Frankie Clarke – Frankie & The Studs Interview

Frankie Clarke – Frankie & The Studs Interview

First off, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions. I am hopeful that the news I saw regarding the fires around Los Angeles being better contained are true, and the long recovery can begin for everyone affected by them.

    Thank you! Yeah it’s been a pretty crazy fucked up start to the year here. Thankfully the fires are out now! It’s going to be a long road to recovery, but the community has really come together like I’ve never seen before to help each other and it’s awesome to see.

    I had not realized how long I have been listening to you until I realized the ‘High on Yourself’ single came out almost 10 years ago now. Frankie and The Studs have just released your first full length album through Deadbeat Records which contains a mix of new songs and some former singles. Ironically, one of the more recent singles ‘Drain Me’ is not on the album. How did you go about determining what songs made the album?

      Almost 10 years already?? Damn!! So you’re probably also wondering what took us so long haha. Yeah, we decided not to put ‘Drain Me’ on the record because that song came from a time of experimentation during lockdown and we wanted to go back to our roots and put out something more raw. We actually had a lot of songs that were in the same universe as ‘Drain Me’ and we re-recorded them as a live band. Whenever we play ‘Drain Me’ live, we play it totally differently to fit our 4 piece live band setup. So we wanted the whole album to just reflect what it feels like to go see us live. I’ve always thought of us as a live band, and to go back to the 10 years thing. I spent a lot of time just playing and getting all that experience under my belt. Right now felt like the right time… I know who I am as an artist, and the band feels solid. My bandmates are my best friends. We’re all in it together. The band went through some different iterations over the years and I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible musicians, but there were times the band felt more like a solo project, but now we feel like a band… so it was time to put out an album!

      One of the new songs has to be relatable to anyone who has worked a few jobs in their life is ‘Fuck this Shit.’ My daughter has grown to love the song and is very careful to just sort of mouth the words to the chorus. From live clips I have seen online, the song understandably gets the crowd singing right away. I catch myself playing it at least twice in a row each time I play it. Did the song come quickly when you were writing it?

        Hahah that’s awesome, I always tell children to cover their ears if we’re playing an all ages show. Yeah our guitarist Frank Salazar actually wrote that song and when he showed it to me I came up with the lyrics to a second verse pretty quickly, because like you said, I think we can all relate to that feeling!

        ‘Flash’ is an older song that I called out in my recent review as one of my all-time favorite songs in general. I have a custom playlist where it slots beautifully between a song by D Generation and the New York Loose. How did that song come about?

          Aw thank you, that’s a high honor!! We wrote that song fresh off a tour with the Longshot in 2018. We all got in a room and started jamming some ideas for new songs and that one turned into a song about how you get everything you want and it goes by in a flash. Kind of a reminder to myself to be present and appreciate what you got. I grew up idolizing Billie Joe, and to be able to meet him let alone tour with him, was beyond a dream come true. I kept pinching myself… I still do!

          ‘Not This Time’ is a beautiful soft rocker that channels, to my ears, Bowie in the Ziggy Stardust era. What would we find in your own record collection? What are some of your favorites and maybe what artists would surprise us?

            That was definitely the main source of inspiration behind that one! I wrote that one with my friend and collaborator Stewart Cararas. His saying during our sessions is always “WWBD – What Would Bowie Do” The obvious ones would be the Ramones, the Runaways, The Clash, T. Rex.. Some of the more surprising ones would probably be Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynne, Tammy Wynette.

            I grew up when Bananarama had a hit single with ‘Venus.’ Your cover adds a nice crunch to it and works perfectly with the hard rock approach. Part of me would love to see your cover take off and help the band get some exposure, but I wouldn’t want that to be ‘what you are known for’ if that makes sense. (Readers- Let’s make ‘Fuck this Shit’ the song for 2025). When did y’a’ll discover that was a perfect song to cover?

              Let’s do it and I hear ya! Billie Joe actually sent me the Shocking Blue version one day and suggested we cover it. I remember growing up hearing the song in Venus razor ads lol. We first tried it live and it had such a vibe we decided to record it and put it on the record.

              How did you choose which two songs would be the bonus tracks for the CD version? ‘She’s Insane’ is one of your oldest songs, ‘Some Kinda Love’ provides a great groove. 

                She’s Insane has always been a part of our set, so it felt right to add a new and improved version as a bonus track. Funny enough, when we opened the session file to re-mix it we found a long lost synth track that we were debating on putting on the original recording. It ended up getting vetoed because we wanted to be able to play the songs true to the record live, but we added it back in for the bonus track. I also did a new vocal take since I’ve grown up a lot since the first recording. ‘Some Kinda Love’ was a track I recorded with Macy Gray and it was her idea to cover the Velvet Underground song and make it our own. I always loved this version and had just been sitting on it, so this was the perfect opportunity to put it out.

