King Khan

Episode Drei

KING KHAN and KING LOUIE let decadence reign!

Berlin bad boy, MTV darling and consummate crowd-pleaser King Khan recently ripped through the US on the maiden American voyage of his explosive soul revue, King Khan & The Shrines. After 10 years completely destroying the European continent, The Shrines are now being dutifully delivered to an American audience via Vice Records. The 10-piece band played clubs from east to west coast, the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago, and McCarren Pool, Southstreet Seaport and Andrew WK’s new nightclub in New York—early high caliber exposure due to the muscle behind the Vice machine. Like a hypnotist conjuring the sexual electricity slumbering deep within, King Khan can bring a crowd collectively to its knees. Think Stax and Specialty records, Volt and Veejay, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, James Brown, and even Jon Spencer—King Khan has got the predatory magnetism to bend an audience to his will and will soon be seen globally hosting his own show on MTV World. A fine gentleman indeed, the King of Berlin opened his arms to the King of New Orleans—living Louisiana legend Louie Bankston, who was touring and tearing it up on this side of the pond with the dirty swamp stompers, The Royal Pendletons. 

But first, here’s a little Q&A with King Khan...


JY: There’s King Curtis, King Coleman, King Louie, The King of Rock and Soul—Solomon Burke—and then, of course, there’s the King himself—Elvis. And you call yourself King Khan. I’ve seen you live several times and will heartily admit you rip it down. But what gives you the right to carry that crown? 

KK: Well ask my wife...she's been smiling blissfully since 1999!

JY: Over a decade playing in the garage rock realm, you have full-length records out on Voodoo Rhythm, Hazelwood, Sympathy, Goner, Crypt, Norton, In The Red, and Vice, and dozens of singles on smaller labels. It goes without saying that you’re one of the most in-demand artists of your generation. Do you feel that signing now with Vice is going to open up The Shrines and your other popular favorite band, The King Khan & BBQ Show, to a wider audience, bigger tours, more money, better riders? 

KK: It isn’t really the label that decides whether or not we should be considered the new rock ‘n roll royalty. Vice is nice with its promotion, but we bled for 10 years on our own without any videos or “tour support.” We earned our gold through lots of blood, sweat, tears and cum. If anything, what got us better tours, riders, and such is the evolution and sophistication of our God-given musical talent and the simple fact that you can't stop rock ‘n roll!

JY: Yeah! Having personally witnessed onstage fellatio and anal audience firebreathing at one of your shows, I assume massive partying was in full effect on this Shrines’ tour. Can you give us any highlights? Are the audiences in the states taking to the soul spectacle like their European brethren?

KK: Someone from the Shrines—and I am not naming names—fucked a girl next to a dumpster and almost got tons of garbage emptied on them. I got to sing duets with Kid Congo, Ian Svenonius, Jello Biafra, the Gris Gris, Jay Reatard, Cole Alexander, Mark Sultan, Bradford Cox, Jon Spencer and the Mighty Hannibal. This was the first of many Shrine US Invasions. God Bless America and the American soul music that we play. We are finally getting a chance to bring it all home to Jerome!!!!! About time something like this took place. Move over Amy Winehouse...the freak brothers are rollin’ in and THEY HAVE VISAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

JY: What’s next for The Shrines?

KK: $$$$$$$ Bling! $$$$$$$ Maybe backing up Beyonce, Trina... I wanna venture into hip hop, do a country album, and move to New York right away!