Not only is Ginger alive, but the Wildhearts are too. After almost 20 years of keeping fans, critics and record executives perched on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next dramatic tour bust up, near fatal drug overdose or magazine office trashing, they’re still doing the one thing they have always done best. It’s the one thing that was always more important than the controversy and the chaos: hard rock with a heart. Their enduring ability to pack a poppy punch – no matter how hard the riff – is what, combined with the unlikley pairing of fuck-the-world attitude and proven musical intellect, has forged them a place in the hearts of British rock fans for two decades.

No one could have predicted that a band that made crashing and burning an art form would pull through, heads held high, and be around in 2009, looking great and sounding awesome, to deliver a highly polished, ultra-modern rock record like Chutzpah!, which is out at the end of the month on Backstage Alliance.

Having rarely lasted more than a year with one line-up, the band have been in their current form – Ginger, CJ, Rich and fresh meat Scott Sorry – since 2006. Could this be a sign that they’re older and wiser now? Or has Ginger finally found the perfect formula? Either way we thought it would be best to get the low-down from the man himself, so read on…

ROTR: Let’s start with the new record. What would you say to your fans to prepare them for hearing it?

Ginger: It sounds more expensive than anything we’ve done before and everyone who’s already heard it loves it to bits.

Which song was the hardest to write and why?

There’s a song called Vernix, that won’t make the final album. It’s three and a half minutes of twists and was a bit of a challenge. Absolutely mental stuff.

Which was the easiest?

A song called ‘Mazel Tov Cocktail’, which seems to be the second most popular song on the album. It’s so simple that I still don’t think it’s finished. Writing simple songs comes really difficult to me.

Looking back to when you first handed Don’t Be Happy, Just Worry to the label way back when, how did handing over this record compare? Do you feel the same excitement or is it different now?

Back then there was tangible excitement in finishing something, now it’s more like relief. We kind of know what were doing now, so it’s not such a surprise when it ends up sounding good. Jesus, we’ve been doing this for 20 years, we’d better be quite good at it now.

With Scott now a mainstay in the band, and a solid line up that’s lasted two consecutive records, have the Wildhearts found a stability you think will last?

I absolutely think that, 100%. I wouldn’t want anyone to leave this line up, and if someone did leave it would undoubtedly be the end of the band.

Is Scott a good influence on you, creatively and/or personally? He seems to be your right hand man these days.

Scott is my brother. He tells me when I’m being negative, he’s been through the wars with me and he amazes me as a lyricist. His energy is one of the main driving forces behind the band now.

You hand the reins over to Scott and CJ more than usual on this record – was it difficult to surrender some of your control? Was it democratic or did you still have the final say? Did you ever have to bite your tongue?

Sometimes I have more of a final say than I’d like, for instance doing all the interviews about an album that was such a team effort. It’s nice that people want to speak to me, but it seems a little inappropriate. I’d like to keep pushing the democracy angle in this band. I’d like this to feel increasingly more like a team, and for that I’m prepared to hand over 75%of the control.

The Wildhearts have always been traditionalists in terms of releasing records on all formats, with proper b-sides. How do you think the digital download age has influenced or is influencing the band’s approach to making records?

We don’t sell enough albums for the digital revolution to affect us too much. Our fans still buy our albums and we’ll keep on making them. I’m not buying this ‘the album is dead’ bullshit. You can believe what you want to believe but your reality isn’t necessarily mine. I don’t see albums, books or DVDs becoming obsolete in my lifetime, and I remember when people were saying that concerts were going to die out.

This time last year you were playing the Earth Vs 15th Anniversary show. How does it feel to have a legacy?

It doesn’t mean a great deal to me. All the bands I like are lifers and I would have expected the same for us. Maybe the 25th anniversary will mean more, or the 50th, but the 15th? We’re just getting warmed up.

Do you consider yourself to be British rock legends now, or do you still have something to prove?

We really haven’t done enough yet to be called legends, although one day I’d like to feel that we’d achieved that status. We still have an awful lot to prove, mostly to ourselves.

What are your biggest fears in terms of the future of the band?

I don’t have any. The future is none of my business, so I’m happy to live in the moment.

And what are your biggest hopes?

That we manage to make a living at doing this, and get recognition as simply a good band, not just a soap opera. We’d also like to have an audience in every country that loves rock music. One day I’d like us to be able to play proper world tours in support of our albums.

Is writing therapy for you or is it something you just can’t not do?

Absolutely both! I couldn’t stop writing as long as there are things to inspire me, but as therapy this ability that I was blessed with has worked much in the way that antidepressants and counseling work on others. Music has got me through some really tough times. It really is a blessing.