                How did the current band members come together? In the video for ‘Fuck This Shit,’ there is a cohesiveness where things seem to be clicking from an outsider’s perspective. The ‘cool’ factor is definitely present, and it seems to work across generations as my daughter stops what she is doing to watch it.

                  I love that your daughter is a fan of that song/video! Nick Rossi has been in the band the longest, he joined the band in 2018. We first met in 2017 when I was looking for drummers for our tour with the Biters and he came recommended by my friend Jorma Vik who responded to a Facebook post I put out looking for drummers. Lizi, is an italian singer/songwriter and has her own band LIZI. We first met at one of my shows in 2018 I think?? and she handed me one of her band’s CDs. Flash forward a few years later she was in my dad’s studio recording her album. She asked me to sing on one of her songs “Dying Inside” and we became instant friends. We’ve toured in Italy with both our bands together and when I needed a bass player for a gig she filled in and now she’s a Stud! Frank Salazar, is my boyfriend we met on Tinder 6 years ago haha! At first I didn’t want to intertwine the two but he’s an amazing songwriter, guitarist, singer and we just naturally started to make music together so it made sense!

                  Established bands are currently struggling to tour and break even. I have resigned myself to watching live shows from your band on YouTube, including some shows from Italy at the end of 2024. When it comes to live shows, can we expect to see any shows outside of California in 2025?

                    That’s the goal! My main goal for 2025 though is to play outside of LA more.

                    My assumption would be you grew up in a very musical home. I first started listening to your Dad (joining Alice Cooper’s band for his current tour) back in the late 80’s when he was in Kill for Thrills. He has obviously seen the music industry go through a lot of changes from the time he was in Candy until now. What words of wisdom has he given you over the years you have been performing?

                      The best advice he’s given to me is “if someone can do it, why can’t you!”

                      Away from the music, you had a clothing arrangement with Forever 21. I wasn’t sure if that was still ongoing. 

                        Yeah we did a Frankie and the Studs x Forever 21 collection for festival season in 2023. That was a really wild experience! The collection sold out pretty fast.

                        What final words do you have for our readers?

                          We’re getting ready to put out another single and put the album out digitally. We decided to first put out the record on vinyl/CD only because we think that’s the best way to hear music. But we also realize it’s not easy to get vinyl across the world, so it will be out everywhere very soon!

                          Thank you Frankie for taking the time to answer questions for us. Please watch for live dates in the future and pick up the awesome ‘Life’s a Glitch’ album.

                          Facebook

                          Frankie + The Studs- Life’s A Glitch LP ~SPECIAL EDITION: PINK, ORANGE + BLUE SPLATTER WAX LTD TO 100!

                          Questions: Gerald Stansbury

                          Answers: Frankie Clarke

                          Frankie & The Studs – Live Stream

                          Frankie & The Studs – Live Stream

                          Frankie + The Studs LIVE stream shows are coming on 2nd & 3rd October, these are free events but with limited numbers. Click  Here for more info or RSVP to the Dice links below.

                          To celebrate the release of “(Not Your) Victim”, Frankie And The Studs invite you to join them (virtually) at the Gibson Showroom in LA for an exclusive, fully electric live show!! Tickets are FREE but limited, so make sure to RSVP.
                          Your ticket will also give you exclusive access to a live Q&A. Should you wish to make a donation and/or purchase some of the brand new designs in the merch store after the show, 10% of the proceeds will go to the totally amazing @chicasrockerassela

                           

                          U.S.: Here 8pm PST / 4am BST / 5am CET

                          Australia: Here 8pm ACT / 1pm BST / 2pm CET

                          Hollywood rock ‘n’ roll band Frankie and The Studs have recently unleashed their killer new single ‘(Not Your) Victim’, out now via Punktured Media. Frankie and The Studs just penned a deal with Australia’s Punktured Media, with ‘(Not Your) Victim’ the first offering.

                          Frankie had this to say about their new single: “(Not Your) ‘Victim’ is a song inspired by the inherent strength women possess. Through the challenges of living in a patriarchal society, we can never have  enough reminders of our innate superpowers as women. Women supporting women is a powerful force to be reckoned with and this
                          song reminds us to do just that                          .”

                          Written by Frankie Clarke and Anthony Stasi and produced by Paul Miner at Buzzbomb Studios CA, ‘(Not Your) Victim’ breaks in an era where women are empowered and independent. Potent lyrics, energetic and extremely catchy, this track makes a strong statement and conveys what can be achieved when women stand up and unite.
                          Frankie has a prolific family history in the music and fashion industries…it’s flowing through her veins. Influenced by the leather clad rock icons Suzi Quatro and Joan Jett, Frankie has her own designer style with the band, echoing ‘70’s rock.

