Back in 2008, I published a 24 page global edition of my then ongoing publication SLICE (this was post Deep Purple Forever! and pre Retrofuture). If you enjoy this blog you will probably enjoy this fanzine. I will trade a copy of this for international magazines that features Deep Purple, some Black Sabbath, Babymetal, Japanese female fronted rock etc. Let me know what you have and we may have a deal.
This magazine includes Deep Purple (big interview with me – how about that? – plus the classic 1992 interview about the Joe Lynn Turner split with the man himself), Carina Lirola, Elizabeth Hurley (rant about our freedoms), Blackhawks (the comic), book reviews, big humorous feature on Sweden, UFO (the band), Nightmare In The Sky (WWII comic, you can check it out on this blog, just find the tag!), Commando interview with then Editor In Chief Calum Laird, Lucy Lawless (singing career!) and Martina Edoff (Swedish singer posing with Xena chakram, we did a lot of that back in the day!). There is more fun stuff, but this is the gist of it.
(My shot of said publication – cover shot of Ritchie Blackmore by Michael Johansson)
Busy updating this blog with more tags and 2020-2024 is done (which means 2012-2019 is still work in process). New tags are “220 Volt”, “Black Sabbath”, “DVDs & Blu-rays”, “J-Pop”, “Japanese rock & metal”, “Tarja & Nightwish”, “Vikings”, “Tommy Bolin” and “Xena Warrior Princess”. A tag basically means that you have blogs within the blog. Way easier to find stuff. To follow special interests only, if that suits you. It will probably take a week or two before it is all done.
Stumbled across this big sized magazine yesterday, Stateside publication Variety (October 29-November 4, 2001). The cover is basically an ad as far as I can tell. Well, Xena certainly went out with a bang!
I presented American artist Scott King on the blog yesterday and I said then that I would be back today with some X-Files art. His A Message From The Bureau art was published in SLICE 2003 and SLICE 2004, so this is the second and last of them. The magazine is available through this blog if you visit the Fanzine Newsstand tag.
(My shot of said art in SLICE 2004, more information about this fanzine on the Fanzine History tag)
When I created the Swedish Lucy Lawless/Xena fanzine Lucy In The Sky in 2000, American artist Scott King (born in Dayton, Ohio in 1967) became part of the team with his wonderful cartoons and art. His art then, was part of the five issues that were made between 2000 and 2003. In the final issue, I presented a four page interview with Scott. When I then created SLICE in 2003 Scott continued to deliver his Xena art for the first two issues, but also some X-Files (which I will showcase tomorrow on the blog). He would return for one last time with Montana Blue art in Retrofuture 6 (published in 2013). Wonderful talent. Great guy.
(My shot of his Xena art in SLICE 2003, the first issue of said fanzine – Deep Purple cover by Michael Johansson – available now through this blog at the Fanzine Newsstand tag)
This interview with Decadence singer Metallic Kitty was originally made for my old Atlantis Online site (long gone) in 2007, and it went to print in my Pickadoll 2008 (“Bandidas” cover issue, there were two of them) publication as part of the big Ladies of Rock feature in that magazine. Copies can be found on the Fanzine Newsstand tag on this blog. The pictures were taken by Michael Johansson in 2007, for some he used a classic Xena prop (a chakram, late version), which was incredibly cool. He did this with several women of note in the rock field at the time, which could then often be seen in my fanzines. Decadence released their sixth studio album “Six Tape” in 2019. So, here is the 2007 interview. Enjoy.
