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Body Count  

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Body Count is an American speed and heavy metal band, formed in 1990 by rapper Ice-T and guitarist Ernie. C, hailing from Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Formed in 1990 by former Crenshaw High School students, lyricist Ice-T, guitarists Ernie-C and D-Roe, bassist Mooseman, and drummer Beatmaster V, Body Count’s first performance came when they played with Ice-T at his show on the 1991 Lollapalooza tour. The show exposed the band to a host of alternative music fans and subsequently Body Count’s heavy metal influence made a strong contribution to the Ice-T single of the same name on his album “O.G. Original Gangster”.

Body Count’s eponymously-titled debut album was issued in March 1992 on Sire/Warner Bros. Records to positive reviews and eventually made a number of the year’s best-of lists. The success of the album led to an international following and shows across the U.S and Europe, including one heated show in Milan, Italy that resulted in the band stealing a taxi-cab to escape from an angry mob of fans. The album caused even more controversy for the single “Cop Killer”, which got blown out of all proportion, and resulted in the song being dropped from the album and replaced with “Freedom of Speech” later in 1992.

After releasing the Jimi Hendrix cover “Hey Joe” for a tribute album to the rock n’ roll star, Body Count released their sophomore album “Born Dead” in 1994. The album was released on Ice-T’s label Priority, however failed to attract any of the positive or negative attention of its predecessor and marked the departure of bassist Mooseman. Undeterred, Ice-T and the band released their third studio album “Violent Demise: Last Days" in 1997, after which drummer Beatmaster V unfortunately died of leukaemia. The album earned positive reviews from critics who were seemingly now able to appreciate the band’s tongue-in-cheek humour, however it didn’t perform well commercially.

After a considerable hiatus, Body Count returned in 2005 and embarked on a U.S. which resulted in three live DVDs and a live CD, ahead of the band’s fourth full-length album “Murder 4 Hire” in 2006. In 2012 the band signed with Sumerian Records who released Body Count's fifth full-length album “Manslaughter” in 2014.

Live reviews

Thrash metal is not one of my favorite music genres, mainly because I feel as though I cannot hang with the intensity of it. However, Body Count seems to be an exception to all of the reasons I don’t choose thrash metal. A slight part of it may also have to do with the fact that I’m always all for supporting Los Angeles native bands, as a local native myself.

When they played at the Troubadour, their show was so intense! An in your face, melt your face off experience, leaving you deaf and happy. The show starts with the place completely dark and the first thing you hear is a guitar. Then the entire place lights up, and the band immediately surrounds you with their guitar and drums sound, all the while they are thrashing up and around the stage. Then front man Ice-T comes on from the side of the stage wearing none other than a Jason mask. He takes off the mask and immediately breaks into the vocals. It was a really great surprise to see the variability of his talents, especially since he is most known for being a part of the hip-hop world. He brings to the show a completely different atmosphere, one that is seemingly unique to any other thrash metal show.

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It is pretty hard to stay still during a heavy metal concert due to the frantic nature of the music and seeing as Californian outfit Body Count take speed to the extreme, it becomes nearly impossible to stay motionless. The band has close to 25 years experience on the circuit albeit apart from a brief hiatus in the mid-00s so as you imagine all the musicians present this evening are incredibly well trained when it comes to their instruments, knowledge of the material and musical capabilities.

They have definitely taken their time between releasing albums yet the setlist tonight is solid and well thought out. It keeps the crowd not only engaged but also involved as Ice T often asks them to raise their hands and mosh along to the big choruses of 'Born Dead' and 'Necessary Evil'. Things run at lightning pace and twelve tracks have gone by in a blink of the aggressive eye before it is time to take things right back to where they began with a huge finale of 'Cop Killer' from their eponymous debut from way back in 1992.

BETTER then Poison and Def Leopard

HIGH energy angry fast great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great better than Ice T:)yo.

