Here's from Sweden the Swindle A Go Go, a cool band that mixes rock'n'roll oriented Hanoi Rocks sound with some punk Sex Pistols oriented elements. Glamurder Traxx amazed all the staff of THe Rock Explosion. The following is a cool interview with these nice Scandinavian guys...

Welcome On The Rock explosion guys, before starting with the interview I have to say that I really appreciated your demo, it sounds really cool and funny.
But I fear that Italian readers don't know you yet and they haven't yet listened to your music, so let's start introducing yourselves with a brief bio of the band:
Spinx: Hi and thanx for those kind words... well... The line up is: Spinx vocals, Hank guitar, Jennyfer guitar, Kongo bass, Micro drums and Volvex saxophone. I sang in punkrockers SuiCide PaCt with Ego. T. Superstar nowadays in The Part Time Posers, Then I sang in The Sexsationals where Robban nowadays The Hellacopters played drums. Later I sang in glamrockers Sold Out Sweethearts... Now I am in Swindle-A-Go-Go. Probably the best band I've ever been in...
Jennyfer: yeah well the band got started 2001, I took part of the second line-up. Earlier I played guitar and sang in grungerock bands such as Magick Psycho Shock and Miss Cocaine.
Spinx: Micro and Volvex were both in Chinese Takeaway and Bela Kiss. And Hank and Kongo has played together in a few bands too...

Can you explain us why did you choose to call the band Swindle A Go-Go? Does this name hide some particular meaning? Who has had the idea?
Jennyfer: This is something Mr. Spinx B'Stard´s mind put together.
Hank: Just a little something from the sick mind of Mr. B'Stard…
Spinx: Yeah, well we needed a name that could be associated with the musical direction we had in our minds.... Stiv Bators record "Disconnected" has always been a favourite of mine, and the song "Swingin' a go go" caught my eyes on the back-cover of the record. The thing about the "Swindle" is quite obvious too, if you knew that I was a great Sex Pistols fan... Other suggestions were among others The Kliché Productions and Dogs Of Soi...

I read that your musical influences are various, but there must be a band or an artist in particular that you can consider as the one who made you discover the way to Rock.
Jennyfer: For me it has always been Hole. that's the reasons I started playing music in the first place.
Spinx: The Clash is probably the band I will listen to at my own funeral... Bassplayer Paul Simonon in The Clash influenced me a whole lot when I first started as a punkrock bassplayer... Then of course Johnny Rotten's razor-sharp tongue...
Hank: Nikki Sixx! Then I discovered Hanoi Rocks and Johnny Thunders…

What would you have done if you weren't musicians? Is there any parallel dream you would like to see come true outside the music field?
Jennyfer: No..
Spinx: No...
Hank:Yes…

How is going today your live career? Do you find it easy to book concerts in your country? I ask you about this, because here in Italy is very hard to find a proper place to let rock bands play without rising further problems.
Jennyfer: There are too many bands and not too many clubs around here but I think we don't really have problems getting gigs maybe its because we rock like fuck.
Spinx: Yes, somehow we don't have problems getting gigs... We've had to turn down a few, because of line up changes from now and then.. Then again there's always those clubs who are afraid to book bands like us, since they can't suss us out... we aren't punkrock, we aren't glamrock, we aren't hardrock, metal or pop... We are just goodlooking rockers... sounding extremely good. I think Rock'n'Roll bands should get as much attention and club/arenas as football or other sports...
Jennyfer: Yeah!
Hank: I think, with this band it's much easier. Must be the looks…

Is there any particular "ritual" you use to do before going on stage?
Jennyfer: I'm trying to keep the boys sober. i get drunk after the gig.
Spinx: I usually try to keep Jennyfer sober and help her tuning her bottles...
Jennyfer: (laugh).
Hank: Tuning the guitars and getting drunk. In no particular order.

Let's talk about the last demo, The Glamurder Traxx: personally I love "Houndog Suburbia", it is so catchy! But also "Believe You Me" has a very irresistible rhythm. Who writes down the lyrics of your songs? How do you create your songs? Is it a team work or there is someone of you who thinks to the music and someone other who thinks to the words?
Jennyfer: Spinx has written most of the music and all the lyrics. Recently, me and Hank has started to write some music as well. We show the tunes to Spinx and he creates lyrics and melodies..
Spinx: I've got a Pop-Writing-Factory in my head... I write the songs, both lyrics and music... There'll be a few new songs where Hank and Jennyfer has written the music... But to keep the high standard there will be mostly Spinx B'Stard songs (laugh)...
Hank: Me and Spinx has started doing some music together. I make the music and he does the lyrics. And when the whole band plays it, it gets that Swindle sound that you just love!

Is there any song of yours you feel closer to? Why?
Jennyfer: Of the new songs, I'm really into "Believe You Me", maybe because I can relate to the lyrics or maybe just because its the perfect rock song.
Spinx: "Revolver Wine" comes straight from the heart, about a friend musician who left this world much too soon... Otherwise I can relate to every song, since the lyrics are mostly real life situations or accidents in the night... Oh, by the way... Jennyfer thinks all my lyrics are about her...
Jennyfer: Yeah but it sounds like they are!! (laugh)… but not "Revolver Wine" though.
Hank: "Revolver Wine", one of my all time favourites. All categories.

