During my high school years in Jersey, I was enamored with just about every artist on the Wax Trax! roster. For those who don’t know, Wax Trax! was a legendary Chicago-based “industrial music” label that consistently put out quality releases throughout the late 80s – mid 90s (early Ministry, KFMDM, Revolting Cocks to name some of the more recognizable artists). One of my most prominent musical memories was getting the label’s “Black Box” video anthology on VHS and watching it incessantly. I set up my stereo so that I could rock out to the audio from the TV. I still have those tapes. Unfortunately due to a parental ban on going to concerts in nearby New York City, I never got to see many of those bands during their peak years before they broke up.
One of those few exceptions was My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, who I was finally able to see in 1998. While the band was several years removed from their brief flirtation with mainstream recognition with appearances in “The Crow” and a major label deal with Interscope, there were still remnants of the bands glory days to be witnessed. Back then the band was known for having an ensemble feel to it, with an average of about 8 or 9 members on stage at any time. I remember during the show someone was mounted on a crucifix made of mirrors while they received simulated (I think) fellatio. It was a memorable show to say the least. After that, I spent a couple years away goth/industrial music and didn’t see the band again until 2003. By this time, the scene to which they were once a part of was long gone. The show was awful. They had been reduced to a trio, and it was kind of sad to see.
Fast forward to 2007, and I go to the see the band again. Fucking awesome. They came out as a 5-piece and it was as close to the old days as you could hope for.
The next year they come back and this time there’s no live drummer and no bass player. Sad panda.
So this past summer, the band announces that they’re going on tour with Lords of Acid. I figure I’d roll the dice and go see them again hoping this would be a bigger budget tour so maybe I’ll get at least a full band. Not quite, but it didn’t turn out to be such a bad thing. Both longtime bass player Levi and backup singer Jacky Blacque made their return to the band, joining core members Groovie Mann and Buzz McCoy. While they were without a live drummer again (I was told the drummer had been injured on a previous stop on the tour), it was a pretty solid “greatest hits” set, and any Friday night spent watching TKK perform isn’t the worst way to start a weekend.
Download: My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult: Disko Fleshpot (Live)
[jwplayer config=”CustomPlayerAudio” file=”http://thesoundofindie.com/archive/2011/20110113/TKK-Disko-Fleshpot.mp3″]
Download: My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult: Kooler Than Jesus (Live)
[jwplayer config=”CustomPlayerAudio” file=”http://thesoundofindie.com/archive/2011/20110113/TKK-Kooler-Than-Jesus.mp3″]
I saw them once, probably the same ’98 tour as you, in Minneapolis. It was an afternoon show which made for a little bit of an odd show. The sun shining through the windows doesn’t make for a very sexy/scary setting.