ARTICLES
IMPORTANT DATES
Metalhammer
August
Another band tipped for big things are Orange County's most talked about hopes
and Fear Factory buddies Human Waste Project. The band came together in late
'94 with vocalist Aimee Echo, bassist Jeff Schartofs, drummer Scott Ellis
and guiatrist Mike Tempesta (brother of White Zombie drummer John Tempesta).
After a couple of years playing up and down the Sunset Strip impressing A&R
types, Human Waste Project signed to Danzig's current label Hollywood Records.
They recorded their debut album, 'Electralux', at Indigo Ranch with Korn/Manhole
producer Ross Robinson earlier this year, and it should be seeing the light
of day by the end of the summer. If you like the sound of Deftones jamming
with No Doubt, then Human Waste Project should be right up your street.
Kerrang
18 October 1997
K! Tapes Go To 'Waste
Human Waste Project, the hotly tipped LA metal crew who will be making their
UK debut on the forthcoming Tura Satan tour, are to kick off a sensational
new series of Kerrang! approved sampler cassettes.
Kerrangs Ultra Collection will see Britains premier rock magazine teaming
up with selected up and coming stars to bring readers mega rare free tapes.
Huma Waste Project - whose debut album E-Lux isn't out in the UK until next
year - start the ball rolling with a killer five track taster of their forthcoming
album.
Says HWP singer Aimee Echo: "I think it's a brilliant idea to be kicking
things off with Kerrang! I'm glad your readers will be getting to hear us
first. I guess as reference points you could say our music has got elements
of Janes Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshess, plus a lot of the good old
heavy stuff".
The five track cassette, title Blood Sweat & Fear, and limited to just
300 copies, will become a huge collectors items. To be in with a chance of
getting your hands on one, write to: Human Waste Project Giveaway, Kerrang!,
Mappin House, 4 Winsley Street, London W1N 7AR. First come first served.
HWP, who list Tura Satana, Korn, Limp Bizkit and Deftones as their mates,
are itching to hit the UK. Says Aimee, "Tairrie B says she'll corrupt
me on this tour! Every night will be an adventure."
Catch Tura Satana and Human Waste Project on the tour.
Well, I got hold of one of the tapes. It has One Night In Spain, Disease,
Powerstrip, Dog and Exit Wound. Wrapped in a cardboard sleeve.
Kerrang
Kerrang! Buzz Band of the Week
Human Waste Project
Meet Aimee Echo - LAs new queen of psycho metal
1 November 1997
Mike Peake
How excited were you the first time you heard Marilyn Manon? Or Feeder? Or
Korn? Remember how you insisted on playing their songs to your mates gibbering
on about them being the next big thing?
You knew you were onto a winner, and you were fucking right. So we'd like
to introduce you to Human Waste Project.
It's a weird old story.Guitarist Mike Tempesta is the brother of White Zombie
drummer John Tempesta. Bass player Jeff Schartoff lent Korn bassist Fieldy
all his equipment when Fieldy's previous band, LAPD, recorded an album. Singer
Aimee Echo is very matey with the guys in Limp Bizkit. She used to own a piercing
studio in Huntingdon Beach, where Korn were frequent visitors. And she is,
in fact, responsible for the cluster of holes in Jonathon Davis' eyebrow.
"He's my baby" she coos.
And where is your own most intimate piercing madam?
"You'll have to guess!"
Formed at the end of 1993 when Aimee convinced the rest of the band to audition
her after they'd tried out 200 blokes, Human Waste Project - completed by
drummer Scott Ellis - quickly got together a bunch of shit kicking psycho-metal
tunes and played their first ever show supporting Manhole (now Tura Satana).
Aimee and Tura Satana front vamp Tairrie B quickly bonded, and frequently
make for an arresting sight out together on the LA scene. Expect the pair
to get up to all sorts of bother when they tour Britain together next month
...
Aimee is aching to hit the UK, and helpfully offers some advice for any brave
young K! readers who fancy trying their hand at chatting her up
"Noticing that I'm a girl would be a good start! Most people think I'm
much scarier than I actually am, but I'm not. I don't eat little boys for
breakfast ..."
Didn't Jeffrey Dahmer say something along the same lines ...
Out now - Blood Sweat & Fear - Kerrang The Ultra Collection. This free
sampler tape is HWP's only UK release to date - and sorry, all copies have
now gone!
Metal Hammer
Human Waste Project
November 1997
Brooke Dulien
Human Waste Project. Remember that name; you're going to be hearing it a lot.
A four-piece residing in LA, boasting a fiery frontwoman and talented players,
Janes Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Soundgarden and The Nymphs are
a few of the names they have been compared to, but definitive originality
is what sets them apart from the current crop of LA rock bands.
Human Waste Project has proven to be a bands band, their family extending
out to the likes of Deftones, Korn, Suicidal Tendancies, Limp Bizkit and Helmet,
all of whom they have toured or played with. Stirring audiences into a frenzy
with songs like 'Disease' and 'One Night in Spain', their power and drive
combined with singer Echo's diva like intensity make Human Waste Project a
brilliantly compelling live act.
Originally from Huntingdon Beach, the band formed in 1992, when, on the way
to Lollapalooza (at which, ironically, they would perform in 1995) bassist
Jeff Schartoff asked Echo if she could scream. Echo, a straight 'A' student/professional
body piercer didn't hesitate: "Sure I'll scream. Whatever." HWP
was born. With Scott Ellis on drums, they found Mike Tempesta after experiencing
a Spinal Tap bevy of guitarists. Apparently, everytime they found a new guitarist,
Echo would pierce their eyebrows and they would disappear. Mike being the
exception, the Project was complete. Producer Ross Robinson (Sepultura, Korn,
Limp Bizkit) blends the intense dynamics of each musician with unconventional
sounds (mopeds, electric fans, and Elvis sparkle guitars) to make their debut
album worth waiting for. Entitled 'E-Lux' it will be released in early in
the New Year through Hollywood Records and the band are currently planning
a European Tour with Tura Satana.
Human Waste Project
Kerrang!
