When I first heard The Supreme Genius of King Khan and His Shrines, I couldn’t believe that there was a contemporary artist who was pursuing, so accurately, sounds that I thought could only be heard on Nuggets collections or on dusty, old funk records. By the time I heard the warped “I Wanna Be a Girl” (easily on my Top 10 of favorite songs), I realized that Arish “King” Khan had the gonzo sense of humor and lyrical ability to push his psych-funk stomp Shrines tunes from sounding not only authentic, but surprisingly transcendent in their pursuit of the perfect psychotic reaction. Currently on a “comeback” tour with his sensational Shrines, King Khan graciously answered some questions concerning the rock ‘n’ roll state of the union, his chosen home of Berlin and his future collaboration with indie bad boys, the Black Lips.
Are you looking forward to making another pass at Seattle? Rumor has it you got banned from KEXP’s studio, here in town; care to elaborate on that experience?
I think I almost got banned. I was in a frenzy and did the best Tasmanian devil interpretation I could do. Seemed like they were all smiling when we left and [KEXP DJ] Sharlese [Metcalf] washed my mouth out with soap…. I love Seattle and can’t wait to come back; nothing beats that elephant car wash.
It seems to me- for a variety of reasons- there are very few dyed-in-the-wool rock acts that seem dangerous anymore- as though anything could happen during a show. I’d count you and your buds the Black Lips as part of that dwindling group. Are rock shows boring?
Well sometimes people think too much and plan too much. I like to keep everyone (including the band) on their toes. Dry-humping other peoples’ microphone stands and/or monitors helps. To be honest I have been pretty bored at a lot of shows but that is why I think I do what I do. Lighting a candle under the collective ass is what it is all about.
Speaking of the Lips, should we hold out hope for an Almighty Defenders tour, or is that too much of a logistical clusterfuck?
We are doing a short two-week tour in Europe this summer and playing some festivals here and there in the US and Canada. I hope we get to do more together. I love playing in the Defenders and the shows we have done thus far were pretty fun.
It seems like we get a different King Khan with the Shrines than with BBQ; besides not playing with Mark Sultan & toting significantly more gear, what’s the difference between a KK&BBQ tour and a Shrines tour?
With the Shrines, I try and channel The Wicked Pickett in me and the old alpha male comes out in all his glory. With BBQ I can shake my butt like Tina Turner and sing songs like “Tastebuds-” which is so dirty, I have seen milk curdle while we play it. Also, it is a pretty great feeling to play with a singer like Mark Sultan. I am trying to continue in Little Richard’s footsteps as the king and queen of rock ‘n’ roll.
Not only do you know your way around an audience- easily commanding them to do your whim- but, as clips online evidence- you know your way around a camera. Have you been offered any film work? If not, would you be interested?
I would love to do some film work. I did the soundtrack for a German film called Schwarz Schafe directed by Oliver Rihs which features the music of the Shrines, KKBBQ, the Spits, the Black Lips, Greg Ashley, Quintron and Miss Pussycat. My dream is that I get type-cast as a super-villain in a bunch of Bollywood films- c’mon Shahrukh Khan, lets have a showdown!!!!
I hear from musicians that American kids don’t appreciate American music the way Europeans still do; true/false?
False. Kids are the same everywhere. Obviously some cities are better than others, but in general, the youth of today seem to be digging real rock ‘n’ roll more and more. I think American kids might get what we are doing more because they are surrounded by American music all their lives.
I’ve heard Berlin referred to as the world’s last truly bohemian city; any truth to that?
I think any place where the rent is cheap enough that one can live relatively stress-free could potentially be a bohemian city. Montreal used to be really bohemian when I was growing up, but then the yuppification really destroyed places that were once holy. I can raise my kids here in Berlin without worrying that they will become douchebags, and no one on my streets drives a Segway or wears Oakleys. Berlin 1 – Seattle 0. Imagine a world with no Segway cops…sounds like paradise, don’t it?
A writer in the UK’s guardian had recently suggested that there’s more good music being released today than ever before…do you agree?
I think being from the UK disqualifies any credibility this writer might have. I totally disagree but that is question of taste. I felt like that five years ago but right now, my jaw is still anxiously waiting to drop again.
Because of the styles you’ve delved into on your own recordings, I’d guess you were somewhat of a record store crate digger. Do you collect records?
I hate shopping of any kind. I love old records but the people I hang with are way better at finding stuff. I am happy being a pilot fish and getting copies of the scraps. Tim Warren from Crypt [Records] just moved to Berlin and seeing a collection like his makes me giggle at the thought of even attempting to call my records a “collection.” I prefer making the music rather than collecting it.
What’s one record, from any point in time, that you think is so unbelievably good, you can’t believe it’s not more widely known?
Hannibalism, by the Mighty Hannibal. Besides being one of my biggest heroes, I think Hannibal’s music is some of the best soul from that time.
What are you listening to lately?
Chopin and Erik Satie…pretty deep huh?
What’s the one thing I should take away from a King Khan & Shrines show?
The feeling of Love.
by Chris Middleman