Do you find your solo work is an escape from the Wildhearts, or are they inextricably linked? Do you ever get ideas for Wildhearts songs when you’re working on solo stuff, and vice versa?

I usually write for an entire album, so I don’t tend to mix up my duties. Although The Wildhearts used a couple of songs on this album originally written for my next solo album. They’re just songs, y’know? Meaningless until they mean something to someone.

Through the ups and downs of your life, both personally and with the band, what keeps you going?

Writing new songs. Just the thrill of creating something that didn’t exist before I breathed life into it. It’s something that amazes me, and confounds me.

Any regrets?

Everything got me here. Regrets would be so ungrateful.

If you had to name now the most perfect song you have written what would it be?

I’m still trying to write it. And I live in dread that I will one day succeed!

Chutzpah! is out on August 31st, and the band’s UK tour starts on September 17th in Brighton, ending in London on October 1st. Full details here.

Follow Ginger on Twitter here. Amazing.

They say so here.

As you can see bass player Tommy Dean loves us the most.

We caught up with the guys in London’s legendary Crobar after their blistering, blood drenched industry showcase at the 100 Club last night. We’ve got a real treat of a feature on everyone’s favourite Norwegian rock deviants in the next issue of the zine. Sweet.

Thanks to Hydar for the photo – www.dewachi.com.

If we were dickheads, we’d go round telling people about how we were there when White Denim broke, man. You know, SXSW 2007, when a series of blistering home town shows earned the Austin threesome more than just a few high fives. Everyone’s been banging on about them ever since, and we don’t blame ‘em.

But how much do we really know about White Denim? They’re a power trio for a start. They’re male, that’s for certain. They don’t have two songs that sound the same – or even like they’re by the same band. They’ve been releasing different stuff in the Europe to back home. It’s all terribly confusing but the good thing for us is they have a new record, out this week in the UK, called Fits. It swings from deep bassy rumblings and chaotically multi-layered drum tracks to psychedelic jams, still staying faithful to the song-structure-is-for-losers way of doing things.

Even better news is that they’re touring all over the UK for the next two weeks, finished in London on July 8th. You can check out all the dates on their myspaz here.

In the meantime, have a gander below at what drummer Josh Block had to say for himself when we fired some buring questions his way.

ROTR: To what extent do you feel the band has been put through the UK music scene hype machine and how do you view the industry over here?

JB: We feel like we’ve been chewed up and spit out and that no one gets us or will get us, but we love that. We view the industry over there as a really clean, courteous, place that has no good Mexican food.

ROTR: Why do you think English fans have taken to you so well? Do you get a better reception here than at home?

JB: They love our American accent. We do not receive any reception in the trailer, unfortunately.

ROTR: Given that for the last 2 years you’ve seemed to be everyone’s new favourite new band – who do you think is good right now?

JB: I doubt that we are “everyone’s” favorite band because if that were so my girlfriend wouldn’t want to dump me. On a side note, I think that Black Sabbath’s new record is really dark and good.

ROTR: Choosing a band name can be a real minefield. What shit ideas did you bandy around before settling on White Denim?

JB: It was pretty much White Denim, White Dinner, Dwight Venom, and Totally Revolution.

ROTR: Coming from Austin, was it frustrating not being able to use the chat up line “I’m in a band”, because everyone is?

JB: Not frustrating at all because we still got mad honeys regardless. But really, I can’t think of a question besides “Who is in a band?” that would yeild the response “I’m in a band”.

ROTR: Was it embarrassing when you broke out at SXSW 2007 in your home town – did you get any stick from the scene there and was there a sense of competition?

JB: Yes, we’re just a bunch of frustrated, embarrassed, shy, confused individuals and when we read on a blog that we were the breakout band because of SXSW we considered moving to Lincoln, Nebraska, but then we ultimately decided to just leave the country for a few months. When we got back everyone was congratulatory.

ROTR: We’ve been to SXSW twice and were struck by how cool everyone is. But in Austin is it cooler to be uncool, because everyone is cool?

JB: You nailed it. There are an incredible amount of uncool people making very uncool music and it’s great. Their bands last 3-5 weeks, and it’s so neat to see the uncool unfold nonstop. After 3-5 weeks it becomes cool and then everything must stop.

ROTR: Every good power trio needs a trio of powers. What are your respective super powers?

JB: James can make nuclear fajitas, Josh can make dizzying daquiris, and Steve can run fast.

ROTR: Listening to your music it’s clear that you value the importance of production techniques in achieving your sound how does this translate in to your live performances?