…
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
– “Hi, my full name is Kitty Saric (known as Metallic Kitty) and I live in Stockholm, Sweden”.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
– “I am 20 years old and I am the lead singer (growl/extreme screams) of the Melodic Thrash Metal band Decadence. Just before I started singing my main focus had always been on my guitar playing. I could have never imagined that I would become the lead singer of a band. I had attempted growling at home, starting at the age of 12, but I was never serious with it, it was only something I did for fun. I used to put on some Metallica, Children of Bodom and Death just growl along for fun’s sake. I joined what later became Decadence when I was 16 years old and it’s my first real band so I have grown up with Decadence. When I grabbed my first guitar at the early age of 12 I knew this music was the meaning of my life. Later on when Decadence entered my life, it has become just it. Everything evolves around it, even all everyday decisions I make outside of the band”.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
– “My biggest inspiration has always been James Hetfield of Metallica. I have always sought inspiration from him both as a guitarist, singer and song/lyrical writer. When it comes to harsher vocals along with the growls I began with Chuck Schuldiner (Death) and Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) which I find so many emotions in. When it comes to sharpness I have sought to mix Mille Petrozza (Kreator) kinds of vocals. The brutality credits are from Piotr Wiwczarek (Vader) and vocalists such as both Cannibal Corpse vocalists (Chris Barnes and George Fisher). Thrash Metal is, and always will be, my greatest inspiration in music, having Metallica on top of it. I find both vocal and instrumental inspiration in acts such as mentioned above which constantly makes me what to express myself in Decadence”.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
– “That question is always as hard but I’ll give it a shot: “…And Justice For All” (Metallica), “The Sound of Perseverance” (Death) and “Revelations” (Vader)”.
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
– “For me it seems like women are expressing themselves more in all kinds of fields nowadays, and I think this world of Metal is only a part of it. You even see more and more females in politics, business, CEO posts etc. so Metal seems to be one in the flow”.
When did you record music for the first time?
– “It was in 2004, Decadence first demo “Land of Despair””.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
– “Some of them would probably be (album order): “Wrathful and Sullen”, “Decadence”, “Red”, “Inside”, “Corrosion” and “Claustrophobia””.
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
– “I have never had that problem actually, at least not when it comes to performing this music which I love. Being on stage is the best thing in my life and I long for that moment all the time. So, the moment right before I get up on stage is like a huge adrenaline rush in a positive way and I love it!”.
What is the best tour/s you have ever been involved in and why?
– “The best one so far was Decadence minitour in Italy the summer of 2006. It was the first time we could really hang out as close friends and really get to know each other and it was really crazy in a good way! Memories from that tour will probably be with us forever!”.
What is the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
– “Here in Stockholm the scene is big in the sense of many fans and even more bands. However, there is a growing problem with venues and clubs. More and more of these places are closing down and it’s hard to keep the scene alive due to that”.
What are you currently up to?
– “We as a band are currently focusing on playing live and spreading our music. We have plenty of shows booked for this spring/summer of 2007 and we’re looking forwards to it a lot. Plans for the fall of 2007 are also in action…”.
What is the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
– “There have been so many good, positive feedbacks so it’s hard to pick only one. It warms my heart so much seeing fans emails to me where they tell me how much a particular song means to them and how they connected the lyrics to their own life etc. I remember one thing a fan said to me very well and if You read this I hope you won’t get mad that I shared it! “Sometimes I think of fuckin just giving up on my dream of being a musician and I think “Kitty didn’t and wouldn’t give up…and look where she’s got””.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
– “Indeed I do! I answer as many mails and comments as possible and try to keep contact with the fans, both at my own personal page and at Decadence page. MySpace has helped us a lot as a band and I think this invention was a huge step for the music industry”.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
– “When it comes to Sweden, I can’t really complain about studios and recordings. We have plenty of opportunities here to find a good studio but of course, it’s costly”.
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
– “I usually visit the same sites but when I do surf then it’s for musical purposes, such as exploring new bands or finding various inspirations for my own work etc”.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
– “No, I can’t really say I do. This music (Metal) means everything to me”.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
– “I don’t like books so I haven’t read anything good, lately anyway! When I have read various works it has mostly been existential and absurd such as Samuel Beckett”.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
– “I hardly ever watch TV, however strange that may sound! I guess I’m too busy with the band, work and university!”.
What favourite food do you have?
– “Hah… this is turning silly, look at me man! Do I look like a person who has favourite food?! laugh“.
I´m sure you´ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
– “Actually no! laughs“.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
– “Yes I could say I do, I find mysterious events quite intriguing”.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
– “I have not seen a UFO and I don’t think I ever will, but I have however heard people tell me they have”.
