First the Strokes, then the White Stripes, now Andrew W.K. is the American rock idol of the moment in the British press. Over there, the Florida-via-Michigan resident became a mini-celebrity before his full-length album was even released in the U.S. After a couple EPs on the awesome spazz-rock label Bulb, I Get Wet (Island) is his major label debut, and it's pure pop metal fun cranked beyond volume controls. Picture Quiet Riot and Kiss throwing an end-of-the-world bash and you get close to Wet's get-high on cocaine, grow your hair, punch the air and bang your head potential. Picture Tony Robbins and L. Ron Hubbard starting a stadium metal band and you get close to W.K.'s cultish power-of-positive-thinking mantra. With practically every song demanding a lifestyle of excess, W.K. has created the anthem LP for teenage vomit-thons and self-help survivalists the world over.
I caught up with W.K. on his world tour to discover that the British aren't the only ones skilled at turning this man into a hyperbole.
So what were your formative years like? I'm picturing lots of keggers out in the woods.
Jennifer, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that, take what you just described, multiply it by 1000, throw in things that you've never thought or considered before?as well as classical piano from the age of four?and those were my formative years.
Where was the best high school party spot?
The town I lived in provided, by its own design, for a lot of very, very crazy people to do a lot of crazy things to the point of violence, harm and cruelty. The [craziest people] all lived in this one house, well actually two houses, but the best was this house I initially went to when I was 14 or 15. It was called the Jefferson House and it was all about a complete and utter disregard for everything but what was desired at the moment. I wish we had a good three hours to get into it because I could not even begin to sum up what that was all about.
Was it around that same age that your taste in music got a little heavier?
It's important to understand that this music does not come from any place but the place of possibility and freedom. It doesn't come from restriction, it doesn't come from guidelines, it doesn't come from what others are not doing or doing, it comes from what can be done and what we can do, which is anything and everything. I did not grow up in high school drinking a lot and doing a lot of drugs and smoking a lot because I had way, way too much work to do. I always did what I wanted and I was never pressured into any situation except for the ones I wanted to get into. The word "party" means nothing more than the acceptance of everything in the world and the excitement that it's possible. Everybody is welcome. There is not a word I can think of that better expresses fun, energy, possibility, unconditional acceptance and the commitment to being good. My life is a party. It always has been.
It's unusual to find a hyper-aggressive artist with a positive attitude in rock?with most current mainstream artists, aggression comes from a pretty angry place.
I look at it as aggressively pursuing the truth?not to censor, edit, build up walls or make up rules for what I can allow into my life. Everything's welcome and everything's valid. Even with the stuff I don't like I'm gonna work hard to find something that I like in it. I have the power and the strength to make people feel good rather than bad and that's what I'm dedicating my life to. The world and the heavens above us are so vast, and we're capable of creating things of such magnitude and looking at them in awe?but humans can also easily take things out of that huge, exciting place and stamp on them and crush them out. I like living in a world where I know things are bigger and I look up at them in awe. Pipe organs, the Eiffel Tower, babies, laughter, spirits, my friends?all these things of wonder, and I don't know where they come from. I never want to know all the answers. I don't want to wrap things up with two words. I don't want to have things figured out and put in my pocket. I want to have complete bewilderment and fascination with being alive.
It sounds like you've formed a religion minus the guilt?
Jennifer, I couldn't have put it any better myself. People often say I sound religious, but religion by its very nature puts up walls and is based on fear and guilt and shame and regret, which I don't want. [My] message is do what you want to do.
It also sounds like you've always been pretty dedicated to making music. I was reading about the karaoke gigs you used to perform before you got your band together.
I hate to call it karaoke. I was so frustrated that I didn't have a band that I did whatever it took. I wouldn't turn anything down. If I was offered a show, I'd play it, even if it wasn't the ideal situation?just me and keyboards and a tape, or just me singing. Whenever I could do something, it was better than nothing. From when I was 15, that's how it worked. I was always determined to spread [this music], and that's what I work on every day. Even the people who don't like it, Jennifer, even the people who come into a room and see us play and think it's bad, I work that much harder on the next go-round to include them. I used to think if somebody doesn't like [my music], fuck them, get out of my way. But now I have enough strength and energy to work hard enough for that guy who doesn't want to be part of it. It's my responsibility.
Speaking of working hard, the press has been going nuts over the number of times you get injured during your live shows?is the blood something that happens often or are the cameras just quick to pick up on it when it does?
It happens. It's unintentional, though. The worst one was a severe head injury, but other than that it's been minor. Our guitar players and bass player have all been in and out of the hospital this [most recent European] trip. I've actually been the one who's stayed the most safe, which is good because I had so much work to do. But we're all getting by and we really appreciate that the European health system is free.
Andrew W.K. plays Tuesday, March 26, at the Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie St.), 533-2111.