| Interview by Burt Wolf with bassist & backing vocalist, Tim Miedeckie for FRANKENBOK. Interview done January 1st, 2017. |
FRANKENBOK HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1997, CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
BAND UP TO THIS POINT?
Well, we've been getting around in various forms for a while now and have released several albums, EPs etc.
Burned a lot of rubber right 'round Australia & New Zealand. We seemed to have tapped into a niche market. Very
niche and very nice. Quality crowds. We specialize. We clear rooms.
WHY WAS THE NAME FRANKENBOK CHOSEN AS THE BANDS NAME & WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
An American friend of Azzabok's was trying to pronounce the phrase fair dinkum and got tongue tied and said
FRANKENBOK instead. Aaron thought it was funny and called his demo tape "FRANKENBOK". Said tape
contained half a dozen tunes he'd 4 tracked with an Alesis drum machine. That raw data became the spring board
for the "GREETINGS..." album...once he returned to Australia in early '97.
WHO OR WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES IN MUSIC AS WELL AS LIFE?
As a group I think we've always appreciated the full spectrum. Personally, I go for a lot of Instrumental music,
Soundtracks and stuff like that. Dunno about you but sometimes I need the polar opposite of machine gun kick
drums and men growling and snarling. As a bunch of lifers we've always worked for a living outside of the
band...and the band functions nocturnally and outside of regular space, time and business hours. I know some
musos have managed to eek out a living from their craft (and defend their turf viciously) but for us it's always
been something we do and enjoy and to amuse ourselves when we can, so the emphasis is not on fame/fortune
(I'm sure it's nice but not something that is usually on our radar) We are the world's worst business men - and
we're happy with that. We do have a knack for monkey business, though... I guess our yardstick for measuring
success is probably a lot different from a fresh, young band who is the toast of the town. Do you know what I
mean?
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE STYLE AND SOUND OF FRANKENBOK?
Metal? Taco-Metal...a lot of meat with a little bit of cheese.
FROM 1997-1999 FRANKENBOK PERFORMED WITH A DRUM MACHINE, WAS THIS
INTENTIONAL OR DID YOU GUYS JUST HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A DRUMMER?
It was certainly intentional because we had no drummer but really needed to Rock, anyway, and Azza already had
the Alesis Robo Drummer on the case so we just persevered in that direction. Having said that, the search for a
drummer took over 2 years before Mick Morley was taken on board. He recently retired after about 16 years of
hard labour with the BOK. He didn't get no gold watch...he did get to play his ass off on the new record, so that's
something, yah?
BAND UP TO THIS POINT?
Well, we've been getting around in various forms for a while now and have released several albums, EPs etc.
Burned a lot of rubber right 'round Australia & New Zealand. We seemed to have tapped into a niche market. Very
niche and very nice. Quality crowds. We specialize. We clear rooms.
WHY WAS THE NAME FRANKENBOK CHOSEN AS THE BANDS NAME & WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
An American friend of Azzabok's was trying to pronounce the phrase fair dinkum and got tongue tied and said
FRANKENBOK instead. Aaron thought it was funny and called his demo tape "FRANKENBOK". Said tape
contained half a dozen tunes he'd 4 tracked with an Alesis drum machine. That raw data became the spring board
for the "GREETINGS..." album...once he returned to Australia in early '97.
WHO OR WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES IN MUSIC AS WELL AS LIFE?
As a group I think we've always appreciated the full spectrum. Personally, I go for a lot of Instrumental music,
Soundtracks and stuff like that. Dunno about you but sometimes I need the polar opposite of machine gun kick
drums and men growling and snarling. As a bunch of lifers we've always worked for a living outside of the
band...and the band functions nocturnally and outside of regular space, time and business hours. I know some
musos have managed to eek out a living from their craft (and defend their turf viciously) but for us it's always
been something we do and enjoy and to amuse ourselves when we can, so the emphasis is not on fame/fortune
(I'm sure it's nice but not something that is usually on our radar) We are the world's worst business men - and
we're happy with that. We do have a knack for monkey business, though... I guess our yardstick for measuring
success is probably a lot different from a fresh, young band who is the toast of the town. Do you know what I
mean?
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE STYLE AND SOUND OF FRANKENBOK?
