Kim Nekroman is part evil genius, part European badass and completely twisted.  His psychobilly band, Nekromantix, is Frankenstein’s monster on steroids.  And the band is back on the road this summer so get ready to experience some good ole horror punk action.

Nekroman formed the band in 1989 in Denmark after leaving the Danish army.  With his trusty standup bass, a drummer and a guitarist, the band performed its first gig at a huge music festival in Germany after only 6 months of rehearsal.  The band rocked but something was missing.  It wasn’t until Nekroman viewed the band on video later that he knew what it was.  “We needed something different,” he says.  “We looked like any other band in the genre.  So, a friend had a child’s coffin and I took the neck off my other bass and just mounted it on there.  It had a really good sound to it”.  From that moment on Nekroman’s standup coffin bass would be the centerpiece for one of psychobilly’s most influential bands.

Shortly after, the band scored an album deal with Tombstone Records.  Apparently, they impressed enough people at the festival to grab some much deserved attention.  Their first album Hellbound was released in 1991 and was a success.  The band continued to tour Europe with their signature sound, described as “Elvis meets the Wolfman”.  Later the same year, Nekromantix released Curse of the Coffin.  A music video was produced for the album’s title track and it gave the rest of the world a taste of what Nekromantix had to offer.  The music video appeared several times on MTV’s Alternative Nation.

For the next ten years the band toured extensively throughout Europe and released two more albums, Demons are a Girl’s Best Friend and Brought Back to Life.  Then in 2000 Nekromantix played their first show in The United States, ushering in a new era of creativity and fame.  “We toured Europe for ten years.  We’d been there, done that.  The scene was getting stagnant.”  Nekroman pauses.  “Relocating made sense and, at the time, psychobilly was a new thing here.  We needed something new.”

In 2001 the band signed a recording contract with Hellcat Records in Los Angeles.  Since their move to The United States, the band has released three albums, including their most recent Life is a Grave and I Dig it!  Nekromantix also recently wrapped up a tour with Rob Zombie, solidifying the bands place here in the US.

Nekroman seems happy with the band’s progress.  He is upbeat.  He’s also excited to work with his new band mates; Franc on guitar and Lux on drums.  “Fresh blood in the band means motivation.  We’re working on a new album but we’re also busy touring.  So right now we’ve taken a little break in the studio.  Touring comes first.”

So, what exactly can we expect from the three piece monster band?  Nekroman describes his fan-centric touring philosophy.  “I’m not a fan of going to a show and the band plays only material from a new album or only old material.  I want to hear a little bit of everything, so we pick a little bit from every era of the band.  We have a lot of material to pick from, we kind of do a ‘best of’.”  He chuckles.  “It’s not like we’re doing a circus on stage.  We have a lot of energy though.  I’d rather fuck up and be energetic on stage than play exactly like the album.”  Really?  “If the fans want to hear the album, they can go home and listen to it.  But, if you’re not enjoying yourself up there you can’t expect your fans to be.  If I could describe our show in one word- energy.  Definitely energy.”

If you’re looking for one hell of a psychobilly time, Nekromantix will be playing with The Mutilators, The Howlers and Scarlet Fever at The Grog Shop, August 4th at 8pm.  Tickets are $12 advance and $14 at the door.


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