Bassist Tim Tim is wearing red'n'yellow fishnet tights (half a pair on each leg), he has shaved one side of his head and he firmly believes that his band Kingpin need to be a walking advert for themselves. Alison Joy reckons the price is right and doesn't care if the colours of the packaging clash.

For the fifth time I dial the multi-digit number that should hopefully connect my London landline with an opposite number in Sweden. This time it connects, rings a few times, then a breathless voice answers; "Hi, this is Tim!". 'Tim' is one Tim Tim, bassist with the latest and greatest band to come out of Sweden, the colour-clashin' Glam Godz Kingpin.

So who in the name of Bonk Rock are Kingpin? If you good folk read my review of their 'Welcome To Bop City' (KKKK 3/4) debut album in issue 190, you'll be aware of three things. Firstly, that Kingpin flout an image rather rather more outlandish than yer average glambangers; secondly, that they are an obscenely talented band whose ace is one Harry K. Cody, guitar wizard extraordinaire and whose fast fret fingerin' has (for the first time) joined tack a' la Hanoi Rocks with guitar hero-hem a' la Yngwie J. Malmsteen; and thirdly, that this band deserves to be BIIIG, takin' over where the sadly defunct Hanois left off. Their line-up is completed by drummer Stixx Galore and frontman Zinny J. San, ex-vocalist with noted Swedish glamsters Easy Action. Tim and Harry first got together around '82/'83 and then in '85 secured the stick services of Stixx. They recorded a demo featurin' 'I Don't Care 'Bout Nothin' and 'Squeezin Teazin', both of which would later reappear on the '...Bop City' album.
Last year came and the 'Pins were ready to record an album...but they needed a new vocalist. So how'd they finally land on their drinky-booted feet in finding young Zinny?

"When Zinny quit Easy Action he went to New York to put together a band cos he still had the Warner Bros. recording deal", drawls Tim. "It didn't work out though, because accoring to Zinny a lot of New Yorkers spend all their time in clubs putting stuff up their noses rather than in rehersal studios. So he came back to Sweden and he'd only been back a couple of weeks when I called him."
"He came down, poured a drink, took a big sip and yelled 'Roll the tape!'. It's worked out great on a personal level too; we're just pals playing together".

Even though the LP was completed last September, it's taken til now for it to see the light of day. Reaction has been mixed:

"A lot of Swedish reviewers didn't like it, but others understand what it's about. It's like the look; some people really like it, some just can't handle it".

Do you have any problems at home with the way you dress?

"Yeah", he giggles. "It's weird for us though, cos we read mags like Kerrang! and see guys in there dressed like us. We don't think we're much more extreme than Mötley Crüe or LA Guns. I mean, I look the same when I go out as I do on the LP cover. It makes people take two steps backwards and hold their breath - it's funny! The thing is though, at such an early stage in our career we have to be our own advert."

For those of you who haven't seen the said cover, let me describe the young Tim; he's wearing red'n'yellow fishnet tights with matching scarves around his ankles, a couple of fluorescent yellow belts emblazoned with his name in shocking pink and matching fluffy braces. His long, blond corkscrew curls cascade down towards his right nipple, which he modestly covers with one finger. The left side of his head is shaved in outright contradiction to his otherwise feminine appearance. Not surprisin', then, that Sweden's senior citizens are clutchin' at their pacemakers in wide-eyed distress.

But d'ya get threats an' abuse as you strut down the street?

"It used to be like that, but nothing we can't handle. I can't say that I'm well built, but if I get in a fight I won't quit. People like to try you out when you look different. Besides, those pix on the album were taken six months ago and we're so broke we've still got to wear those clothes!".

Perhaps even more remarkable than their clothes (I only said 'perhaps'!) is the fact that prior to recording the album they rehearsed with Zinny for a grand total of...once!

"We'd already recorded the guitar, bass and drums", says Tim in his teddy-bear voice.
"When we got Zin we took him to the studio and he just did it the first time! It was kinda weird, we had so much in common with him, he just fitted in perfectly".

Now prepare yourself for another shock; I innocently asked what kind of gigs the band play over in Sweden, and I was once again greeted by an answer in the singular...

"We've only done one gig!", laughs Tim.
"It was at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm, and it was something of a minor disaster! About two days before the gig the agency decided it was a waste of time for us to gig in Sweden, saying there was only money to be made in America and Britain. They were afraid to put any money in cos they thought they wouldn't get it back. As a consequence, only 25 per cent of our equipment turned up at the gig! But people still said it was a great gig afterwards...".

Oh, so c'mon then Tim, baby, tell me what a guitar hero is doin' playin' with a lowlife Glam band?!

"I think the joining is good, and it's what will make Kingpin unique. There's loads of bands who sound good and look awful or vice verca. We wanna be both. Harry's a guitar hero. If you see us live we've a lot in common with bands like Mötley Crüe and LA Guns, but also with Racer X and maybe Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Hopefully, both the musically minded audience and the image conscious ones will like us."

Let me quote to you some lyrics from "Squeezin' Teazin": 'Strip me, cuff me/Whip me, stuff me/Make my red turn blue/Then I do it 2 u'. I mean, it ain't 'Stars on Sunday' stuff, is it?!

"Ha! You mean "Squeezin' Teazin", don't you?!" laughs Tim.
"When Zin played that to people in L.A. they were blushing and giggling! In Sweden people don't read the lyrics, and if they do they don't get it. It's not dirty, it's fun, we're not putting anybody down.
Everything Kingpin do is done with tounges in cheek (!). I think they're fun - don't you like it?"

Er, I don't mind, me personally like, bein' quite into a spot of bonk lyric-hem, but I don't know what my mom would say!
Do you consider yourself to be a sex symbol?

"I don't spend much time considering what I am...I just am!" he proclaims. "I don't mind when people call me things though...the other night a girl told me I had user-friendly legs! But that's embarrassing, especially in a crowded room!

S'funny, he doesn't look to be the blushin' type! But anyway, why should people buy 'Welcome To Bop City' rather than any of the other numerous albums around?

"It hopefully makes you feel good. But if you're sensitive, you shouldn't dare try it! It's on the wilder side!".

How would you categorise it?

"You want me to label it? Ah...good time rock 'n' roll on the heavy side. It's difficult to compare us to other bands; Europe say they're not Heavy Metal and Megadeth say they're not Heavy Metal either. We've no objections to being called Heavy Metal - it's a great label!"

Kingpin's deal with CMM was just for the one album, so they're currently shopping around for a major worldwide deal, which makes touring plans somewhat impossible. But things look to be movin' along quite happily thank-you-very-much with Zinny and Stixx having just returned from L.A. after long talks with various music biz lawyers enabling them to be in the very best negotitiating position.
And with that, I had to replace the reciever and sadly lose that sultry Swedish voice. But I'm not too upset...cos I know that Kingpin will soon be MAJOR. Pacemakers at the ready, kidz...

Alison Joy