"Women & Children Last" is out tomorrow.
Wednesday 13 has been a very busy guy over the past 6 years since his first band, the Murderdolls went on hiatus in 2004. Wednesday has put out 3 solo albums, as well as a country-tinged project called Gunfire 76 since Murderdolls partner in crime Joey Jordison had been recording and touring with Slipknot. But now that Jordison is taking time away from Slipknot, he is playing drums with Rob Zombie and him and Wednesday have re-ignited the Murderdolls.
The Murderdolls are gearing up to release their second album, “Women & Children Last”, which is due out August 27th. Wednesday was doing press at the Detroit stop of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival when I got a chance to catch up and talk with him. We discussed the creative reunion between him and Jordison and how all things horror influenced his music to this day.
Here’s my interview with Wednesday 13:
AM: What do you think are the major differences between the new album and the “Valley of the Dolls” album?
W13: This is the first time that we actually sat down and write songs. On the first record, it was a combination of songs that Joey and I worked on while in other bands and we just came together and reworked them in the studio and put the album out. This record, we had 8 years of ideas going on in our heads. We had different ideas, but didn’t have lyrics or music completed on a lot of the songs- so we sat down and worked on those together. We have been saying that this album is a rebirth of the album, or the first true Murderdolls album. This album is 8 years of growth musically, and it’s a real violent rollercoaster.
AM: Did you and Joey always leave room open for a Murderdolls reunion at some point when going on hiatus?
W13: I think we always thought that and texted each other over the years and discussed ideas. But there was a time around 2007 & 2008 where we both kinda thought that it wasn’t ever going to happen. But within the past year, there was more talk about doing another album and especially so in the 6 months prior to recording the album. But prior to that, people would come up and ask me about a new Murderdolls record, and I’d said “F—, I don’t f—in’ know!”. But now, I can sit here and say that it’s done and ready to go.
AM: Did you feel this album came together easier than “Valley of the Dolls”?
W13: The first one was really easy, I tracked a lot of things. But Joey actually worked on a lot of the songs. I would come in and record my vocals or play a guitar part here and there. This time around, we were in the studio for 30 straight days and didn’t take any breaks. I think I might have went to Hooters once (laughs), but other than that- I was just focused on the album.
AM: You enlisted Mick Mars from Motley Crue on the album- how did you come in contact with Mick?
W13: Our tour manager worked for Motley Crue (Mad Manager Sully) and we finished tracking a song. Joey and I were sitting down at dinner one time, saying that the song we did sounded like it needed a “Mick Mars” type solo in it. We do that on occasion- say that something needs an Ace Frehley type riff, or a Slayer riff or something. So, our manager said that why don’t you just get Mick to do it- because he lived down the street from us. We came in, did the solo and f—in’ nailed it. It wasn’t about money or anything, it was about having a good time and getting that sound for that song.
AM: How did horror movies influence when you were growing up in North Carolina when you were younger?
W13: I always somehow balanced a diet between cartoons and horror movies. Whether it was something from G.I. Joe, to the old Universal horror movies. In the 80’s, I was watching all those slasher flicks. I wasn’t really into music until I started paying attention to Alice Cooper. I remember playing with my G.I. Joe’s in front of the TV when I was a kid and saw an TV ad for an upcoming Alice Cooper show and wondered “who the f— is she?” (laughs). My parents thought he bit the heads off chickens and stuff and growing up in North Carolina, that sort of fear in people made me want to do some research and check this out.
AM: You have a lot of projects outside the Murderdolls, are those projects on hold with the new Murderdolls album?
W13: Pretty much. To be honest, I was just biding my time until the next Murderdolls album. As proud as I was of the 3 solo albums I put out, and the Gunfire record- I always knew I wanted to get back and do another Murderdolls album and now we’re here.
The Murderdolls’ new album, “Women & Children Last” comes out August 31st on Roadrunner Records. For upcoming tour dates and band info, check out www.murderdollsband.com
