr Bungle and Faith No More. So between them and Korn, everyone's tuning down, getting heavier. It's a different version of metal. When you think of metal you think of Queensryche (pompous, big-haired '80s band) or something. But we are a metal band deep down. If a band can get across that heavy feel without guitars it's incredible, but adding them in gives the heavy angst sound.

rs: Do you see yourself as a cross between '80s pop and '90s metal?
Wayne: Yeah. One of a my main influences is the '80s industrial scene - Skinny Puppy, Minstry. I draw a lot from that. The difference between us and Orgy and Videodrone is that we're not so into the pop end of it, more the darker end. We have a lot of influences whereas I think Orgy are more straightforward - they are what they are.
Amir: Thanks. (laughs). We're into everything from Judas Priest to Dead or Alive. I liked groups like Sisters of Mercy, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, goth stuff.
Wayne: That was my thing - Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division - those were my two all time favourites. First and Last And Always (Sisters of Mercy) is in my CD player right now. I still listen to it everyday.
Ty: Well for me the '80s was where the best music came from. That's when I was a teenager. I really liked Depeche Mode. They were an incredibly emotional male band. A lot of male bands leave emotion out and just go for aggression and in the '80s people showed emotion in their music.

rs: It's weird though, because most of the aggressive sounding bands are actually the quietest, gentlest people.
Wayne: Yeah, I've found the same thing. We're good friends with System Of A Down, Coal Chamber, Fear Factory and although Dino can get a little wild, for the most part we're all just Jekyll and Hyde - you get on stage and scream and then you come off and kick back.
Ty: The trouble is now you go and see a band and it's like Woargh!! and all the kids run round the moshpit in circles. For me and for Orgy, we want to bring back home the vibe of going to the show, not just watching the audience running in circles.

rs: Do you want to be a band that kids aspire to, something exotic and different?
Ty: Yeah, that's a good thing. It's good to bring back the glamour...there were too many dull bands.
Amir: We like to have fun. We definitely dress up and like to look different.

You all have striking images. Wayne's hair in particular is a gravity defying miracle.
Wayne: Well, if it takes more than 15 minutes to do that's when I know it's getting too long. I started doing it in the '80s influenced by Robert Smith of The Cure and then I got pissed off and shaved it but I grew it back. No one else is doing it right now. It doesn't even droop on stage. I hardly use hairspray it just stays up of its own accord.

rs: And Ty, your eyebrows are shaved off and tattooed. Is the way you appear to people very important?
Ty: Most people believe I'm this extremely mean, aggressive guy when they see that. And I'm completely the opposite.

rs: Well the words Think and Focus (tattooed across his eyebrows) are surely a message against that - to challenge people's preconceptions about you?
Ty: Exactly. That's what I'm trying to do. People are too negative. Let's talk about punk rock. I want to see GG Allin and some shit throwing if I go to a punk show. Punk now misses the whole reason it existed. Bands like The Offspring and Green Day aren't punk, they're more metal. And that's the good thing about Orgy and Static and us, and even Korn. We're all trying to push the boundaries back.

rs: What about other bands into the visual scene, like Marilyn Manson? Do you feel any affinity with him?
Amir: Well I kinda disagree with you on any Manson comparison. I really don't think our record sounds like that. I see what you're saying about glam but i think Manson's after a David Bowie, Pink Floyd kinda thing and we're completely different. We're after a far more futuristic sound. And he's more retro.

rs: How do you mean futuristic?
Amir: It's just exciting to us. Obviously in the '80s there was an interest in futuristic sounds and a lot of it was way ahead of its time. But then it got over used and everybody went back to guitars. We're bringing futurism back but it will be overused again and we'll be back with Nirvana. But I don't care, it's what I like.

Ty: I'm into futuristic bands like Skinny Puppy and Consilidated. Movies as well, which is where the name of the band comes from. I'm into horror but the rest of the band like science fiction and B-movies like Starcrash and Battlestar Galactica.

rs: What about dance music? There's elements of that in all three bands with your use of beats and programming.
Wayne: Yeah I'm into dance music and our programmer goes to lots of raves. It would be more of an influence if we didn't have a live drummer. Some of the material I write by myself for fun is real techno stuff. So its definitely an influence. It all goes back to industrial music where the beats tend to be real simple, really straight and from experience I've found that that's what the audience grab on to - the beat, four to the floor.
Amir: I think Orgy'll always be mixing in new styles and thoughts. Like drum'n'bass, we've been following it for a few years, but no one else in the States really knows about it. As the general public goes, it's still very underground.

Who knows? With bands like these, that experimental drum'n'bass album may be just around the corner. But for now, it's highly unlikely. Their new albums are so achingly now, so painfully hip that it seems Orgy, Static-X and Videodrone will be setting the agenda for the next couple of years rather than vainly snapping at the heels of fashion. It's time to open up to their futuristic mayhem. Because this is the best chance metal has had in years of storming right back up the charts and into your twelve year old sister's bedroom. So who's up for the rock revolution? We'll see you down by the barricades!