Jennifer Herrema has been a hell-raising, rock 'n' roll goddess since she was 16. the former model fronted snarling rock bands like royal trux and rtX, and over the past few years she turned her attention to fashion design, creating a custom denim line for Volcom. Now she's back with her former rtX bandmates for their new project, Black Bananas, and a new album, Rad Times Xpress IV, out January 31st.
How is the Black Bananas project different from RTX, and why were you motivated to begin recording again?
Well we never stopped recording, it's what we do anyway, fuck around in the studio. we've all been working with each other for a bit of time so naturally as a unit we rolled into our own steez. we built Black Bananas on a solid fucking foundation.
On the album, you collaborate with Kurt Vile for the Rolling Stones' cover "Before They Make Me Run." How was that? Kurt came through SoCal with the Violators, so we all got together in our studio and got it done. Our voices sound amazing together so we've decided to do some more recording of originals this coming year. Kurt and i are alike in that we do what we want when we want and don't give a fuck about the poseurs and the haters.
OK, what's your craziest story from the road?
Oh boy! A couple years ago we were on tour and there was a "crew" of fans that had all chipped in and rented us a motel room next to theirs that was stocked with a full bar, weed, etc. and a recording set-up. we drank their drinks and smoked their weed but refused to "perform" for them and locked them out of the room. they went nuts so we called the cops and got them taken away. they were presumptuous motherfuckers. we didn't owe them anything.