– Hello, thanks for taking the time. What’s are you guys currently up to?

We’re taking a break right now and hope to re-group next year. Relationships in the band aren’t great at the moment and we’re not getting on very well. It’s possible that Tigertailz will not continue in its current form and the band’s line-up will change soon. That’s all I can say on this for now.

As for some good news, Volkswagen have used Love Bomb Baby for their advert for the 35 year anniversary of their Golf GTi. This will be released in the next few days.

– The band split-up during the mid 90’s; did this have something to do with the changes that were going on back then in the music industry?

The main reason for the split was we got shafted by our management and record label at the time. Yes there were changes to the music industry but we were rolling with those changes and made the best record Tigertailz ever made in ‘Wazbones’. The record cost over $170,000 to make and a few weeks before its worldwide release Amuse America Inc (who were a Japanese owned company) decided to close their US operation down and shelved our album. After taking 2 years to make that record it was hard to recover from that and the writing was on the wall.

 

– And what prompted your come back during the 00’s?

I think it’s fair to say the success of the Darkness was one of the main reasons we got back together. When they came around it seemed what Tigertailz did was relevant again. And, we were all at a time in our lives where the band wasn’t our main focus so it was a lot more enjoyable.

Sadly, after 7 years of being back together it seems the old problems (and some new ones) have come to the service again and the band is once again facing a crossroads as to its survival. I don’t know if we can survive the latest troubles. Time will tell I guess.

 

– Now taking a bit about these current days; could you please introduce a bit the new TIGERTAILZ’s incarnation?

As I mentioned above, we’re in a crisis at the moment and it’s unlikely the band’s current line-up will stay the same. As to who’s left in and who’s out I can’t really confirm at this time. But it’s possible there may be some big changes within the band.

 

– We can find Ace Finchum once more in the band’s line-up; what made you guys thought of him after all these years?

Ace was the Tailz drummer from our most successful period (Bezerk) so he’s the drummer most people identify with. When we got back together in 2004 we all agreed things needed to be simple and easy. So we decided to use a local drummer Matt who we all new and got along with. But after a few years it became apparent that Tailz fans wanted to see the Bezerk line-up again and we got back in touch with Ace.

 

The Scala London 16-12-10

– And what made you guys having for first time ever a female musician?

After Pepsi passed away we never even thought about getting in a full time Bass player. Glenn Quinn (Nailz) had helped us out when Pepsi was ill and we continued on as best we could. Glenn is a lovely guy and great musician and things were working well. With hindsight we should have never made the change – but then hindsight is a wonderful thing… After two years of Pepsi’s passing it was felt we needed to recruit a permanent Bass player and didn’t want someone trying to imitate Pepsi. After a long discussion we decided a female Bass player would be the best option as this didn’t compete with Pepsi in any way.

 

– After Pepsi died, did you ever think dissolving the band?

Yes. Although within a few days it became clear the best way we could respect and honour Pepsi’s memory was to continue Tigertailz as best we could and however we could. I still believe that and will do whatever I can to keep the band going in some form or another.

 

– In fact your latest live album is your first record without him; has been difficult?

After 4+ years it still feels like yesterday that he was in the band. But time moves us on whether we like it or not so we’ve just tried to make the best of it.

 

– Anyway, I guess with a new line-up you may feel refueled, don’t you? Do you see this as a new era for TIGERTAILZ?

Keeping a band running is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Constantly trying to stroke people, manage their expectations and keep everyone happy is a huge task. And at our time of life (I’m 47 years old) I need to have people around me who I respect, trust, can depend on – and love. I also expect the same in return. If not, then we may be looking at another new era for Tigertailz..

 

– The band has had several line-up changes though throughout the years; do you feel like this will be a more stable one?

The Scala London 16-12-10

At our time of life it’s unrealistic to expect the band’s line-up not to change. Line-up changes are made for various reasons. Some changes are forced on us through health or worse events, other changes are sometimes necessary if the band isn’t functioning. It comes down to the simple choice of whether people want Tigertailz to continue with a different line-up so we can continue to release albums, play live shows and play all the songs the fans want. Or, the band dissolves never to be heard of again. I think for most people (and for me) the latter isn’t an option so we accept that sometimes line-up changes are unfortunate but necessary.