November 15 1997
Lisa Johnson
Human Waste Project played their last gig in Hollywood before heading off
to the UK to support Tura Satana on the Kerrang! sponsored tour that's now
underway amid much fanfare. And inevitably there was a post-gig party, held
at singer Aimee Echo's place to send the band off across the ocean proper
style.
The revelry went on into the early hours. But Aimee ended up hiding in her
bedroom with a friend, while members of Tura Satana, Plexi, Hole, Red Aunts,
Bluebird and Goatsnake had their run of the place. Even former Nine Inch Nails
man Chris Vrenna was spotted enjoying himself.
Aimee eventually surface in the pyjamas, but only to put some laundry in the
washing machine. And she certainly shied away from joining in a game of Truth-Or-Dare.
Kerrang!
November 15 1997
Human Waste Project - Dog (track on free CD with this issue of Kerrang!)
Fronted by blonde siren Aimee Echo, LAs Human Waste Project are at the very
forefront of their hometown's new metal explosion. Like Tura Satana before
them, the 'Project take mangled riffs and unstoppable dynamics and mould them
to their own ends. Take it from us, this is going to be massive ...
Radio Kerrang! cut: 'Dog', a prime slice of Wastage taken from their E-Lux
debut, due out early next year via Hollywood Records.
Kerrang
November 22 1997.
Paul Travers.
The Riot Girls.
"I have to get ready in here 'cos I've lost our bus." Aimee Echo,
fraggle-haired vocalist with hot new LA scenesters Human Waste Project is
ensconced in one corner of the small dressing room her band are sharing with
Scouse ragga-metal crew Bullyrag. She has somehow managed to misplace a 50
foot long silver tour bus. It'll probably turn up in the last place she looks.
Both Bullyrag and Human Waste Project are at the Glasgow Cathouse, as support
to Tura Satana. It is Tura Satana's first headlining tour of the UK, and Human
Waste Projects first time in Europe fullstop. The'Project are due on in half
an hour, and Aimee's preparations include a make-up kit the size and shape
of a well stocked mechanic's toolbox.
"It is a toolbox" Aimee giggles. "And what you're building
is a miracle".
Human Waste Project are it seems, made up to be here. And the Cathouse is
just as pleased to have them, whopping along to their every slice of fuzzed-out
metallic chaos. Aimees vocals veer wildly between kitten purr and caterwaul,
while around her the rest of the band create a psychotically bass heavy groove.
If the crowds reaction to unfamiliar material is anything to go by, Human
Waste Project have the potential to be huge.
After the set, the idea is to hook Aimee up with her old mucker Tarrie B for
photos and an interview: but typically this doesn't happen. First of all,
Tarrie seems to have gone AWOL. Then when she is found, the message that filters
through is that "the timing just isn't right".
When Tura Satan hit the stage, they sound exceptionally tight for a band who
changed their guitarist just two weeks before the start of the tour. But more
on that shortly ...
The following day, Tura Satana have an in-store signing session at Mike Lloyd's
record shop in Wolverhampton. For over an hour, a constantly shuffling stream
of fans turn up clutching CDs and posters. By the time they're signed, most
of the posters have had former guitarist Scott Ueda's facre crossed out.
"After this I'll be opening my own jewellry store" Tarrie says,
as yet another young fan presents her with a bracelet. She later tells how
one girl turned up with the words "I ain't your victim" carved into
her arm.
"That took me back a bit" she says, "I'm not here to tell people
to hurt or mutilate themselves - I'm not down with that shit". Fr all
of her hard girl image, she visibly shudders at the thought of it.
After the signing it's over to tonight's venue, the Wulfrun Hall. It's still
only 4pm, but already a gaggle of die-hard fans are gathered, most of them
have come straight from the record store. Tura Satana's new guitarist Brian
Harrah is out on the steps, happy to hang out and chat. He has, in fact, already
been out earlier in the afternoon insisting the kids took him to McDonalds.
"This is my first time in Europe and I'm loving it" he explains.
"I don't wanna just go from the bus to the venue and to the bus again,
so I'll go out and grab someone and say, like, 'hey, show me around'."
His enthusiasm is refreshing and understandable. A fortnight ago, he was in
an unknown band called Splitkiss. Now the likeable 21 year old is playing
a headlining tour on the other side of the world.
"I was totally nervous on the first date in Bradford" he confesses.
"Not with the size of the crowd, because with my old band I'd opened
for Marilyn Manson. It was just the whole thing of playing with the band for
the first time".
"The whole thing came about when I was told by a mutual acquaintance
about this vacancy in the band. I just called up and I had a really good feeling
that I'd get it - not because I'm brilliant musically, but because I felt
that I knew what they were trying to do. I quit my job and school just for
the audition and everything just clicked straight away. I had two weeks to
learn 13 songs, but now I feel like I've been in the band forever."
On board Tura Satana's tourbus, Tarrie B offers a beer and apologises for
messing us around last night. "I didn't mean to be a dick to you or anyone,"
she says. "Everyone likes to believe I'm this total fucking control freak,
but I just want things to go a certain way. I do my job, and when certain
people aren't dooing theirs I feel like a lot of the burden gets put onto
me."
Miss B has a reputation for being mad, bad and dangerous to know. One reason
for this is that she doesn't hold back when it comes to speaking her mind.
Another is that her emotions can be somewhat unpredictable. In the space of
an hour, she will swing from being ecstatically happy at the new found togetherness
of her band to being extremely upset when recalling what it was like before.
She is certainly volatile, yet at the same time she's friendly and often painstakingly
polite.
"There is a happier vibe in the band, and that's definitely down to Brian"
she offers. "He taught us about respect again. As cheesy as it sounds,
we held hands in a circle before we went onstage last night and afterwards
we were sat together laughing and joking. That's the first time we've done
that after a show. We couldn't even sit in the same room before." The
animosity between Tarrie and Scott was never exactly a secret, the split far
from amicable.
"We vowed when we kicked him out that we weren't going to talk shit about
him, but I read Kerrang! and I saw what he said in Lisa Johnson's column.