                          A savvy businesswoman on one side and on the other.….when she hits the stage with The Studs and dons her guitar, she ignites the verve that is Frankie and The Studs! There’s no middle ground here folks, this quartet uses power-chord shout-outs and spiky lullabies to define their nighttime worlds and busted hearts.

                          ‘(Not Your) Victim’ is available on all your favourite streaming and digital platforms from September 18th.

                          Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

                          45 RPM – The Singles Club

                          45 RPM – The Singles Club

                           

                          Bringing you the finest new releases from across the genres of Rock, Punk, power pop and Alternative RPM Singles Club opens its door for September and the wind blew these fine tunes in

                           

                          The White Ribbons – ‘Leftovers’ (STP Records) When you take 4 musicians enjoying nothing more than a jam session in mid 2017, and that jam session then develops into a band that was formed to support the amazing work done by www.whiteribbon.org.uk  which is part of the global White Ribbon movement to end male violence against women by engaging with men and boys, raising awareness, and influencing change and providing resources to make change happen, ladies and gentlemen what you get is The White Ribbons band.

                          ‘Leftovers’ is exactly how I imagined they’d sound.  There’s a vibe about the band that says Joy Division and the sparse intro until the distorted guitars crash in its got a subtle hook but never pours over into a frenzy.  ITs a cold feeling of a post-punk mid-80s however the real gem is ‘S.O.P.H.I.E’ and a powerful subject matter is tackled really well and all wrapped up in a fine tune I especially like that bass sound on the breakdown. There are hidden gems here after the song fades away with ‘Social Work’ sounding like they’ve been jammin’ with the Levellers with that powerful lyrics and acoustic-driven alternative music with added Clash thrown in as a reference what’s not to like? Strummer would have approved no doubt about it.

                          Facebook / www.sophielancasterfoundation.com

                           

                           

                          Guerrilla Teens –  ‘Upside Down’ (Self Release)  COVID lockdown has been nicely punctured by the one and only Scott Drake Deluxe and his wonderful Guerrilla Teens and their regular Bandcamp drop of a pair of bangers that are shaping up nicely to what would easily make one of the best albums this miserable year.

                          This weeks drop is an altogether darker more menacing tune in the shape of ‘Upside Down’ with the ringing lead guitar and Drakes vocals softer and more restrained its another drop of pure class from the Teens.  Then the second tune is an altogether more bruising number thats the sound of a band windmilling the opponents with a super cool laid back chorus ‘Fight Or Flight’ is a top tune. Deaf Jeff and Saul Teen are on fire here kicking up a shit storm with those buzz saw guitars.  You’d be a dummy if you pass by on these tunes and the previous offerings. Top of the pops this edition?  You bet!

                          Pick it up Here

                           

                          Rock N Roll Manifesto Split  ‘7″ Series Vol. 1’ (Self Release)  We love a split single round here and when it has some of our favourite artists on that we’ve reviewed many times before it is always a pleasure so when this one dropped from down under and JJ & The Real Jerks popped up we knew we were in a good spot. Pressed on three different coloured slabs of wax this is a bargain we knew we had to tell you about.

                          Tiger Touch is first out of the traps with a right banger. ‘Problems’ is all up in your face poking and jabbing with that nasty guitar hook and a vocal that’s not pausing for breath until it’s finished whatever the fuck it wants to say.  What a great tune to kick this split off.  Oh if you’re not convinced how about Fret Rattles and their ‘Thanks For Nothing’ with its super snotty garage, frantic dash to the solo punk rock.  Hip Priests fans will have to check these bad boys out because they might have a new champion stateside. Then halfway through our old pal JJ & The Real Jerks are back in town with a right high octane blast of energy in the shape of ‘Split Decision’ complete with JJ blowing that mean Saxophone solo to raise the bar a little bit more.  Excellent stuff and to take this sucker home how about the punk fueled Missile Studs wrap this awesome EP up like a wrecking ball.  We featured their split a few weeks back they did with Thee Evil Twin. They’re Straight outta shitville USA and are on fire, this is the fourth awesome track on an EP that is unrelenting and reeking with quality. If you love loud fired up Rock and Roll you’re gonna want this in your collection no doubt about it. Pick It Up Here

                           

                          Dead Low – ‘Listen Up!’ (AUDIO EPIDEMIC RECORDS!)  Buy Here / Digital Copies

                          From out of Massachusetts this powerful tri love to kick up a thunderous noise from the punchy bass to the street fighting vocals it’s am impressive four tracks on offer here.  It’s getting a physical release later this month and takes no prisoners.  ‘Bloodlines’ has a very nice thumping bass line that is quite Goth in lords of the new church sort of way whilst the melody and vocal delivery is very much hardcore with some Oi! thrown in for good measure.  Quite the melting pot of influences right there.

