INTERVIEW with FLASH MAGAZINE [ITALY]

Italian

English

FM: A lot of guys on tour tend to be rude, dirty and watch porn. How does a woman fit in this scenario?
Nina C. Alice: Women are the reason why boys behave like fools! Boys want to impress females and play ape… if they aren’t gay.. But I am only and always on tour with men! And they usually know how to respect and treat a woman. I am feeling alright if people joke about their sex lives or their none existing sex lives, but porno in the bus brings up unwanted tension, as a lot of people sometimes can`t get satisfied. Imagine to be the only guy on the bus with 14 girls who are all horny! Believe me, after 2 days, one of the classic male dreams turns into a nightmare! But then, sex is part of Rock`n`Roll, how can you NOT talk about this subject here and there! People just need to see the difference of when it becomes disrespectful towards a female pal!

FM: How do you feel when in countries like Italy the male audience chants offensive slogans related to your sex as soon as you walk on stage?
Nina C. Alice: I tell you what: As long as the crowd acts cool with females, I am cool with them, no matter where in the world. We rehearsed, we travelled to play, we are on stage, we bring our music to the people, they paid for tickets, it’s about having a good time and rock. If one poor guy out of thousand people tries to insult me seriously and ruin it, he lives on thin ice, as the crowd maybe cracks his balls. If a lot of guys would seriously insult me, well.. we might even stop the show then... But that NEVER happened and I don`t believe it would. If some people in the crowd try to be funny with stupid slogans, they will hear my point of view very quickly in a major macho female way. I can not take this deadly serious anyway. Can you?

FM: How do you manage to cut out your private space on the bus or backstage?
Nina C. Alice: Privacy on tour is hard to get for everyone. But we don`t go on tour to find privacy. We could stay home otherwise! Being on the road means to share exciting times and rock! I get a backstage room for my own, if possible. I have the backlounge of the bus for myself 90% and use it as a wardrobe often before shows.  As soon as the bus door closes, we are private and everyone talks on the phone, plays video games, watches movies, listens to Cd`s, writes stuff, talks with each other or goes to sleep or just hangs around. It`s pretty relaxing and no big deal. Our bus is our castle. Backstage is our living room.

FM:  Do you ever feel like you have to be "up to the job", "strong as man" and so on? Any type of pressure from your male fellows?
Nina C. Alice: No pressure in peticular. Everyone has to be ready for their jobs all the time. So do I.  “Respect” is the magic word! Everyone has their own nature despite being born a male or female. My world is not devided into male and female, it’s rather : either you like to hang with the people you play with, or not. It`s either ONE band, ONE unit, or it`s a piece of shit. If the band members don`t respect each other, it doesn`t work anyway. Female or not. It`s about characters and getting along with your own fears and clichés. I expect a lot from myself anyway…and from others as well.  Oh and: I leave it up to the men to be strong as men! … if they can.

FM: Do you ever get any special nice treatment "just because" you're a woman?
Nina C. Alice: Hell, no! In what world are you living in? I get treated the way I treat people! Always remember: What you give is what you’ll get! I woke up a long time ago.

FM: A lot of guys decide to become musicians because they want to get laid more often. Is that ever the case for a woman?!
Nina C. Alice: This one’s rather an old reason since Aids, Hep C and other shit, which is not hard to catch when you fool around with strangers nowadays!!! And I believe girls fall in love too easily to play that game. I am in a band because of the music. I am obsessed with music. I guess it helps to be a rock star, yes.

FM: How do you deal with personal hygene while on tour?
Nina C. Alice: I deal with it, if possible. A shower in the morning to wake up, a shower after the show. Toothbrushes, shampoo and soap are useful tools on tour.

