THE HEARTACHES
by Christer Davidsson, November 2006
Hey Tommy! What’s going on? Tommy X: Nothin' much! Gettin' ready to hit the road with my other band Enemy Rose. We're leavin on tour with Backyard Babies.
Tell me about how The Heartaches got together.
Well, me and Sammy started the band by the end of 1999 and we just had people comin' and goin' 'til 2001 when we formed as the Heartaches.
How would you describe your sound?
We've changed cause you'll hear a big difference between our "Move On" album and our latest album "Suicide" which will be released in January 2007 on I Scream Records. For the moment we've gone back to the roots. No happy singalong choruses and no streetpunk or whatever they call it these days. I got fed up with all these bands soundin' exactly the same.
We've brought some sleaze into it mixed up with some heavy guitarwork.
You’re gearing up to release your new album “Suicide” really soon. Excited about that?
For sure it's our only decent album I believe it's a lot better than all the crap we recorded before! Ha ha!
Your first two albums were produced by Kerry Martinez of the U.S. Bombs. How did you hook up with him and is he involved on “Suicide” as well?
Nope not really, but without him we would've never sounded the way we do. He's our guru or somethin'. I got a shitload of respect for him. He kinda approached us so many years ago to see if we would like him to produce "Lunacy & Devastation" and of course we said yes. He's become one of our best friends.
What can you tell me about the making of the record?
We've never recorded so smooth as we did now. No bullshit, 6 days in the studio and the job was done!
How does The Heartaches write songs?
Well I write all the lyrics and sometimes also the rest of the song. Otherwise it's Sammy or Bram who come up with the guitar riffs.
You have been touring with bands such as Mad Sin, The Revolvers and Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards. What’s the best show you’ve played so far?
Helsinki with The Bastards!!!
What band would you like to share the stage with if you could pick just one, and why?
The Hangmen they're my fav band for the moment. Just listen to their albums and you'll know why!
www.myspace.com/theehangmen
How did you get in touch with I Scream Records, your first recordings were released by People Like You, right?
I Scream was there from the beginning and they offered us a better deal than People Like You. After we had some troubles at People Like You we wanted a label that we could talk to so...
You’re from Belgium, how’s the punk rock secene doing down there?
Not too good, only kids. We prefer playin abroad.
What other bands from Belgium would you recommend? Smash My Radio and Gold Heart!!!
I found another band, from San Diego, who also call themselves The Heartaches. Who was first?
We were, though they say they were. But fuck 'em we all know who was first! Duane (Peters) said he drove out to L.A. cause he thought we finally made it to the U.S. but was dissappointed to see some other band play and told us we had to come out and kick these guys asses!!! Ha ha ha!
Have you haerd them? Are they any good?
They suck...
You guys have been involved with the boys from Radio Dead Ones, right? Tell me about that.
Well they were in the original Enemy Rose line up. I fuckin love rikkie oldman's style!!! But we had too many offers and they couldn't keep up so...
They got a new record out, heard it yet?
To be honest i don't really listen to punkrock bands anymore, only the old skool. I'm kinda bored with it all and I feel everything sounds the same. No disrespect to them or anything cause I love 'em but it's not what i wanna do.
You are also the singer of Enemy Rose. For how long have you been doing that?
Now for a year nearly. We got picked up immediately and we're fuckin stoked it's goin this fast!!!
http://www.enemyrose.com
You seem like a busy guy! Do you have any spare time at all?
Not really cause I'm startin' my own shop as soon as I get back from tour. It's called "Vaudeville" custom clothes and tattoos...
Any last words?
Yeah, come check us out as soon as possible!!!! And thanx for the interview!