X-clusive: Electric Six Distribute Free Vibrators

With the success of ‘Gay Bar’ on their shoulders, Electric Six mainman Dick Valentine has spoken exclusively to Xfm Online about their new free download-only single ‘Vibrator’.
Ahead of the 2005 release of their new record, Valentine explained exactly why the band just had to get new material out to the fans.
"'Vibrator’ is a catchy little ditty,” he explained. “I can’t get it out of my head so we decided that we’d put it out as a free download-only to skip the hardship that is a massive promotion campaign.
“It’s about a dream I had where there’s a man and a women trapped in an elevator and the guy gets it into his head that they’ll be trapped for all eternity and so he comes at the girl one last time. And the girl’s had the same idea, but wants nothing to do with the guy and whipped out her vibrator.
“Then the elevator starts working again and the guy is up for sexual harassment. It’s a complicated dream that turned into a three minute pop song.”
Following the release of ‘Vibrator’, the band will release ‘Radio Ga Ga’ in time for Christmas before their new album ‘Señor Smoke’ is released in late January.
“‘Radio Ga Ga’ will be coming out near Christmas. I like Queen a lot, but I’m so far down the totem pole I don’t think I’ll be bumping into Brian May anytime soon to find out what he thinks. I’ve always wanted to do a newscast video. In the States, newspeople are more like stars so I’d like to do a newscast-on-acid-video, that would fit well with the song.
“The album’s named after the nickname of Aurilio Lopez, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in the 1980’s,” he explains. “It’s definitely more mature than ‘Fire’ - This is where we’re are now as men. We’re discussing politics, the devil and, erm, vibrators.”
“We’re saying ‘There’s George Bush, he’s a funny guy, let’s talk about it.’ There’s also one called ‘Dance-athon 2005’, but you’ll have to wait ‘til 2005 to know what that sounds like.
And as for the pressure of following ‘Gay Bar’, Valentine seems less than bothered. After all, he could be driving a bus…
‘I really don’t care if we’re just known for ‘Gay Bar’” he concludes. “Before we came over here I was driving a bus and making $9 an hour. If the worst thing that happens is you’re known for one song, then that’s just great.
‘Vibrator’ can be downloaded for free from www.electric6.com while ‘Radio Ga Ga’ is released December 13. The band’s album ‘Señor Smoke’ will follow in late January 2005.
Electric Six have also confirmed a full that they will now play a full scale nationwide tour will follow later this year.
The full tour dates are:
- Leadmill, Sheffield (November 27)
- Hull University, Hull (28)
- Rock City, Nottingham (29)
- MDH Hall, Manchester (December 1)
- Barrowlands Glasgow (2)
- UEA Norwich (3)
- Anson Rooms, Bristol (4)
- ULU London (6)
Tagged as Electric Six, archive
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