In one sentence he says 'I wish the band luck', and in the next its 'I wrote
everything and Tarrie was giving me abusive phone calls'. I've got messages
on my answering machine of his wife leaving me abuse - he had to get his wife
involved, that's how pathetic it was. He claims he wrote the whole of 'Relief
through release', but I wrote all the lyrics and the entire band wrote the
music.
"If he wants to be like Jesus Christ Superstar fucking Eddie Van Halen,
then good luck to him"
The final straw came, according to Tarrie, when Scott refused to fly to Europe
on Halloween.
Marcello got married last year on the Biohazard tour - we flew home for one
day, and he didn't get a fucking honeymoon. He made the band his first responsibility.
"Scott just said, 'I'm gonna go trick or treating with my kids'. We're
on our first European tour, we've got places selling out and he was like,
'Fuck you bitch!'. And I'm supposed to tour with this guy? At the end of the
day, when I put my foot down I put my fucking foot down. I made this band
and, God help me, I'll fucking kill."
The arrival of Aimee Echo helps to lighten the mood. Aimee and Tarrie are
old friends and make a highly effective double act.
"We're actually a comedy team on the side" says Aimee.
Do you hang out together back home?
"Only because we're lovers" begins Tarrie "This is the only
girl I'd ever pose ..."
"...Naked with?" interjects Aimee.
"No" Tarrie replies "you've got a better body than me".
Aimee's thrilled to be touring Europe, and Tarrie's thrilled for her.
"A long time ago we made a pact" she recalls. "We both had
nothing - no record deal or anything - but we had a dream that one day we'd
tour Europe together".
"Whichever one of us got signed first would take the other one out."
Aimee adds.
"But then again, I wouldn't do it just because we're friends", continues
Tarrie, "I brought Aimee on tour for one reason, and that's because I
fucking love her band".
Is it a lot different having another girl out on tour? "It is because
- allow me to demonstrate - 'Can I borrow those black panty-hose before the
show?'," cackles Tarrie.
I see. So is it non-stop girlie shenanigans then?
"We've only seen each other for, like, three seconds so far" Aimee
says.
"Aimee goes to sleep after the show, I sleep all day" adds Tarrie.
"We're polar opposites in a lot of ways. As you can see, she's the sunshine
and I'm the moon. The main difference between us, though, is that when the
make up comes off, she still has eyebrows."
"We're still getting over the jet-lag," complains Little Miss Sunshine,
"but O'm sure there'll be some partying somewhere down the line".
Later on, at a party at a nearby hotel, it will be Aimee downing shots of
Jack Daniels while Tarrie B stays relatively sober and videos the whole shebang.
What about the practical difficulties of touring with a male band?
"As far as things like privacy go, my guys are great" says Aimee.
"Not to take anything away from their sexuality, but my guys are girls,
basically".
"I've always been real envious of Aimee and the fact that the people
in the band treat her a certain way, and are very accomodating and respectful"
sighs Tarrie, "My band never used to be like that, but in just one day,
everything changed".
"One thing I do have a problem with is when people at shows think that
it's an option to touch you or grab you," says Aimee. "That just
because you're in a band, you owe them".
"I came from a rap background and I wasn't used to slam-pits," opines
Tarrie. "I remember one show, there were these guys trying to drag me
into the pit and my first reaction was complete horror. I grabbed the mike-stand
and hit this guy in the fucking throat with it."
"Whereas I came from that whole punk rock background" Aimee continues,
"and I used to dive into the crowd. But one time, at one of Tarrie's
shows, they were doing 'Victim' which is an anti-rape song. I did a stage
dive, expecting the crowd to be respectful, and what do I get? A hand to the
crotch. And it wasn't accidental - you can tell."
"It's like I say on 'Victim'" says Tarrie. "It doesn't matter
what I wear, I'm not asking to be touched or harassed. In the end you've got
to have respect".
Wise words madam.
Metal Hammer
December 1997
Human Waste Project ... Part of the LA Invasion.
LA has been sending a whole mess of cool bands our way, and Human Waste Project
ands another one. Fresh from their first set of UK dates, Chris Ingham finds
out all about them.
You may not have heard anything by them, but I'm betting you've heard the
name Human Waste Project more times in the last six month than you're comfortable
with, considering that the band have never released a record in the UK. But
all that is about to change. Following those frighteningly charged gigs with
fellow City of Angels terrors Tura Satana on their recent tour, HWP will release
their debut UK single 'Powerstrip' on December 8 and are already talking about
returning for a support slot with Coal Chamber next month.
One of an emerging group of energetic and colourful bands springing from the
current Californian scene, HWP are fronted by the soon-to-be-pinned-on-every-male's-wall
figure of Aimee Echo. But first things first, let's do the introductions:
"Scott (Ellis, drums) and I grew up together in Huntingdon Beach, which
has been a hotbed of music since we were kids," coos Ms Echo. "We
grew up around music, and he and Jeff (Schartoff, bass) were playing in garages
and stuff since for ever".
"I never considered singing as such, but I'd come to their rehearsals
and say, 'Why don't you let me have a go?' and they'd just laugh. I don't
know who heard me sing, but someone did so Scott gave in. I had a go and it
felt great. We hung out together for about a year, writing stuff and playing
in the garage, and then Mike Tempesta (guitarist and brother of White Zombie's
John) came in, and that was the final piece of the puzzle."
It's an unfortunate fact that whenever a woman fronts a band, she receive's
the lions share of attention: think No Doubt, The Nymphs, Garbage and Man
... ahem, Tura Satana. Aimee is aware of this, but she's keen to present HWP
as a band at every level.
"I know it's a corny thing to say, but it's true: we really are like
a big family. Creatively speaking, we work amazingly together," she states,
before conceding with a giggle, "Okay, so maybe there's a bit of arguing,
but it's nothing serious, and if we do argue, I win, cos I've got the biggest
mough and I can scream louder than the rest of them!".
HWP's debut album, E-Lux, has been out in the States for some time now (scheduled
for release in February '98 here), and as those who caught them earlire this
month will testify Aimee sounds as if she's got a lot to say.