An absolutely brilliant night and all three bands put on a hell of a show and definitely see this guys again as the lead singer is one of my favourite artists of all time and his band body count is definitely one of my favourite bands of all time and extremely great live band

IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED IT WAS FUCKING CANCELLED

Awesome show, they still got it after all these years. Although, they didn't play some of the songs I and many others would have liked, still was awesome. Would see them again in a heartbeat.

Ice - T's frontman skills have not disappeared one bit. Great playing, great performance and one of the best shows so far this year. Awesome ! Dont miss body count if they come to your city.

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Body Count tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Body Count in concert? Find information on all of Body Count’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Body Count is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 16 concerts across 9 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• Gdansk, Poland
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House of Blues Anaheim | Anaheim, CA

• HOB Foundation Room Access - Body Count - Not a Concert Ticket

Budapest Park | Budapest, HUNGARY

Body count feat. ice-t.

Festivalpark Stenehei | Dessel, BELGIUM

Graspop metal meeting 2024.

O2 Forum Kentish Town | London, UNITED KINGDOM

Body count ft. ice-t, o2 ritz manchester | manchester, united kingdom.

BODY COUNT Announces June/July 2024 European Tour

BODY COUNT , the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T , will embark on a European tour in June. So far the following shows have been announced:

June 05 - Gdansk, Poland - Mystic Festival June 01 - Hamburg, Germany - Edel Optics Arena June 08 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park June 09 - Eifel, Nürburg, Germany - Rock Am Ring June 11 - Berlin, Germany - Citadel Music Festival June 13 - Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic - Rock For People June 14 - Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Park June 15 - Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock June 16 - Zagreb, Croatia - SRC Salata June 17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex 457 June 18 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks June 20 - Nummijarvi, Finland – Nummirock June 22 - Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell June 23 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting June 25 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal June 26 - Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso June 27 - Ysselsteyn, Netherlands - Jera On Air June 28 - Clisson, France – Hellfest June 30 - London, UK - 02 Kentish Town Forum July 01 - Manchester, UK - The Ritz July 02 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3 (Galvanizers)

BODY COUNT recently completed work on its new album, "Merciless" . The follow-up to 2020's "Carnivore" is tentatively due later this year via Century Media .

In February 2023, Ice-T told Metal Hammer magazine about the musical direction of "Merciless" : "I think we are staying in the same direction. [2014's] 'Manslaughter' was a reintroduction to BODY COUNT , not to just our old fans, but to a whole new group. [2017's] 'Bloodlust' was even better than 'Manslaughter' , and 'Carnivore' was better than 'Bloodlust' . We're going to stay in the same vein, sound and production, but make better and better records."

In October 2022, Ice-T told Darren Paltrowitz , host of the "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" , about the upcoming BODY COUNT LP: " Will Putney 's producing again. We've had three consecutive great albums working with Will ; he understands. I call him 'the Dr. Dre of metal,' because he has the ability to produce different groups but make them sound like themselves, but just better.

"We did 'Carnivore' , and right [when] our first date of touring was supposed to start, COVID hit," he continued. "COVID hit, shut down all the stateside tour; 35 European festivals shut down; and we didn't really get to really perform the album; we didn't get to go out, and that kind of sucks.

"You make albums to perform 'em; you don't make 'em just [to sit at home]. And we won a Grammy on that one. That was great; that was a great accolade. It kind of took the sting out of dropping an album to a dead scene; it took the sting out of it. But then the label's, like, 'Okay, we'll do another album.' And I'm, like, 'Wait a minute. We didn't even really get this one out good."

Regarding how he goes about recording vocals for a new BODY COUNT album, Ice-T said: "Usually when I do songs, I'll do the songs but I don't complete 'em. Like, if there's gonna be three verses, I'll sing two and then I kind of live with them, and maybe that way I can think about how I wanna end the song and how I wanna change it up.

