Punk Rock legend Bloody Mess gives us here an exclusive interview discussing some of the highlights of his life as a rock and roll wild child.
I first read about singer Bloody Mess and his band at the time; Bloody Mess & the Skabs back in the early 90’s. I’d read reviews about him and his band, his fanzine “Fanatic,” and his record label in other zines including “Flipside,” Maximum Rock N’ Roll,” and others.
When someone was featured prominently in either of these two international punk magazines–as Bloody Mess was–they immediately had the national and international attention of the punk community who were in the scene.
This was for those of us that were active in the scene. Running record labels, or publishing a fanzine, or in a band. Bloody Mess was doing all three of these things at once. He was a powerhouse in the punk community, highly known, feared (which we’ll get to a bit later), and respected.
Most punks preached tolerance, love for all races, sexes, genders, gender orientations, and lifestyles so long as they hurt no one. We were against corporate exploitation and greed, and wanted to save the environment from polluters and wanted to end all wars among other crap that should be obvious to any sane person.
The outsiders of the punk scene were the so-called nazi punks. Jello Biafra wrote a song about them with the Dead Kennedy’s. These were the kids who were usually racist, sexist, and hated gays among more. They were a tiny minority. They were the frat types who dug the music but not the ethos. They were also the non-sharp skinheads. (SHARP was Skinheads Against Racist Persons). And then there was Bloody Mess. Bloody wanted all the good things we all fought for. But he was Bloody Mess!
While the punk rockers were shocking to everyone else but not each other, Bloody Mess was shocking to everyone, including the punks.
After all, he was friends with legendary hellraiser GG Allin who he also toured with. But Bloody didn’t do all the sick things GG did. No, Bloody Mess was just “friends” with some of those who were such total monsters and misfits from society, they were on death row. They wrote him. He visited them. They did his album cover art. And for that, Bloody Mess became world renown at that time, appearing on shows back then including the legendary, national talk show “Donahue,” among more.
Years later, Bloody Mess is not the same man he used to be. His words–not mine. Though I believe him. I’m not either. But, we’ll let him speak for himself.
It was a real honor speaking with Bloody again after all of these years. Two things struck me from his new material which I had somehow forgotten between all the thousands of other records I’d heard since then and between. He really has a great voice. A deep, growling, powerful voice; reminiscent of Iggy Pop among more. And, even though he claims to have have retired from punk rock, between us, I don’t think he ever can.
We’ll begin here with one of my favorites, Bloody F. Mess: Divine Dirt, official music video of “Skeletons” filmed and produced by legendary NYC no-wave punk filmmaker Nick Zedd, whose work with Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch, and countless more needs no introduction. The song was produced by Paul Roessler (45 Grave/Screamers/Nina Hagen band) with Paul also on keyboard.
Bloody Mess: Biography
Born 3-16-66, and raised in Peoria Illinois, Bloody Mess stated he will be celebrating his 40th anniversary in music & entertainment next year in 2023. Bloody started singing for his first group in a high school band in 1981 doing cover songs. Two years later, he started singing in a hardcore punk band in 1983 called Chips Patroll, which morphed into the band Unaccepted in 1984 gigging across Illinois and Chicago.
In 1985, he formed the nihilistic punk band Bloody Mess & the Hate which lasted until 1987, performing gigs in Wisconsin & Illinois with Naked Raygun, Adrenaline Overdose ( A.O.D.), and the legendary GG Allin among more. Bloody had two songs released on 1986 CD compilation on Mutha Records (NYC) ” Bands only a Mutha Could Love.”
Bloody also toured the States with his friend of ten years; GG Allin, opening for him doing spoken word poetry. Bloody co-wrote a song for GG’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” album (Homestead Records) and wrote the liner notes. Bloody and GG also wrote & recorded a drunken song together called “Thinkin & Drinkin,” on the Black & Blue Records GG Allin “The Bloody Years” CD that Bloody Mess produced for Black and Blue Records.
