When thinking of a name like HorrorPops one might picture violent tootsie pops bent on world domination. However, totalitarian candy is the last thing on the minds of those who know of the Denmark six piece. The distinct genuine new wave rockabilly has almost a gravitational pull to its unique styling. This rockabilly group has been Hellcat records recent edition to the labels discography of punk’s best. The group mostly noted for their outlandish goth/punk styling with their noted stage performances will be gracing the Van’s Warped tour stages this summer. Their Warped tour expedition will soon land them in Denver on July 17, and according to Warp’s website, the band will grace the Volcolm Stage. I recently caught up with the group through a mid morning phoner with the groups tired lead, Patricia Day. The group, according to Day, had just drove for six hours straight and was somewhere in Canada.
Kaffeine Buzz: So two albums in two years, are you guys excited?
Patricia Day: The first CD, Hell Yeah, was basically a response written in ‘96 and then recorded three at a time through ’91, so they’re pretty old. We never intended to put out an album; we just ended up deciding that we had to because we didn’t get enough shows. So this time around it was a more traditional way of making a record we planned it and went into the studio on time. It’s exciting. We’ve got Brett Gurewitz producing the album and Scott is an amazing guy.
KB: So how’s Warped tour?
PD: (laughs) I can’t tell if we’re all very sun tan or all very dirty (laughs). But its been goin’ good.
KB: How’s the Warped crowd received you guys?
PD: Yeah, when we go on stage it gets packed. It’s crazy. They’re running to the stage an hour before we play to get the right spots.
KB: So are you guys excited about your newest?
PD: (laughs) Of course we are, what do you think? Most of Hell Yeah was written in ’96. How much do you think we can’t wait to play new songs? We’re totally proud of this new album and the process we made and the steps we’ve taken. We feel that we’ve hit a gold piece. So we can’t wait for people to hear it.
KB: Is it important to be on Epitaph records?
PD: Oh yeah, we all had bad experiences with big labels, fucking bullshit labels. When we got signed to Hellcat last Christmas we were at all the Eatens having Christmas with them. They’re a family there, all punk and rock & rollers and they know what it’s about to be a band and what its like to be on the road and the things you have to deal with. And they’re so supportive of us, the two main guys Tim Armstrong and Drake.
KB: Once you’ve reached a certain level of credibility through your fan base, hard is it to sustain your image?
PD: We don’t think about that stuff like that. We do what we do, we’re a rock and roll band, were here for the party, the drinking, for having all the fun times. The image thing and doing interviews and videos and albums is basically things we have to do to stay on the road. If we’re thinking about that stuff it won’t be Horrorpops anymore.
KB: How big of a transition was it from Denmark to L.A.?
PD: The biggest difference between Denmark and the US is Denmark is five million people with three rock venues; not much rock and roll going on there. When you say you’re a rock and roll musician, it’s kinda like saying your on welfare. There’s no respect. The first question is “Where do you get your money? Do you live off that shit?” so you’re talking to grandparents or something. So as soon as we got to L.A. and got two American band members and people are always like ‘your in a band, that’s cool, what’s the band called?’ and that’s really affected how we play. We’re a lot more secure.
KB: Looking at pictures and such it appears that you guys definitely have a unique style. Is their anyone special that you can think of that inspires that originality?
PD: No, that’s just us. You can take some frigin’ Midwest, small dirty city road and compare the two. The four Danes that’s in the band. We were the only ones, that was weird, but we weren’t the ones they all fit after. The ones they called names and all beaten up on a daily basis, and that’s how we all got together because of that. It was like, ‘Well you got beat up too’ (laughs) It’s not inspired by anything it’s just pure coincidence that we look like this. It’s just who we are. We haven’t changed in all these years, we won’t change. It’s just that once we got beat up for it. I mean who cares? It’s nothing we think about at all.
KB: So will this be your first time in Denver?
PD: Oh yes, we’ve been to Denver and we for sure have fond memories of Denver. Especially our Drummer (Niedermeier).
KB: How has it been seeing Billy Idol?
PD: (Laughs) He was on two shows that we were playing at. What can you say about Billy Idol? There’s not enough words. (Laughs)
Horrorpops will be in town on Sunday July, 17 for Warped Tour and there newest album is set for a Sept 13, 2005 release.
