Hey~* Would you like to listen to my story? Don't worry, it's not too long to read, haha. I just wanna let you, my friends in the world, know who The Rocktigers are…Briefly~*
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Since 2001, The Rocktigers have been playing rock'n'roll music in Korea and parts of Asia. The original member, Tiger (Guitar, Vocal), formed The Rocktigers with 3 friends. These guys, who had been punk rockers (except for one, Psycho MJ, who majored in Guitar at Berkley) found some shocking and tough, rough music like Guitar Wolf (Japan). They loved the wildness and raw sound and tried to bring that excitement to Korea. To set themselves apart they bought black leather jackets, pants and black sunglasses. Since then, if someone wanted to join The Rocktigers the first step was getting a Black Leather Jacket. If a member wanted to leave the band he had to hand it over to the next member. One day, while they were practicing in a small, dark studio, suddenly a girl (me!) with a black leather jacket and micro mini skirt came up. (I already knew their essential condition even though nobody told me) There was no position for me at that time, but I insisted on doing something ~ even if it were only choruses. So we became 5, and I started to find things I could do onstage in the band. I already knew that I could be a main vocalist in the band someday ...Yes!
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Our first album was released in 2003. After it came out, there were member changes, except for Tiger and me, Velvet Geena. The 5 members are now Velvet Geena (Vocal, Acoustic Guitar), Tiger (Vocal, Guitar), Hurricane Billy (Drums), Roy (Upright Bass), and Ace (Guitar). The 2nd album was recorded in 2006 during heavy gigging and touring to places like the Tokyo Big Rumble and Singapore's Rock de Fort Festival. It was released in early 2007. It showed a real change of direction and includes some different color compared to the first album. The band likes 50's~60's early rock'n'roll music, such as Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Elvis, Buddy Holly and many musicians of that time, and many bands of the 80's rock'n'roll revival times like the Stray Cats.
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Actually in Korea, (of course South Korea, ahem!) "indie" was born in the mid of 1990's around Hongdae [an arts university district]. It was too late? Ha... Under our long military regime, however, it was hard to build up a varied and liberal indie culture. At the same time, it took a long time to accept great rock'n'roll music. Maybe...for these same political reasons, rock'n'roll music is very rare in Korea, so The Rocktigers may have been the first rock'n'roll band in Korea. Loud and rough sound, wild stage manner, black leather jackets, greasy pomade hairstyles...oh my god... we love these things so much!!! We were the first rock'n'roll band with pomade hairstyles in Korea, and the first to introduce slap bass. We hope we can spread the cool rock'n'roll music and culture here!!! YEAH!!! Rock'n'Roll!!
Updates~ We released an EP in September 2008 called 'Taste the Kimchibilly'. It was very well-received and the release party rocked! The band is settling in with the new drummer, Jack the Knife, and have said farewell to Ace on guitar. We wish him all the best with his future plans. Taking over on guitar is Eddie Tarantula! We are in the studio again, recording, arranging, and working on a lot of new music! We have been having so much fun with the new music and with the new spirit and energy of our new members that we have started to host our own Kimchibilly Nights! Once a month, we host a night of pure kimchibilly at our favorite stomping grounds - DGBD. Local -billy acts, and guests from abroad join us for a wild night of booze, buddies, and rock'n roll! Next up... our 3rd full-length album! More on THAT later~
Hi there the rocktigers Thanks for being friends, really appreciate it! really love your site and what you stand for...good luck here on myspace and whatever you have set your sights on in the future!:-)
Maybe you want a quick peek at what I do...just take a look at myspace...
Hello !! Japanese Punk-A-Billy band "DICE FOR LIGHTS" 7inc EP(555 limitations) OUT May 1th !!!! A side 1. DxFxL(Single version) 2. Never Close My Eyes B side 1. Video Killed The Radio Star(Single version/ by The Buggles) 2. King Rat(by Guanabatz) RUDE RUNNER RECORDS/RRR-001 http://home1.catvmics.ne.jp/~tsh/ DICE FOR LIGHTS www.myspace.com/diceforlights
Hola !<br /><br />Cheers for the add ! Delighted to get to see & hear some more of you !<br /><br />Dont forget - wednesday nights at midnight-2am (uk time) old DJ Grumpy is polluting the airwaves with punked up rotten relics & psychotic rock´n´stuffs...at http://www.musicworldradio.com<br /><br />Drop by or lemme know if you got something interesting that deserves some airplay !<br /><br />-> stream directly in your Windows Mediaplayer - load url: http://www.musicworldradio.com/MWR.wpl<br /><br />Greeting, DJ Grumpy<br />http://www.musicworldradio.com
STOPPING BY TO SHOW SOME LOVE AND RESPECT!! BANDS CAN PROMOTE IN MY COMMENTS. STOP ON BY AND CHECK OUT THE ARTIST OF THE WEEK!! COME VOTE ON YOUR FAVORITE CRUE FEST PICS! OF '08!! HAVE A KICK ASS JAMIN' DAY!! KIM