JB: We approach the live setting and our recordings separately. We don’t wear our shirts in the studio and we sweat less.

ROTR: Let’s Talk About –what? What are your top three topics of conversation?

JB: Language, athleticism, human waste.

ROTR: We heard a rumour you like your food. How on earth do you stay so slender? Is rock and roll a real calorie burner?

JB: Indeed. Have you seen the amount (in ounces) of sweat that we leave on the stage? That and powerball.

ROTR: Have you ever considered getting tattoos of each other? If no, does that mean you’re not committed to the band?

JB: Never. We’ve only thought of getting tattoos of very patriotic ideas that each of us have come up with. That would display the ultimate commitment to one another.

ROTR: What should we expect from Fits? Given the success you’ve had with Workout Holiday, was the writing and recording process different for the new record?

JB: You can at least expect onr more song than Workout Holiday for a total of twelve. We already had Fits completed before we realized how much pressure we were going to have making a second record, from blogs like you and other publications. Really, Fits is our first record.

ROTR: Why is it called Fits?

JB: Because that’s what we were throwing nonstop while recording this record and while we were away touring.

ROTR: Is it true you once recorded in a caravan? What are the pros and cons of trailer life?

JB: We still do record in a caravan. We are in the caravan now. Pros: Mean roof bronzing action, colorful neighbors, we can go and scream outside and no one calls the cops. Cons: chiggers, deer poop, scorpions, hippies.

There you have it – straight from the trailer to the Riot. So what have we learned? They’re bronzed. They got mad honeys regardless. They like to talk shit.

SBR X

Go to www.bandstandbusking.com to see the videos of the gig.

Hey hey rioters!

We thought it would be good to update you all on the next rather wonderful issue of Riot on the Rocks. We’ve got loads of cool stuff going in it, new writers on board and some great new bands you might not have heard of.

 This weekend we are bravely going where few journalists dare – and interviewing the ridiculously raucous Black Lips (above) before their headline NME show in Islington, London. Here’s hoping they’ve got posession of their passports after being chased out of India the other week. We’ve heard the new album (out 16th March), and it falls somewhere between Let It Bloom and Good, Bad, Not Evil – shambolic and pointedly unpolished one minute, and upbeat pop the next. They’ll be showcasing it at SXSW so fingers crossed for some crazy shows in Austin this year.

Also on the way in issue 4 one of our new writers, Rohan, is interviewing two-girl Canadian blues rockers The Pack A.D, I catch up with the long-locked legend that is Sebastian Bach, plus The Cut in the Hill Gang- the new project from the Soledad Brothers’ Johnny. Add to that a spot of obscure Japanese psychedelia from Boningen, the ever entertaining Jay Reatard, King Kahn and a whole lot more besides.

 The hard copy zine is due out Friday 13th March – get in touch now to pre-order a copy!

Over

SBR x

ROTR has been rubbish at this whole blogging thing. We admit it. Major fail.

To summarise, 2008 was, in no particular order: ATP Vs Pitchfork, Glastonbury, Flaming Lips at Lovebox (and Wayne Coyne introducing a screening of Christmas on Mars), loads of chaotic Jay Reatard and Black Lips shows, a lot of Marah, three trips to Sweden, hanging out with Speedo and the Night Marchers, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, a healthy dose of Billy Childish, a motivational lecture from Andrew W.K., the Hellacopters splitting up, Gallows at the 100 Club, The Hold Steady, the return of Bosshog, King Khan and and and – relax.

Luckily for all concerned our New Year’s resolution is to get back on it. As well as a brand new issue of the zine firmly lodged in the pipeline, we’ve just booked SXSW 2009,  so we’ll be back on the springtime streets of Austin in no time. It’ll be like 2008 never happened.

 Change is afoot at Riot on the Rocks, with a newly formed and highly collaborative editorial team now on board, you won’t have to rely on me for cool shit on the blog and in the zine – this blog is going to be opened up for all our writers to contribute to and creative control of the zine is also going to committee. We’re hoping this will make for a more exciting, bigger and better mag to take us in to 2009. We also want to hear from anyone else who thinks they have what it takes to get involved – writers, artisits, photographers please email us - info [at] riotontherocks.com. We want rants, interviews, gig photos, previews and reviews of anything rock and roll. Anything.

This year aside from SXSW, we’re looking forward to spending some time in LA, San Francisco and New York again so any tips on bands to check out please let us know. Plus we’ve got Glastonbury, ATP, and a shedload of other shows and festivals on the cards. Stick with us!