Detroit --- Picture the mojo of the MC5 as the hip grinding force that propels the fertile love juice of The Stooges into the ovulating bodies of the Ronettes and Shirelles. Sound a bit odd? Of course it does, but what comes out of that petri dish of love is the very cool mutant offspring known as The Gore Gore Girls.

Since forming in 1996, this Detroit all-girl trio has gone through several lineup changes, with the current roster consisting of founding member Amy Surdu on guitar and lead vocals, Melody Licious on bass, and Cathy Carrell on drums.

They're cute, sexy, mini skirt sporting, go-go boot wearing, and an extremely goddamned talented group of ladies. And who wouldn't love that fucking name? Delicious, isn't it? Of course it is, especially when you consider its origin.

The name is copied from the last movie of legendary cult filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis - better known as the Godfather of Gore. Lewis' Gore Gore Girls is perhaps one of the most disgustedly outlandish films of all time.

"It's a blood infested movie about the murders of go-go girls," said Gore Gore front woman Surdu. "It's very corny, very bloody... but unexplainably very cool."

Four bourbons on the rocks, three joints, and a chaser of Guinness is what it took for this writer to make it through this cinematic mind fuck, but it is truly an experience I shall never forget - despite my overindulgence in attempting to numb my senses. When asked about this Motor City girl-band adopting his film title, Lewis seemed almost orgasmic.

"I'm truly delighted by the whole thing," said Lewis, via telephone from his office in Florida. "I can't think of a more fitting tribute."

Lewis genuinely seems amused and he's even gone so far as to post the following message to the band's website:

"I couldn't be more flattered and honored than to recognize such lovely and talented ladies as the Gore-Gore Girls! It's obvious why audiences love you. So do I."

And love them, they do. On September 28th the Girls played to a full house at the now legendary Lager House, in Detroit - the official kickoff party to their European tour. It was packed, and the amazingly diverse crowd seemed to be in a great mood, following a rocking performance by The Bloody Hollys. It was about midnight when the Girls took the small stage, and there was definitely a buzz in the air. As is customary, the girls arrived wearing their trademark white attire - with Licious and Surdu sporting tight white mini-skirts and mouth-watering go-go boots. Cathy Carrell was a bit more casual, as she mounted her drummer's throne, but still decked out in that Gore Gore white.

From the start you could tell the Girls were on a natural high, in anticipation of their first trip across the big pond. They came out with a blast and never really slowed down. The sound system in the Lager House has never been great, but it somehow fits in nicely with the raw and vintage edge that the band brings to their music.

"We recorded Up All Night with Jim Diamond, of Ghetto Recordings," said Surdu. "He uses vintage recording equipment, and the amps and guitars I record with are all circa the 1960s."

Up All Night is the band's latest release, and the first on the Get Hip Recordings label. It's a worthwhile catchy album, but one that is a bit different from the early days.

"There's no question that we have a little different sound than what you will find on our first album," said Surdu. "Remember, other than myself, this is a whole new band. The original Gore Gore Girls were more on the edge, more raw... more of a punk-surfer sound. Shit, I was still learning to play the guitar when I started the band."

Well, Amy certainly has come a long way. Besides writing, or co-writing, all of the original tracks on Up All Night, Ms. Surdu makes it clear that she is more than just a three-chord talent. Don't get me wrong, she's not the next coming of Jimi, but she is a competent guitarist who'll most likely surprise more than a few people. She plays with style, occasionally slinging that six-string behind her head, and with what I will call an innocent attitude. It's quite possible that most of the men in her audiences can't quite figure out if they want to snuggle up with her and pet her like you would a cute puppy, or if they'd rather be tied up, gagged, and smacked around by her, like a silly catholic school boy. In other words, she's an enigma, somewhat difficult to characterize - which is precisely her charm.

As for Melody and Cathy... these lovely ladies are also a feast for the eyes, but more importantly, a feast for those that just love good live rock and roll music. Amy seems to be very happy with her current teammates:

"Melody and Cathy are great. Cathy is the best drummer this band will ever have. I'd say she is legendary. She was the drummer in the all-girl punk band Inside Out. Those girls are legends. She's a fucking powerhouse! And Melody is great too. She's a guitar player, but she's really held her own on bass for us. She's smart enough to adapt to anything, and she's a great songwriter."

Those not familiar with the Gore Gore Girls are understandably prone to roll their eyes at the sight of a "girl band," but the plain truth is that those same people will most assuredly come away from a live performance realizing that these gals can play. Nonetheless, that stigma is there.

"Yes, I think you have to work that much harder to prove that you have talent," said Surdu, "but I think that the girl band label can also help - but in a shallow way. I'm sure some people would rather go see attractive women in go-go boots, than some less aesthetically pleasing individual. That's just human nature. But what I hope for, is that those same people will go away from our show thinking more about what a great performance we put on, and less about how good or bad they thought we looked."

One live performance, or one listen to their album, is all you need to recognize what influences the band's sound. The girl-act sound of the early 1960s is obvious - they even go so far to include some covers of the Shirelles, Ronettes, and Little Eva. What sets them apart is how they've taken that sound and incorporated little dashes of Detroit's musical past to create their own unique recipe - and thus their own unique sound. Although usually characterized as a garage band, Surdu hesitates in using that term.

"I don't think we're what I would call a traditional garage band. I think there's a really unique sound coming out of Detroit right now, and it's been given the "garage" label. I'll use that label, just because that seems to be the accepted term, but I think our music is more inspired by 60s garage than IS true garage. I think we definitely have a sound that nobody else is duplicating - which is kind of a punk/garage take on girl groups and punk from the early 70s."

Surdu readily credits influences as being bands like the Stooges, MC5, and any number of Motown and non-Motown girl-acts from the early 60s, but she also notes a surprise influence.

"Melody Licious and I both have more of a hardcore background," she said "we both love Black Sabbath!"

Whatever the influences have been, they have certainly helped these women create a great sound - and one that deserves top billing with Detroit's better known indie rockers. Perhaps the day is coming where the rest of the world will tire of the "Detroit sound" - just another fad that fades away - but what must always be recognized is the strong body of work that so many Motor City gals continue to produce.

Long live the female members of such bands as Ko and the Knockouts, The White Stripes, The Von Bondies, The Paybacks, The Detroit Cobras... and yes, The Gore Gore Girls.

European audiences are getting their first live taste of these ladies in white, and if postings on the Gore Gore website are any indication, then these audiences are enjoying what they see and asking for more.

The only problem for Amy and the girls will be in dealing with Herschell Gordon Lewis when they return to the US.

"Europe... my Gore Gores are in Europe and didn't invite me along for the ride?" asks Lewis, in an almost sinister, yet playful manner. "I'm a bit upset."

Upset he may be, but he's also tickled pink that these modern day Gore Gore Girls are kicking ass, taking no prisoners, and making young men blush.

When asked what audiences can expect from them, Surdu doesn't hesitate for a second:

"45 minutes of dirty love!"

Amen.

(C) 2002 - Tod Hardin

SOUND CLIPS

Shotgun Wedding

Astral Man

Atlanta

You can hear more clips from the Gore Gore Girls' disc at CD Now, and order it on the spot, if you wish.