“ I didn't know that drug dealing was illegal.”

~

By Abigail Bruley  |  Send to Friend

"I think the rock n’ roll renaissance is now and I am proud to spread it all over the world."

All hail the shaman of rock, the sultan of psych…King Khan! As frontman of King Khan and the Shrines and King Khan and BBQ Show, he manages to create the same colossal noise with his 2-piece band as his 10-piece army, and has been quoted as a master of the two extremes, with a “ball-crushing big band and a stripped down sonic boom.” Khan began his career in Montreal (ahem, further proving my long-argued point that only good comes from Montreal) with various punk bands like Les Sexareenos and The Spaceshits, playing to crowds that were rather disgusted by them. Their live variety act had blowjobs, blood, puke and savage howling.

Now based in Berlin, Khan focuses on the Shrines, whom he met mostly in bars, including his percussionist Ron Streeter, who had previously toured with Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder. The sound is psych-soul punk at it’s most mythical and Khan surfaces as a performer who is equal parts Sun-Ra and Ian Svenonius.

Below is five minutes with the man who will set fire to your ass to get you dancing, an incredibly short, but incredibly satisfying interview.

 

AB: How did King Khan and BBQ Party meet?

KK: In a sauna, i dropped the soap. I've been stretch paying ever since.

AB: How does your persona change between the Shrines project and the
project with BBQ Party?

KK: First of all its King Khan and bbq show--
With King Khan and the shrines we are 10 people making the sound of 10
people and with KK BBQ we are 2 people making the sound of 10 people.

AB: Can you describe your live show?

KK: A 10-dicked japanese animation monster tearing through body parts and
leaving everyone with a very big smile on their face.

AB: What do you do to get suspended by the police?

KK: I didn't know that drug dealing was illegal.

AB: What do you think is the reason you are mini-celebrities in Europe?

KK: Because Europeans are smaller in size and more compact. I've seen 10 celebrities pile out of a Volkswagon.

AB: What can you tell us about "Schwarze Schafe" and how did you get involved?

KK: I left the head of a horse on the bed of the director and since he was a fan of the godfather he let me do the soundtrack. (Crime don't pay)