                          First Boy On The Moon – ‘Sofia’ (Manic Records) Relocated Californian David Pedroza is now set up in Sweden and his band ply their post-punk trade drawing influences such as The Cure and Early U2 on this wonderfully vivid pink coloured vinyl 7″.  The lead track is an uptempo throwback if you like to that mid-80s guitar-driven sound and with a good hook on the chorus it’s not a bad introduction to the band at all.  The flipside is a heavily effected bass throbbing builder. Not a million miles from the more chart orientated American Indie of early Killers.  Me, I prefer the first track much more I like the later years Bowie influence going on which is never a bad thing.  Facebook
                          Minatore – ‘Boys Tell Lies’ (Self Release)  Nottingham based two-piece sound like a whole band and some on this ‘Boys Tell Lies’.  A dark tale dealing with Rape Culture this walk on the dark side is surprisingly uplifting and whilst its steeped in grunge meets punk along the lines of early Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr it sounds huge. Aggressive and measured it’s a fine introduction to a band.  The second track is more of the same but a little less fury and more in keeping with the band influences of Smashing Pumpkins with all the time changes. Pick it up here

                          In The Whale – ‘Drugdealer’ (Riot Records/ golden Robot Records)   Just so you don’t think we’ve gone soft, coming on like Helmet when ‘Betty’ was a thing this has a huge groove that crosses over into prime Downset territory. Heavier than two anvils In The Whale are in da house kids!
                          IN THE WHALE have been turning heads and accumulating a mass of die-hard fans and followers thanks to a relentless tour schedule and an explosive live performance. Artists and festival promoters have taken notice, with the band playing Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Afro Punk, as well as shows with Jane’s Addiction, The Descendents, The Offspring, Gogol Bordello and many more

                           

                          HOOKERS & BLOW ‘Trampled Underfoot’  (Golden Robot Records)  Moving into the 21st century Dizzy Reid & Alex Grossi Releasethis from their soon to be released covers album. They tackle Bowie, the Stones and Eddy Money, as well as this, Led Zep classic with all parts recorded in quarantine during the pandemic.  Of course they turn in a near-perfect rendition if classic Rock is your thang then you’re going to love this.

                          Hookers & Blow would like to dedicate the release of ‘Trampled Underfoot’ to their good friend and colleague, the late Frankie Banali, who passed away recently after a battle with cancer. A portion of proceeds from this single will be donated to https://www.pancan.org/

                           

                          The Nude Party – ‘Lonely Heather’ (New West Records) Second album set for release next month but first this very listenable jig that’s equal parts VU and The Stones (early ’70s) comes with a catchy animated video. Besides when can a song have too much cowbell?

                           

                          The Jimmy Tarbuck Experience – ‘Under Class’ (self-release) Now Heres a top tune.  Catchy with a bit of a punch.  The band got in touch to say the EP they were going to put out has been held back due to the obvious but did release this one track and accompanying video featuring some of their punk pals; Kevin Nixon from Anit Pasti, Glynn Barber from Chron Gen, Paul Rooney from Vice Squad and Pete R Jones from PiL / Department S and every other band in London (so it says here)   but we certainly love the tune and the more we play it to more it gets stuck in your noggin’ just what a singles supposed to do right?.  Tidy!

                           

                          Kurt Baker – ‘Over You’ (Wicked Cool Records)  Don’t take my word for it just click the link and decide for yourself but just in case you need convincing.  Kurt Baker is one hell of a talent regardless of what guise it is be it solo, with his combo or with the Leftovers the guy has no visible faults or weaknesses.  He pens infectious upbeat Rock and Roll power pop and probably does it better than almost anyone you could name.  Here he is with the lead track off his new album that released next month. Pre-save/Pre-add ‘After Party’ Here / Stream the single “Over You” on all digital platforms: Here

                           

                          Frankie And The Studs – ‘(Not Your) Victim’ (Golden Robot Records) What a great tune.  Sure its fairly generic style-wise but I love that backbeat and the chorus is quite memorable. Hollywood rockers Frankie and the Studs just signed with Australian Punktured Media and this is their first single since signing.  It’s about women being empowered and the inherent strength they possess and not to forget it.  Sure it’s inspired by Quatro and Jett but what’s wrong with that?  If you’re going to seek inspiration then go to the top and it shows in this single and the more plays to more it stands out.  A decent earworm for sure. Preorder/Save: Here