Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13

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Frankenstein Drag Queens
Frankenstein Drag Queens logo
Origin Charlotte, North Carolina
Years active 1996
1997-2002
2004
2005–present
Genres Horror punk
Scum punk
Hard rock
Labels Uncle God Damn Records
People Like You Records
Restless Records
Members Wednesday 13
Abby Normal
Sicko Zero
Past members Seaweed
Rat Bastard
Scabs
R.S. Saidso
Creepy
Syd
Ikky
It

Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 are a Horror punk band from North Carolina. The band was formed in 1996, by Wednesday 13, Seaweed and Sicko Zero. After breaking up in the early 2000s when the frontman left to perform with the Murderdolls, they reformed in 2005 releasing a box set containing their entire recordings.

The music of the Frankenstein Drag Queens was played in a punk rock style. Lyrically the band were inspired by horror B-movie and references in popular culture. As well as a large leaning towards punk the band's live show and appearence took cues from glam rock acts such as Alice Cooper, New York Dolls and KISS. They were known to wear dresses and make-up on stage as part of their performance.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Enlarge

In the aftermath of Maniac Spider Trash, a band featuring both Wednesday 13 and Sicko Zero, the Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 were formed during 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with 13's friend, bassist Seaweed completing the line-up.

The band wrote their debut album "The Late, Late, Late Show" within two weeks of being together, and recorded it in two days. The album contained 11 tracks of nihilistic but trashy, horror punk tracks. This would be the blue-print for their future recordings. Lyically the album featured songs about killing Miss America, religion, rape and horror movie themed such as a song mentioning The Wolf Man.

Although the band weren't the first to cover scum punk themes from North Carolina (GG Allin's band the Murder Junkies were from North Carolina), they were certainly the first to do it in drag and horror-esque glam make-up. During the end of 1996, 13 fired Seaweed from the band, Rat Bastard took his place. But soon after Sicko Zero quit the band, 13 lost contact with Rat Bastard and the band folded.

[edit] Night of the Living Drag Queens

The following year in 1997, the Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 reformed. Seaweed has returned to the line-up and brought a guitarist named Creepy and drummer named Scabs with him. The latter two only remained with the band for two weeks however.

Abby Normal previously of Maniac Spider Trash and drummer R.S. Saidso joined the band as they toured. Along with 13, Saidso co-produced the Frankenstein Drag Queens cassette relesed demo EP. Syd replaced Normal the same year on guitar.

Original drummer Sicko Zero rejoined and Saidso was booted by the time the Drag Queens went in to record their second album "Night of the Living Drag Queens" , sonically this album was their fastest. Featuring songs titled "Mr. Motherfucker", "Die My Bride", "Let's Go To War" and "Crossdressing G.D.S.O.B." the band pushed their lyrical themed in excess. Containing lyrics such as;

"I wear lipstick and I wear a dress. High heels, I stand when I piss.
And I don't wanna shave, and I don't wanna bathe
Cause I'm a transvestite from planet 13. I'm a crossdressing god damn son of a bitch"[1]

This album and the one previously recorded, were released via the band's own DIY label Uncle God Damn Records, the albums were made available by mail order and at their gigs. After touring in support of the album, guitarist Syd left the band. The Frankenstein Drag Queens did not attempt to find another member and kept the line-up as it was when the band originally formed; Wednesday 13 on guitar and vocals, Sicko Zero playing the drums and Seaweed on bass guitar.

[edit] Songs From the Recently Deceased

The trio went into the studio and recorded their third album "Songs From the Recently Deceased" Was on a whole far more showed down and brooding than the previous album. And in contrast to the previous albums scum punk orientated themes, this was in comparison a far more horror themed album.

It featured tracks mentioning several horror b-movies and characters such as "Back in Blacula", "Plan 9 From Outa Space", "La La For Lon Chaney" and "Bride of Frankenstein". After playing in support of their album, they secured a European record deal with People Like You Records (which is backed by Century Media Records) the company re-released "Night of the Living Drag Queens" and "Songs From the Recently Deceased". Around this time keyboardist Ikky was brought into the band, but Zero was uncomfortable with this and soon left for the second time.