"I'm at a point now… When I first used to do albums, I would do, like, 20 songs and then try to pick 12. Now I'm very difficult to find the music, so by the time I pick 12, those are the 12 songs. I'm not doing a whole bunch of recording just to find that… I know what I'm doing. I'm like that photographer that knows how to just wait until the right moment to take the picture: 'Okay, that's one… two.' Versus the guy [who takes a bunch of pictures one after the other]. I don't need to do that.

"So the 'Merciless' album is sounding pretty hard, though," Ice-T added. "We named the motherfucker 'Merciless' ."

"Carnivore" continued the path of its uncompromising and critically acclaimed predecessors, "Bloodlust" and "Manslaugther" , in pairing Ice-T 's impassioned and socio-critical lyrics with thick guitar riffs and nods to metal and hardcore greats like SLAYER , METALLICA , PANTERA , SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE . Guest musicians on the LP included Amy Lee ( EVANESCENCE ), Dave Lombardo (ex- SLAYER ), Jamey Jasta ( HATEBREED ) and Riley Gale ( POWER TRIP ).

BODY COUNT was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards , which was held in March 2021 in Los Angeles. BODY COUNT was nominated for "Bum-Rush" , a track from "Carnivore" .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BODY COUNT (@bodycountofficial)

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Upcoming Body Count Festivals Appearances

Upcoming body count concerts near me.

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New releases from Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, BABYMETAL, Baroness, Greta Van Fleet, Body Count, and more are on the way.

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Body Count Begin Recording New Album Merciless

Work on the follow-up to 2020's Carnivore is underway.

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Body Count Begin Work on New Album Merciless

The veteran metal band is quickly following up 2020's Carnivore.

June 23, 2021

Grammys 2021: Body Count Win Best Metal Performance, Earning Ice-T His First Grammy in 30 Years

Ice-T previously won a Grammy in 1991 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

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Ice-T on Body Count's Grammy Nod: I'm Rooting Just as Much for Power Trip

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Body Count and Ice-T announce 2024 UK and European ‘Merciless’ tour

The tour is named after the group's forthcoming LP which is set to arrive sometime this year

Body Count and Ice-T have announced a 2024 UK and European ‘Merciless’ tour which is set to take place this summer.

• READ MORE:  Body Count – ‘Carnivore’ review: as long as there’s injustice, there’ll be a need for Ice T’s vital brand of hardcore

The heavy metal band fronted by the rapper will kick off the European leg of their tour at Mystic Festival in Poland on June 5. From there, the group will make stops in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and France.

From there, they will embark on the UK leg of the tour with a show at the O2 Kentish Town Forum in London on June 30. They will follow that with a gig in Manchester followed by a show at SWG3 (Galvanizers) in Glasgow on July 2 to wrap up the tour. General sale for tickets will commence on Friday, February 2 at 10am local time. Visit here to purchase tickets and check out the full list of tour dates below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BODY COUNT (@bodycountofficial)

Body Count and Ice-T’s 2024 ‘Merciless’ 2024 UK and EU tour dates are: 

JUNE 5 – Gdansk, Poland – Mystic Festival 7 – Hamburg, Germany – Edel Optics Arena 8 – Nürnberg, Germany – Rock Im Park 9 – Eifel, Nürburg, Germany – Rock Am Ring 11 – Berlin, Germany – Citadel Music Festival 13 – Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic – Rock For People 14 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Park 15 – Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock 16 – Zagreb, Croatia – SRC Salata 17 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457 18 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Les Docks 20 – Nummijarvi, Finland – Nummirock 22 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell 23 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting 25 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal 26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso 27 – Ysselsteyn, Netherlands – Jera On Air 28 – Clisson, France – Hellfest 30 – London, UK – 02 Kentish Town Forum

JULY 1 – Manchester, UK – The Ritz 2 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 (Galvanizers)

The tour is named after the band’s forthcoming LP of the same name which is expected to arrive this year through Century Media Records. “I’m proud to say we just finished the FIRST day of writing, recording and track selection for the New BC Album ‘MERCILESS’,” Ice-T wrote on X/Twitter back in 2022.

