Russian Band, Naked Gun, Aims for Glam Metal's Return: An Interview

Grudge killed glam. Any true metal fan who lived through the early nineties knows that. Rock audiences became depressed, sucked into a whirlwind of dirty hair, flannel shirts, and raw, unbridled anger. Yes, children. The history books say grudge killed glam. But the writers of those books had forgotten the truth. Glam is actually immortal. The hair-teasing, lipstick wearing, cod-piece donning, most sexually appealing movement of heavy metal has risen again in the form of Naked Gun -- five hot rockers from Moscow.. Taking the glam metal movement to whole new lengths, Naked Gun is louder, faster, sexier, and powerful enough to make metal's favorite music here to stay.

"Naked Gun is a rock 'n' roll [rifle] barrel, loaded with the sexual energy of the 80s, and aimed directly at your heart," says front man Alex Gun, whose tongue-wagging stage presence is part of the ammunition that blasts out of Naked Gun. Just a sip of his swagger and a gulp of his signature glam vocals with a little twist of new wave is enough to mentally whisk fans away to a favorite place in their hearts faster than a warm bath filled with steamy water and Calgon. It was Alex Gun's personal love of glam that conceived Naked Gun -- a love for the music that reaches out to the audience and enchants fans, leaving them wild-eyed, tied to the stage, and screaming lustful pleas for more.

The band went through a series of trial and error before completing its assembly in 2005. "Alex Gun had decided to form a classic glam rock band and wrote eight songs. "I had known him before the band was formed, and I really like glam [music]," says guitarist BitterGlam, "That's why I decided to [play] lead guitar in a new band."

Alex Gun had discovered rhythm guitarist D-Rock at a Judas Priest show, while drummer Sinktur joined them sometime during late 2005. But the band discovered that booking gigs around Russia for a young glam band is just as challenging as attempting the same task in the U.S. "Glam metal isn't so popular in Russia, " explains Alex Gun, "there are some glam bands that play in clubs -- as it was in the 70s through the 80s -- there weren't any glam bands in Russia."

Fortunately, event managers in Moscow hold themed venues in order to attract the right kind of audience to each event. Fans know what kind of music will be playing at each event by the name of the artist the show is named for. "Also, theme parties are made for [playing] covers and to tribute other artists and bands," says Sinktur.

"[Theme parties] are also better for glam bands, 'cause no one can understand our image at other parties," agrees Alex Gun. Naked Gun also invites fans to join them at one of these theme gigs: a Motley Crue party is scheduled on June 8^th in Moscow, where the band plans to cover three classic Motley Crue songs during their set.

"The best glam bands of Russia will be there," promises Sinktur.

"They'll be Whiskey Cat, Obscure Camera, Moscow Rock City -- our good friends," says Alex Gun.

Though thoroughly influenced by all facets of glam rock, including hair metal and sleaze, Naked Gun's original compositions are a new formula of old glam -- a meld of different technical aspects and sound of all genres of rock. The band doesn't always fully agree on media reviews that attempt to expose these aspects, but they welcome all reactions to their music without bias.

Give It Up, which is a not yet recorded track, carries the classic technical aspects that most audiences expect from glam metal: Serious words are set to a fun party beat, with a singing style that's reminiscent of Bret Michaels (of Poison) and just a taste of punk. However, the band's two recorded for MySpace tracks, Freewalker and Nasty Girls exemplify a blend of much different aspects of rock.

Freewalker contrasts a bright tempo and lightweight riffs with a darker sound. Alex Gun's vocal stylings are a little softer, more melodic, and lower in pitch, which are contrast to his staccato, less fluid whoops and yells in Naked Gun's other songs. Gun has an overall deeper pitched voice than most glam artists, and the change of pace in Freewalker reminds us a bit of newer American Gothic bands in a slightly higher octave. This aspect, combined with a vibrato that is almost as thick as new wave, sounds almost as if David Bowie and Peter Steele (of Type O Negative) had a love child. All of this, Gun combines with an occasional King Diamond-like upper-register long tone, floating over top of everything else, which is capable of making any early metal fan shout, "Yeah!"

The opening guitar intro to Freewalker also has aspects that ring true of highly contrasted groups -- a tightly woven conglomeration of Cheap Trick and White Lion, with a darker overtone, all set to a moderate, pop-rock tempo. If a listener can imagine all of those facets working together, then he can understand how the lyrics fit into such a song. "Freewalker is a song about a free man who is [by himself] -- just his bike and an open road. He doesn't run from anything or anyone . . .he's just moving -- or walking," explains Alex Gun.

Looking for a tune that is pure, raw, sexy glam rock? Naked Gun's newly posted Nasty Girls is just what you're begging for. Most simply put, Nasty Girls' quick ascending and descending thirds sound like a sped up version of Poison's UnSkinny Bop. It's no wonder at all that a third of the band is influenced by sex-fueled American 80s groups like Motley Crue, Poison, WASP, and Britny Fox.

The bottom's straight eighth note line of bassist Vlad Crazy in Nasty Girls seems to follow that same pattern, with accents thrusting each beat. All the while, Alex Gun is telling us why Nasty Girls "make [him] feel alright." This one sounds like it's a guaranteed crowd pleaser, offering "nasty, nasty" back-up vocals that can get the fists waving and the crowd chanting.

BitterGlam wants the world to know that she isn't just a sexy female lead guitar player. "I like photography, and take pictures. I also like painting," she says. Her work can be found on-line.

Alex doesn't need an extra hobby in his life to keep him happy, "I love girls and rock'n'roll," he says, "That's all I need."

Naked Gun speaks glam right down to their image and stage names. "We make our own clothing," says BitterGlam, "Nothing [we] copy -- just use the 80s style as a basis."

Alex Gun slightly differs from his band mate. "I just tried to combine the clothing style of my favorite bands," he says, "Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison, WASP, and Judas Priest."

Though they have primarily a Russian fan base, Naked Gun greatly anticipates touring around the world, and with the band's growing popularity, it won't be long before that can become a dream come true.

The world had moved itself away from the glam scene, and groups like Naked Gun aim to bring that scene back to the masses. "We don't have the money [to starve for success," says BitterGlam.

"We'll do anything for success [that isn't] criminal," adds Alex Gun.

As far as we're concerned, Naked Gun will never face starvation or criminal charges to taste success -- the world will give it to them in triple helpings.