 

– As I said, last 2010 you released your latest «Bezerk Live: Burnin’ Fuel», which marks the album’s 20th anniversary, so I guess beside the musical content if may also have certain emotional content. What does this new album mean to you?

We know we need a new album. We have songs written but I think as a band we’re not on the same page and musical direction is another problem. My preference is to release 2 x EPs next year and I’m hopeful we can achieve that. I have a working title of ‘TO HELL AND BACK – VOL I & II’.

 

The Scala London 16-12-10

– «Bezerk» has always been considered your best album and maybe the one why most people know about you, in fact you have released «Bezerk 2.0» and this latest «Bezerk Live: Burnin Fuel». Could you say «Bezerk» is, somehow, is guaranted success? I mean, do you think almost anything related to that album will appeal your fans?

When you have a hit record and then fans will always identify and compare future songs with that record. I think Bezerk was a record for the moment and still sounds great.. But you have to move on and trying to recreate the same thing over and over is a mistake. But, we always try to keep the same ‘big sound’ feel for our records – big choruses, production, strings, choirs etc. to give it that 80’s feel..

 

– I have had the chance of seeing you live couple of times and I must admit «Bezerk Live…» captures quite good what you guys are on stage. Is it easy to achieve expressing this with an album?

It’s never east to capture a band’s Live show on an album. That’s why most classic ‘Live’ albums are never actually recorded ‘Live’. Or even if they are their then taken into the studio and overdubbed to fix all the mistakes and messy sounds that surround a live recording.

The fact is Live recordings don’t lend themselves to be listened to over and over. For a good example of this you can listen to Youtube clips and see how awful most of them sound. Those clips hardly compete with the sound of Judas Priest’s ‘Unleashed In The East’, Thin Lizzy’s ‘Live & Dangerous’ or Kiss Alive II live albums. All those albums were either recorded or made to sound great in the studio. Our Bezerk Live album was done the same way. A mix of Live and studio recorded and I think it sounds great and captures a Live Tailz show.

 

– As I said, have been now over two decades since «Bezerk» came out. So what could you say has change both in your and also in the band since it came out?

I’d like to think I’m a better person than I was 20+ years ago. Whilst Bezerk and Tigertailz was / is an important part of my life I now have a wonderful family that make life worth living. That is the most important thing to me.

 

– Now leaving a bit beside things about this latest effort, I think your latest albums sound way heavier than your earlier recordings, though you have never been the standard Glam band dispite what some people said so, what bands have influenced you? And concerning this heavier sound; have you lately been listening to new music?

Tailz Live London Univeristy March 2009

We’ve always been into the heavier British bands – Sabbath, Priest, Motorhead, Iron Maiden etc. The whole ‘Glam’ thing comes down to our first feature in Kerrang back in 1987 where we tried to look as outrageous as possible to get noticed. And it worked.. although whether that was for the better I’m not so sure. From that moment on we were classed a Glam band and that was it.. But musically we were always into the British bands mentioned above so writing / playing that stuff comes naturally to us.

Yes of course we were into Kiss, Van Halen etc. and have never felt it acceptable to just get on stage in jeans and t shirt.. But musically Tigertailz has always been way off all that typlical Glam sound.

 

– Finally,what are your near-future plans? Have you wrote any new stuff with the new line-up? Or, in other way, can we expect a new studio album anytime soon?

I hope we have some future plans but time will tell. As I mentioned, we have some problems in the band right now and until they’re resolved we can’t move forward. I hope we can bring you some more positive news soon. And yes, some new product next year is the goal.

 

– That has been all, thanks once more for taking the time. If you want to add some final words; take the last lines.

With truth, respect and no bullshit – I thank you all..xxx

Tania Giménez

tania@queensofsteel.com

 

1 pensamiento sobre “TIGERTAILZ (Eng.)

  1. Interesting and very revealing and honest interview. You don’t get that from many bands.

    Now that Sarah Firebrand (bass) has been fired from the band, hopefully they can move forward and we will have some new album or something in the next year.

    Rob

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