Metal? Taco-Metal...a lot of meat with a little bit of cheese.
FROM 1997-1999 FRANKENBOK PERFORMED WITH A DRUM MACHINE, WAS THIS
INTENTIONAL OR DID YOU GUYS JUST HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A DRUMMER?
It was certainly intentional because we had no drummer but really needed to Rock, anyway, and Azza already had
the Alesis Robo Drummer on the case so we just persevered in that direction. Having said that, the search for a
drummer took over 2 years before Mick Morley was taken on board. He recently retired after about 16 years of
hard labour with the BOK. He didn't get no gold watch...he did get to play his ass off on the new record, so that's
something, yah?
YOUR LAST RELEASE "CHEERS, BEERS & BEARDS" CAME OUT IN 2013, HOW WAS THE
RESPONSE TO THIS RELEASE?
The response was luke-warm...but that's cool because our natural environment is that luke-warm water between
the boiling hot success stories and the ice cold, full blown losers.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE LIVE TRACKS ON THE CD AND WHERE THEY WERE RECORDED?
The live tracks were recorded at the Prague Club in Melbourne...and then we over-dubbed the bejeezus out of it
(except Mick's drums - they were 100% el natural - like his nether regions). Don't ask me why - wasn't my idea!
Being a bass player, I just...facilitate? Accommodate? Tolerate? And sometimes: REGULATE.
THESE TRACKS WERE MENTIONED TO BE ON YOUR LIVE DVD. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE
DVD? WHAT WILL BE ON IT, WHERE THE SHOW WAS RECORDED? ANY EXTRA FEATURES?
It's a full BOK show with the previous big bearded, dick swinging line-up. We padded it out with all our video
clips to date. You can get a piece of this action here:
http://www.nervegas.com.au/frankenbok-home-is-where-the-stage-is-the-prague-b or
www.nervegas.com.au FRANKENBOK - Home Is Where The Stage Is: The Prague Bar, Melbourne
28/05/2011 (DVD) - FRANKENBOK - Date of release: Aug 16 2013.
YOU GUYS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME FEEL TO YOUR MUSIC & LYRICS. WHAT IS SOME OF
THE LYRICAL CONTENT IN YOUR SONGS?
Just sitting 'round the camp-fire stuff: social, political, cannibal, sexual. Nothin' too serious - what ever is on our
tiny mind. What ever fits.
WHO WRITES THE MAJORITY OF YOUR SONGS OR DOES THE WHOLE BAND COLLABORATE?
CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH SOME OF THE WRITING PROCESS?
It's fair to say that Azza is behind about a 3rd of the music, Me; another 3rd and the remainder would be split by
all the other guys FRANKENBOK has seen come and go over the years. I should mention that Mikbok's input
was always critical to achieve lift off on any given song. As far as lyrics go, all the singers have had their way,
but these days (and especially during transitions) I have been the word smith.
YOU THEN PUT OUT A SINGLE "NEVER TO RETURN" IN 2014. TELL US ABOUT THIS SONG?
"Never To Return" was very much a Dan and Azza initiative and ironically Dan and Yeti's last real BOK sonic
moment. I think it's about Danimal conquering his alcoholism and related, destructive behaviour.
RESPONSE TO THIS RELEASE?
The response was luke-warm...but that's cool because our natural environment is that luke-warm water between
the boiling hot success stories and the ice cold, full blown losers.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE LIVE TRACKS ON THE CD AND WHERE THEY WERE RECORDED?
The live tracks were recorded at the Prague Club in Melbourne...and then we over-dubbed the bejeezus out of it
(except Mick's drums - they were 100% el natural - like his nether regions). Don't ask me why - wasn't my idea!
Being a bass player, I just...facilitate? Accommodate? Tolerate? And sometimes: REGULATE.
THESE TRACKS WERE MENTIONED TO BE ON YOUR LIVE DVD. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE
DVD? WHAT WILL BE ON IT, WHERE THE SHOW WAS RECORDED? ANY EXTRA FEATURES?
It's a full BOK show with the previous big bearded, dick swinging line-up. We padded it out with all our video
clips to date. You can get a piece of this action here:
http://www.nervegas.com.au/frankenbok-home-is-where-the-stage-is-the-prague-b or
www.nervegas.com.au FRANKENBOK - Home Is Where The Stage Is: The Prague Bar, Melbourne
28/05/2011 (DVD) - FRANKENBOK - Date of release: Aug 16 2013.
