Currently on tour, the infectious MADAME MAYHEM, is again thrilling audiences in the US providing main support for SEVENDUST. If you aren’t sure you know whow MADAME MAYHEM, please crawl out from the rock you’ve apparently been hiding under for the last few years because she has performed across the US to thousands of people at venues and events like B.B. King Blues Club, The Roxy, The Viper Room, Bowery Ballroom, Knitting Factory, a residency at The Cutting Room, the Bluebird Café during Grammy®️ nomination week, Shiprocked Cruise 2017 and 2018, Sunfest 2017, Sturgis Buffalo Chip 2017, and has performed on national tours with renowned and respected artists such as DORO, MUSHROOMHEAD, and just completed extensive tour of Europe with FOZZY.
“Really excited to get back on the road and play!,” says Mayhem in a recent press release. “This tour is going to be so much fun. The band and I are thrilled to be supporting SEVENDUST on this run, those guys are like family to us. For this U.S. run, we will be supporting SEVENDUST on their tour, as well as playing some headlining shows of our own in between. These will be shows you will not want to miss. Can’t wait to get on stages and rock out with the crowds, while continuing to spread the music from our newest album, Ready For Me to the masses.”
I had the opportunity to chat with MADAME herself on the phone before they left out to hit the road with SEVENDUST.
CB: Hi, Madame…er…Ms. MAYHEM? Hi there MADAME MAYHEM!! I was just asking my editor over messenger a couple of minutes ago and was waiting for a response ‘How do I address her – what do I call her?’ And then the phone rang – so I was startled because I didn’t want to call you the wrong name! (both laughing)
MM: Hi there! That’s funny!
CB: How are you and first – thank you for taking time out before tour to talk to me! I know you’re crazy busy. Are you excited about the SEVENDUST tour?
MM: Good, I’m good! We are so excited! We just loaded our gear this morning and it is on the way to the first show. And we will be following shortly! So ya, it’s exciting!
CB: Oh my gosh, are you not pooping? I would be like “y’all have to go in another bus, because I’m pooping my pants here!!” Look, SEVENDUST is one of my favorite bands, I mean who doesn’t love SEVENDUST? But I’m a little pissed that there isn’t a Dallas date! I mean, maybe a date will open up, but no Dallas show means I don’t get to see y’all!
MM: Ya, there’s not a Dallas date, maybe it will open up.
CB: I mean, they were here for New Year’s Eve, but I didn’t go because it was like 4 degrees outside. Anyway, let’s talk about War You Started and the video. That song is electric!! I also love the video and the black, white, and pink! Tell me a little about where the lyrics came from in this track.
MM: This entire album is very personal for me, I try and write all of my material, songs about my personal experiences that I had or am having. It really is one of those songs where I’m talking about a person that put you in a position, like don’t do this…I mean, it’s not a physical altercation for me, but more of the ways you try to ignore a person that is constanttly trying to take you down. You can try to ignore this person that is trying cause all of these problems or you are going to turn around and snap. You’re not going to want to bite back, but sometimes you have to.
At the time, there were two situations I was dealing with that were really frustrating me. I wrote the song with CORY LOWERY who produced the album, and CLINT LOWERY of SEVENDUST co-wrote the song. I was sitting with Cory and we were talking about the record and he knew I was frustrated and in telling him the stories, he was like ‘You’re frustrated, why not do the song, write the song about what you’re going through.” And there it was, totally easy to write it and very fun to record and it’s very fun to perform. It’s actually one of my favorite off the record. They’re all my babies, but I love this song.
CB: Ya, I love it too! Again too, the pink, black, and white, really come off well on camera and it’s pretty feminate as well – like girly with an edge, of course.
MM: I’m so glad, it’s getting pretty good attention too so I’m happy about that! The video owas actually directed by my guitarist, GOGI RANDHAWA edited and directed the video.
CB: It had to be cool to work with someone you’re close to or that is close to the music.
MM: We were wanting to do a few videos for this record. And I usually work with a company in LA that I love, but it’s normally me just going out, shooting with extras or whatever. Sometimes, the band isn’t available to come out when it’s time, we’re all in different parts of the country and have different schedules. We did the US run towards the end of 2017 and there was like two days before we went out with FOZZY, right before the record came out. We ended up near Atlanta, not in Atlanta but near it. And Billy Gray, who also plays with FOZZY was there and we met up with him in the studio and play the song over and over. We had all just come off the tour together so we were really comfortable around each other and it was fun. We were there rehearsing for Europe and so it just made sense to do it there. So we just had fun and it just happened. It came out really great!