What´s your take on that?
– “I believe that alien life forms exists, yes. I have never accepted the fact that we are alone in this universe because it’s too big and too undiscovered”.
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
– “If there is a will, there is a way”.
Would you like to add something to this interview?
– “I want to thank you and the readers for your shown interest in Decadence! Horns up high from Metallic Kitty!”.
(End of interview)
By Mike Eriksson (if quoted let me know about it) – Atlantis Online 2007 / Pickadoll 2008 / Trinkelbonker 2024.
(All images by Michael Johansson)
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CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS ON TRINKELBONKER: FABIENNE SHINE/SHAKIN`STREET 2008 (May 9 2024), ECHOES OF ETERNITY 2007 (May 6 2024), 220 VOLT 2002 (April 17 2024), THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON 2024 (March 29 2024), BERNIE MARSDEN 1981 (September 3 2023), BRIDEAR 2023 (June 13 2023), STEVE LUKATHER 1989, Part 2 (May 29 2023), LADIES OF ROCK 2008 (April 25 2023), GLENN HUGHES 1993 (February 23 2023), JON LORD 1983 (June 26 2022), BLIND GOLEM 2022 (April 29 2022), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 2, December 24 2021), MURASAKI 2021 (December 3 2021), PUBLISHER HANS HATWIG 2015 (Part 1, November 22 2021), CARINA LIROLA 2008 (November 9 2021), TOTO 1987 (September 17 2021), HEAVEN & EARTH 2001 (July 25 2021), STUART SMITH 1998 (July 4 2021), RAINBOW 1997 (June 28 2021), MARINA AMMOURI 2021 (February 12 2021), VISIONS OF ATLANTIS 2007 (November 10 2020), RITCHIE BLACKMORE & CANDICE NIGHT 2001 (October 27 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (October 18 2020), ACCEPT 1986 (July 17 2020), DEEP PURPLE 1996 (June 27 2020), EUROPE 1986 (June 16 2020), DEEP PURPLE PODCAST 2020 (April 6 2020), KIMBERLY GOSS/SINERGY 2002 (March 31 2020), RAINBOW 1997 (March 9 2020), RAINBOW 1996 (March 6 2020), MICHAEL BRADFORD 2003/MAKING OF DEEP PURPLE´S “BANANAS” (March 2 2020), URIAH HEEP 1988 (February 18 2020), ANNE-LIE RYDÉ 1984 (January 21 2020), CRYSTAL VIPER 2020 (January 16 2020), JOHN NORUM 1988 (January 12 2020), ARTOMUS FRIENDSHIP 2019 (November 10 2019), NAZARETH 1989 (August 26 2019), VELVET INSANE 2018 (September 11 2018), JON LORD 1981 (December 15 2015), DAVID COVERDALE 1981 (November 13 2015), GLENN HUGHES 1996 (May 12 2015), TOTO 1988 (March 31 2015), YNGWIE MALMSTEEN 1990 (March 1 2015), MARTINA EDOFF 2009 (December 4 2014), MICHAEL MOJO NILSSON 2014 (January 21 2014), THE HUGHES TURNER PROJECT 2001 (December 29 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1996-1998 (October 9 2013), GLENN HUGHES & JOHN NORUM 1988 (September 21 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1994-1995 (September 9 2013), JOE LYNN TURNER 1993 (September 7 2013), STEVE LUKATHER 1989 (September 4 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1983 (August 22 2013), RAINBOW 1995 (July 19 2013), MICK UNDERWOOD/GILLAN 1982 (June 11 2013), DEEP PURPLE 2002 (May 2 2013), DEEP PURPLE 1998 ( February 25 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1986 (February 12 2013), BLACK SABBATH 1987-1989 (December 31 2012), JOHNNIE BOLIN 2012 (December 24 2012), MARTIN POPOFF & RICH GALBRAITH 2009 (November 12 2012), DAVID COVERDALE 2000 (October 14 2012), JON LORD 1984 (September 7 2012), JOE LYNN TURNER 1992 (August 31 2012), JUDAS PRIEST 1986 (August 22 2012), RONNIE JAMES DIO 2001 (August 20 2012), NIGHTWISH 2002 (August 14 2012).
