9/3/2006
QOTSA take it Gowntown for HOT ROD movie-

Joshua Homme & Alain Johannes just finished production on a song by Fresno's Ol' school hair metal leftovers, GOWN. The 6 man outfit, which originally formed in 1973, never had a hit, but famously lost a civil lawsuit accusing a slew of famous acts, GOWN had opened for, of plagurism & publishing theft. GOWN-esque fingers pointed toward the likes of Foghat, Foreigner, Styx, Stryper, Girls School, Quiet Riot & Toto just to name a few. The Joshua & Alain produced track "Head Honcho" is the theme song to the new Paramount Pictures comedy HOT ROD. A film written, directed & starring SNL's new golden boys The Lonely Island (Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone and Andy Samberg), who are responsible for a" Chronicles of Narnia" inspired rap video & assorted digital short films, which have reinvigorated NBC's long running live comedy show . & In Gown's first actual career opportunity since the late seventies, the band were cast to play themselves in the film's big finale. Gown Singer, Wolf Steppenmudder elaborates, "We pretty much steal that scene barely"."It was totally schlitz to finally get a little dessert justice." Bad grammar aside, Wolf isn't kidding, at 6'8" 297lbs it's as if he hasn't missed a dessert since the 70's.
When asked how? & why? Answers varied from band to camp. Wolf," I met the Queen of Our age guys in '86 at a Palm Desert Battle of the Bands competition. Queens Age were the judges & they immediately bestowed, GOWN, with the best winner trophy." But Homme's memories paint a grimmer picture, "We judged a severly flawed battle of the bands competition, in like '97. There was a last minute venue change & the only band that actually showed up was Gown. I think (Gown) were from Landers, which is a freaky high desert town. For us, the battle event became a classic inside joke. I mean, Gown seemed impossibley out of touch with reality. They were like this hair metal parody, but they were dead serious & alot older. I thought Nevermind had wiped these type of bands from the planet. anyway, we gave GOWN second place (1st place went to a demo tape. The band didn't show) & Gown freaked! I believe they actually contested & overturned our decision. I think they ultimately got their 1st place."" I'd never been around that sort of oblivion before", said Homme. "So when Akiva told me about this Hot Rod movie & said he needed a band that was truly shamelame.... I just... was like, GOWN. Me & Al had to record "Head Honcho". It kinda embarrassed me at first, cause, It's every music I've ever hated, all rolled into one. But at some point during the recording, those feelings turned into pride. Now I just feel sorry, in a good way. I know when it comes out it will be worse than anything out today, except it'll be on purpose & That's a good feeling."
To good to be true? Maybe. But this time around, when GOWN & QOTSA enter Rock's arenus, Both bands will do battle side by side & it's the audience who will judge for themselves. Sounds like a win-when situation.
-The Vancouver weekly mover- entertainment page.

Check out the official site www.qotsa.com for more info on the band.