Queen Bee Interview
by Steve DIY

I first bumped into Karen Neal/Queen Bee on the net through her best freind Lynda Mandolyn from Fabulous Disaster. Aftyre hearing her cool music and visiting the QB website I just had to run an interview. Here's what Karen has to say:

 

Punk Globe: First off what name would you prefer to go by as an individual for this interview Queen Bee or Karen Neal?

QB: I answer to both, better known now as Queen Bee. You can call me Karen or you can call me Queenie, or Her Highness or Majesty!...Just don't call me collect!

Punk Globe: Now I've also established you were in one of my fave bands from the 80's can you let our readers know what you've been getting up to since then?

QB: Oh, nothing but trouble!... As Inside Out began to dissolve, I took advantage of many other opportunities which came my way. I started an electronic side project with Lynda called Lickitty Clit, I did some recording with His Name Is Alive. I also started a side band with Warren Defever and other members of His Name Is Alive and Elvis Hitler called "The Dirteaters". It was a great, yet short lived project that I sang and played bass for. We recorded some great demos and toured Mexico. We could've gone far with 4AD, but I could not agree to work with them exclusively. Another band I played bass for included former members of Cum Dumpster, called "Pussy Foot"(one of the best punk bands in Detroit)! I was gigging with 3 bands while recording with 2 others! Eventually, everything fell apart That was when Jello Biafra introduced me to Mike Hard of the God Bullies. I was asked to sing on their AT release "Kill the King", which turned out to be a vocal dramatization between myself and Mike Hard. It was funny 'cause I got to play the part of a heroine addicted prostitute! Mike then started a band with me called "Thrall"! We were the fucking shit and toured the shit outta the US! We put an album out on AT called "Chemical Wedding", which I helped produce and mix with Eminem's producer Steve King. The live show was amazing and Mike taught me how to play to an audience and really go nuts onstage! After too much insanity I left Thrall and recorded a bunch of stuff on my 4-track which later came to be known as Queen Bee. We had a strategy and a couple songs recorded before our first show in 1998 with the White Stripes. It was funny 'cause we wore matching green and black outfits and had no idea what the White Stripes were about. I still have their first single from that show!

After much experience, we had the image, the hip-shakin' stage presence and the world by the balls. We became press darlings and pissed off everyone in Detroit. We put out a single on AT, but after drummer Terry Bradley and I had toured extensively with Thrall, we could not afford to tour QB without finances and management. As happening as Detroit had become, we never quite fit in with the garage scene. Hence my solo career as Queen Bee came to be after much frustration and lack of funds. Since then, I have continued working with several line-ups. My fan base is still there waiting for my upcoming full-length cd "Girl on Top". In the meantime, I have become a multi-media personality, exploring other facets of my creativity. I perform occasionally with hip-hop artist esQuire, whom I will also be recording with. I've done some writing and recording with my high-school pal and current QB guitarist Brian O'Blivion of the Trash Brats. I even performed with His Name Is Alive last Christmas. Currently, I am working with Mike Hard, Scott Kodrik and Johnnie Johnson of Thrall along with drummer Nick Lazorishchak in a new band called THE BRAIN SAW! We'll be debuting in July 2005! QB will also be doing more shows soon!

Punk Globe: Talking of bands you played with the awesome Lynda Mandolyn in Inside Out so they must have been good time for you both? Y'know getting to do some heavy touring etc? Any good memories you'd like to share?

QB: Lynda has been my best friend for 20 years, so I don't know where to start! When we met, she was seeking a singer and bass player. I had been playing guitar and had just got a bass, so it was a great opportunity for us both because she had just started playing. We hit it off perfectly! In the beginning, I wrote over half the music on guitar, but as we both grew together, we shared more of not only the writing, but the vocals! To this day, we live far apart but are still joined at the hip! And let's not forget one of the world's best drummers Cathy Carrell! We both miss her so much! She did manage to do some touring with The Gore Gore Girls a couple years back! Cathy also won an award for Detroit's best drummer! You rock, Sister!

Some of the best times we've had touring together included the Peel Session we recorded. I was sick as hell and our instruments were shit, but it was pure magic! Letsee... Playing the Eastern Bloc after the Berlin wall came down. I kept a small piece of it! We played in Warsaw, Poland when Pope was in town and it was nuts! There was a sign on the overpass greeting us and we had 100's of kids doing backflips off the stage! Playing in the mountains of Austria, the streets of Barcelona and in Denmark...The sun rose at 4 am and set at midnite...It was all surreal! Touring with bands like Fugazi, Tad and Snuff...That also rocked! I also remember taking a shit in Sherwood Forest and pissing allover the dressing room chairs at a certain show in London where the headliners (who shall remain nameless) treated us like crap!