CB: It is awesome, the video came out great! That cohesiveness you have with the band, it just looks good!
MM: Thank you! I’m glad you like it! It was fun!
CB: So, while we’re talking, I’m putting my make-up on while we chat, after this I”m going to cover a show and I wanted to get your take on being a female in the rock industry. I don’t want to talk cliches, I want to talk reality. There is a difference between women and men, right? Physically it’s visible, duh. That whole difference between a penis and vagina, but there is similarity with being human – we have emotions. And that emotional aspect is what I want to talk about; the feeling part of being a woman and being in the industry that has been more male oriented, now not so much. But I want to talk about being a female, walking into a place and people knowing what you do and who you are, how does doing what you do supercede getting to know you, you know what I mean?
MM: Ya, I do and I always try and say it doesn’t matter being in a band, that it should be about the music, the songs, and it shouldn’t matter if a guy is playing or a girl is singing…but unfortunately it still does, not all the time. But you meet people and situations where you’re a band, you’re the singer and that’s it. That’s great. But a lot of times it’s not. It’s frustrating.
I try to promote being a strong independent woman and encourage them, but I don’t think it should be your entire definition, like ‘I’m a WOMAN in rock’, it’s like well you’re in rock. It’s one of those balancing acts. You want to obviously play to your strengths, and play to whatever that is and not be judged every five seconds. It’s a little hard, but you keep going. And the good news is the people I work with treat me like one of the guys. And my personality is more like that (a guys), so it works out. I mean, there are times when because there’s a woman (in the band), we use that and it works out.
I get this all the time, “I usually don’t like female fronted bands, but you rocked!” And I’m like, I didn’t know it was its own genre ‘female fronted rock’, you know? I’m just doing what I do. But at the same time, it’s awesome that there are so many women that are doing this, so there is a thing for what we do. I mean, I’m for either way as long as opportunity doesn’t get messed up because I’m a female. Sometimes you gotta stay strong, and not get sidetracked or get upset at judgement by others. Push through and rock out, is what I say!
CB: I mean, I totally agree with pushing through and letting things like that roll off or not sweat it. I mean like you were saying, why can’t my work be my work and not attached to genitalia? You know? I think we’re coming to the place where we can see that coming. But it’s evident with the influx of chicks in rock or in music as a whole, that women feel like they can do rock – and that’s what should be celebrated. That there are differences and that women feel like we have things to contribute too and we’re not trying to be the guys, we’re just trying to do what we love, right?
MM: Celebrate it and be cool with it and it should be based on talent, solely! Like I know what you mean it needs to be celebrated!
CB: Like that instant a woman walks in that’s in a band and the thing people are thinking is immediately “Oh wonder how many cocks she had to suck to get here”, you know?!? I mean, fuck that doesn’t happen…(laughing)…and if it does where are these opportunities because no one has offered that application process to me…(laughing).
MM: (Laughing) Exactly…but some people may do that…some people do different things…who knows, it shouldn’t be an overall generalization. I mean, it is what it is. I’m a chick, this is what I do. Get over it, you know?
CB: Totally! Well, I love what you’re doing and I know the fans will love seeing you supporting SEVENDUST and enjoy your success with War You Started off the album READY FOR ME!
We did chat for a few more minutes about stuff that girls talk about but I was really blown away by the confidence that MADAME MAYHEM has in not only what she does, but who she is. The single War You Started is proof that she is not backing down for anyone not only in her personal life, but in her career as well.
MADAME MAYHEM is ready for the world and she says it loud in the tracks off READY FOR ME. Question being, is the world ready for her and further, is the world ready for thousands of us? Because we are here, and since we’re not turning around, if you’re not ready you might wanna get ready.
Here’s the video link to War You Started on YouTube. Catch her on tour and follow her on Facebook for more information and news straight from her camp!
Until Next Time – MRML – Cherri
TOUR DATES:
April 21 – El Paso, TX – Speaking Rock
April 22 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
April 24 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
April 25 – Baton Rouge, LA – Varsity Theater
May 1 – Destin, FL – Club LA
May 2 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
May 6 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
May 8 – Portland, ME – Aura
May 9 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
May 11 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Hall
May 18 – Sturgis, MI – Nikki’s **
May 19 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
May 20 – Belvedere, IL (Rockford) – The Apollo Theater
May 22 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
May 23 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
May 26 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theater
May 27 – Knoxville, TN – The International
May 29 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
May 31 – Muncie, IN – Big Shots**
June 1 – Sioux City, IA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
** Madame Mayhem Headliner
All other dates Madame Mayhem opening for Sevendust
More info: www.MadameMayhem.com
