Tell us about this tour. With the legend Billy Idol. Highlights? Teachable moments etc.
KELSY: I was walking backstage on the second night of tour and Steve Stevens stopped me and asked if he could come on stage with US and perform with US. You just don’t see that really… the headliner wanting to perform with the opener. He ended up doing it a few times, but the first time he did it was one of the best moments of my life. Billy Idol stood side stage filming us while I screamed my heart out and played guitar with one of the greatest. Funny enough, at that same show, the venue made posters for Billy and us to sign. We were also on that poster, which was truly fucking insane because the picture they used of Billy has been on my wall for years. Then they asked me to come on stage on the last show to perform the encore. I’ll never get over the fact that one of my heroes believes in us.
Why is your band called the Heroines? How did you come up with that?
KELSY: Although people know me best as Kelsy Karter – we’ve been a band for a while now. I didn’t get to where I am because some suit in his ivory tower gave me a green light. I got here by pure wit and nerve, and with the blood sweat and tears that my band, my team, and my fans have invested over the years. So I wanted to write that in ink..make it official. We were sitting around my house in England one day listening to music and The Velvet Underground “Heroin” came on. So we threw the E in there and called it a day.
Photogrpahy Whitney Otte @whittneyotte
Graphic Design Diana Flynn @dianaflynn_
Interview Luca Di Fabio @luca_difabio_music
Most favorite city or crowd you played for so far and why?
TOMMY: Utrecht, Netherlands. Crowd and atmosphere never disappoints, even after baking in the hot sun on the pedalo tour just before.
KELSY: New York City has a special place in my little heart. We always sell it out and it is my favourite city in the world.
SEBASTIAN: Manchester – I used to live there so it’s dear to me, and you know if there’s one group of people that know good music when they hear it, it’s Mancunians.
PEACH: London – best castle/cathedral and the three encores at the end of our last headline show there.
What do you think constitutes Rock n Roll these days and how can you be a genuine rock artist in 2023?
KELSY: Rock & Roll isn’t about being hard and fast and aggressive all the time. Sure, it can be, but it’s also raw and tender and delicate. The most rock & roll thing you can do is be yourself, cut open your wounds and bear your soul. A “true rock artist” is a storyteller. And they don’t give a shit if people don’t understand them and their music or not. It’s a spirit, an attitude, a way of life.
PEACH: And yes, a lot of sweat and guitar solos 😉
Most bizarre or weird tour anecdote?
KELSY: One that sticks out is when our bus generator broke down after a gig in Florida and we had no lights, no A/C and no power. We had to “sleep” through the night to Atlanta but my back lounge was over the engine so I was stuck in 140 degree heat and had to go to hospital the next day because I couldn’t even lift my head from chronic dehydration. I refused to cancel a gig so they gave me an IV, antibiotics and steroids. The show must go on. Ha!
Tell us about this new track. What does it mean to you? What inspired it?
KELSY: Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched my best friends go through horrible heartbreaks, and I wanted to write something that was fun and gave some hope but also in the nicest way possible, encourage them to get the fuck over it and realize that love goes on…
Favorite song of yours and why?
TOMMY: “Goodness Gracious” – It’s a pure rock track. The way it kicks into the chorus and hits you like a brick in the face. Deffo my favourite to play live as well.
KELSY: “God Knows I’ve Tried” – This was the first song I wrote off the first album, purely because I needed to heal myself. Seeing the crowd resonate with something that was written so personal to me, is a real special feeling. Oh and “Cover You” – cause it’s just a fucking amazing tune.
What do you think the rock and punk scene is lacking these days?
KELSY: I told Rolling Stone Magazine my very strong opinions on this last year. Obviously I love that there’s guitars in mainstream music again, but what sometimes cheapens it for me, is that people wait for something to be a trend before they feel comfortable doing it themselves. Punk, by definition, is a subculture, so if you wanna be a rockstar, you’re gonna have to be okay with not fitting in and conforming, but instead find what makes you unique and do it your way.
PEACH: Timeless choruses and the ability for a musician to fire off 2 guitar solos a minute in any weather whilst tracking them to tape.
What’s the record that introduced you to rock and music in general?
PEACH: I think it was probably Guns n Roses Live. There’s video evidence of me singing “Sweet Child o’ Mine” whilst unwrapping presents on my 2nd birthday. And shortly thereafter, I was apparently sent home from nursery for singing the rather profane lyrics to “Bad Obsession” word for word.
KELSY: My Dad brought me up on 60s soul and The Beatles, which is how I learned how to sing. But I discovered rock & roll on my own – The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Bowie, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Green Day, Janis Joplin… that’s when things changed for me. There wasn’t one record, it was more of a feeling I got when I watched them all.
SEB: I was introduced to music as a kid through playing GTA Vice City and listening to hours on end of V-Rock radio station. Soon enough my Mum heard and bought me a Descendents CD from HMV, from then it was all over.
TOMMY: My introduction to music was listening to a sample of the bass guitar on my grandpa’s computer. It had a bass solo played on a Steinberger XT-2.
