Gloryholes, Lollipops and Jet Set Legs
Interview with The Lord Vivian Pleasure - The Pleasure by Nicola “Nix” Crichton

Self branded “The Rebirth of Glam rock” they are riddled with clever and naughty lyrics and treat their listeners to a delightful twist of hard rock and even a pinch of metal. Meet The Pleasures (clockwise) - General Razz (drums), Dancette (vocals), Lord Vivian (guitar/vocals), Sensai Scot Alexiell (bass) and Neo Patra (guitars).

I first came across The Pleasures through a good friend of mine. James from Riot Promotions had taken it upon himself to put on a mini tour with a band who I’d not heard much about at all. I did a bit of research on The Pleasures and the first picture I saw had me in awe - I’d never seen so much make up and glitter on a band of boys and was highly intrigued to hear what they sounded like. They’re right, they do look like they sound and the other way round. After a few listens I finally got what The Pleasures are all about.

I went to see them live last summer and Pure Rawk did a review of the show at Lark in The Park (see reviews). They were sandwiched between a strange beepy boppy indie band and an awful imitation of a rock band - visually they most certainly stood out but music wise they had it nailed. Their extravagant stage show laced with glitter tape and feather boas is highly underpinned with a great technical ability and as a band they are really tight.

They’re back in August doing (at time of writing) five dates in the UK, including the support for Red Light Rippers on 15th August. The Lord Vivian Pleasure took a few minutes out to talk to Nix about how TP got together, how it all started, their next UK tour and how the last one went, the new line up, their second album and wanting to play a gig on Mars ...

N: Why chose the name 'The Pleasures'?
TL: It was the moment Dancette and me founded the band. It was like "Let's just take a real awkward name like THE PLEASURES or THE FUCKERS or THE PURPLE PENIS..." So we chose the first idea.

N: A little bit about you?
TL: I can't decide if I should tell you all the rumours about me on MySpace or something true ... I'm a regular, sober and grounded guy from Germany. And I love to play games. My favourite game is Glam rock.

N: How did TP form?
TL: Actually it was a very spontaneous idea, Dancette and me were frustrated with our other bands this time. And we wanted to do a little side project to live out our musical dreams. It became much, much more than that.

N: How did you get the idea for your image?
TL: There was no idea and there is no image. In the beginning we just did what we did without thinking, and so we kind of build the base for all of that. Now we just keep on going where our hearts lead us.

N: How would you describe the music that TP makes?
TL: Glam rock? I know this term doesn't really fit. I cannot and I don't wanna categorize this. We look like we sound and the other way round.

N: You guys seem to have a good world wide following, what makes TP different from any other band out there?
TL: Look at us and listen! I don't know any other band that is similar to us. Maybe because we're unique, maybe because the stuff we do is so fucked up that no one else wants to do this kinda crap.

N: You guys were in the UK last year, tell us about the last tour? How did that tour come about? What type of reaction did you get?
TL: People in England wanted us to rock their country, so some good friends helped us to get this tour sorted, like the next one in August this year. We expected much more bands like us in the UK, but there was no glam. We've found it kinda weird that even the people in London looked at us like we were aliens.

N: What’s the difference between UK rock and German rock from what you've seen?
TL: You guys seem to have, beside all those oasis-copies, a lot more sleaze rock, while Germany is more a true metal imperium.

N: "Greatest Hits" was your debut album, why chose a title like that for your first album?
TL: Because the title shows our passion of megalomania.

N: Where do you get the inspiration from the songs from?
TL: Love, Sex and people I meet. The songs and the lyrics are getting more personal for the next album, it's not just "move along, here we come!"-songs anymore.

N: You've had a couple of band member changes since "Greatest Hits" was released, tell us about the newer members of the band?
TL: First there's Neo, the guitar player, his first show was the one in Nottingham last year. He's a brilliant guitarist and makes me jealous on his style of moving on stage. Razz is the new drummer boy, which is a walking and talking drum machine. With him the songs get much more in-ya-face and to-the-point. And he's a great motherfucker, I never wanna play without him again.

N:You've got a new album out this year, tell us about that?
TL: The albums gonna be called OH YEAH. It's gonna be a double album with on very sensitive part called OH and a real 80s power part called YEAH.

N: Favourite bands that you have worked with?
TL: Malice In Wonderland and Big Boy.

N: Favourite band, other than TP at the moment?
TL: The Ark.

N: Favourite TP song on record?
TL: "Honeymoon In Venice" and on the upcoming record it's "Agape".

N: Favourite TP song to play live?
TL: "Skull Hammer"

N: Favourite song of all time?
TL: "Right Were It Belongs" or "The Great Below" by Nine Inch Nails.

N: Favourite drink?
TL: Strawberry juice and alcohol-free beer.

N: An interesting fact that not a lot of people would know about you (the band or yourself)?
TL: I'm a girl.

N: What are the plans for TP for this year?
TL: Our plans are to enlighten the lives of as many people as possible with what we're doing. And try to get a gig on Mars.

Check out the Official TP MySpace at www.myspace.com/thepleasuresmusic or their Official Website at www.thepleasures.de. They're on tour in the UK in August (featuring the Pure Rawk gig on the 15th August) and also at Trash-Stock 07. Words - Nix, promo shots courtesy of The Pleasure’s Official MySpace. Live Shots courtesy of Louise Delahunty of Decadent Soul Photography.

© Pure Rawk 2007