[edit] Viva Las Violence

During 2001, Scabs the drummer who replaced Zero the first time around in 1997 was brought into the band once more to replace him once more. Although the band still wore make-up during this period, they removed their wigs and began to adopt an imagine wich would later be seen in the the Murderdolls.

The Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 recorded their fourth album, "Viva Las Violence". This time around the sound was more hard rock centered, but with some shades of their "Night of the Living Drag Queens" album remaining. Seaweed recorded on the album but had left by the time it was released. A local bassist replaced him, named It.

In suppot of the album, the band played many shows, and recorded some songs which would later appear on a Greatest Hits compilation. The band played their last shown in Atlanta, Georgia during early 2002 and were folder by leader Wednesday 13.

[edit] Wednesday 13 joins the Murderdolls

13 had been asked to join a band named the Rejects, by two musicians from Des Moines, Iowa named Dizzy Draztik and Joey Jordison, the latter of which played in a world famous band called Slipknot. 13 felt that after six years and four albums, the Frankenstein Drag Queens were not garnering much success and wanted to try a new project.

On November 2001 Wednesday 13 joined the Rejects as a bassist. By the time 2002 had hit, Draztik was out of the band, 13 was the frontman and they have a new name, the Murderdolls. He would use many Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 songs on the Murderdolls debut album "Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls". This would cause relationships to fray, between 13 and former members of the Drag Queens, who had formed a new band themselves; The Graveyard Boulevard.

With the Murderdolls, 13 toured the world, and played several high key Festival dates such as Summer Sonic Festival, Download Festival and Rock am Ring, playing with world famous bands like Iron Maiden, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and many more.

After Murderdolls went on hiatus, Wednesday 13 put out a new song called "Your Mother Sucks Cocks In Hell" on a compilation album for Metal Sludge. He would then release a greatest hits album under the name Wednesday 13's Frankenstein Drag Queens, featuring a few new songs. The frontman then decided to put the band to rest and began to record under the Wednesday 13 name.

[edit] Frankenstein Drag Queens reformation

Shortly after this, 13 and his former band mates in The Graveyard Boulevard patched up old feuds (With the exception of Seaweed) and decided to bring the Frankenstein Drag Queens back, as a part time project. They official reunited on stage in Greensboro, North Carolina on August 20, 2005. The line-up featured Wednesday 13, Abby Normal and Sicko Zero.

They released a 10th anniversary box-set in May 2006, titled "Little Box of Horrors". The box-set features almost every song the band has ever recorded, with alternate versions of some songs, and a DVD which features footage from a 1998 concert. It was released on Restless Records.

[edit] Members

[edit] Former members

  • Seaweed - bass (1996, 1997-2001)
  • Rat Bastard - bass (1996)
  • Scabs - drums (1997, 2001-2002)
  • R.S. Saidso - drums (1997)
  • Creepy - guitar (1997)
  • Syd - guitar (1997-1998)
  • Ikky - keyboards (2000-2002)
  • It - bass (2001-2002)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EP

  • "Frankenstein Dragqueens From Planet 13" - (1997)

[edit] Singles

  • "197666 / Hey Mom, I Just Killed a Chicken" - (2000)
  • "Dawn of the Dead / Anti-You" - Split with The Nerds - (2000)
  • "Hello Hooray / Kill Miss America" - Split with The Spook
  • "Graverobbing U.S.A. / Rock n' Roll"
  • "Chop Off My Hand / Hey Mom, I Just Killed a Chicken"
  • "Love At First Fright / I Wanna Be Your Dog"

[edit] Boxset and Compilation

[edit] Tribute appearences

  • "Sweet F.A, A Tribute to Sweet" (featuring cover of "Fox On The Run")
  • "Thinking Of Alice, A Tribute to Alice Cooper" (featuring cover of "Levity Ball")

[edit] References

  1. ^ Crossdressing G.D.S.O.B. lyric

[edit] External links

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