Rock N Roll is something that we all define a little differently from each other. Maybe it’s age, culture, or what Mom and Dad listened to that shines a light on our perception of what rock is or ought to be. That being said I remember as a 16 year old , I wanted to shock my Mom and Dad by what I was listening to. I remember the picture I had hanging on my side of the bedroom wall that had Bowie kneeling in front of Ronson’s guitar. And as I screamed the lyrics to Rebel Rebel, I was speaking the music of my generation. And that is why I think The Hip Priests get it right. These guys are rough and tough and I don’t think Mom or Dad would like them all that much. They pack dynamite into these tracks and they are blowing that shit up. Fast furious full of sexual energy , The Hip Priests are the kind of Band that the preacher was warning us against in 1956 as they burned rock n roll records in the city square. Now, I’m not talking about the cool hip Mom and Dads, I’m talking about those that have those cute little stick figures stuck to the rear window of their SUV that have a bumper sticker about listening to some radio station safe for little kids ears. These are the kids that will play The Hip Priest real loud down in their bedroom and they will be telling Mom and Dad, that things are not okay and they will define what their generation considers rock n roll and they won’t give two shits as to what Mom and Dad think… LONG LIVE ROCK, now go listen to The Hip Priests…….
Hi our name is…. The Hip Priests
People say we sound like…..
Well one review specifically said ‘Turbonegro in a head-on collision with the Dwarves while Lemmy & Iggy sit watching the carnage over a crate of beer’… Someone else said ‘It’s 6am, you’ve been out all night drinkin and druggin and you’ve just brought the hottest, punk rock girl home with ya. You’ve just done the last of yr gear, cracked another beer and stuck the Stooges on the stereo at blistering volume. The sun’s coming up, yr fucking this smoking hot girl and she’s moaning in yr ear. That’s what The Hip Priests sound like’….. I can’t disagree too much with either of those really. Throw in some quality Scandinavian rock, and UK and aussie punk rock and you’re probably about there!
We are…..
Nathan Von Cruz – Yelling , Moaning. Lee Love – Squealing + Filthy bottom end, Austin Rocket on groaning, licking’ and furious fingering and the legend that is Skintight Tim on Boozing, Beating and Bangin’. (That translates to vocals, bass, guitar n drums by the way).
We are originally from…..
Well, we’re based in the wild city of Nottingham but I’m an exiled Londoner who got sick of the big city posers and came in search of like- minded oversexualised fucktards to create some real rocknroll.
Who are some that have an influence on your sound??
Zodiac Mindwarp, The Stooges, MC5, Turbonegro, Gluecifer, New Bomb Turks, Midnight Evils, The Damned, Hellacopters, RFTC, Sex Pistols, The Boys, The Ramones, Radio Birdman, Nashville Pussy, all that kinda quality rock’n’roll shit is our DNA.
The first time we met was…..
Probably crouched in a filthy piss flooded toilet cubicle in some shitty rock bar….. I think ‘Search and Destroy’ was playing.
We knew we were going to be a Band…
When it was evident no other fucker would, one, put up with me and my crazed dictatorial complex and that no-one else we knew shared the same pure passion for making the kinda lubed up, amped up, sexed up rock ‘n’ roll noise we’re capable of making. Oh, and no-one could keep up with our drinkin’
Books we recommend …
Please Kill Me, Trainspotting, Apathy for the Devil, Wild Highway, Crucify me again, Bad Wisdom, Diary of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, Commando, Get in The Van, England’s Dreaming, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, Psychotic Reactions And Carburetor Dung,100 Artists’ Manifestos – From the Futurists to the Stuckists, Open up and bleed, Razzle, Men Only, MC5 Sonically Speaking, The Second Coming. Most men’s hand shandy ediorials found on the top shelf or obscured in garages/petrol stations.
Our craziest gig ever was….
Haha. There too many stories to even start on but the show in Croatia where there were loads of hot sixteen year olds on what seemed to be local crazy home brew going totally fuckin mental, Nathan swung off an overhead water pipe causing an impromptu rainstorm on the dance pit, a member of the band (who best not be named) wandered off during a mid song breakdown to then be found then otherwise erm….engaged with a young lady was pretty good. The one at the high security prison is still too scary to recount.
If you could pick any time to travel back to for music, where would you go and what year would it be….
Fuck that’s tough. Can I have two? I’d have to go for 1972 just to see the Stooges at the Scala in London and the MC5 in 1968 at the Grande Ballroom. Fuck – or the Pistols at the 100 club in 1976.. Aaargh! Thats Three!
Growing up ,at home we listened to…..
All the shit we listed previously plus maybe things like Adam and The Ants, The Banshees, Northern Soul, 60s mod and psych..fucking lots and lots of stuff.
What tunes are you currently jamming to…
The New Fucked Up album, Bob Mould, The RamRods, A Radio Birdman resissue and our new album ‘Black Denim Blitz’ which is frankly fucking amazing.
If you could open for any Band right now who should that be and why?
Well, they’re past their best but just so we can quite literally be passed on the proverbial torch I’d say what’s left of uncle Iggy ‘n’ his Stooges…
When you are touring and have some time off, where could we find you..
You’d find me in the corner of my local pub pissed chewing a piss stained old pencil cackling hysterically to myself while I write the next genius song. Otherwise, I’ll be winning money offa people playing darts and chatting up the local talent – well, gettin’ em’ to ply me with drink. The other boys will likely be working out, drinking, fucking or down the sauna.
The one (or more) thing(s) we want you to remember while you’re listening to us
We’re one of the greatest bands ever – dont trust us with your mothers or kid sisters – or maybe even brothers for that matter. Oh, and our modesty, sexual prowess is unparalleled
listen to the new album…..
and this 7 as well….
and you can follow/keep up with The Hip Priests