The following interview was conducted backstage at Riverfront Live, Cincinnati, Ohio on 9-14 with assistance from guest contributor Jacqueline Perrin.
Wednesday 13 is known for their ghoulish and grandiose songs, stage performances and overall, extreme zest for the dead, afterlife. Front man Wednesday has led the graveyard charge forward for two decades leaving a crypt full of releases in their wake. It’s been two decades in the grave, dipping deeper and deeper desecrating earth for unhallowed inspiration. Their current tour celebrates 20 Years of Fear and all things 13 from the coffin creaking beginning to the release of next month’s new Horrifier.
Wednesday has conjured up all like and elk of necro-creations and sing a long’s. From the beginning, he followed in the blood- stained, theatrical crime-scene footsteps of his elders in Alice Cooper and KISS.
He walked with the dead years before it was popular, playing with dolls, Frankenstein and many other macabre creations along the way. He’s guillotined his way through handfuls of records, storming Hollywood, trampling the sunny streets in full ghoul gear.
With each new record he’s spilled more lyrical blood, guts and human remains. He’s the maestro of by the book burials and unlawful, immoral early exhuming. The newest opus October’s Horrifier is ten songs of grave-robbing delight under the moonlight with possessive, possession-like charm and dimly-lit torture tactic turn-on’s.
Christmas for horror fans and freaks starts next month as Wednesday 13 release their next audio-slaughter on the 7th reeking of everything fans want and expect from the lucky 13.
The album cover is reminiscent of what Castle Grayskull would look like, in hell. “The weird, strange thing is, the recording process was different than before,” Wednesday explains. “The cover was done before we recorded. Normally someone listens to the record then creates an image.” Wednesday met an artist during the pandemic that created a few designs, finally settling on doing it Castle Grayskull style.
The carriage at the bottom gives it a very King Diamond look. “To me it’s one of those epic ‘80s album covers. You go into the record store and say, I gotta get this. That’s why album art is so important for every record I do. We’re in the digital, download age where nobody even knows what you look like. Do you like that band? Yeah. Do you know what they look like? No.”
The “Insides Out” video is one of Wednesday’s favorite and newest brutal visions. “That’s my favorite video, one of my favorite songs. We played a sound check today [9-14]. It’s our favorite song to play in the set. It’s pummeling.”
It could be assumed but he says it’s not SAW inspired. “I can see where people would see that. In my view, the lyrics are a torture song. The idea was to have an interrogation light with two people.” The original idea was for Wednesday to torture a woman but was changed to a man and woman. “It comes from my inspiration when I see Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.” He enjoys Leatherface’s taunting of Stretch and Caroline Williams trying to trick him. “It looked like a mini-horror film. The coolest thing I’ve filmed in a while.”
The spiked Cobra-like knife is on the tray along with a Carcass-style torture tool collection. “That’s exactly what it is. I bought that four or five years ago at 3am at the biggest truck stop in America. I went in, saw the Cobra knife and said; I must have that. I’ve wanted it since Cobra came out in 1985, the perfect knife to use on that.”
The song brought out heavy, grinding guitar sounds drilling with bloody industrial charm. “I do all the lyrics, mainly, but Roman [Surman] our guitarist brought in the riff. The way he plays it’s so unique. He’s learned how to make the weirdest sounds he can make. It sounds like a laser gun, half the shit he does. If I went into a store that made toys with all the craziest, coolest noises, he can make those. When he played that riff, lyrically I didn’t know where to go with it. How do I sing over this? I love that, such a Psycho sound, sounds like a monster.” Guitarist Jack Tankersley, bassist Troy Doebbler and Mike Dupke complete the monstrous gathering of morgue-friendly like-minded dark souls.
