Mike Trash – The Erotics – an Xperience Interview with Liam Sweeny

Mike Trash interview.

Some sounds are iconic. I don’t use that word lightly, because the word is played out, and there aren’t enough words that give you the same feel. Iconic. Like hair metal. Like Motley Crue, WASP, Poison. The clothes, the over-the-top performances, and most importantly, the whole-hearted embrace of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.

The Erotics have been tearing up the town and leaving empty bottles on every bar, table, and beat-up PA speaker within reach. We had a chance to pass the bottle with Mike Trash of the band in question.

RRX: The last time we spoke, our publication was a baby, spitting up stale beer from it’s bottle. It was a fun interview back then, and here we are, five years later. What have you been up to? How have the Erotics fared half a decade on the mean streets? What did we miss, and what are you glad we missed?

MT: We’ll since 2018, we’ve toured as usual US and UK, played some great festivals in the UK in 2018 -19, put our a 3 full lengths albums, some ep’s and singles over past 5 years as well, we stay busy. I’m always writing, so w like to put something out every year, be it single or eps. etc

RRX: Rot in the Shade; I’m thinking that’s your latest album, pretty sure. I’m listening to it now. Pretty groovy. I definitely get like a Motley Crue-type hair band feel. Very tight, catchy too. What inspired this album? Was it something specific, or was it just time to put something new out?

MT: Rot In The Shade, is a play on words from the 1989 Kiss album “Hot In The Shade’ we like to do silly things like that. We started writing a lot of cool tunes, yes it has 80s sleaze, but a lot of 70’s Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, and ACDC in there as well, yes it was definitely time to put something out.

RRX: Sleaze is big. Well, it’s sleaze. Big or not, it is ever present. The Erotics deal in sleaze like a corner-store porno rack. What is it about that vibe? Did you ever just want to sit down with an acoustic and write sea shanties? Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll, putting some of that loosely, has a perpetual draw. Why do you think?

MT: Well, not all the songs are like that. In fact one, tune ‘Diamonds” on the new album, is a ballad-ish tune.

RRX: I noticed you have a lot of merch on your Bandcamp site, which is probably the most well-set-up Bandcamp I’ve seen. I always stress to what few people listen to me that merch is really where it’s at. How much money, let’s say a percentage, do you make off merch compare to playing shows? Is it comparable?

MT: Yes, some gigs give us a good guarantee, but merch sales at the shows always make a difference.

We love having cool things besides, CD’s and Shirts, we have all kinds of stuff, we even have our own alcohol/mead, called ‘Blood Of The Wasted’ which obviously not available on Bandcamp  haha, but is available through Helderberg Meadworks

RRX: I assume you all have some shows upcoming. The world needs sleaze, and you damn well aren’t gonna bring it door to door. Not until Christmas and caroling. Where are you playing? Shoot as far ahead as you can. Anything in the fall would be good to report on too. Any seasonal events you always play?

MT: For the past 3 years, we’ve just been playing upsate NY, we’re finally looking to get back out there beyond that in 2024, upcoming gigs offhand are July 21st, at Empire Underground, Sept, 9th. at Kings Inn for their outdoor 10-year anniversary party, and Fuzebox on Oct. 27th. for Halloween Party.

RRX: Albums in the works. We know ‘em, we love ‘em. Anything to top Rot in the Shade? And are you ever trying to “compete against yourselves” when it comes to albums, or do the songs just kind of write themselves over the course of practices? You want a chance to mention an album that you wish had done better – an “unsung hero” album?

MT: As a matter a fact we have 13 tunes ready for the next album, that we hope to have out in February 2024. Working with Don Fury again,  we can mention the title yet, but we have one and it’s a good one, new tunes are just as good as ‘Rot n The Shade’ some maybe a tad better.  some catty anthems, one of them my dog Rosie inspired., one is a  weird theatrical Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare-sounding thing. another has a classic Thin Lizzy thing, and then it’s all mixed in with the 80’s sleaze.

Albums I wished did better other than my own are bands from the late 80’s early 90’s like Smashed Gladys, The Throbs, etc.

RRX: This is where you answer the question I didn’t ask. Comments? Remarks? Educate, enlighten, emote – the floor is yours.

MT: Rock N Roll Baby.