"This first record is the result of years of thought and frustration
building up that was gonna come out no matter what. There is a lot of 'life
sucks' mentality on there sure. But at the same time, I think there is enough
'life is amazing' to balance it out. People talk about my passionate lyrics,
but I would hate for anyone to think it's forced'."
Even a cursory glance at the albums lyrics would lead one to believe that
Aimee has a thing about relationships, or, specifically, the dirtly little
mind games that are part'n'parcel of the 'ol liquid swap.
"Love is torture, but it's amazing torture, and it's also the most important,
incredible and immense thing that exists. Once you get into the duality of
love, you can write lyrics forever!" she chatters.
There seems to be a lot of power play going on in your lyrics; would you agree?
"I don't know about power play, that would imply some kind of fight.
Sometimes I want to get my power back, and I use my music to do that, which
is an option a lot of othe women don't have. Somebody once said that the best
revenge you can get on someone is to write a song and put it on a record.
That way, the whole world gets it, and I certainly believe in that!"
It sounds similar t something that other tigress of the boards, Tarrie B,
would say ...
"I've known Tarrie since 1992/93, so we're really good friends ... we're
like photo negatives of each other. I wear a lot of light colours, and she's
always in black - she calls herself my evil twin. We're both from LA, we both
front aggressive bands and we're both strong women, so yeah, there are similarities,
but I don't think it would be accurate to say that, as bands, we share the
same visions. Tarrie is really hard, her strength is amazing - she scares
the hell out of me for sure!"
Any examples, purely in the interests of shit-stirring and blackmail opportunities?
"Er - let's just say that woman can pack a punch!"
Even down the phone, Aimee has an infectious personality; her mischevious
laugh would pierce the guard of the most austere party pooper. In fact,on
a recent tour with scene darlings Deftones, the Sacramento headliners got
more than they bargained for when they playfully threatened her with the usual
end-of-tour shenanigans.
"When we went on stage, they pelted us with eggs and flour and hit me
with pillows. So later on, during their set we got our revenge in style. When
Chino does his vocal breakdown in 7 Words, we started throwing hundreds of
tortillas at the stages, and covered them with whipped cream and as much junk
food we could find from the local store. Just when they thought we'd finished,
we let six live chickens loose - they didn't know what to do!"
Like Coal Chamber, Deftones, Far and Incubus, HWP have managed to bring their
own take on this Californain thing to our shores. However, Aimee's own tips
for the top are American nutters System of a Down.
"System ... are probably the heaviest, yet still interesting live band
I've ever seen - they are totally amazing! There are a lot of bands coming
out of California at the moment, but (Korn / Manhole producer) Ross Robinson
has also picked up on bands from Florida too, like Limp Bizkit and Cold, who're
just great!"
Kerrang!
Nov 29, on the end of tour party with Human Waste Project and Tura Satana.
"This has been the perfect end to a perfect tour," gushes Tarrier
B, cradling her umpteenth vat of vodka and orange. "Fuckin incredible,!
Aimee Echo has kissed me 32 times already..."
Aimee Echo sings in Human Waste Project, the LA newcomers who have joined
Tura Satana and Bullyrag on a string of raging dates around the UK. Tarrie
speaks as 2am approaches at the Kerrang!/Miller Beer sponsored end of tour
party blow out, upstairs at London's Highbury Garage. The room resembles a
battlefield as hardened troopers dance on, while others lurch around pissed,
blinded by the intense lights.
Seeing as Tarrie's so unbelievebly happy, you'd think she wouldn't have a
bad word to say about anyone during the gig earlier on. But no. She couldn't
let it lie ...
"I was going to rise above this and walk with grace", she informed
the sweaty Garage crowd. "But I'm going to say it anyway. Our ex-guitar
player was a piece of shit who drove me fuckin crazy!"
Oh Jesus, that's departed Scott Ueda getting it in the neck. Then there was
the security guard who Tarrie ran into earlier.
"I came out to see Human Waste Project play," she tells the crowd,
"and a security guard asked to see my pass. When I couldn't produce it
quick enough, he decided to manhandle me backstage. Small shit like that leads
to big shit..."
Inflammatory as ever. Bassist Rico is probably wondering whether he'll end
up in 'chokey' again, but nothing actually kicks off.
Other highlights of this fine set include Tarrie riping up a cardboard Spice
Girls cut-out, announcing: "This tour's so great, because no-one can
kick us off!", and leading Aimee and Bullyrag singer Robbie onstage for
a brilliant collaboration on Nirvana's "Negative Creep".
As the party kicks off, Robbie admits he didn't strictly know the words to
the song.
"She asked me to come up and sing it a week ago", he admits. "It's
just so demanding to do, so I left her to it. But this tour's been great,
man. Our band needed it."
"I was so drunk, it was ridiculous!" giggles Aimee of her performance.
She is soon swanning around the dancefloor with her mate Tarrie, as the first
of the aforementioned playful kisses occur.
I've had about eight girls try to make out with me tonight", puzzles
Tarrie at some point, inbetween stints as DJ. "I don't know where that
comes from"
Nothing to do with snogging Aimee surely. Or flirting with a girl in the front
row during the gig ("You want me to kiss you? Would that make me a lesbian?").
Or pretending to spank Aimee when she came onstage to sing? No madam, that's
certainly a poser.
Somewhere after midnight, a reliable Britrock posses appears, spearheaded
by 3 Colours Red's Chris McCormack and Keith Baxter, who have been to see
Metallica tonight. Whereas 'Face/Off' director John Woo patented double fisted
gun routine, McCormack pioneered the double fisted pint ruse, and immediately
puts it to use while trying to persuade a shocked K! snapper to give him a
kiss.
Brendan Markham, from top rockers The Driven, is ably propping up the walls,
while Rachel Stamp's David Ryder-Prangley takes tonights award for wankered
cheekiness. Initially convinced he'll end up in a fight, Mr Ryder-Prangley
does his best to make it happen, relentlessly chatting to the ladies and cadging
gulps of their booze. He reaches his match, however, with Aimee Echo, who
fixes him with a look best described as murderous.