It was a challenge how to lyrically approach the heaviness. “I like metal but I’m a hard rock guy. My bands are KISS, Alice Cooper, WASP, all those kind of bands. When I heard that music I was like, this is heavy! It reminds me of when I first heard “Captain Howdy” from Twisted Sister. That was heavy for me, when they did “The Beast,” and “Burn in Hell.” It didn’t sound like “We’re not gonna take It.” When I heard “God of Thunder” from KISS I would not have known that was KISS. It was heavy as fuck so that’s how I approached it. This is our “God of Thunder,” or “Captain Howdy.”
Based on title you might think “Exhume and Devour” is partially inspired by the Butcher of Plainfield but is actually more Walking Dead necro-fueled. “I was trying to come up with an idea. I’ve written so many zombie songs and necrophilia songs. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years. I’m always trying to make myself laugh. I’ll write a song about people eating people before they’re dead before they come back to life. It’s about eating the dead before they eat you.”
The story of Ed Gein inspired Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a host of other horror gems. “Yeah what a real crazy story right? I read his book and saw the history of the whole thing. I saw the movies. The best one was Deranged. I didn’t mind the one, in 2000 with the guy that played Charles Manson (Steve Railsback). I thought it was ok as well. What a crazy story.” Gein’s psychosis-like passion for post mortem décor is well documented. “The biggest question is how did that little guy dig up those holes in the middle of the winter? That gives you a supernatural thing. He was gonna make it happen.”
There were no tricks, effects used for the girls possessed movement in the “You’re so hideous” video. “She’s a contortionist. I saw her on a video shoot, all dressed up.” The video’s a true to form tribute to the mother of all possession movies with some special Wednesday touches.
Halloween is obviously one of his favorite houses of horror, tapping hard on the masked butcher’s blade, including a horrifying tribute on the record “Return to Haddonfield.” How does he predict Halloween Ends, ends? “I don’t know. I’ve been watching them since they came out. It needs to end though. I enjoyed the first two, my favorites. I loved Season of the Witch. I like 4 and 5 just the way they’re put together. Now it’s a whole other story.”
He loved the retro-recreation they did in Halloween Kills, including Dr. Loomis’s appearance. “I was blown away by that. Then they changed and I was like, no, go back, go back! I think they’ll kill him. It’ll be some kind of way like, there’s no way he’s coming back, but…. They burned him in part II, so what can you do? He’s never had his head cut off. I’m thinking that might be the way to do it. They had to kill Jason in all those horrible ways. It might need to be a meat grinder. That would be great.”
The new record also carries a heartfelt killer tribute tune to Stephen Kings Christine. “I like the actor Keith Gordon; he was in The Legend of Billie Jean. I love the soundtrack and the eeriness of it, the idea of a car that kills people. It was fun to write and I tried to make the music sound like the car, the engine of the car. The car running over the shitters, that’s what he called them.”
Wednesday is considered by many as the Alice Cooper of the X Generation. “I’ll take that compliment. A lot of people have said that. Alice is my hero, I learned everything from him. He’s a friend of mine, he’s only went higher and higher.”
They were originally scheduled for the European run of Ministry’s Moral Hygiene Tour this fall but the tour was cancelled. With Horrifier dropping October 7th they’re playing through late October. “We’re adding another week to this tour. We’re gonna be playing Halloween in the states, can’t say where yet.”
They have a cool, revolving set offering something for every fan that comes to watch. “I love this set. This is a cool set. It’s almost to the point where I wanna add a couple more songs if we’re having a good time. I think we’ve covered most of the history of the band. We got a Murderdolls section we dedicate to Joey you hear the three new singles, stuff from Transylvania and Necrophaze, all the records. We have 20 songs in the setlist. You won’t be disappointed.”
A special vinyl edition of Horrifier comes with an Ouija board. “Yeah, I think that’s already sold out. Somebody tried to buy it and was already gone. That was something the label offered. So far, it’s a pretty cool thing. We wanna do something cool with you guys, I was like, great. I’m always about that.” The last album with his former label did an action figure edition. “We did two different album covers with vinyl edition.” He’s always trying something different like his hero’s. “When [Napalm Records] said Ouija board, I said YES! I won’t touch them but I had to present a Wednesday 13 take for the fans to have. I don’t mess with Ouija boards. I’ve seen The Exorcist too many times.”