I discovered this morning that this blog has had over 500,000 hits, so that is a pretty good fact to mention here today. It will hit 1,000,000 way faster than what it took to reach this place, so that is something to look forward to. Many thanks for visiting Trinkelbonker.
(My shot of Babymetal, left shot of me plus Ronnie James Dio – note my Lucy In The Sky fanzine on the table in front of him – by Michael Johansson, Glenn Hughes by Christer Bolin, part of old fanzine note by Jörgen Holmstedt in the upper right corner – the inserted flag is the flag that represents Jämtland County here in Sweden, so I am being patriotic here!)
Thinking about binge-watching Xena Warrior Princess this summer. The show ended over 20 years ago and I have not seen it since I got my hands on the final season (6th) on DVD. It was a fabulous show. It inspired me to create a publication (Lucy In The Sky). I have so many great memories from those days.
(Seen here is some American Fan Club boxes from the day)
In early 2003, I had two publications going at the same time, DEEP PURPLE FOREVER! and LUCY IN THE SKY. The latter was the Lucy Lawless/Xena fanzine. After 32 issues of DPF, and five of LITS, I ended them both and created the broader publication SLICE. Both general interests moved along into the new publication, but I could have a lot more fun with other stuff as well. In fact, the very last issue of DPF was released at the same time as the first issue of SLICE. You will find many publications from this era in the Fanzine Newsstand. In 2010 I launched the final publication, RETROFUTURE. Final era, which ended in 2015. Over 100 fanzines in print in total. For more information, check out the Fanzine History tag.
(Located this old image from the old days, the Ritchie Blackmore shot was taken by Michael Johansson in 1988, the Xena image was a publicity shot)
Last year saw the wrapping up of the television hit series Xena Warrior Princess after six highly successful seasons that pretty much rewrote the book on how to present action drama on television. No other show kicked in more doors in Hollywood than this one. The creative team of Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi (of Spiderman fame) really did unleash a beast on an unsuspecting television world of networks that just could not see this coming. Xena was a female hero that kicked butt. She had an encredibly evil past that the producers could visit every now and then to highten the drama and the stakes. They even produced a number of out and out comedies, usually with guest stars Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell in attendence. It was the show that had no boundaries. I asked legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Rainbow fame on his take on Xena and he said that it was nice to see that somebody was making Hollywood nervous. He really nailed it with that comment I thought. Xena had qualities that left the competition gasping for air, Xena was copied and Xena was the icon. And she had to die.
Robert Tapert was the guy that took Xena to world fame and he was the guy with the vision. He loved Xena like nobody else. Hell, he even married Xena star Lucy Lawless. To him Xena was the ultimate hero. The story line indicated that the show would one day end with a bang and oh Lord did it ever! Robert Tapert had Xena take on an army of blood thirsty Samurais in the first few minutes of the very last episode “A Friend In Need part II” (available on video and DVD), knowing that she would die. Xena took the toughest deciscion in her life for the greater good. She sacrificed herself to right an ultimate wrong that she had been responsible for years earlier. Her act would also eventually lead to her own redemption for her evil days in the end and the episode ended with a gigantic battle between her as a spirit warrior and another entity that had to be desposed of no matter what. In the end she stayed with Gabrielle as a ghost, it was the best that she could offer. Now, to me this is drama at its best. I always expected Xena to ride into death as a hero, this was never a warrior that would be walking into the sunset laughing at the end. To me, that would have been an incredible letdown. The show always had a dark streak and I fully expected them to have the balls to carry this to the ultimate end, or the mother of all ends. And Robert Tapert did that. He had the guts to break every rule in the business. No other show ended like this, no other show may ever follow. It was a bold decision because it defied logic. At least the logic as seen by millions of viewers that want things to always end with a smile. The Xena team actually took on their own fans when they did this. I know full well that the reaction among many fans was one of pure shock. I heard of people that sold their Xena collections, there were death threats and the Internet was alive with bitter bickering and hate. But understand this my friends, the people behind the show knew full well that the decision to kill Xena would not be a popular one. But they followed their hearts and ended the story in a way that was memorable and groundbreaking. And they gave Xena her redemption, the only way she could ever really get it. This is Shakespeare and classic storytelling at its best, not compromised by the sad corporate decision making policies of Hollywood. And they took that road in spite of everything.
