Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: Vains of Jenna

Fans of '80s hair metal are having the time of their lives in 2007, as Poison and Ratt have hooked up for a summer tour. Poison has toured steadily for the past few years, and Ratt is newly reunited with singer Stephen Pearcy. White Lion was originally slated to open the show, but legal issues forced the cancellation of their appearance. Enter Swedish rockers Vains of Jenna, whose debut album, Lit Up/Let Down, is available on Bam Margera's new label, Filthy Note. Vains of Jenna puts the rock back into rock n' roll with attitude, a trashy sound missing in music today and an image that complements it perfectly. Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki touched base with drummer Jacki Stone during the summer run to discuss the tour, Poison and Ratt's influence on the band and, of course, Bam.

Live Metal: First off, congratulations on landing the opening spot for the Poison/Ratt tour! The tour has just started, but how has it been going so far? What's the crowd's reaction been like to Vains of Jenna?

Jacki Stone: Yeah, thanks a lot, dude! It's a dream coming true! It's been great so far, the crew that works on this tour and the guys in Poison and Ratt are treating us so good. We've done nine shows so far plus a club gig by ourselves, but so far so good man! The crowd doesn't always know what to expect when we hit the stage, but in the end of the set they're totally into it, so it's really cool!!!

How did the band end up on the tour and what was your reaction like when you found out about it?

We were supposed to play a couple of side stages on this tour and then do club dates the other nights. But when we found out that White Lion didn't make it, the rumors on the Web started, like "Vains of Jenna to replace White Lion?!" So we were pretty confused at that time. Poison did a lot of work to get us on the tour and we are really thankful for that! When we got the final YES we got so fuckin happy and relieved. Finally an answer, you know, hehe.

What's the backstage vibe like? Is it like you would have imagined it in the '80s?

It's a good vibe. We are all friends now and it really feels like you are home! Haha, like the '80s? Not really.

How much influence did Poison and Ratt have into Vains of Jenna's sound?

We all like Poison and Ratt! Lizzy is the one in the band that has been most into the '80s for a really long time. He was a Bret Michaels look-alike when he was like 16, hehe ... So, yeah we are obviously influenced by them, and maybe you can hear that in some songs, I don't know. We have so many different influences from all kinds of music styles.

It might be hard to say at this point in the tour, but could this be the band's biggest break so far?

Oh yeah it is. I mean, as far as us getting our record deal and CD out in stores, and having the theme song for Bam's Unholy Union on MTV, and also performing LIVE at one of the episodes, this is the biggest break so far. We're playing in front of a couple thousand people every night, so the music and band name is spreading, you know! Pretty fuckin' awesome, I say!

You guys are from Sweden, a country best known in our circle for it's melodic death and black metal, so how did the band come together playing the style that you do?

We all grew up on old school rock n' roll. I mean, like The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Guns N' Roses and Motley. Gotta thank our parents for having such a great taste of music, hehe. We all knew each other well before the band started, me and JP are brothers, Nicki is my best friend since 12 years back and have played in the same bands since then, and also JP and Lizzy had a band together a couple of years ago. So this band came together pretty much because we all liked the same music.

And the band is now relocated to Los Angeles? Why the move?

We wanted to try out the U.S. rather then doing it in Sweden, it's too small over there. A lot of Swedish bands are doing the same thing: touring Sweden, Italy and the UK. We did that too, but wanted the challenge of going to the States. And of course we have our record label here and our manager, so it works out really good.

Other than Poison or Ratt, what American bands inspired you the most in Vains of Jenna?

Hmm ... There are a lot of bands that inspired us. The grunge scene is one of the biggest influences and, of course, bands like Aerosmith, GnR, Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat, Buckcherry, etc. Another great fuckin' band right now is Avenged Sevenfold!

How about Swedish bands?

Right now there are many good bands in Sweden that are coming up, but influences and stuff, would probably be Backyard Babies, Hardcore Superstar and Shotgun Messiah.

You guys have been touring off and on since the release of your album Lit Up/Let Down, so what's the wildest story you can tell us from the road? We need details!

There are too many wild stories, many of them stays in a certain circle, haha.

Speaking of the album, where and when was it recorded?

It was recorded in a cabin in Sweden, during a week in January 2006 ... Cold as fuck! We did it all by ourselves, so that's a cool thing!