In 1988, Bloody Mess formed Bloody Mess and the Skabs, and release the first self-titled 5 song 7″ record in 1989 on Mephisto Records. Scumbag serial killer John Wayne Gacy did the cover art.
Bloody’s first full-length album, “6th Grade Field Trip” was released in 1990 on Black-and-Blue Records from Rhode Island. A 2nd 7-inch record was released in 1992 with poster art by another serial killer scumbag; Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, who is according to Bloody, “half of the Hillside Strangler” killers.
Bloody Mess Rock Circus Rock and Roll Scallywag
Filmed and directed by Nico Margeras, co written with Wes Beech of The Plasmatics.
His first daughter was later born, and Bloody Mess and her Mother are still together since 1992, his wife and radio partner; Sister Tracy.
Bloody Mess then signed with No Risk NO Fun Records in Germany. They released a 7 inch ” Live in Nashville /Live in Peoria ”
In 1993, Blood Mess appeared on three major television talk shows: Phil Donahue in the U.S., and Rolonda and Passengers in the UK.
In 1993 No Risk No Fun Records in Germany released a “Live in Nashville, Tennessee / Live in Peoria” 7-inch record by Bloody Mess and the Skabs.
Bloody Mess and the Skabs 2nd album ” Hungover and Stoned” was released on Black & Blue Records in 1994, with their last single ” out titled “A Dog Bisquit For Sick Puppies.” 1994, also saw a few 7 inches & compilation albums on Black & Blue Records with Bloody.
The band toured the country, playing shows in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, Philadelphia, Delaware, Ohio, Texas and more. Bloody mess and the Skabs lasted 8 years.
In 1995 Bloody Mess stated he retired from punk rock and formed an outlaw country band recording project. He released one 4 song 7″ ep on Baloney Shrapnel Records out of Arizona with “Bloody & The Country Trash Punks” with musicians from central Illinois.
In 1996 through 1997, Bloody Mess fronted a professional 6-piece, outlaw country / blues band called “The Renegades.” Playing 3 days a week / 4 sets a night, they performed 75 shows in a year and a half at roadhouses, biker bars, redneck joints, honky tonks, & dive bars. They then morphed into a rock cover band called “The Vaynes.”
In 1998 “The Vaynes” became a mostly original hard rock / punk band opening for bands including “Nazareth” and “Enuff Z’Nuff” among others. They released their 3rd full length album in 1999 on Black-and-Blue Records; “Bloody And The Vaynes.
Bloody started Fanatic Records in 1998, releasing “Concrete & Cornfields” CD series and one 7-inch record.
In 1999 Bloody Mess retired from full time music and began a 23-year career in radio broadcasting when he was hired at WWCT radio in Peoria Illinois. There, he created the currently running Sunday night syndicated Church of Rock FM radio show, which has now run on 8 radio stations across the country.
Airing Sunday nights on KSKQ & KBOG radio on Sunday nights at 6pm PST on www.kskq.org, Bloody Mess’s “Church of Rock” radio show has seen him interviewing all from Bhagavan Das, Lynette Fromme, Suzi Quatro, Cheetah Chrome, John Doe from “X”, Dave Treganna (Lords of the New Church), Andy Scott ( Sweet), and Lita Ford and Cherie Currie from “The Runaways” among more.
A salaried job working 6 days a week, he started on WWCT Rock 106 radio in Peoria Illinois, he created the 2-hour radio show “The Church of Rock” which still, after 23 years, is on its 8th incarnation at KSKQ radio in Ashland Oregon every Sunday night. He is syndicated and can also be heard on three positions on the FM radio dial throughout northern California and Oregon. Prior to this, he began on radio working a few years on the air at WIHN radio in Bloomington / Normal Illinois.
In 2003 Black-and-Blue Records released “Bloody and the Bastard Children!” This was a CD tribute to Bloody Mess, with 20 bands from the usa covering his songs, plus featuring two new unreleased songs by Bloody Mess on it as well.
Around this time, he then formed “Bloody Mess & The Transfusions.” He again signed with Black and Blue Records, released one album on CD, and did a large Texas tour, and then toured the rest of the country.