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“Only one goal…” he said of the forthcoming album. “It’s gotta be HARDER than the last….” He then confirmed: “It already is.”

The band’s latest release was 2020’s ‘ Carnivore ‘. In a three-star review of the album , NME  wrote: “Body Count’s last album, 2017’s excellent ‘Bloodlust’, played out against a backdrop of high-profile police brutality and the blacklisting of American football player  Colin Kaepernick  by the NFL, which made stone cold belters like ‘No Lives Matter’ and ‘Civil War’ all the more potent.

“Parts of ‘Carnivore’ lack the same bite and pointed barb of its predecessor. ‘When I’m Gone’, which features  Evanescence ’s Amy Lee, groans towards dated nu-metal and the dark humour of ‘Thee Critical Beatdown’ and ‘No Remorse’ feel like directionless rants into the ether. Yet there are several stand-out tracks. ‘Bum Rush’ takes aim at everything from Trump to the Flint water crisis between squealing leads from guitarist Ernie C.”

‘Carnivore’ track ‘Bum-Rush’ was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Elsewhere, Ice-T recently offered the reasons why he thinks that the fighting game series  Def Jam  isn’t on modern platforms .

Ice-T posted on  X/ Twitter, saying that “so many people ask me why this game hasn’t been brought back for the newer consoles” and that he thinks the reason the console hasn’t been released on more modern platforms is that developer EA  would have to “pay for voice and music rights again”.

The rapper continued in  another post , writing that he doesn’t think that “they [EA] paid any of us anything to be in that original game. I know I didn’t get any type of substantial money. It was a situation where you didn’t want to be left out of the game.”

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Body Count 2024

• May 22 Anaheim, CA House of Blues Anaheim --> Tickets
• May 24 Eagle River, AK Matanuska Brewing Company --> Tickets
• Jun 05 Gdansk, Poland Mystic Festival 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 07 Hamburg, Germany Inselpark Arena --> Tickets
• Jun 08 Nürnberg, Germany Rock im Park 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 09 Nürburg, Germany Rock am Ring 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 11 Berlin, Germany Zitadelle Spandau --> Tickets
• Jun 13 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic Rock for People 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 15 Nickelsdorf, Austria Nova Rock 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 16 Zagreb, Croatia Salata Stadium --> Tickets
• Jun 17 Zurich, Switzerland Komplex 457 --> Tickets
• Jun 18 Lausanne, Switzerland Les Docks --> Tickets
• Jun 20 Nummijärvi, Finland Nummirock 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 22 Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhell Festival --> Sold out!
• Jun 23 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 25 Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Rockhal --> Tickets
• Jun 26 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso --> Tickets
• Jun 27 Ysselsteyn, Netherlands Jera On Air --> Tickets
• Jun 28 Clisson, France Hellfest 2024 --> Tickets
• Jun 30 London, United Kingdom O2 Forum Kentish Town --> Tickets
• Jul 01 Manchester, United Kingdom O2 Ritz Manchester --> Tickets
• Jul 02 Glasgow, United Kingdom Galvanizers Yard --> Tickets

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BODY COUNT FT. ICE-T

O2 forum kentish town | london.

Doors: 19:00

World-acclaimed heavy metal band BODY COUNT, fronted by legendary Ice-T, are touring their eighth studio album Merciless , the follow up to the Grammy Award-winning Carnivore .

Promising to be an electrifying showcase, fans can expect the same intensity and commitment to powerful messages that have always been a hallmark of their music, known for its bold, unapologetic style.