And hey, there's Tarrie and Aimee having another dance around their Uzi holsters.
Altogether now, 33, 34, 35 ...
Kerrang
December 13 1997.
Fragile Human Organs
Mike Peake
Sleep depravation, gigs in redneck hell holes, sexual harassment, and a diet
of coffee and cigarettes. Welcome to life on the edge with America's hottest
band - Human Waste Project.
A motel on the outskirts of Baltimore, USA. Midnight. Signs on the wall remind
patrons that prostitution is illegal, and the one-armed man at the dismal
looking reception sits behind a wall of toughened glass for protection. Across
the road, at a single storey detached venue called Mickey's, Human Waste Project
are playing to a crowd of mullet-headed locals who look like they haven't
been out in a while.
Police sirens cut through the air, and rednecks in pick-up trucks pull up
outside the venue slugging beer. It's a godforsaken place.
Mercifully, Kerrang! isn't staying here tonight. A six-mile ride through crack-alleys
and ghettos which make our car driver tremble with fear, and we're back at
our 'luxury' hotel.
But Human Waste Project will be here at the motel for the next 12 hours. And
they've got one stinking, wood-panelled room between them and their hotly
tipped tour-mates, Snot.
"This is luxury compared to some of the places" says effortlessly
cheerful HWP singer Aimee Echo. "At least we get to take a shower."
Travelling across the States on board the Snot tour bus, there's little room
for privacy, modesty, and quite possibly, sanity. Guitarist Mike Tempesta-
brother of White Zombie drummer John - is missing his personal space more
than Aimee, drummer Scott Ellis and bassist Jeff Schartoff. He was particularly
upset when someone farted on his head, while he was in his bunk a few nights
ago.
"There's no privacy at all", says Aimee. "I mean, nudity? Forget
it. I just want to be naked! Somewhere! On the bus, there's a degree of nudity
that I'm comfortable with. I'll take off my shirt and change if I'm wearing
a bra. It's funny, cos the guys get more uncomfortable about it than me."
"I'll go, 'Okay guys, I'm just taking my shirt off, I got my bra on,
and it's not see-through', and they go, 'Argh! she's naked!'
"But what I can't stand is when we're onstage and someone shouts 'show
us your tits!'. It happens every night, almost without exception. If I got
up there and took my top off I wouldn't necessarily think that was a bad thing,
but if someone goes 'Get your tits out!', I'm not gonna go 'Whooo!' like some
party girl".
Jeff explains, in some detail, why it's actually a very bad idea to be the
person in the audience giving Aimee a had time.
"One of us, or our crew, or any of the other bands, will always go up
to the guy and say, 'Er, I think you should leave, cos there's about 20 people
who are going to kill you'. It seems to do the trick."
"I'm so safe it's not funnym" laughs Aimee. "Brothered, smothered
... but I like it"
Formed four years ago in Los Angeles, when a then red-headed Aimee was working
at her own body-piercing studio in Huntingdon Beach, HWP originally started
out with two singers - the other a bloke who wasn't happy with the direction
the band were taking, and quickly legged it when he realised that Aimee was
stealing the limelight.
After piercing Korn singer jonathon Davis' eyebrow (as well as her bandmates
rather more private parts) Aimee met legendary LA producer Ross Robinson,
and the five of them put together HWPs first demo.
Robinson also produced the band ferociously trippy debut album 'E-Lux', which
was recorded earlier this year, but doesn't hit the shops in Britain until
early in '98. It's very much a metal album for the millenium - the kind of
noise that is helping push HWP and Geffen signees Snot to the forefront of
the Californian metal explosion - but there's some surpisingly subtle sounds
on 'E-Lux' which cleverly offset the rest of HWPs frantic sonic soundscapes.
The band love it. And all of them remember the day they signed their deal
with Hollywood Records.
"June 16, 1996", says Aimee, "we signed it here in Baltimore."
"We were supposed to sign the day before in New York," says Scott,
"but we had so much champagne celebrating that we forgot!"
Which possibly explains the bands no-drinking rule before they go onstage.
Although, there was one notable exception ...
"This place was nearly empty", says Aimee, "and I knew it was
going to be a bad gig, so I said, 'Screw it, I'm gonna have some fun', and
I got completely out of my mind. I was stumbling around going 'Aaghhieee!'
like a drowned cat".
On board the Snot tour bus, Aimee is cuddling up to a special new friend.
'Reservoir Dogs' is playing on the video up front, and Girls Against Boys'
'Venus Luxure No 1 Baby' CD is playing in the back.
Jeff, Mike and Scott - none of whom, surprisingly partake of the demon weed
- are inside the club, knocking back shots, Jeff doing especially well out
of the club owner, who is offering the bassist all he can drink. We think
this is because he fancies Aimee. An hour earlier, a hundred people watched
the five foot nothing bleached blonde siren screaming her guts out onstage,
all of them apparently resisting the urge to shout 'Show us your tits'. "That
was a cool show", says Jeff later. "Next time those people will
bring their friends, and there will be twice as many there". Several
weeks ago, the band accidentally discovered a novel way of selling extra CDs
while on the road. "I lost my voice" explains Aimee. "After
the second song I had to stop. I apologised to the crowd, and I've never seen
such a symapthetic response from fans ever. They were saying 'You're so cool,
that took so much courage ...', and we sold as many CDs that night because
everyone wanted to know what we sounded like!"
Talk turns to Aimee's odd-ish name, and she whips out her passport to prove
that it's genuine.
"I got rid of my old surname three years ago in a witchcraft rite. Echo's
the name my mother gave to me. In witchcraft, you take the name your mother
gives to you."
She spots our bewilderment.
"Yes, I'm a witch!" Aimee says. "A real one. No bones about
it. It's not about spooky hocus-pocus crap, it's about the way I live my life.
I create my own realities, and that's what it's about for me"
"I have a strong connection with God, or whatever you'd want to call
it, and I've taken a lot of things from different traditions like Buddhism
and even Christianity and applied it to my own way of living."
"And", she winks, "I can fly!".