YOU GUYS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME FEEL TO YOUR MUSIC & LYRICS. WHAT IS SOME OF
THE LYRICAL CONTENT IN YOUR SONGS?
Just sitting 'round the camp-fire stuff: social, political, cannibal, sexual. Nothin' too serious - what ever is on our
tiny mind. What ever fits.
WHO WRITES THE MAJORITY OF YOUR SONGS OR DOES THE WHOLE BAND COLLABORATE?
CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH SOME OF THE WRITING PROCESS?
It's fair to say that Azza is behind about a 3rd of the music, Me; another 3rd and the remainder would be split by
all the other guys FRANKENBOK has seen come and go over the years. I should mention that Mikbok's input
was always critical to achieve lift off on any given song. As far as lyrics go, all the singers have had their way,
but these days (and especially during transitions) I have been the word smith.
YOU THEN PUT OUT A SINGLE "NEVER TO RETURN" IN 2014. TELL US ABOUT THIS SONG?
"Never To Return" was very much a Dan and Azza initiative and ironically Dan and Yeti's last real BOK sonic
moment. I think it's about Danimal conquering his alcoholism and related, destructive behaviour.
SINCE IT'S BEEN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE WE HAVE GOTTEN ANY NEW MUSIC FROM
FRANKENBOK, IS THERE ANY NEW MATERIAL IN THE WORKS?
Yes - new album will be out early 2017!
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A NEW ALBUM FROM FRANKENBOK? IS THERE AN ALBUM TITLE &
RELEASE DATE?
Can't spill those deets right now, but, as above - coming soon. Recorded by us at our HQ: The Lab.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT "LIFELINE" A FRANKENBOK PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY
BOOK? RELEASE DATE?
Michael Weinhardt has been working on this for a few years now. It follows the band from there to...here. A
rocky road, for sure. https://pozible.com/project/lifeline Pozible • Campaign Page
pozible.com Help Me Print LIFELINE! My campaign is simple. Help me print at least 100 copies of my book,
LIFELINE, a photographic documentary about Aussie metal band, FRANKENBOK ... Release date for the
booking is...by Christmas '16, hopefully - put that into a few Xmas stockings.
DOES FRANKENBOK PLAY OUT A LOT? WHERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE PLAYED
AND WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE PLAYED WITH?
I guess we average about 20 or 30 shows a year, give or take... Nationwide, occasionally New Zealand. At the
risk of putting my sails-man hat on, Weinhardt's Lifeline book is an articulate assessment of our successes and
multiple failings, so I would direct you there.
ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING FRANKENBOK BAND STORIES YOU COULD SHARE WITH US?
Here, I would direct you to our old guitarist YETI. He's got stories like you wouldn't believe...actually, don't
believe most of them, but for info-tainment purposes, lend him your ear.
FRANKENBOK, IS THERE ANY NEW MATERIAL IN THE WORKS?
Yes - new album will be out early 2017!
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A NEW ALBUM FROM FRANKENBOK? IS THERE AN ALBUM TITLE &
RELEASE DATE?
Can't spill those deets right now, but, as above - coming soon. Recorded by us at our HQ: The Lab.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT "LIFELINE" A FRANKENBOK PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY
BOOK? RELEASE DATE?
Michael Weinhardt has been working on this for a few years now. It follows the band from there to...here. A
rocky road, for sure. https://pozible.com/project/lifeline Pozible • Campaign Page
pozible.com Help Me Print LIFELINE! My campaign is simple. Help me print at least 100 copies of my book,
LIFELINE, a photographic documentary about Aussie metal band, FRANKENBOK ... Release date for the
booking is...by Christmas '16, hopefully - put that into a few Xmas stockings.
DOES FRANKENBOK PLAY OUT A LOT? WHERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE PLAYED
AND WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE PLAYED WITH?
I guess we average about 20 or 30 shows a year, give or take... Nationwide, occasionally New Zealand. At the
risk of putting my sails-man hat on, Weinhardt's Lifeline book is an articulate assessment of our successes and
multiple failings, so I would direct you there.
ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING FRANKENBOK BAND STORIES YOU COULD SHARE WITH US?
Here, I would direct you to our old guitarist YETI. He's got stories like you wouldn't believe...actually, don't
believe most of them, but for info-tainment purposes, lend him your ear.
ARE YOU INTO ANY OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT YOU PLAY? WHO ARE SOME
OF THE BANDS YOU HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN LISTENING TO?
We get exposed to a lot of bands when we do shows...lately have enjoyed VULTURE CULTURE, ALKIRA.
Some of us really love Donny Benet. some of us...not so much. It's a mixed bag.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS & LABELS IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY AUSTRALIA?
Urgh...
WHAT WAS THE FIRST ALBUM YOU REMEMBER BUYING?
Showing my age here: ADAM & THE ANTS "STAND & DELIVER" 7"... still have it. Still love it. The B side
"Beat Me" is killer, too.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU EVER WENT TO?
I think it was an all girl band at my high school...singing anti nuclear apocalypse type songs. I connected...I'd
seen the TERMINATOR, so I was all for...not being incinerated.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I find a lot of modern Heavy Metal macho, childish and stupid. Where did all the class go?
THIS IS ALSO A HORROR WEBZINE, SO WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HORROR
MOVIES?
Now ya talkin'! I love THE EXORCIST 3: LEGION. THE SERPENT & THE RAINBOW and the original
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET bent my mind when I first saw it. I like traditional boogeyman films like
HALLOWEEN and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW series. We all know that WHEN A STRANGER CALLS is some
freaky shit but what about WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK? Top shelf. Moving right along with horror
themes: The US Presidential Election? That was some horrifying shit, right there. I mean, they're only a
nuclear-charged supper power, right - why worry?
OF THE BANDS YOU HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN LISTENING TO?
We get exposed to a lot of bands when we do shows...lately have enjoyed VULTURE CULTURE, ALKIRA.
Some of us really love Donny Benet. some of us...not so much. It's a mixed bag.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS & LABELS IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY AUSTRALIA?
Urgh...
WHAT WAS THE FIRST ALBUM YOU REMEMBER BUYING?
Showing my age here: ADAM & THE ANTS "STAND & DELIVER" 7"... still have it. Still love it. The B side
"Beat Me" is killer, too.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU EVER WENT TO?
I think it was an all girl band at my high school...singing anti nuclear apocalypse type songs. I connected...I'd
seen the TERMINATOR, so I was all for...not being incinerated.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I find a lot of modern Heavy Metal macho, childish and stupid. Where did all the class go?
THIS IS ALSO A HORROR WEBZINE, SO WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HORROR
MOVIES?
Now ya talkin'! I love THE EXORCIST 3: LEGION. THE SERPENT & THE RAINBOW and the original
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET bent my mind when I first saw it. I like traditional boogeyman films like
HALLOWEEN and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW series. We all know that WHEN A STRANGER CALLS is some
freaky shit but what about WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK? Top shelf. Moving right along with horror
themes: The US Presidential Election? That was some horrifying shit, right there. I mean, they're only a
nuclear-charged supper power, right - why worry?
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE NEAR
FUTURE FROM FRANKENBOK?
Well, if you can find us on Tinder we will do
what we can to light you up.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THIS
INTERVIEW?
Cruisin'.
WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW THAT IT'S
DONE?
Think long and hard about whether or not I
screwed up today. And if so - how bad?
THANKS FOR ALL THE KILLER MUSIC
OVER THE YEARS AND FOR DOING THIS
INTERVIEW. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD
ANYTHING ELSE TO CLOSE OUT?
Thanks for getting in touch, dude. It's been fun!
Timbok
FUTURE FROM FRANKENBOK?
Well, if you can find us on Tinder we will do
what we can to light you up.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THIS
INTERVIEW?
Cruisin'.
WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW THAT IT'S
DONE?
Think long and hard about whether or not I
screwed up today. And if so - how bad?
THANKS FOR ALL THE KILLER MUSIC
OVER THE YEARS AND FOR DOING THIS
INTERVIEW. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD
ANYTHING ELSE TO CLOSE OUT?
Thanks for getting in touch, dude. It's been fun!
Timbok