Which were your favourite songs as you were kids?
Jennyfer: "Into The Groove" and "Express Yourself" by Madonna which were played from my sisters room and anything by Kiss and Black Sabbath that were played from my brothers room.
Spinx: Difficult question... Depends in what age... but Maybe The Sweet with "Sixteens" and "Ballroom Blitz", Kiss with "Detroit Rock City", or Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock"... or... something with ABBA like ""S.O.S.".... or "Shot From My Gun" with Slade or "Cherry Bomb" with The Runaways... or "Storm the Embassy" with the Stray Cats or "White Man In Hammersmith Palaise" with The Clash...
Hank: Ah, that's a difficult one…"Public Enemy # 1" by Mötley Crüe. I also loved The Eagles!

What do you think about the rock scene in your country? Do you think that there's any band that has had an undeserved success, that as been over estimated both by the critics and the audience?
Jennyfer: Oh… don't start me up. There's too many bands that shouldn't have been where they are today. We are so much better (laugh).
Spinx: The rock scene is good in Sweden... too bad there's not enough good rock clubs... "undeserved success"? There are a few bands which I know has slept their way to a record deals, but they're not around anymore... (laugh).. But I don't go around and hate other bands just because they suck and still has success. I've been through that childish phase already. Let's face it. The majority of people will never be into music as much as we are. Therefore I think we shouldn't judge them for their bad taste. It's their loss.
Hank: You always get the audience you deserve…

What do you think of the stereotype "Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll"? Do you think that to be a rocker is absolutely necessary to live according these three rules?
Jennyfer: Uhm... well if you go deeper to the meaning, everybody knows you can't live like that forever but of course everyone has their own kinda drugs and everyone has their own kinda sex. I prefer the line "Dead, Jail or Rock'n'Roll"…
Spinx: I think it's fucking hippie shit with that whole cliché, and i feel sorry for the ones jumping on it. Life should be worth more than drugs. Just look at all those dead rock'n'roll heroes of ours.. It's sad... we should learn from their mistakes... But, let's go for the sex. That's the most important thing in this world. Sex is the best drug ever. So I say- Sex, A Few Bottles & Rock'n'Roll...
Jennyfer: "a few bottles"? (laugh).
Hank: I'm just happy to be here…
Spinx: Oh? I wish I was here...

Now here's a question for Jennyfer: you are the guitar player now, but not so long ago you were asked to play the bass. I mean, you can play both instruments, showing how versatile you are as a musician, but don't you think that generally for a woman it is much more difficult to have success in rock music scene as an instrument player? Generally famous rock girls are the lead singers of the bands they're in.
Jennyfer: Yes that's true and it sucks. I hate that you have to play a specific instrument for your gender. That's why I don't just sing, even though that's what I love doing most of all. I am a guitar player from the beginning, I tried out for Swindle as a bass player because I love to play the bass as well. But yeah.. it's fucking hard that you're all the time taken for granted as a guitarist that can't play JUST because you don't have a dick but hey.. "I got so much clit I don't need no balls". I wish more girls played rock'n'roll!!!
Hank: (laugh).
Jennyfer: I was serious though...

Which plans do you have after the release of this last demo? Do you already have enough songs ready to be recorded on a full length album?
Jennyfer: We have so much material we could easily release a full length or two. Just need a label that can pay the studio cost...
Spinx: Yeah, we've got plenty of material... for at least 2 or 3 full lengths. To answer the question- Right now we're picking out some new songs and rehearsing hard. There'll probably be a recording of some 6 or 7 songs in early 2004. We'll see where that leads...
Hank: We're right in the middle of a creative phase right know, with lots of great new songs.

How is the independent labels scene in your country? Is it easy for a band to find a label?
Spinx: I think it's quite easy if you're prepared to sound like all the other bands and how the record companies want you to... so, in other words, I just don't know. Swindle-A-Go-Go are originals... We're waiting for an intelligent company to give us a few millions to spend on milkshakes and fun...
Hank: They could at least pay for the mandatory pizza's during recording…

If you could come in Italy on tour, what do you think you should absolutely see, eat or drink as simple tourists?
Jennyfer: I've been to Italy a few years ago so I've seen it, eaten it and oh yeah... I got drunk too so... I don't know...
Spinx: Yeah, I was in Firenze with The Sexsationals (1992-1994) sometime in the early 90's. I liked the strong coffee, and then I passed out.
"Those were the voodoo years"... I liked Italy, much due to the nightlife atmosphere, cheap drinks and my blackouts... I really hope we can get over there and rock like fuckedyfukk!!!
Hank: I'm a sucker for history, and I love the Discovery Channel. I'd love to go to Italy!

The interview is over, let's greet Italian readers as you prefer! Now you have free space to say what you want to the world! Thank you for your cooperation and I hope to see you playing in Italy one day.
Jennyfer: Thanks for the time and the interview and hope to see you in Italy soon! You rock!!
Spinx: Hey thanx! I hope we'll make it to Italy one of these evil days. Stumble across our official homepage and drop a line in our guestbook... Interested in booking us next summer? info@swindleagogo.com. Cheers!!!
Hank: Thanks.

Intervista realizzata e tradotta da Margherita Realmonte.