Montreal circa mid 90’s: Five girl grazy teenage boys who share a love for Bo Diddley, the Ramones, and raiding their parent’s liquor cabinet formed a band called the Spaceshits. They did two albums, a bunch of singles, toured the US several times (all of which that included a couple day layover at my digs) and a tour of Europe. While in Germany, bassist Blacksnake got konked on the head by a Mojo bag, reinvented himself as King Khan and now leads the life as a legitimate rock star in that country fronting 7 piece soul band the Sensational Shrines. Fellow former band member Mark Sultan went on in Les Sexareenos, who had a good track record declared by more than a few people as the best garage punk band ever touring not only the US and Europe but a trip to Japan as well. After the band dissolved last year Mark found himself with some new songs but no outlet to play them he sat down in a wooden chair with his guitar, put a foot pedal equipped drum in front of him and started wailing away. Taking the act out on the road he eventually ended up in Euope once again and crossing paths with his former bandmate. Being the hardest working soulman in Germany King Khan was persuing at a similar trip to kill the time between talk show and personal appearances. They eventually starting working and writing together again and played some shows together as a two man “one man band.” King Khan decided it was time to return to North America to visit family & friends which then developed into a reason to take it on tour here. (This interview by Dale originally apeared in the January 2005 issue of Blue Root.)
It seems that with most people these days that if you say "One Man Band" they think you are talking about someone who own his own recording facilities, plays all the instruments and produces songs by multi-tracking. How far are they off with such an assuption when it comes to what you do?
BBQ: I'd like to think that if I was constantly multi-tracking with real instruments, that it would sound a million times better, but in a bad studio way. I try to record as live as possible to capture a shitty but honest sound. I know it could sound better but then what's the point?
King Khan: Well I believe when you use the term one man band it means you use all the parts of your body at once to stimulate and titillate the ears of everybody with the magical sound that comes out without any kind of fancy crap. Something like that man who farts “PAPA OO MOW MOW” in Pink Flamingos.
What was the inspiration that led you to starting a one man band?
King Khan: Well my inspiration, was 10% low self esteem, 10% halitosis, 20% boredom, 30% Hasil Adkins, and 30% Beatman. I just figured why the hell not, I got time, I aint goin nowhere. It’s either that or getting a facial tattoo that says ANTI-SOCIAL…or maybe Buddy Holly glasses. I loved Hasil Adkins ever since my brother-in-law put “Highschool Confidential” on a mix tape for me when I was 18 years old. I was really impressed that Hasil could do the song even better than the Killer himself, all by himself. I bought my daughter a lil baby drum kit about three years ago and wound up using it more than her. So I started playing at parties and did some gigs. I even played with Bruce Brand (Headcoats, Mighty Caesers) on snare drum and we called it King Khan and his One and a Half Man Band. My set up was real simple, tamborine on left foot and baby drum on the right, my guitar named Brucilla and a kazoo named kazoo. I had hooked up a papier mache chicken on the bass drum called it Chuck. He had googly eyes and chattering teeth and danced to every bass drum hit. He was stolen after a gig in London.
BBQ: Desperation. And a need to play some songs i had in my pocket but the joke's gone too far.
What led to you guys to joining forces as a two man one band?
BBQ: We had 'jammed' while I was on visit to Germany and it all seemed to click. We kept making songs up, having fun. Then when we played shows, the crowd would go bonkers so it all made sense
King Khan: We played a bunch of shows together and would do some jamming together at the end. After a while we started writing a load of songs together and it was sounding really good. Some girl once came up to us after a show and said we sounded like an orchestra. I don’t know what she was smoking but it was a nice compliment. It’s a bit frustrating being a part of the whole one man universe because it can feel like masterbating in public. Which I was forced to stop doing because of some hefty court orders. We basically decided to just join forces because it is much easier to spread the rock n roll gospel when you have four arms and four legs, like an octopus. Yes, a two-headed rock-n-roll octopus that is what we have become.
Which one of you is the lover? Which one the fighter?
BBQ: I'm neither. I’m more like the moper.
King Kahn: I am the lover and BBQ is definitely the moper. We leave the fighting for the stupid people.
How do you react when an Elvis song comes over the radio?
King Kahn: I stop the car and have a moment of silence. Maybe light a candle, eat some incense and fart sweet smoke out of me bum bum. You should see what happens when I hear a Chuck Berry song on the radio...
BBQ: They hardly play Elvis in Quebec, although he a mega-icon here. IfIi did hear him (or listen to the radio, for that matter), I suppose I'd just be happy it ain't some shit like Ashlee Simpson or whatever.
What do you think about dudes who claim that they're the HOOTCHIE COOTCHIE MAN? What is a Hootchie cootchie man and how many can there actually be?
King Kahn: I think that the hootchie cootchie man is like a black golem (Please note that this has nothing to do with Lord of the Rings). You know that monster who is supposed to tear the city to shreds and everyone in it. The big difference is that Hootchie Cootchie man has a soft spot for hot women and whiskey and never quite perfects his destructive ways because he is always distracted by his sexual desires. I think dudes can have hootchie cootchie man in them but claiming to be one is a sure fire sign that they either got shoes on that are way too big or their wearing underwear on that is way too tight.
BBQ: There are officially 4 that are licensed. I call bullshit on the others. Apparently, though, all of them are 'fuckin’ losers'.
It's been a long time since either of you set foot on Port Huron soil-Any particular plans you have while visiting here?
BBQ: Seeing old pals and drinking with local nuts. The last time i was down there were drunken shotgun threats and people safety pinning themselves for kicks.
King Khan: I would like to smoke the local fish oils, maybe start a hemp plantation like your forefathers did in the back of some local K-marts, run for mayor under the alias Ravi Macdonald. I think with a name like that I could totally have a chance at being the first Indian president. Start my own chain of gangs and maybe play a show if we have time left.
It's gonna be the dead of winter (Feb 2nd) when you roll through here. Is that going to be a hinderence for firing up my grill?
BBQ: No way!!! I haven't grilled in the winter since the Montreal ice storm a few years back!
King Khan: Hell no!!! Maybe start warming it up now, so by the time I get there your grill will be glowing red and we’ll be able to find your place by opening the windows a bit and smelling that burnt fat smell that I love so much.
Read a previous Smashin' Transistors interview with King Khan here