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Body Count feat. ICE-T

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Jenny Woo Interviewed – August 2014

Jenny Woo is a name that is making waves throughout the planet playing acoustic music and full on Oi! Music. I first heard Jenny a few years back and I must admit I wasn’t too sure what she was about. Then she blew me away joining up with Louise Distras to write one of the best songs I’ve heard this century. A week or so ago I picked up some Jenny Woo vinyl from a friend’s store. I was blown away! This lady is simply fantastic both lyrically and musically! I’d been missing out! I just had to interview Jenny for Street Voice and here’s what she has to say.

Street Voice: First off Jenny can you tell our readers a little about yourself please?

Jenny: My name is Jenny Woo, I’m originally from Western Canada but I’ve been living for the last few years in Moscow, Russia. I started an acoustic oi! music project in 2008 because I believed that acoustic music had a heart and a soul to it that could bring something new to the skinhead scene. Although I started playing solo and played solo while living in Canada, since moving to Russia I also started playing with my band and we have been doing a significant amount of touring here in Europe the last few years. I also am the editor of a fanzine called “Subculture Spirit” which is dedicated to supporting the Mod and skinhead subcultures, and I do other such things as grocery shopping and paying my taxes haha…

Street Voice: What first attracted you to the skinhead scene?

Jenny: I started out as a punk rocker fifteen years ago because I loved provocation and the idea of rebelling against the norm. After a year or two in the punk scene I realized that the values of the skinhead scene were a better reflection of who I was, and who I wanted to be. The idea of being proud of who you are for what you do and what you earn, supporting your friends and staying true to your community and yourself, these were all principles that attracted me to the music and to the subculture.

Street Voice: You took the acoustic route musically. How come you decided this route was for you?

Jenny: About eight years ago I wrote several songs and I wanted to start an oi! band in the city where I lived, in Western Canada. Unfortunately, the scene at that time was limited and there were mostly only men who were involved in playing music and organizing gigs. I auditioned for a band, and to my disappointment I was turned down because “girls aren’t tough enough for oi!”. I wrote my first songs on an acoustic guitar because this was the easiest method given that I was living in a small flat and didn’t have an amplifier with me. I found that by playing these songs on an acoustic guitar, the soul and the meaning of the lyrics shone through in a totally new way because of the stripped-down and humble nature of the accompanying music. Seeing as I couldn’t find enough people who wanted to play with me in a band, I decided to play solo on an acoustic guitar, and to go my own way.

Street Voice: Are you surprised just how popular your music has become?

Jenny: Well, I wouldn’t say that my music is spectacularly popular… It’s still very underground and it’s not like I can afford to quit my day job, haha! But it is amazing to go to places like Indonesia or Kazakhstan and to see so many people singing along with the lyrics and supporting the shows. I have always written and played music primarily because I love doing it and it gives meaning to my life, but seeing so much support has given me strength through hard times. It really is a dream coming true.

Street Voice: What have been your favourite places to play?

Jenny: Often times the very best and most intense gigs are those that happen in the strangest off-the-map places. Perhaps it’s because people living in remote places have more appreciation for bands that make the effort, or perhaps it’s just because it’s so unexpected. Some of my greatest gigs have been in Moose jaw, Saskatchewan or Kovrov, Russia for this reason! I like going to a place I never heard of before and embracing the unexpected.

Other than that, I really enjoyed touring in Indonesia last year. It was incredible to see so much support and so many people traveling from so far just to see the gig. People were overwhelmingly hospitable and friendly, and it was so touching to see how much effort people put in to the gigs by making up tshirts and special posters and even asking their mothers and fathers to cook something special to support the bands. It was also great to play in the Southern United States – soul food and great bands is an awesome combination. Other than that, there is no place like home and I love sharing the stage with my friends back in my hometown or in Eastern Canada. Every place in the world is as awesome as the people make it out to be – if the people are kind, supportive, and choose to have a good time, it will always be a great show.

Street Voice: If you had to choose one show that has been special to you which one would it be?