Washington DC, the following day. Aimee hasn't slept all night, and still
looks picture perfect.
"Most people start work at eight in the morning", she say, "and
they're ready for bed late in the evening. Our days start at about 8pm, so
we're just about 12 hours behind everyone else".
Scott - in an unspeakably creasy T-shirt - Jeff and Mike, emerge from the
bus, and start thinking about places to take a crap.
"There's a no-dumping rule on the tour bus" explains Aimee, and
some horrific horror stories involving dodgy plumbing and Jeffs inability
to pee standing up (something to do with a pierced todger) ensue.
Tonight, Human Waste Project will play a venue called The Bayou, which is
tastefully located underneath a motorway flyover, it's view of the river sealed
off with police 'do not cross' tape.
There's little glamour to the Snot/HWP 'Fuck All Y'all' tour. Aimee is currently
the rich one in the band, having saved a little over $100.
Still, the future looks good. UK tours with Coal Chamber - and possibly with
their old mates the Deftones - will put HWP in front of scores of new fans,
and their debut single is in the shops this week.
But isn't there a temptation for Aimee to say "fuck it all", and
bypass this no-filss, grass-roots slog with some sort of 'get rich quick'
spell?
"It's not about money," Aimee shrugs. "I don't know what keeps
me going. Sheer force of will, and coffee and cigarettes, I guess"
And the goal?
"World domination!"
Which means?
"Absolutely nothing!"
The band pose for a final bunch of pictures, and we wander around looking
for a house that we've been told was used in the legendary horror flick 'The
Exorcist". A woman in a department store tells us it's about eight blocks
away, and we give up, settling in a nearby bar, and trading stories about
near-death experiences at the hands of local cab drivers.
"I can't wait to get back to the UK," says Aimee, sipping coffee.
"Everyone there was so nice, and they were so into the music."
"And you know what?" she says, raising her sunglasses and sucking
on one of Scotts cigarettes. "No one asked me to get my tits out".
Fact file:
Human Waste Project, found of Sushi and sheet metal...
Name: Aimee Echo
Age: "I don't believe in linear time, therefore I have no age."
Previous Occupations: "Body piercer, waitress, receptionist at a law
office, and some other things I can't mention."
Likes: "Coffee, cigarettes, PJ Harvey, my mom, sushi."
Dislikes: "Cigar smoke, cranky people."
Name: Scott Ellis
Age: "I'm 28"
Previous Occupations: "Screen printer. I worked in the art department."
Likes: "Music, art, girls, fashion."
Dislikes: "Drama"
Name: Mike Tempesta.
Age: "Too old"
Previous Occupations: "Guitar tech for Anthrax. I used to work in a sheet
metal factory."
Likes: "Girls, guitars. And I used to like booze until last night."
Dislikes: "Rude people, bad food, bad bands."
Name: Jeff Schartoff.
Age: "Twenty seven human years."
Previous Occupations: "My last job was the coolest I had - working at
Verotik comics, Glenn Danzig's company. I've also worked in a factory, I've
done construction work and excavation work."
Likes: "Movies, Stanley Kubrick. 'Twilight Zone.' Bands, books and alleyways.
Getting a shower after a show."
Dislikes: "Not getting a shower after a show. And not having our CD available
in some record stores."
Kerrang
New Year Issue 1998
Korn Star's 'Wasted' Project.
Jonathon Davis records with Human Waste Project - but will their song ever
be released? plus: Aimee teams up with her old mate Tarrie?
Korn singer Jonathon Davis has teamed up with fast rising LA stars Human Waste
Project (HWP) on a bizarre cover of an '80s pop tune ... which may never see
the light of day.
Davis first met the band four years ago, when HWP singer Aimee Echo became
friends with Korn while working at a body piercing studio near where the band
hung out. On one of the Project's earliest ever demos, recorded in LA, Davis
agreed to sing along with the band on a cover of 'This Town' - originally
by '80s all-girl band, The Go-Gos.
HWP bass player, Jeff Schartoff picks up the story: "When we recorded
it, we were really concentrating on our own songs, and the cover version wasn;t
taken that seriously. Jonathon did a great job, but we didn't put that much
into it. Then when Korn became huge, that song suddenly appeared on a Korn
bootleg. Anyone's who's really into Korn probably has it, and that's how a
lot of people first heard HWP. But because we'd done such a half-assed job,
it really wasn't a very good avertisment for our band!" The band jumped
at the chance to redeem themselves.
"Last year, when we were in the studio at Indigo Ranch in California
- where we recorded our album (the forthcoming 'E-Lux') - we re-recorded the
song, with Jonathon doing vocals again. We did it way different, put a whole
lot more into it, and went for a different vibe - kinda more ambient sounding.
This time it turned out great, and the band loves it. Jonathon was really
happy with it to."
Unfortunately, because of Davis' being signed to a totally different record
company to HWP, legal problems over the release of the song have inevitably
reared their head.
"We can't seem to get a release," says Jeff. "Korn's label
(Immortal/Epic) are taking forever, legal red-tape and stuff. It'll get released
eventually, I jope!"
HWPs label, Polydor, is now thrashing the matter out with Korn, and there
are tentative plans for the song - if cleared - to appear on a future HWP
EP.
"I'd love to work with Korn again", says Jeff. "They're a great
band. I met (guitarist) Munky at a club a while back, and we talked about
doing some stuff, but that's all up in the air."
Finally on the HWP front, the band have recently completed a hugely successful
K!-sponsored UK tour with fellow LA stars Coal Chamber - which prompted a
nice-end-of-tour message from the two bands to Kerrang! and all our readers!
Kerrang
New Year Issue 1998
Girl Power
Aimee and Tarrie duet
HWP singer Aimee Echo has also teamed up with Tura Satana's Tarrie B for a
cover of a song by an obscure San Francisco new wave band.
Tarrie and Aimee, along with LA band Man Will Surrender, went into the studio
in America six months ago, to perform their duet.
They recorded a version of a little known Romeo Void song - it's unclear which
track at present. Few people have heard the finished result, but Kerrang!
has heard from insiders that it is "cool"!