Now, lets forget the obvious for a moment, which is the debate about her death. Lets instead view the images created of her actual last fight. Robert Tapert himself directed this episode and I can see why he wanted to do that. The death scene of Xena is quite breathtaking. She is taking on a horde of Samurais in a wild and brutal scene in which she has already been wounded by several arrows. This fight is the most brutal of them all. Of all the fights in all the episodes that went before, this one sticks out a mile. Robert Tapert goes for every trick in the book with this scene. The war drums that slowly escalates in volume and intent as the battle hightens and the end comes ever closer. The editing, with the flashbacks to her last conversation of importance with Gabrielle. The contrast between what was then said and her actual fate is quite shocking. Xena could not get that wish, she had to die in a very different way. The drama on display is intense beyond belief. I showed this scene to a friend of mine the other day. Like most Swedes he has not yet seen more than the four seasons that has been aired on Swedish television as yet, but he likes Xena and I wanted to see his reaction. When the scene was over he said “I feel drained”. And there you have it, this scene is so intense that people can not help but react. The scene could have been filmed in a less dramatic way. It could have been done like they used to do it in movies in the fifties. A little less violence and a little more hurrah! But Robert Tapert went for the modern approach. He knew what he wanted and he went for it in a big way.
Since then, both Lucy Lawless and Renee O´Connor have defended the end, knowing all to well that many Xena fans hated it with a seldom seen passion. As actors, they can view this from a certain distance, they can understand the vision. And why on earth would they not like a courageous ending to a show that had already taken on so many taboos? Actors do like Shakespeare after all. I do feel sorry for them in a way. To work hard for six years, to defy every rule in the business, only to be attacked after the last episode by so called fans that don not understand greatness and boldness when they see it. In time, I think that some of these voices are going to change its tune though. But I can understand that people can get upset. It was a brutal scene and it robbed people of a sweet ending with hugging and promise for an ever lasting bliss. It certainly killed the love affair that many so desperately wanted to see. Actually, that is not true. It may have killed the happy ending that some of these people longed for, but the bond between Xena and Gabrielle lasted beyond death. Xena will always be there by her friends side. The love is that strong. Is it just me or is that not a very touching final to their adventures together? A bit of Romeo and Juliet in its intensity? Robert wanted to portray love that transcended everything, even death. I think he had it figured out pretty well but some people just could not take what they saw. I feel that books could be written about the phsycological reasons why people broke down so completely. Somebody might already be doctoring in the subject without us knowing about it. Boy, would I love to read that paper!
If plenty of fans hated the ending let it be known that the media did not. The professional writers hailed the ending as the bold and grand ending that it really was. A lot of shows do not get the privilege of having an ending at all. Some shows are cancelled without much warning, like Dark Angel was not long ago. Other shows may leave you with an ending that is pretty much like just another cliffhanger, almost as if the producers of the show desperately hopes that they will be able to bring it back again later. The team of Xena defied all that and went out with all guns blazing like crazy. I think that a lot of people in the industry secretly loved and envied what they did eventually with this finale. Xena collected a lot of points and credibilty in the business during the shows six year stint and the ending just kind of rammed the point home. Xena was a show that meant a lot to me. No other show captivated me like this one before and I doubt that I will feel this involved again for what is after all just a television show. It grabbed me from the first moment that I saw it and true to form the creative team behind the show had the show leave us with a bang. It was a grand ride and I thank the Gods, and the vision of Robert Tapert, for the endeless joy that it brought into my house. It will stand tall in the years to come, the legacy will live on forever. Because nobody will ever do it better.
By Michael Eriksson (Atlantis Online, July 2002 / Trinkelbonker 2024)
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