Yes, the bitch is back. A threatened lawsuit from a Texas band named M... may have resulted in a forced name change for Tairrie B. and the boys, but this was merely a temporary irritation, much like brushing off a pesky mosquito. M... is dead ... long live Tura Satana. Stresses Ms B: "It's important for people to understand that, although we changed our name, we've not turned into some kind of Satanic band. We obviously got the name from a character in the Russ Meyer movie "Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! Kill!". It's not even that we're big Russ Meyer fans. I was just watching the movie one night and liked the name Tura Satana. She was a tough character, so it was cool."
"We were a little afraid with the name," she adds, "Because the word "Satan" is in it. But it's a character name, just like White Zombie is taken from the movie. People need to be intelligent enough to understand that ..."
True to Tura Satana's relentless work ethic, they've wasted no time in bringing you this hammerheaded new single, "Scavenger Hunt", to be released July 28. The band's second album, "Relief Through Release", will rudely barge into record shops September 29.
"Scavenger Hunt" is backed by two dance/industrial remixes, courtesy of LA's Professional Murder Music, and a jolting cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart". "One night I was listening to the song," recalls Tairrie, "And it occured to me that a lot of young girls these day have never heard it. I also thought that if I did it, it would take on a whole new meaning. People freak out when we play it live!"
In contrast to the band's '96 debut, "All Is Not Well", which spoke out on issues like rape, abuse and abortion, Tairrie describes "Relief Through Release" as "a relationship record. "All Is Not Well" was more of an "activist"-type thing, and although I'm still totally down with a those causes, I didn't wanna dwell on those issues this time around. I wanted to go to another level. On this album I'm drawing more on love/hate, good/evil stuff. When we were on the road, I really got into reading "Dante's Inferno" and made that the outline for the record. The inferno/purgatory/paradise thing, where it's the three stages of a relationship. The anger, the love/hate thing and then coming out into paradise, where everything's clean and healthy."
The new album was recorded at LA's ???? Studios, and produced by Michael "Madonna, Low Pop Suicide, The Urge...! Vail Blum. "In a way, it is a concept album," Tairrie shamelessly admits. "Release can also mean a lot of different things: it can mean my release through screaming, through the anger and the lyrics. Releasing our "M..." name. Releasing past relationships and hatred towards certain things. A sexual release ..."
Having toured vitually non-stop since "All Is Not Well"'s release, with such metal behemoths as Fear Factory, Type O Negative and Machine Head, Tura Satana have honed their skill immeasurably. "This band has come along 150 per cent with the music," enthuses Tairrie. "I'm really proud of the way the players have come together and written a really great album. The first album was good, and a nightmare to make, but now we're on the next level."
Who knows? Next time out on the road, Tura Satana may even get into less trouble. "We found out what we can and cannot do on tour," Tairrie chuckles. "The band will be a different band next time around. Every band has their problems, and there's a lot of anger in Tura Satana. When we were on the road, we didn't get along with nobody! But we've stayed together, and it's a lot better now."
So enjoy. But before you go, Tairrie B would like to make one last point.
"Tura Satana is not Tairrie B. It's a band - a whole entity ...".
That's you told, then.
Jason Arnopp (Kerrang UK)
Bio: 1996
Back in the days when a "White Girl Rapper" was someone you might find in your local department store Tairrie B. was slinging her slang with the best of the West coast gangsta rap movement. In fact it was N.W.A. founder Eazy E who first gave her a record deal on his Ruthless/Comptown label. She wrote and co-produced her debut album "The Power of a Woman" which boasts contributions from such Hip-Hop luminaries as Dr.Dre, Eazy E,The D.O.C., and House of Pains Everlast to name a few.
Her single and controversial video for "Murder She Wrote" earned her a Number One position on European charts. Nowadays,Tairrie has decided to take a different and more personal approach to music. With the "Blonde" gone, the bitch is back harder and stronger than ever. Armed with the three man assault team of Scott Ueda , Marcelo Palomino and Rico Villasenor, Tairrie now fronts the band that is "M..." .
Having known each other for years Guitarist and main musical influence Scott Ueda says "We have developed a certain chemistry that is unreplaceable within our circle". Both the heavy rhythm section and memorable riffs provide a solid backbone for the dark and vivid lyrics which Tairrie delivers at a sometimes blistering pace. On an activist level "M..." aggressively deals with socially conscious issues and confronts such topics as reproductive freedom, sexism, racism and the horrors of rape and misogynistic violence against women.
"The music is hard and the lyrics are meant to sting" she says. Bass player Rico Villasenor makes his presence known throughout the album with painfully heavy basslines and a unique style which as producer Ross Robinson(Korn, Sepultura, Deftones) fame puts it "sets him apart as being one of the best players he's worked with".
Don't be quick to compare "M..." with other rap metal hardcore type-outfits because not only does this band incorporate it's monster sound with a variety of musical elements, but "M..." is fronted by one of the most powerful voices around male or female with their debut album "All is not Well" on the Los Angeles based "NOISE Records" this record was recorded and mixed in an astonishing three weeks. "M..." bulldozes through track after menacing track effortlessly leaving it's listeners holding their breath in anticipation of what will follow.
"Don't be misled by the pretty face" say the guys in the band. Because Tairrie's a tough one and while her hardcore aesthetics may cause some to group her in with the boys club she is definitely all woman, with a message that is meant to speak to both genders. Her firm belief in speaking her mind with the bands ballsy approach and uncompromising refusal to become a pre-packaged music product. This may have bruised a few toes (and ego's) along the way, but as Scott would say "We wouldn't want it any other way". Whether playing a skate show, The Viper room or a "Rock for Choice" benefit at the Palladium - M... have definitely carved a place for themselves heavy in the tradition of the new breed of bands such as "Downset" ,"Korn" and "Rage against the Machine" all of whom have shared the stage.
"Most major labels were afraid to take a chance with us" says Marcelo Palomino. "Because most of the lyrical content basically hits home and sometimes reality can be a real slap in the face." The image of the band is dark and confrontational and Tairrie's vocals are both passionate and fueled by anger which create a great juxtaposition as she belts out her message loud and clear from heart to fist. As Tairrie puts it "You can die and disappear or you can fight"..... We choose to fight!
