Some interviews work, some interviews don't work. Some interviews are funny, some aren't. I've interviewed Wednesday 13 before so what could possibly go wrong with interviewing Roman Surman, technically the touring guitarist of the band. Well, you've got to wonder what's going on behind the coffin lids at Murderdolls HQ, right?

Roman has just been allowed to record his guitar parts on their latest album and now he's allowed to do interviews, yet he claims not to know what his status in the band is still. I think he's telling us something without words. Whatever it is, this interview doesn't shed any light on it, it doesn't shed any light on anything except perhaps Ramon's ability to answer every question with, "Um, I don't know" before answering it anyway. We laughed afterwards when I suggested we release the interview with every answer being left at, "Um, I don't know". What it does contain though, was a lot of laughs, he's a great guy and I honestly would interview him again, if only to attempt to bring out his incredible presence on stage in interviews.

You're an interview virgin aren't you?

Yeah.

I'll be nice and hard then (laughing)

(Laughing) I used to give them on a radio station though.

Both Wednesday and Joey have claimed that 'Woman And Children Last' is technically the Murderdolls' first album. With that in mind, do you have a clear idea of who is listening to your music?

Hmm, I think it's broadened a little bit but whoever they are, they're weirdos.

They are?

(Laughing) They are.

I just wondered with the new angled rock element if you've started seeing 'un-Wednesday' looking people in the audience yet?

There are noticeable differences. If you bring a different element into a band, you're going to notice a different audience.

I found it interesting that Wikipedia still refers to the Murderdolls as horror-punk but had recently been updated to incude your latest album. What genre are you now classifiying yourselves as?

I don't know. I really don't know how to classify us because it's definitely got a metal aspect to it now. It's just downright rude (laughing). How about that? Rude, punk-horror...

Joey said that he wanted to fuck formula and shake things up on this album. After playing your first few shows, how do you feel the album is translating live considering when it was recorded you had the dynamics of three different personalities versus live where you have the contribution of another two amazing musicians?

I think it's translating very well. Obviously when we were recording it, we could see Racci [Shay] playing those drum parts.

Even when you were watching Joey playing it, you could see Racci?

It's when you listen to it, you can just see Racci playing it. The new songs are going down very, very well.

'Summertime Suicide' is where it's at for me.

Man, I love that song. There is something about that song.

Sticking to the recording process, even though you're hailed as a touring guitarist, you got to record your own guitar parts. Does this mean your status in the band had changed?

I don't know. I'm just enjoying being here.

Come on Roman, tell me what's going on.

(Laughing) I'm not really concerned about the status part. I'm just glad to be here and I'm glad that they just let me do my thing on the record. They were like, "here's the idea you should go for." Joey would go to Rob Zombie rehersal and he would come back and go, "wow, I like that" or "change this."

So nothing is confirmed yet ... we don't have three members yet?

(Laughing) Ah, that's totally up to them.

Talking about Zombie, both bands played at Ozzfest with Joey playing in both bands. Seeing as Rob Zombie is over here on tour, why did the Murderdolls not opt to support him in the hopes of reaching a more diverse audience given your change in musical direction?

I don't know. That's more of a Joey question.

I get the idea behind headlining your own shows because of your new album but you would have thought you would've reached your target audience with regards to your musical change in direction by supporting Zombie. Rock and a hard place really!

We've just been on tour supporting Guns N' Roses and it just made sense to do our own tour, especially in the UK. It's a good market for these guys, you know.

I'm not sure if you've been following the press from your previous gigs but Uber Rock's journalist that reviewed your Bristol show said, "With corpse paint and half a head of long hair making him look like the undead Philip Oakley, he almost stole the show." What, if you could, would you say back to Gaz for making such a bold statement?

(Laughs) Wow, I don't know.

(Laughing) Thank you?

(Laughing) Of course, thank you. That rules.

I thought it was a pretty bold statement considering that everyone only really knows Wednesday and Joey, at a push Racci. (laughing) Did you hear that Wednesday?

(Laughing) He will kill me, he will kill me.

Where do you think the Murderdolls fit into history?

I don't know. I don't know if they will make a dent but we will most certainly gore it a bit.

Is it safe to say you're still making history?

We're just getting warmed up I think. I mean, I don't think we're going to wait another eight years to make another album.

You better not!

I honestly don't think so.

Is there any talks about the next one?

We're constantly talking about doing things. They're full of ideas. We're all super creative people.

Are you currently doing anything else now apart from Murderdolls?

Right now, no. We will see what Joey is up to, he's got one of the biggest bands in the world and I think they're going to be busy doing some stuff.

Awesome. Finally, given that the ultimate age of rock 'n' roll is 27, would you say that it is a death cult?

The 27 club? I think it puts a lot of stuff in front of you that you can either wrap your head around or you can't. If you have people around you that give a shit about you ... I mean, there are plenty of people that are loved unconditionally but it still gets away from them. I think we're definitely in a good place right now.

Luckily I'm past it now (both laughing)

It's not to say that we're not out of our minds though. But we are...

I always aspired to be Janis Joplin but I fucked it all up along the way.

I'm totally fascinated by it, funny that you brought it up. Hendrix, Cobain .. it's the ones that made it then. I'm 34 so I'm safe.

Roman, thank you so much.

Thank you, how did I do?

Um, I don't know (both laughing)

Photo kudos to Francesco Castaldo

www.francesco-castaldo.it