FM: Do you ever feel ashamed when you wake up on the bus, with no make up and puffy eyes and everyone can see you?!
Nina C. Alice: Who is everyone? Damn, I’ve got better problems than feeling ashamed in my bus! Look, I don`t need to convince anyone here, that I am looking perfect 24 hours. They like me because I am an interesting musician with attitude and I am their pal. No good to feel ashamed with the guys in your band. If anyone thinks I am ugly, well...fuck them, they are ugly too! 

FM: Women are said to always carry a huge luggage, full of mostly useless stuff. How do you manage when leaving for an extensive tour?
Nina C. Alice: See, guys who only have little luggage are always the ones who smell like shit after 3 days! And those guys don`t get near me.
Well, how do I manage it? I carry my luggage into the bus and squeeze it into a bunk, just like everyone else… and off we go on the road.  All my stuff is very useful.  50% is show clothes and cosmetic, the rest is t-shirts, pants, boots, hats, coats, a camera for photos, books and CD player, Mobile phone, Lap Top, Game Boy, and the most important thing: Sunglasses.   

FM:  Who are the most charming and nice musicians you've met on tour and what have they done to win your approval?
Nina C. Alice: Lemmy Kilmister: we visit each other in the bus and write lyrics and listen to good music and talk or just sit there and relax or play pinball. Phil Campbell of Motorhead, he brought us candy when we where hungry after a show 8 years ago. Alice Cooper and his band, they are cool people, very enjoyable. Moa of Meldrum, she is cool, Vinnie Appice: He is entertaining and fun. Dio: He hugged me and said, I am a great talented singer. Patrick Lachmann (ex-Rob Halford git), he`s fun to be with. Corey (ex-Nashville Pussy) she rocks! Nibbs, bass player for Saxon is cool to hang with.  Ed, guitar for Monster Magnet, he's a "dude",  Doro- she`s a buddy, Girlschool is cool, Randy Castillo (R.I.P) was really sweet and came over for my birthday in L.A. in a restaurant 1992,..... and the list could continue now forever, but I guess, you`ve got more questions.
All in all: they are all very good musicians and I admire the way they rock.  To impress me: Rock hard and be honest.
 
FM:  Who are, in your opinion, the most talented and beautiful female singers in the scene? Is there anyone you envy and are you friends with them?
Nina C. Alice: I love the singers of Evanescence, Garbage and Otep. But I have to destroy your illusions: you can’t envy someone and be his friend! That’s sick! Friends must back each other up, admire each other and have respect for who and what they are.

FM: Have you ever felt like being judged by your aspect rather than by your talent?
Nina C. Alice: Sometimes. Because, you`re using your talent, to bring your aspect across. But it`s great to be recognized because of the talent. A balance between both is cool with me.

FM: Being a woman has ever helped you in your career or has it ever been an obstacle?
Nina C. Alice: Maybe both, maybe not. I don`t think this way, I don`t act this way. I don`t like to be put in competition with male singers, I don`t like when people say I sing better than a lot of guys out there. What`s the point? I never tried to be like a guy. I am just me and I am a female. Besides, I never got on any tour, never got any record contract, because I was born a girl. If you look at the top ten list of the best acts of the world it`s still only 2 % female in the ranks….so…think about this. Being a female rather makes it more difficult maybe. Sometimes you must convince people that you “ are good for being a girl” which to me is a complete joke.

FM: How much "looking good" is important for a woman in the music business?
Nina C. Alice: People jugde you as soon as they look at you. So, you must feel comfortable in your shoes, with your style. If looking good means just “sexy”, that`s just hollow and works for about 2 hours, or even helps to get laid hahahah... No, you must deliver a piece of mind, great music, attitude and personality plus a great band, learn your instruments ! But, it`s never wrong to look great! Who wants to look "ugly" !? But then, who says what`s ugly/pretty/good in the end?

"Hi" to our italian Skew Siskin fans. "Porco Dio" have been the first two words I have learned! And today I been to a Pizza place here in Berlin, and learned "Manjare Bono" (or how do you spell it...)?!
Ciao, stay strong,
yours
Nina C. Alice

(11th November 2005)