It is unknown at this stage if this recording will surface anywhere in the
future - Tura Satana were said to be considering it for a B-side, but are
apparently now thinking of re-recording the track with new guitarist Brian
Harrah. More news as we get it!
Kerrang
New Year Issue 1998
The Sound of 1998
Kerrang! reveals what your favourite bands plans are for 1998...
Human Waste Project
After making a huge impact on K!-sponsored tours with Tura Satana and Coal
Chamber in '07, Aimee Echo and co. will release their debut album, E-Lux through
Hollywood/Polydor on February 9. The band will spend much of the year touring,
with a UK visit a certainty at some point in 1998.
Kerrang
New Year Issue 1998
The ones to watch - Destination Everywhere
Now Kerrang! picks out some bands to watch in '98. Some damn fine stuff, including
the mighty System of a Down, Far, King Prawn, Pulkas, Cold, Snot, Spineshank,
Sevendust etc, etc. But top of the bunch are this mob...
Human Waste Project.
The deal: Psycho-sexual LA based new metal crew, peddling out a revved-up,
kooky tunes with titles like 'Exit Wound' and 'Disease'. Think Korn meets
Janes Addiction meets Bauhaus, and you're half way there. Or gentlemen readers
could just think about Aimee Echo for a while, if they preferred ...
The line-up: Megastar in the making, Aimee Echo on vocals, dreadlocked bassist
Jeff Schartoff, bleached-blonde drummer Scott Ellis, and ever-smiling guitarist,
Mike Tempesta. They formed four years ago in Huntingdon Beach area of LA.
The Vibe: Numerous reports of being "better than the headliners"
after their first tour of the UK supporting Tura Satana, and a legion of new
fans won over on the band's Christmas tour of the UK with Coal Chamber. Apparently
all set ofr a "big push" from their UK record label (Polydor) and
already a firm fixture in the pages of Kerrang!, the future is currently looking
brighter than a firefly after a night soaked in Kerosene.
Out Now: Debut single Powerstrip which was released in early December. A good
start, but if you heard it and weren't too keen, console yourself with the
news that it's certainly not the best track on the album ...
Out next: The bands darkly psychedlic debut album gets a UK release on February
9.
Destined to be: This years sexiest, coolest and noisiest new metal messiahs
Metal Hammer
February 1998
High On Human Waste
Much touted LA foursome Human Waste Project release their keenly anticipated
debut 'E-Lux' (originally titled Electrolux before Hoover Corporation voiced
their objections) on Feb 8. (Actually, it was originally called Electralux,
note the difference in spelling, and it's the 9th, but I'm nit picking now).
Produced by Ross Robinson (Korn, Coal Chamber, Limp Bizkit etc) at his habitual
hangout, Indigo Ranch studios in Malibu, work began on Friday September 13
last year (actually 1996, not 1997 as this being in a 1998 magazine would
indicate. Sorry, more nit picking :) ) and wound up on Halloween, having been
delayed by massive bush fires around the studio. But not even fire, a lunar
eclipse or a meteor crashing to earth could deflect HWP from emerging with
an eclectic debut album, which mixes emotionally charged metal with hazier
pop and psychedelia.
"We wanted it to sound a little raw and convey the emotion that's inside
the songs", explains HWP front girl Aimee Echo. "I think it's really
beautiful thing when you can bring a pop element to heavy music. As for the
psychedelic influence, I was conceived when both my parents were on mescaline
so there's nothing I can do about it - it's in my blood!"
HWP were hoping to get a third visit to the UK in March courtesy of the Deftones,
but that now looks likely to go to Will Haven.
Kerrang
This month we re-live Aimee Echo of Human Waste Project's most embarrassing
moment.
When we tour around the States we always go in an RV (tour bus). Because the
chemicals in the toilet are really expensive you try not to use it all the
time. But there was one time I simply had to go, so if you can imagine the
bus shaking around me, I finish what I'm doing, stand up and then 'whoosh'
- the bus lurches to one side and all the chemicals and 'stuff' flew out all
over me! The thing was a couple of weeks later it came up in conversation
and it turned out it had happened to all of us and we'd each kept quiet about
it
Kerrang
Jan 1998
Out!
Lisa Johnson.
Arriving at Human Waste Project frontgal Aimee Echo's luxury duplex apartment
in the Los Feliz Hills (two doors away from Rage Against The Machine's Zack
de la Rocha, it should be noted), there is the familiar sight of fast food
debris sprawled across the table. Aimee Echo is obviously getting herself
well fortified. Because today, Aimee is tagging along with three of her closest
friends - who all happen to be drummers: HWPs Scott Ellis, Snot's Jamie Miller
and Deadbolt's Chris Hamilton - with Kerrang! to witness the addition of her
third tatoo. We hop in the car and drive nearly an hour south, towards Disneyland
and the ocean. It's been a whie for Aimee since she's been to her old hometown.
"All these memories just keep flowing back!" she says as we turn
off into miles upon miles of the Great American dream personified. "That's
where I witnessed my first witchcraft ritual," she notes, pointing to
a grassy knoll behind a grove of trees called Gum Grove Parl. Eek! Cruising
down the Pacific Coast Highway, we take two detours in Seal Beach, an old
style post-war haven of cul-de-sacs and dive bars with nautical themes. The
first stop is at the former home of her aunt and uncle, where Aimee was born.
"Creepy! This trip is freaking me out!" she admits.
Driving through her old stomping ground, Aimee is reminded of the days when
she was the city mascot for Seal Beach. "I wore a red velvet mini-dress,
white go-go boots and carried a seal", she grins. Further down the highway,
her memory bank begins to explode. When Aimee was about four, she and her
Mom moved into a big old yellow house previously occupied by her grandparents.
"We used to put on plays in the backyard. My bedroom was up there",
she says, pointing to the home's upper right window. "I accidentally
set the wall on fire while trying to set light to the trashcan on purpose
... We planted that tree. It was just a shrub, and now look at how big it
is! The house is haunted!" When I press for details, she says firmly:
"My mom can tell you about that." Aimee and her mom, Laura, are
"very close". In fact Laura is at all of HWP's local gigs, always
in the front row, and often helps out manning the merchandise booth.
