Aug 28th “Paunchy Cats” Lichtenfels GERMANY
Aug 29th “Rock It " Arnsberg GERMANY
Sept 1st “ Banale Estivo” Ponte di Brenta ITALY
Sept 2nd “TBA” ITALY
Sept 3rd “TBA” Trentino ITALY
Sept 4th “Rock Club” Ronchi dei Legionari ITALY
Sept 5th “TBA” ITALY
Sept 7th “Thunderbird Lounge” Saint-Etienne FRANCE
Sept 8th “Classic Rock Café” Roeselare BELGIUM
Sept 9th “TBA” Copenhagen DENMARK
Sept 10th “Dirty Harry’s” Järnvägsgatan Växjö SWEDEN
Sept 11th 2010 “Stockholm Rock Out” Stockholm SWEDEN
Aug 26th “Garage Deluxe” Munich GERMANY
Aug 27th “Rock City” Uster SWITZERLAND
SHAMELESS are ready to embark on a 15 date European tour during August & September 2010. The group will be fronted by legendary Sunset Strip veteran - TUFF vocalist Stevie Rachelle. Also on board will be TUFF member Jimi Lord who played drums with the band during the 'Religious Fix' years. The bookends on bass & guitar will be SHAMELESS master mind Alexx Michael & his partner in crime BC as well as Andy Brings (Ex-Sodom & Tracii Lords) . The set will be filled with TUFF classics from their Glam Rock debut "What Comes Around Goes Around" (check out the TUFF 'Just For The Record Interview). Songs will include "The All New Generation", "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye",
"Good Guys Wear Black" and the smash "American Hair Band". The SHAMELESS tracks to be featured are "Non Stop City", "Steal The Girlz" & the Munich based bands most downloaded track, "Queen For A Day" and many
more. RockUnited.com had a quick chat with the mastermind behind Shameless (the only Glam Metal band ever? from Germany) about the coming tour and past and present things, here's ALEXX MICHAEL (from
Munich)...
Are
you looking forward to going out on our with Stevie Rachelle (Tuff), and what can the audience expect from you guys?
Alexx: Yes it gonna be a lot of fun !! We did this many times now for the last 10 years so we all look really forward to this
tour. We gonna play a lot of Shameless, Tuff songs and a few covers. It gonna be a blast
I noticed the tour wraps up at Sweden's "Stockholm Rockout Festival" on Saturday September 11th. Are you planning on checking out any of the other acts there?
Alexx: Of course I wanna see Ryan Roxie who I met thru Keri Kelli & Eric Singer 10 years ago. Great guy, amazing songwriter & guitarplayer.
What's a successful tour anyhow? a lifetime experience or the more commercial aspect?
Alexx: Both !! Of course everybody wants and needs to make money but its like an Adventure Camp on the road !! 4 to 6 crazy guys having a blast driving all over Europe in a van, playing great shows, meeting beautiful women and great friends and fans !!
Does the name 'Shameless' reflect the overall mood of the band?
Alexx: Its more !! Its a lifestyle. You have 2 be Shameless 2 be in Shameless
Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?
Alexx: I mostly write songs about things that happened either 2 me or 2 friends of mine. Famous 4 Madness is basically the story of my life !!
Does your vision for Shameless get affected by music trends and changes?
Alexx: No not really. I don't really care about trends and that stuff. Everybody is talking about Lady Ga Ga at the moment but all I see is Marilyn Manson (Mechanical Animal Period) with tits and some radio friendly music.
How much of an influence has Stevie Rachelle and Tuff had on the band?
Alexx: Here is a funny story. When the original band Shameless started we were all kids with no money, no studio experience or anything but all the clubs wanted a demo to decide if they want you to play. I had this demo by a band called Tuff and we used it to get the gigs HAHA.
Are you working on any new upcoming album yet?
Alexx: I already wrote tons of new songs but the problem at the moment is that most people don't buy cd's anymore. They only download them so most smaller bands only lose money by recording a new cd. So we have to wait till the time is right + Keri Kelli is all the way on the road and I would never ever record a record without him. We tried this once with 'Splashed' cause BC was sick and couldnt fly 2 LA so we finished the CD in Germany and it was not what I wanted it to be.
Regarding the numerous line-up changes of the band - Are you a control freak?
Alexx: Yes I think I am but Shameless for the last 10 years was never about a full steady line up. I like to play with People i like.
Which is better, German, Swedish, or American Glam/Sleaze?
Alexx: There is no glam scene in Germany. I havent seen anyone interesting besides Vains Of Jenna but I am also honest that I dont really go out to search those new bands. Some of them look really cool but a lot of them just sound like a copy of either Motley Crue or Guns N Roses. I am not saying that we are the most original band but we don't do it that obvious. If I
wanna listen to Motley I will pick "Too Fast 4 Love" and not some copy.
Are there any other fine Glam/Sleaze acts from Germany beside you guys???
Alexx: No !! I dont even know about any other Glam Bands from germany. Germany is not a real glam country !!
Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)
Alexx: Paul Stanley !!
What's your favourite 1980's albums?
Alexx: There are so many other great albums from the 80's so its hard to pick one so I give you my 5 favourite ones
Motley Crue - Too Fast 4 Love
Girlschool - Hit & Run (The best female rockband ever !!)
Electric Angels with Ryan Roxie (One of the most underrated albums of the 80's!!
KISS - Unmasked
Quiet Riot - Condition Critical
What do you do when you're not playing or listening to music?
Alexx: Trying 2 make money, having fun with my daughter, driving my Trans Am on nice days
You are in a balloon with Axl Rose, Bret Michaels, Vince Neil and Sebastian Bach - who would you throw out as ballast and why?
Alexx: Well... Vince has the most weight but I would rather throw Bret out first. He ruined Poison. The first 3 records were mostly written by CC who I still consider the talent of the band. His songwriting ruined that Hollyweird CD.
What 3 words describe you best?
Alexx: Freedom, Madness & Passion !!
What is your guilty secret?
Alex: I love Vanilla Bodylotion but most people allready know that
What song(s) do you identify with the most? (sorry, you can't pick one of your own)
Alexx: KISS - Its My Life (The song was first recorded by Wendy O Williams)
What are your future plans?
Alexx: Beeing successful in the things I love and do
If there's anything you'd like to say, add, promote, please do:
Alexx: Don't let your life get ruined by other people, visit us on tour and check our websites or drop me a line on facebook !!
-Alexx Michael /Shameless
www.shamelessrock.com
http://www.myspace.com/shamelessonline
Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom/ urban@rockunited.com