Wednesday, April 18, 2001 Danko OK with pop CALGARY -- You'd think Danko Jones would have himself a well-used set of Backstreet voodoo dolls. Or maybe a bloodied Britney punching bag. He is, after all, the Mango Kid -- this country's true ayatollah of grade A rock 'n' rollah; a man whose nasty sexed-up growl is enough to induce ovulation, and who's blistering guitar attack has been known to set off sprinkler systems. Of course his view of today's pop stars would be one of derision. "I've got no problem with boy bands or girl bands or whatever," says Jones, who performs tomorrow night at The Back Alley. "Because they don't pretend to be anything other than what they are. "And they're also marketed towards kids, which I think is cool ... When I was growing up there was no music really targeted towards kids except maybe KISS -- they were like these superheroes come to life. "And then I really got into the music." And the music Jones and his band have absorbed only to regurgitate it rat-a-tat-tat is a no-nonsense soulful blend of Stones, Ramones (R.I.P. Joey), and gnarly garage rock. A good sample of what they do can be heard -- if you can find a copy -- on their limited edition I'm Alive And On Fire, A Collection Of Songs: 1996-1999, which was originally put together for the European market. It's an exceptional sampling of Jones' stuff and proof positive that he's not just a Johnny-Rotten-come-lately. "That's why we were sure to put 1996-1999 on the album," Jones says. "Because I've been doing this forever. I've been doing this since I was a kid and I was singing in front of the mirror and my mom was worried that I was going to be one of those dangerous rock 'n' roll hooligans." As to the new crew of rock stars that are now starting to make their mark on the music industry -- Buckcherry, The Black Halos, etc. -- and the fact that people are getting turned onto the music, authentic or otherwise, Danko is equally as charitable as he is towards the teen stars. Up to a point. "I think it's great any time anyone gets into rock 'n' roll. Why would I have a problem with that?" he says. "My only problem is with the attitude that some people cop. People who haven't been doing this for long who think they're hot (stuff), and act like it's an exclusive club. Rock 'n' roll isn't an exclusive club -- that's what makes it so great." |
