THE BAND'S ‘FULL TILT BOOGIE COULD START A PARTY IN A MORGUE
ladies men
What started out as a joke has become a full-time concern for Eagles of Death Metal. Lori Anderson joins them on tour to find out just why women love them.
hen I first met Jesse ‘The Devil‘ Hughes he
did not strike me as a man at whom frilly
black panties are routinely tossed. Hair slicked back with sweat. eyes shielded by aviator shades and lips shrouded by a long dropping moustache that tnore closely resembled a caterpillar on a cocktail of Rogaine and steroids. he leaned forward and whispered. ‘love that handbag. who is it by‘."
Gazing down at my tan leather clutch bag. I felt it only hospitable to both answer and return the compliment — ‘lt‘s an Yves Saint Laurent and I‘m loving the 1972 San Francisco bathhouse look. Jessef
Two years later and onstage at London‘s Soho Revue bar and the boy is draped in more lace than a Parisienne bordello. courtesy of a near orgasmic audience only too happy to flaunt their availability.
Unlike the typical rock gig. the club is awash with oestrogen as the liagles of Death Metal play an exclusive concert for ladies ()nly‘.
But then again every night is ‘ladies‘ night‘ with these four guys from Southern California. whose kitschy ‘full tilt boogie rock‘n‘ roll‘ could start a party in a morgue.
What started back in l‘)‘)8 as a side-project for
Queens of the Stone Age frontman. Josh Homme. has now truly taken flight and become greater than the stun of its parts.
As the band embark on their first headlining world
tour. Mr Homme. who traditionally plays drums for
the group. is back in LA. replaced by the mercilessly
handsome. ex-QGTSA Gene Trautmann. This leaves all the more love for ‘The Devil‘ Hughes who not only has the best tunes named after him. such as 'Kiss The Devil‘ and 'Chase the [)evil.‘ btit knows how to fill a spotlight.
()nstage Jesse wears jeans so tight even the slinkiest ferret would suffocate before it reached his knee. and is whipping the audience into a spellbound frenzy. Brian ‘Big Hands‘ ()‘Connor may look like Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York. but as he told Chris Shillett. from The Foo Fighters who urged him to box. ‘l‘m a lover not a lighter“. Then there is Dave Catching. whose lab goggle specs are there to protect him from the Promethean sparks leaping from the power chords of his Flying V.
Before gigs the band warm tip like every 17-year- old does before a night out. by blasting out favourite tracks. Tonight the dressing room reverberates to the Sonics and the Damned. Afterwards. it‘s booze. and for the single ones. ‘the lay—deez‘ . . .
The last time the band played Glasgow. the only backstage betty putting her wares about was an
inflatable doll waiting expectantly in the corner of
their dressing room. Tonight back in the bar. as rounds of tequila are going down smooth. the testosterone fuelled rock and roll maelstrom is about
to begin. Jessie is throwing out his boomerang of
love. as he dubs his moustache. and seeing what it brings back. It seems that tonight. someone will succumb to Death By Sexy.
ABC, Glasgow, Mon 5 Mar.
LCD Soundsystem Wee James Murphy might not look like a rock'n’roll star but when his jackhammer electronica hits the live stage he could out do the Kaiser Chiefs for sheer civil disobedience. See preview. page 61. Barrow/and. Glasgow, Fri 9 Mar. (Rock 8. Pop) Gallows OK. so billing them as the greatest punk band since The Clash might be somewhat full on, but this is more about attitude than pure sonics. Their blistering, feral stomp is as simultaneously gnarly and dynamic as you'll hear anywhere. Barfly, Glasgow, Sat 3 Mar. (Rock 8. Pop)
if: Mastodon The biggest and heaviest thing to come out of Atlanta since Outkast’s wardrobe truck, this quartet throw down a majestic, complex blend of prog, rock and hardcore. See preview, page 60. ABC, Glasgow, Wed 7 Mar. (Rock & Pop)
5.: Lily Allen Precocious scenster tart or supreme princess of sublime pop tricks? Both really, but that’s probably why we like her. See feature, page 12. Carling Academy, Glasgow, Thu 8 Mar.
(Rock & Pop)
r ‘ Ballads of the Book Prose meets rock meets poetry meets folk in this most eclectic meeting of most minds. These are special intimate launch shows for the album. See feature, page 16. CCA, Glasgow, Fri 9 Mar. (Rock a Pop)
"' Arcade Fire These dates may be sold out but they represent a first visit by the Canadian septet in what will prove to be a year of return visits promoting Neon Bible. See album review page 62. Barrow/and, Glasgow, Sun 77 & Mon 72 Mar. (Rock & Pop)
1—15 Mar 2002‘ THE LIST 59