What do you feel is the best song from Lit Up/Let Down that sums up Vains of Jenna's sound?

We don't have a "typical" sound, at least I don't see it that way. We are developing as musicians all the time.

What are some of the lyrical topics?

The songs were made from how we lived at that time and what was going on then. And that changes all the time. Some lyrics are about parties, girls, FUCK YOU songs and that kinda stuff.

You have started work on a follow-up I read?

We recorded a song just before we left on tour that is gonna end up on the VIVA LA BANDS II compilation, it's called "Enemy in Me" and it rocks, dude! I mean really fuckin' rocks! We worked with Brent Woods [Brent Woods played guitar for Wildside, Vince Neil and Warrant] on that song and he did some nice touches on the song to make it even better. Lizzy did most of the lyrics and melodies, he's amazing! I hope we get to start record a new album in the next six months or so!

Will it be the same vibe as Lit Up/Let Down for the most part or how will it differ?

Like I said before, we have all develop as musicians and songwriters, so it will be a little different for sure, still raw RNR but so much better! Believe me!

The band has a very over the top image as everyone can see. Does your image also translate into everyday life? Is it all about sex, drugs and rock n' roll?

Pretty much, yeah, hehe ... But we are a hard working band! We wouldn't be here if we didn't work hard, you know.

What can fans expect from your live show?

We are a great LIVE band, I know that. It's right now a short set of 30 minutes and through those minutes we play kick ass RnR! We also sound better live than on our record right now, and that's how we wanted. It's more "in your face" LIVE.

Do you think music today and rock n' roll in particular has lost it's flair from the past?

It did, oh yeah. But I'm sure that it's coming back! The new generation is on it's way. I think people are ready to go see some good RnR again!

Now for the Bam questions. How did Vains of Jenna end up on Bam's label, Filthy Note?

We met him at a party at the House of Blues in L.A. and talked a little, we told him we had an upcoming gig at the Cat Club in Hollywood, and a few days later Bam saw us play. This was during the summer of 2006. And he liked it so much that he had to start a label just to put our album out in stores.

I'll tell you--I was actually kind of surprised when I heard you signed with Bam. Vains of Jenna don't really play the style of music associated with skateboarding and that sort of thing. What do you think?

I know that he always liked Scandinavian bands like HIM, 69 Eyes and Turbonegro. We are kinda different from those bands but, I don't know. Bam likes good music and he saw something in us that was worth spending time on. And, yeah, I was surprised, but not surprised that he liked us, more that he wanted to sign us right away!

What was it like playing his bachelor party and appearing on Bam's Unholy Union and all that stuff?

That was great! We where pretty fucked up at that show in Vegas, free booze all day long, you know, then you play at 11-12 a.m. We had some time to kill before the show, hehe. But, yeah, it was amazing. The theme song for the whole show "Don't Give A Damn" was really cool to here every time the episodes were on MTV! It's not every band that gets to have that, not from Sweden anyways.

Is Bam really the dude we see on TV, pulling off all these pranks and shit or what?

Bam is a crazy guy, believe me! We have always a lot of fun hanging and partying with him, but he is also a great dude, really nice guy!

What about Dunn and the other guys?

They are crazy!

Are there any other bands that the label has signed or is working with?

I don't really now. Go check it out on www.filthynote.com

What was it like working with Gilby Clarke? [Gilby Clarke produced demos for Vains of Jenna prior to getting their record deal.]

Really cool. It was the first time we were in the States that we did that and we were all stoked. We are all big GNR fans. Gilby is a nice guy!

Who else would you jump at the chance to work with?

Well, Brent Woods that produced "Enemy in Me" is fuckin' great! We all loved working with him. The whole vibe that was in the studio and how the song came out was just awesome! So producers, I don't know. Brent Woods again, yeah!
It would be cool though to do some songs with your "idols," like the guys from The Stones, Motley, etc. Snoop Dogg is a guy we would love to work with!

We ask this question to most every band we interview and you guys are the perfect ones to ask! When do you think Chinese Democracy will be released?

Haha ... Hard to tell. I don't now, hopefully soon. And it would be nice to see the original lineup, too!

Thank you for you time Jacki! And we'll definitely have to hook up again when the tour comes to Bristow, VA!