Jenny: I just came back from a trip to Yakutia, which is one of the most Northern regions of Russia. It is about 7000 kilometers from Moscow, and so remote that there is not a train station in the main city. Apparently it gets down to -72 degrees in the winter. I had no idea what to expect from a gig that was so far from anything I knew, but it was just amazing. It reminded me of the local gigs I used to go to when I was a kid – there was so much youth there, and so much energy! The show was packed and absolutely everyone was giving it 100%.Although it was chilly outside, the venue was steaming with sweat and the chaos of 200 people in the circle pit. I saw people stage-diving during my acoustic set, and others singing to every single word without skipping a beat. It was one of those moments where time stops and life begins. I’ll never forget it.

Street Voice: Coming from Canada do you see many differences scene wise between your own country and Europe?

Jenny: Definitely – moving to Europe has allowed me to put my own childhood and culture into perspective because I’ve been able to stand back and compare it with the culture I’m surrounded by now. In Canada, for example, the concept of space is completely different. Our cities always have room to expand horizontally whereas I find that the streets, houses, and otherwise all other living arrangements in Europe are far more compact. In terms of the scene, I would say that the skinhead scene in Europe is far more connected than in Canada. Canada is a very large and spread-out country so it’s difficult for bands to tour across the whole thing, and to make connections and meet with people whereas in Europe often times city capitals are within 500km of each other. It’s easier to tour, to promote, to connect in Europe because again it’s more compact. I would also say that the scene in Europe is a lot more politically charged, but that is likely due to the fact that it is a far bigger scene with a lot more people in Europe whereas in Canada the scene in most cities isn’t big enough to allow people the privilege of division.

Street Voice: How did the duet with Louise Distras come about?

Jenny: In 2012 I received an email from Steve Whale, who works with Louise Distras and who also happens to be one of my biggest role models. I loved what he did on “Welcome to the Real World” and I was thrilled with the opportunity to meet with him and to work with Louise. The idea of doing a two-women duet about unity in the scene appealed to me, and I thought it would be a great way to make a statement and also improve my own musicianship. We met and recorded the track in Lewisham in November 2012, and I’ve since met with Louise many times at various gigs and festivals. She is an incredibly powerful person, and I’m glad to call her a friend.

Street Voice: Sadly you’ve experienced some racism especially with that sick tune put out by that white power act. How do you deal with it?

Jenny: Unfortunately prejudice is a part of life. Racism sadly exists both outside and inside the skinhead scene. I grew up watching my father battle racism as he was one of the only visible minorities in our small community, and eventually I experienced it myself from adolescence to adulthood. I was never so idealistic to expect that I would not experience it when I came out with my music project and so I came into it with realistic expectations. In my experience, racism hurts because your roots are a part of your identity. It hurts to be attacked for an element of yourself that you cannot control but that is also a part of your family and where you are from. Most racists try to make people feel ashamed of their roots by implementing a false hierarchy. Although it might sting, a racist remark is the cheapest insult. We should be proud of who we are because of what we work for and who we choose to be. Most racists are people who don’t have the courage to work for something, so they claim superiority because of something they were born with. I never take racist comments to heart because all such comments are born out of ignorance, and taking it personally is legitimizing this ignorance.

There are a lot of people who believe that one can fight racism with words or with street violence, but I believe in changing by doing. I have written every one of my songs from my own perspective, from my own experiences, and from my own ideals. I hope that the lyrics of my songs have been able to touch some people, and to drive listeners to question prejudice and to work towards their own truth. I also hope that people who have experienced racism can gain strength by these songs. A lot of people have asked me why I don’t fight back on the internet or why I don’t fight back at concerts or elsewhere. I think that the fact that I still do what I do despite the remarks and despite the hate is sending a stronger message than a fist to the face or retort on the internet. The best way out is always through, and by working through the prejudice and marching on I have faith I’ll get through to the other side. This thought is what keeps me going during tough times.

Street Voice: Have you encountered much sexism within the scene too?

