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Barb Wire Dolls: Street-Rockers Make History as the First Greek Band to Play in USA

Photo Credit: Alex Vacca

Barb Wire Dolls, the girl-fronted “Street-Rock” band from Greece talked exclusively to Greek Reporter’s Olivia Edwards about their Greek-American dream. They have re-located from Greece and are now based in Los Angeles. Taking on the famed Sunset Strip of Hollywood, this band is set to break audiences out of zombiehood with electrifying live shows and a killer 6 song EP “Punk The Fussies!”

They have been getting non-stop radio airplay on the World Famous KROQ of Los Angeles. Rodney Bingenheimer, the legendary DJ credited for first playing and breaking, to name a few, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Blondie, X, Nirvana, The Offspring, Oasis, No Doubt, Coldplay, and the Strokes was the first to play their demo on “Rodney On The Roq” and thinks their song “California” is a hit.

Queen Isis, the young sex goddess and singer of Barb Wire Dolls, with Tas (guitar), Gabriel (bass), and Greg (drums) have the right kind of energy and talent to bring back raw rock power. The band will have its first live at the Roxie on Dec 18th. This passionate and resilient band comes from Greece with a clarity of vision that speaks for itself.

Where in Greece are you from?

We are all from different areas of Greece; from Crete, Kephalonia, to Athens, though we have lived in Thessaloniki, Peloponissos, and the island of Ios at times.

How long have you been working together and how did you meet?

Tas (guitar) and Queen Isis (singer) met in Crete and while living in an Artist Commune in the mountain village of Avdou called The Ikarus (with many other artists and musicians from around the world) and there they created the band. When they started getting more popular with Barb Wire Dolls, the band became based primarily out of Athens so that they could play on a weekly basis live since there are more venues and opportunities in Athens than there are in Crete. There they met Greg (drums) who was playing also in the underground music scene with another band. He later joined the band in LA along with Gabriel (bass) who has toured Greece before with the legendary Garage band The Fuzztones.

What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Because Queen Isis is a barbie doll type, and extremely rebellious, the name centered around her persona. She is like a punk rock barbie if you can imagine that.

What inspired you to move to LA?

Call it perfect timing. Or magic. Just when the Greek economy is dying rapidly, we got an email from Rodney Bingenheimer who wished to play our EP on his legendary radio show ‘Rodney on the Roq’ on the world famous KROQ station in Los Angeles. He has been key in launching the careers of so many great bands, like Sex Pistols, Ramones, Blondie, Nirvana, and many more!

How has your experience in LA been so far?

Simply magical. We are being invited constantly to VIP concerts, celebrity parties, fancy dinners, and everyone is contributing to our career on a daily basis it seems. We already have signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music (the first for any Greek artist), bought a touring van, moved into a great house at the Venice Beach canals, and have many record labels offering deals. We are really blessed but we feel we deserve this 100%. We have put blood, sweat, and tears into this band and the big move to LA. We sold almost everything to come here. We came here to conquer, to change the status quo of the global music scene; one show at a time. To cause a musical riot and demand attention from the industry who has overlooked and ignored Greece. It is really a revolution we believe we have started. Ours will open the doors for other Greek rock bands to become known to the outside world.

What was life like for the band in Greece compared to LA?

No comparison. In LA we are getting played by the biggest alternative radio station in the country. We are playing one of the most legendary clubs in the world, The Roxy Theatre. Big national bands are asking us if we can tour the world with them. In Greece, we did all we could do. Toured with the big acts that came from USA and UK, and played shows. And that was the limit. The Greek music industry is lost and has no vision or commitment when it comes to English lyric rock music. If you are talking Eurovision, then the Greek industry knows what to do. We are not interested in that, so we left at the first chance we could.

Who are your major influences?

The early Punk and New Wave scenes. Bands that changed the world with radical style and simplicity: Sex Pistols, Ramones, Blondie, The Clash, The Slits.

How would you describe your style?

Street-Rock. Straight from the streets, we come to bring the average man’s struggle to the airwaves. We play simple, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll. We don’t underestimate the power of good melody and a powerful chorus. There is a lot of Pop music below the rougher exterior.

Do you have a record label?

We shall be choosing a record label soon.

Are you a member of any music organizations?

We are our own organization. We have a growing family of like minded people that have our back and are there to change the world, giving our band the space to create change for the masses.

What are your hopes for the future of the band?

“We hope for nothing”…as Kazantsakis was quoted. We live in the here and now and are preparing to really have a great time living this rock and roll dream of ours. We look forward to playing to audiences all over the world. To carry the Greek flag with pure honor. A quest you may say to bring rock and roll to the poor souls who forgot what that was – and how good it can make you feel. We have been to Vergina many times, and there must be some Alexander the Great in us, because we are driven to change the world.

Where can fans-to-be get a hold of your music and find out about live shows?

It’s all at www.barbwiredolls.com and you can buy our debut EP on iTunes world-wide.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share with us?

We are amazed at how the Greek community in America has shown their support and has offered to help out in any way that they can. It takes like-minded people to unify to gather strength. To leave the differences apart and to unite with love and a shared goal. The Greek-Americans have shown us that here and we thank them all from the center of our being. Now come see the band live and experience a pure source, a primal force that only live rock and roll can deliver!

Barb Wire Dolls will have its first live at the Roxie on Dec 18th

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