Middle Finger Mob, formed by 5 friends; Shawn Smash/lead guitar-vocals, Freekshow/vocals, Danny "Boy" Virus/drums, D.J Cruise/bass, and Lenka Danger/backing vocals, whom all share the same passion for Rock N Roll.
Like many musicians, Middle Finger Mob writes songs that reflect their lives. Their songs and sounds are about everything around them, from the harrowing tales of junkie life in Hollywood in songs like "Doing Time" dealing with issues of seeing friends turn into lost souls almost overnight and getting consumed by the excess of big city life!!! Or "Save a Place in Heaven" was written for a good friend of the band "Traci Michaels" who sadly passed away last June in a hotel room while on tour in Dallas, TX. These can be heard on the band’s debut C.D. titled "SONGS OF LIFE, SEX AND DEATH"
In just a short period of time, Middle Finger Mob have proven they are a force to be reckoned with by making a recent appearance on the So Cal weekly tv series "Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames" TV Show episode featuring Cleopatra Records President Brian Perera. Their interview, conducted by the tv show's co-host Ambre Lake (and winner of Vh1's Rock of Love II), received an incredible amount of positive response, probably in part because of their homage to the late great Traci Michaelz who passed away a year ago. "Not only stunning to look at, but stunning to listen to, Middle Finger Mob's debut cd release takes you back in time to the best era heavy metal music ever had: the 80's Sunset Strip days," says the tv show's host Denise Ames, "yet updates things with a power and passion rarely injected into music these days." Then she adds, "I've seen my share of bands because of my job and my undying love for metal, but rarely am I as impressed as I am with these guys... and girl! I see MFM taking their talent all the way to the top. I'm just glad we have bragging rights that they did our tv show first!" she laughs.
You can still see the interview with Middle Finger Mob on Charter cable's Video On Demand throughout So Cal (Ch.999, Community Interest, Talk Shows, Focus: Cleopatra Recs episode). Their episode aired on Time Warner's On Demand earlier this month. If you would like to order a dvd of the episode email DeniseAmes15@hotmail.com.
Middle Finger Mob has set sail and won’t stop until they have accomplished in the world of music what they set out to do, and they are playing by nobody's rules but their own!!!
All Access Magazine editor - Debra Stocker, got a chance to catch up with Freekshow, lead vocalist for the band Middle Finger Mob to find out what the future holds for the band…
AAM (Debra Stocker): How did your band all meet?
FREEKSHOW: Partying at the Rainbow, Isn't that how everyone in Hollyweird meets, lol... Actually we all met through mutual friends. For the last 3 years, myself and Lenka Danger have been performing in the band "Hollywood 77". Shawn Smash (who also plays with Total Chaos) & D.J. Cruise eventually joined the Hollywood 77 line-up last year. After dealing with the revolving door of members in this band, not wanting to stay committed to this project, we decided to pull the plug on Hollywood 77. Danny "Boy" Virus also plays with Shawn Smash in Total Chaos & did a stint with the Bulletboys, so he was a perfect fit to bring in and round out the line-up for Middle Finger Mob.
AAM: Your debut cd titled "SONGS OF LIFE, SEX AND DEATH" was written with many of your own life experiences, care to elaborate?
FREEKSHOW: The songs on the new cd are not only about our personal experiences, but they are about experiences and situations that you might encounter if you’re running around Hollywood. It's no secret what's going on in Hollywood, the music scene may change, but people still like to party, and we love to party also. We just decided to write songs about it. But there is also a darkside to Hollywood that a lot of people don't see, but we are very aware of it. In the last 3 years at least one member of this band at one time or another has had to deal with a life situation that wound up in a song on this album. Every song on this album is true, we lived through these experiences, we dealt with deaths, divorce and drug & alcohol abuse.
AAM: One song in particular, "Save a Place in Heaven" was written for your good friend, "Traci Michaels" who sadly passed away last June, great song by the way! How long did you know Traci and did you ever get the opportunity to play in a band with him?
FREEKSHOW: Myself along with most of the members of this band have known Traci Michaelz for years. Shawn Smash played in The Plastics with Traci Michaelz along with Billy Fox. Traci also performed with Total Chaos. I had the opportunity to perform with Traci only once at the cat club. Traci joined Hollywood 77 on a cover of the dead boys "Sonic Reducer". Traci also took the torch from me to sing in The Hate Junkies, shortly before he left for tour. Traci was wanting to get into singing, so he started playing in The Hate Junkies alongside Rustee Casanova (whom we also just recently lost, R.I.P.)
AAM: Will any of the proceeds from this album, or you’re up and coming Memorial show for Traci, being held Saturday May 30th at the Key Club-Hollywood be going to any organizations in honor of Traci?
FREEKSHOW: I am not aware of any organizations raising any money in Traci's honor. We are playing the show because we have been friends not only with Traci Michaelz, but with everyone in that scene. We are a big family, and it's good to get together to remember a Hollywood legend.
AAM: You were recently on the TV show 'Focus In The Mix with Denise Ames' how did that come about?
FREEKSHOW: I met Denise a while back, at the Rainbow.. I believe, through a mutual friend Felicity. I was somewhat familiar at the time with focus in the mix. I decided to give Denise a ring after seeing the shows she did with Lemmy & L.A. Guns, and I figured hell, if her viewing audience likes Lemmy & L.A. Guns, they'll like Middle Finger Mob to!
AAM: Any more up and coming appearances you would like to tell us about?
FREEKSHOW: Well, before the tribute show for Traci, we are having our CD release party at the Whisky a Go Go, May 21st. We're doing a little mini tour to New York and to play at Nikstock w/ Joey Belladona from Anthrax. We are also playing at Club Vodka in June w / Circus Of Power and The Viper Room, so yea... we're busy as heck. We're also working on a south west tour through Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas towards the end of the year. Be sure to check our website for a complete list of all our dates and times.
AAM: If you could share any stage, with any band on tour. Where and who would that be?
FREEKSHOW: As far a sharing a stage or touring with any bands...as long as that band has a good following and we are a good fit for them as well, I am all for any band that wouldn't mind teaming up with us for some shows !
AAM: Where do you see your yourself/ your band in say 3 years?
FREEKSHOW: Well, with this band just getting off the ground... the sky is the limit as far as me or anyone in this band is concerned. We have a great chemistry in this band & we get along very well. We have plans to tour a bit before the year is out, then go back into the studio to start working on a new record. We are not overly concerned about signing a record deal or anything like that, we just want to enjoy writing and recording music, as well as touring as much as possible. As for myself, I've never been one to predict where I am gonna be in the future... living in "the now" is hard enough. I live for the moment... not the future… because it may never get here
AAM: How is the best way your fans can keep in contact with you? Website, hot line, email?
FREEKSHOW: Middle Finger Mob is all over the net, we have a profile on about every social networking site imaginable, but the best way to contact us is via our myspace page @ www.myspace.com/middlefingermobband
AAM: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans, or add to this interview?
FREEKSHOW: Yea, buy our new album & help support this band! We are also servicing the new CD to radio stations & internet stations worldwide in June. So call your local radio station and demand that they play us!
AAM wishes you, and everyone at Middle Finger Mob continuous success. We’ll be keeping an eye on you and hope to catch up with you at one of these up and coming shows! Congrats on your new cd release and be sure to get us over one for a cd review. HORNS-UP guys!