Jenny: The skinhead scene is a very male-dominated subculture, and the fast majority of bands, organizers, fanzine editors, DJs, and so forth are men. Unfortunately, women in the subculture are often portrayed in objectifying ways both in image and in lyrics. It’s not a rare thing to see skinhead girl pinup calendars, but it is a rare thing to see an all-female act in the oi! business. I think that this unfortunately sets a negative precedent for women in the scene, and yes I have encountered stereotypes and barriers because of gender. I’ve had degrading remarks made about my appearance or body type that no male singer in the oi! scene would ever face. I’ve had all kinds of strangers make assumptions about whether or not I have, or will, conduct sexual favors in relation to my music project.

Perhaps the worst of all is the“well-intended” sexism where promoters and labels focus on promoting a female artist exclusively from the gender aspect instead of actually believing in the quality of her music. It’s ironic because the skinhead scene has always been about loyalty, community, and self-pride which all by logical extension should negate sexism and encourage women towards self-empowerment. That being said, I have seen more and more women get involved in bands and fanzines and record labels in the last 10 years and I’m looking forward to the day where a female musician in an oi! band isn’t so much an anomaly as it is a standard.

Street Voice: How did the deal with Randale Records come about?

Jenny: I recorded my first demo tracks for my acoustic oi! project in 2007 and released them in 2008 through a social networking site called MySpace. I didn’t think that I would attract too much attention since my project was fairly low-key, however to my surprise Diana from Randale Records wrote to me a few weeks after proposing that we discuss a release deal. I was sincerely touched by how much she believed in my music. I met with her in Germany at a festival a few months after that, and it was the beginning of a long friendship.

Street Voice: What had been the response to the album?

Jenny: The most recent album I released was “My Revenge” which I recorded here in Russia with my band in 2012-2013. The idea behind the album was that the best way to get revenge against the people who want to hurt you is to live your dreams and to live well. We put 100% of our effort into this album to make it the best work released to date, and it contains 7 songs with the full band and 7 songs acoustic. Making this album and releasing it was my dream come true, it was a great studio and a great team to work with and the album sounds better on vinyl then it did even in my imagination.

I read several reviews of the album which have been overall positive, and most importantly they have stated that it is our best work to date. I think the most important thing for me is to get better and better with song-writing and production, and to release better and better material. After all, the only competition in life is really against yourself, and it’s the best motivation and best feeling of fulfillment when you can out-do yourself. I’m working on a new album right now, and I’m setting the same standard for myself. “My Revenge” set a high bar and I’m really proud of this album, but the new one will be even better.

Street Voice: Aside music what else do you get up to?

Jenny: I like to travel a lot and I have a strong interest in learning about culture and history. I recently back-packed through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Krygyz Republic and it was an amazing trip. I like getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to think more outside the box. I love reading all kinds of fiction, watching documentaries, pushing myself at the gym, hanging out with friends, and I’m now trying to focus more on giving back to the community by volunteering in a food distribution program.

Street Voice: What are your plans for the rest of 2014?

Jenny: I’m leaving Russia at the end of August, and then I’ll be traveling back to Canada to play a few shows and spend some time with my family. I’ve got a South American tour planned for November 2014 and I’ve also got a few gigs in Europe lined up throughout the Autumn. Right now I’m focusing on finishing the new album “Hated and Proud” and my band and I are working hard to finish the tracking and production for these songs before I leave at the end of the summer. I am really excited about the album, and of course for all the adventures that await!

Street Voice: Anything you’d like to add?

Jenny: Thanks very much for your interesting questions and for this great opportunity. Long live the independent press – thank you for giving readers an alternative and for giving people like me a chance to spread the word about doing what I love. Cheers!

Thank you Jenny for such a fantastic interview. Reading this interview you know Jenny is a well cool. What an inspirational lady. Please do check her out and you will certainly be surprised at how cool she is!

Jenny Woo Website: HERE

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One thought on “jenny woo interviewed – august 2014”.

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