In 2019 a 7″ record was released of the former cassette only 1985 release of Bloody Mess and Hate “I’m glad Sid’s Dead” on Puke N Vomit Records.
Bloody Mess & The Transfusions lasted five years.
He then formed Bloody Mess and the New Disease. They self-released a 5-song ep and toured the Midwest.
Black and Blue Records then released Bloody’s ‘Anti Rock Star” album on CD with formerly unreleased tracks including many of his 7-inch records among more.
In 2011, Bloody Mess relocated to Southern Oregon. His first band in Oregon was Bloody Mess and the Hollowbodys.
They did a 12 state usa tour and released one “live” album for Black and Blue Records called “Ready, Willing, Unstable…Live in Peoria Illinois,” which Blood states finally honored the details of his contract with them and states this was and will be his last release on that label.
Bloody then formed the Bloody Mess Rock Circus in 2013. They did a 12 state usa tour.
They wrote and recorded the title track to UK film “Spidarlings,” a film with Lloyd Kauffman of the Toxic Avenger Films, among more. They wrote and recorded the title track to the usa film “Creeper.” They then signed with Deathangle Absolution Records and they released Bloody’s 30th anniversary album, which was recorded in L.A. at Kitten Robot Studios by Paul Roessler. Produced by Rikk Agnew (Christian Death, The Adolescents, etc.), the album also featured guests including Don Bolles of The Germs,
Richie Ramone of The Ramones, and Paul Roessler of 45 Grave, The Screamers, and Nina Hagen’s band.
Bloody Mess began a short acting career and had roles in films including “Creeper,” “Covet Thy Neighbor,” “Courage of Two,” and “Delusion Blues.”
He then self-released his 2015 spoken word / music album called “Bloody F. Mess: Transcend.”
He then formed a short-lived band, Bloody & the Backstabbers. They opened for Richie Ramone, Fang, and others.
After this, Bloody Mess formed Divine Dirt. They recorded a full-length album in 2018 / 2019 in L .A. At Kitten Robot Studio, Produced by Paul Roessler, with special musical guests including Hellin Killer, Gitane Demone (Christian Death), Rikk Agnew (Christian Death, Adolescents), Felix Alanis (RF7), Casey Royer (D.I., Adolescents, Social Distortion, and Sister Tracy among more. The Divine Dirt “From the Underworld” album was self-released on 12″ vinyl & cd.
Divine Dirt toured the Midwest in 2019.
In 2020, Bloody Mess began managing ex-Bay City Roller Pat McGlynn. They recently recorded a new version of Bloody’s song “Empty” with musician Gordon Anthoney aka Gogs, with Bloody Mess and Pat McGlynn sharing vocals. They recorded more songs together in Edinburgh Scotland in September and planned a tour together.
In 2021, Bloody’s Fanatic Records label released “Skies Are Blue: A Tribute to Pat McGlynn” limited edition CD with many artists from the UK /USA Including ex-members of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Rollins Band, and the Black Crowes, with Patt and Bloody on vocals for “Empty.” He & Pat are recording more songs in September and are planning a possible tour of Japan, the USA, UK, and Australia.
And he reminds us he’s still “hosting and producing the 23-year running syndicated Church of Rock FM radio show. It airs Sunday nights 6pm to 8pm. People can listen from anywhere at www.kskq.org on the radio in Southern Oregon/Northern California at 89.5FM/94.1FM and KBOG radio in Bandon Oregon.”
Whew. If that doesn’t make your head spin kids, nothin’ will. And now, let the show begin…
Subnormal Magazine; Exclusive Interview with Bloody Mess; Part 1
Subnormal Magazine; Exclusive Interview with Bloody Mess; Part 2
Subnormal Magazine; Exclusive Interview with Bloody Mess; Part 3
Subnormal Magazine; Exclusive Interview with Bloody Mess; Part 4
This content may be linked to, but not reproduced. Subnormal Magazine, 2022.