Outside of touring, we had alot of fun as well! Other great memories were recording Lickitty Clit with Lynda and dropping my first hit of acid. Getting together for rehearsal was always a riot. We would buy a case of beer, a pizza and rent a porno. And when we all went out together, we would get all liquored up and start fights. I pulled a knife of a skinhead one time. He was askin' for it, though. The silly bitch!

Punk Globe: After visiting your website you are one busy lady what with playing in a band, modelling, being on webcam for your fans, getting them to ask you anything etc - Is there anything you don't do?!!

QB: I don't do drugs, chicks, porn,(although I must say I've had only the best of opportunities!)...I don't do sports, tv, mud wrestling or windows. I don't wear a watch because time is not on my side and I suck at math because the only thing in life that counts is priceless...That's me, of course!

Punk Globe: Just checking your site you aren't the kind of lady to be taken for a fool so what punishment do you dish out to them unsuspecting piss takers?

QB: Most assholes seem like little insects to me. They are an insignificant waste of my time and space, especially when I barely have time of day for the people I do care about. It depends on who it is and what their motives are. I am overly analytical(Is that where the word "anal" comes from?) If someone is pissed off because I have thoughtlessly hurt their feelings, I will take responsibility for my actions and sincerely apologize. But if someone just wants to be a fucking asshole; they will either be completely ignored or get fucked with big time! Usually words are enough to rip someone to shreds, but ya gotta watch out for people like me who think too much! I may stalk you, or just go apeshit on your ass! Spontaneity, compulsion and insanity...It's all a part of creative genius! Hell, I'm more fun than a barrel of monkeys! I've also been told I gotta pretty good right hook!

Punk Globe: You've obviously a love for music above everything else so what gives you the inspiration to keep rocking out?

QB: It's not a matter of inspiration. It's desperation. I knew I'd be doing this since I was five. It runs in my family blood like an incurable disease...an eternal curse. Without music, my life is meaningless. I breath, eat, sleep, shit and rock out....not necessarily in that order. When I cannot play, I feel sick. Otherwise, I create art.

Punk Globe: So what bands actually inspired you to get involved into Rock N Roll? And any of those bands have you ever had the pleasure of rockin' out with them?

QB: When I was five, it was the first episode of "The Monkees" and Led Zeppelin. I was a complete outcast in school. Music was my escape. By the age 9, I lived in an institution for almost a year and started listening to funk. I thought I wanted to be a drummer at the time, but couldn't afford a set. A couple years later, I picked up my grandpa's old guitar. Growing up, I listened to everything from Van Halen to Prince to Gang of Four. I started playing electric guitar onstage in church until the day I brought in a distortion pedal and performed "Crazy Train". By high school, I thought my life was over. That was until I heard the Dead Kennedys for the first time. Jello and his music opened my eyes and rocked my fucking world! I was so moved by him, I began writing him these crazed fan letters which he answered! I knew I would meet him one day and since then, I am forever grateful for his friendship. He brought me out to Chicago in 1990 to sing back up vocals on Lard's "The Last Temptation of Reid", one song of which made it's way onto the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack. Singing with Jello and Al Jourgensen was not only an honor, it was a fucking blast! Everyone was so cool and funny! Jeff Ward(rest his soul) drove us allover town! To this day, Jello swears that if I ever move to San Francisco, I'll be playing bass for him! Be careful what you wish for!!!

Punk Globe: Getting back to your site I notice Rachel from Broadzilla played with you. Is she still in the band and do you get to hang out much coming from the same city?

QB: I'd never met Rachel until she played guitar for me back in 2001. I was flattered to hear that she had followed me throughout my career and that Inside Out inspired her to start Broadzilla! The first time she jammed with us, she was in! I was really impressed with her tone and style. I dolled her up for her first QB show, then she had me do makeup for the rest of her band. Their cd pics looked amazing and I am proud to say that I helped develope and inspire their image! At this point, she is doing her own thing and I am doing mine. Being a leader in one band and a team player in another is sometimes hard to separate and can create a conflict of interest. I will say that the girl fucking rocks and I wish her the best of luck in whatever she does. XOXOX...

Punk Globe: I got to admit you have an awesome figure so you're into working out or does that come naturally? Talking of working out what involvement do you have with the Punk Fitness Programme in Detroit?