He’s a fan of visual, physical product wanting to give fans cool extra’s with new releases “I wanted to do a deluxe version of Necrophaze. I wanted to make it with a mask, television, with every single video we did, backstage stuff and full live concert.” His former label declined. “I said what about these bonus tracks? Can you put them out on a bonus EP? Do a cool cover?” They declined opting for a digital release and that was the last chapter.
With three amazing videos already out, they could film more. A making of, behind the scenes documentary is also on the table. “Hopefully they’ll be into it and I think they will. The video quality of this stuff is movie level, it’s great. I will try and make that happen. The next video is “Good Day to be a Bad Guy.” It’ll be out October 5th.”
A big budget theatrical, Alice Cooper/Rob Zombie level show filmed for DVD would be right up Wednesday’s grinding wheelhouse. People could see the band and what they’re really capable of delivering. While digital gives fans the music, they don’t always get a visual impression unless they watch YouTube or check the bands socials. He’s also tailor made for the horror convention circuit which he often frequents/haunts.
The last song on Horrifier reeks from a personal place. “I don’t always try and write a personal song on my records. I did one in the past called “We All Die.” Even though it sounds like a zombie apocalypse song.
He experienced multiple personal losses from family to close friends within a year. When he got to “The Other Side,” he used it as a personal message honoring their memories. “This will be the song I do. I didn’t wanna make it sad, I think it almost comes off as a positive. Is it a ballad? I don’t know. It was a way to get my words out. I think anyone that’s dealt with anything like that, they relate to it. Singing about personal stuff isn’t my favorite thing. It’s like, getting exposed. People say it’s a killer song. I love it. It makes me feel good.”
There’s a healthy dose of Wednesday history in the setlist formaldehyde strength. Playing “Insides Out” takes them to a different level. “Man, that song live, its next level. It’s just fun, gotta good vibe.” Jaws have dropped at past shows with some fans hearing it for the first time. “I’m a fan of good music and songs. I like entertainment value. You gotta give me a song or a hook. The music is first. I put myself in the audience. When I wrote “Hideous” if I was in the audience would that be easy to sing along to? Would I remember that? Would it be in my head? I always think like that. I’m just as picky about the music. Music is as important as the show.”
He takes great pride being the band on stage that he wants to see from the crowd. “I wanna be that band that I haven’t seen. That reminds me of all my other favorite bands. That’s what I do. I wear my influences on my sleeve. I’ve said Alice a billion times. I’ve said KISS. Blackie [Lawless], Dee Snider, that’s how I learned.” Snider’s been his spiritual animal for learning how to work a crowd.
With The Munsters inked on his arm, he applauds Rob Zombie for his vision, “I’m excited for Rob. I know The Munsters is his favorite thing. To have an opportunity to put your name on the franchise it’s gotta be terrifying but at the same time, I’d rather see him get a hold of it and see what he does. I’m a fan of it. I’ve toured with Rob over the years, big fan of White Zombie and Rob’s solo stuff. I’ve seen a lot of people bash it. Let me remind you of something. The original series, yes we know, they did a bunch of shit in between. There was a show called The Munsters Today, that I enjoyed. I’m willing to give it a chance and support Rob.” To the haters, he says, he doesn’t care, Rob remade The Munsters. What did you do? “I’m team Zombie, I wish him success and anyone that bashes it, where’s you’re f’n Munsters movie?”
Wednesday 13 is currently touring the states spreading 20 years of fear country-wide. Check socials for more information. “Good Day to be a bad Guy” releases October 5th with Horrifier dropping October 7th. Stay tuned, you’ll find him in a crypt near you.
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