For a girl who's been on tour so long, Aimee's memories of this place haven't
dimmed at all. "Nothing has really changed at all. That's where I went
to Brownies", she says, pointing out another suburban blur. "I got
kicked out" Why are we not surprised? We meet up with Aimee's mom at
Sean Smith's tatoo shop in Balboa. Smith is famous for, well, doing Aimee's
tatoos along with also decorating Korn's David and Fieldy. "You know,"
smiles Aimee, "It was one year ago today that I had my wrist stars done!"
She and Sean get right to business. First, Aimee does a freehand drawing of
the E-Lux album logo she wants tattooed on the back of her neck. Sean copies
it, slaps on a sample, and Aimee okays the placement of design. In less than
an hour, Aimee has a new tattoo! There were no tears, and she didn't pass
out (like she almost did when she got her first tattoo, of elaborate flowers
on her lower stomach). This time she has the moral support of Jamie Miller,
who holds her hand throughout the whole process. Aaah."It wasn't so bad"
she admits, "Actually, it tickled at the end!"
Next, Scott takes the chair for a little colour fill-in. "Scott, want
me to hold your hand?" asks Chris Hamilton. Scott answers with a heart
"yeah!" How sweet!
Aimee Echo's LA Tour FACTS
In Aimee Echo's bedroom is her "The Other Not So Nice Girl" doll,
a Christmas present from her mate Tarrie B.
In a community where kids learn to surf before they can ride a bike, Aimee
managed to avoid both sun and sea like the plague!
She was always in trouble with her teachers, and admits she spent a lot of
time in detention after being dubbed "a distraction for other students".
During the day, we make a quick stop at Electric Chair, the groovy studio
where Aimee one ran her own body piercing studio.
YAZ 4
Human Waste Project - so what happened?
Well, just as this issue was about to be finished, word came through (31.3.98)
that Human Waste Project were finally to be released from their deal with
Hollywood Records. So, what happened, and what went wrong. Well, here's my
take on some of the stuff. These are my words on what happened, not direct
quotes from the label. I'll try and get some official words from the band
for the next issue.
Ok, so what would appear to have gone wrong, is that Hollywood Records are
a bunch of imbecilies who couldn't break an egg. My opinion. Like for instance,
the album was actually ready, and initially due for release in the States,
in March 1997. But, the wise men at the label decide, noooo, we don't actually
want to release an album at the moment, after all, what's the point in that.
People may find it and buy it. So they decide to wait until July.
July approaches and arrives, as it does most years, and shortly before it's
due to be released, those wise men decide noooo we don't want to release it.
What if it proves to be popular. So they wait until September. September arrives
(they'd planned on it actually going missing, and so were caught by surprise).
The album emerges in the States. Things are looking up. Oh yes. Word filters
through that Tura Satana have offered them the chance to tour the UK. My,
you know what that means, the album could get a UK release. But nooooo, they
decide not to. So the band have to content themselves with merely playing
a successful UK tour, without any record (which is like, READY), and where,
in the eyes of many, they proceed to blow the headliners away.
Meanwhile, back in the States, the band have been offered the chance to do
a tour with Snot and Sevendust. Coal Chamber also offer them the chance to
return to the UK. They compromise. Do some of the Snot dates, then come to
the UK. Powerstrip is released as a single, and, for a still unknown band,
does well. The tour sees the bands popularity rise. Which has got to be good
right? They can return to the States, show evidence to Hollywood Records,
and try to repeat that success over there. After all, there is the possibility
of touring with ooh, Deftones, Coal Chamber, Life of Agony, Far, Snot. But
noooo, that would be like, raising the profile. And you know what emerges
as a result of that. Yep, people might buy the album. So, Hollywood Records
decides to kinda freeze the tour support.
Meanwhile, back in the UK, (still with me on this, good,) the problems in
the States affect the UK release date. It goes back from February 1998, to
March. 1 whole year after it could've been released. The band are on hold
from touring due to a lack of financial support from the label. The fact that
the tours are waiting seems to go over the heads of the powers that be. The
band are added to the Ozzfest. The chance to play to over 60,000 people. Maybe
that'll be the clincher. But in the meantime, word has filtered through that
those wise men at Hollywood Records have managed to amass a 100 million dollars
debt. 100 Million. That takes some fucking up. Not surprisingly, there are
changes at the label. Everyone gets affected. The new bosses give them the
money to resume touring, while decisions are made. Finally, at the end of
March, the word emerges that the band will be released. Other labels, who
until now have been legally obligated to make no approach towards the band,
can finally make their offers.
So, all in all it's been a pretty tough time. Hopefully now, the band will
be able to get a label that is actually behind them, and can help take some
of the worry off their shoulders, and give them the chance to concentrate
on doing what they do best. It's been, and still is, a fraught time for the
band, but hopefully they know that people are behind them and they'll recover
from this mess. Welcome, to the music business. Now could someone just explain
the logic to me?
Kerrang
June 98
HWP - Ozzfest Here We Come
Human Waste Project, who recently split with their record company, have insisted
they will still be playing at the UK Ozzfest - whatever the cost. Vocalist
Aimee Echo told Kerrang!: "We're definitely coming over for the Ozzfest.
We'll come over even if we have to hijack a fishing boat!" HWP's slot
on the Kerrang! stage at the Ozzfest had been under threat following their
departure from Hollywood Records in the States, leaving them without a label
and without any financial backing. "Hollywood had a big clear-out and
we were one of the bands who got cleared out", explains Aimee. "We're
currently talking to lots of people and we are about to move to a new happy
home - well, happier than our last one, anyway. But at the moment I can't
tell you what label we will be signing with." HWP have just finished
touring the States with Coal Chamber and Sevendust, and, says Aimee, the band
have been financing themselves. "We paid for the tour as we went along,
through any merchandising we can sell. We shifted quite a lot of CDs - 40
or 50 at some shows - so we didn't do too badly. Things have been difficult,
but there are great things on the horizon.