QB: Why, thank you! Quite honestly, I have never been to a gym, nor a fitness class until I heard about Punk Fitness! I've been through extensive physical therapy due to several disc herniations in my lower and cervical spine and really felt I needed a change of lifestyle. After attending one class, I was hooked! Julie Hecker has been teaching fitness for over 20 years. She is a total scenester and supporter of Detroit bands! The classes take place in different bars before the patrons show up and the people that attend get to pick the songs we work out to! There's nothing more exhilarating than jumping around to DK's "Nazi Punks Fuck Off"...or doing sit-ups to Peaches "Fuck the Pain Away"! It's sometimes weird hearing your own shit played, but flattering when you find out that someone else requested it! Everyone is either an artist, musician, writer, performer or freak of some sort. It brings the Detroit scene closer and makes you want to work harder hearing your favorite music! I am a much happier person today than I've been in a while, now that I am getting exercise and meeting new friends! Julie works us hard, then stays for a beer and hangs! I actually started a hula-hoop trend within the class! I cannot say enough good things about Punk Fitness because we all need it! This idea is pure genius and I'm gonna do all I can to help promote it! I want to be the picture of Punk Rock health!!! www.PunkFitnessDetroit.com

Punk Globe: I noticed you got the one release "Fine/Smitten"which was on Alternative Tentacles which is out of print and you have a self financed EP 'Super Electronic' so any plans for anymore releases?

QB: Actually, I noticed that AT recently unearthed a few extra copies of the "Fine/Smitten" single and has them up for sale! I am in the slow process of completing our full-length cd "Girl on Top". Two of the newer tracks appear on Sleazegrinder Records. We have also appeared on several compilations. It's extremely difficult to finish an album without the support of a label, management, or even the committment of a band! I'm doing this shit all by myself and don't make any money. But I still believe in myself and my music! Currently, I am trying to work out a licensing deal and a potential tour of Japan! We'll see! You'll just have to stay tuned!

Punk Globe: Damn what gave you the idea to sell your own candy? You sure have some groovy ideas so anymore projects in the pipeline that you could be selling?

QB: I love candy and cute little things! I thought it was a great way to sell collectable pin-up cards. They're even numbered by series! I design and print the packaging myself and and assemble them at home. As of late, there's been an increasing demand for autographed photos. So I've been selling alot of those through my site, which I also maintain and design graphics and animations for! I unfortunately had to pass up the chance to be featured as the "Queen of Sin" in a new comic book put out by Boneyard Press and Rev. Thom Thorn of The Electric Hellfire Club! My time is too spent for the travel committment! I do try to make it to some of the comic book conventions, though! It's fun to make appearances in costume and sell my shit! People love it! I sell my own lolli-pops, cds, buttons and lighters. I like to create some of my own costumes too. One day I will be famous and my costumes will be auctioned off in New York for an extremely exorbitant amount!

Punk Globe: As I said you are one hot lady and it certainly shows in your modelling photos. So what kind of modelling do you and don't participate in?

QB: I spent my childhood as an ugly duckling and always wanted to model as a teen, but never had the physique to do it professionally. I was a real tom-boy...a punk-ass hardcore chick who did not feel pretty until much later in life! I do it now because I can! I eat what I want, I feel good about myself and don't give a shit about statistics because they don't come in my size! Cheese cake, pin-up and fetish are among my faves, but I love my rock t-shirts and probably enjoy modelling those the most! I still have tons of requests to fulfil! Some guy asked me to do some tongue pix! I say "Show me the money"! I still have another Noir Leather ad to shoot as well! I am toooooooo damn busy these days! I model in some fashion shows...I've done occasional Burlesque performances with the help of my pal esQuire whom I also appear with dancing and rapping. He choreographs his own shows. I also make many a costumed appearances hosting different events! I am a multi-media artist and will stop at nothing to be in your face! I have always had an interest in photography and also free-lance as a make up artist. That, along with costuming, puts me behind the scenes alot! I take pleasure in bringing out others' beauty and helping them to feel better about themselves too! Back to my own modelling, I also love doing erotic tease shots and shoot alot of my own sessions. I'll show just enough to get you going and let your imagination undress the rest! You'll never see me suckin' dick or with other chicks on the internet, unless someone's stuck my head on someone else's body!

Punk Globe: So when you going to set our wedding date?

QB: Uh *blushes*...It's a little late for that, I'm afraid! I am very happily married to my gorgeous hubby of 5 years, Lord Blasto. He is a magician, a drummer, a goth model and vocalist. We share many interests and help eachother out. He's been wonderful to me and I could not ask for anyone better! xxxx!

Punk Globe: Anything you'd like to add?

QB: Yes! Please check out website www.QueenBeeDetroit.com

I'm gonna be a household name one day soon and you're gonna wanna say you knew me!!!

 

Thanks to Karen Neal for being cool as fuck and for doing this groovy interview. Be sure to pay Queen Bee a visit!