Fused - Archive - The Kills

The Romeo and Juliet of rock stand on stage aware only of each other and the dirty punk-disco they create, a mix of noisy reverb and delicious melody. He stares into the dark kohl eyes of the sultry vocalist who groans tunefully into the mic she holds with the urgency and passion she would his hand or his heart. He retorts with hushed growls and guitar rifts that cause her to melt in a heap of hair and contorted bones.

With more sexual chemistry than a vodka and Viagra cocktail VV (Alison Mosshart, formerly of Florida punk-poppers Discount) and Hotel (Jamie Hince of art-punks Scarfo fame) aka The Kills have been bringing us sultry garage rock blues with a subtle side serving of are-they? / aren't-they? smut since the hyped up release of their Black Rooster EP in 2002. The 2004 debut album 'Keep On Your Mean Side' was not only another cock-teasing glimpse into their exclusive world of each other but a optimistic look into how genuine music can be with little more than primal vocals and guitar rifts as raw as a freshly broken heart.

The mythology behind The Kills is all rock, roll 'n' romance; a chance meeting in London as they drift away from their current projects. Then keeping in touch by mailing self-made mix tapes between UK and US, each adding their own sounds and ideas before sending them back. Which eventually led to VV fleeing to London so they could be more than a long distance love of music and more of a full-on musical love affair. Although they were scared of that big trans-Atlantic step, emotionally it all felt right. "She'd moved to London for me," exclaims Hotel. "We had this heart racing, goose flesh, tears in our eyes conversation about what we were going to do with this band."

Passionately chatting about their mutual love of alternative culture from generations lost; like pop art, beat literature and Studio 54, would in turn inspire the title track of their second and current album 'No Wow'. "Those sort of things don't exist anymore," Hotel mourns. "They're synonymous with pretension. 'No Wow' was a tribute to that conversation. There's just no wow anymore." Why do they think that is? "People are just too worried about being down to earth, and down to earth doesn't enter our vocabulary."

Thankfully The Kills are willing to go that extra mile (or should that be thousand miles?) to make outstanding and original music. Taking them a measly 18 days to pen No Wow has the title single documenting the sad state of society and creativity and tracks like 'Love Is A Deserter' giving disconcerting insight into their and many others' relationships. "It's about her in a way," says Hotel nodding to VV. "People say love is the most important thing in the world, but it's kind of overrated. The more you love, the more nihilistic you become, 'cos it can be lost like that. Love is the coward that runs away. But passion stays with you. Right?"
"Right," VV replies, dreamily, almost in awe of his every word.

So they've got the sex and you guessed it drugs too. Latest single 'The Good One's' is a cheeky critique of the hipster party scene and is also a piece of punk-pop perfection from the filthy bass line to the catchy and obsessive lyric, 'Did you get the real good one's?' So, where did the idea for this come from? "We spent more nights last year in New York than we did at home. I mean I love New York but it's the same every night. No one's even embarrassed about it and no one's having much fun either," VV reveals. "Fun has been superseded by the symptoms of fun; getting drunk or high," Hotel adds. "Vodka and cocaine are just watch words for fun and people have become obsessed in the search for those two things." I take it they won't be wanting that vodka and Viagra cocktail then.

As 'The Good Ones' suggests the Kills are concerned very little with the hipsters and fashionista's that make up the intimidating elite that look down at those who lose themselves, and often their shoes, at gigs. Many a critic has dismissed them as pretentious and too cool for school, jobs, personalities etc but they claim they are the opposite. "I'm still at the stage where I want everyone to hear the records," says Hotel. "There's this never ending circle of only cool kids listening to cool music. I'm so sick of that you know. I really want tonnes of ordinary people to hear this record. Even if that means getting on everyone's TV or playing fucking every little town in the world."

Although Romeo and Juliet's story was tragic, it was beautiful; two qualities The Kills re-create. So, fingers crossed you'll be seeing them at your local Working Men's Club soon.

No Wow is out now.

Kerry Eustice