Whorgasm
Smothered (Royalty)
An interview with Jimmy Harry
by Kendra Loring
Whorgasm‘s first release is as hypnotic as it is intense. Their sound will be very popular with DJs, ravers, and dancers. Taking a hint from Chicago techno-rockers Mindbomb, this band has gone one step further with mind-numbing sampling and psychedelic sounds. Whorgasm is the brainchild of one person – writer, producer, man-on-a-mission Jimmy Harry.
Who or what is Whorgasm, and how did it start?
I sing, play guitar, and do the programming for the band. The other guitarist is Jason Goodrow; the bass player is Andrew Goodsight; and the drummer is Damon Webber. Whorgasm was formed two and a half years ago when I’d been doing some pop records with people like Ru Paul. We wrote “Supermodel” and were doing remix stuff for Rollins, some TV soundtracks, and Roger Corman movies. I was doing a bunch of stuff like that and going insane. I needed to do something I wanted to do. I was making dopey tapes at home after I finished touring with Bob Mould. He put out a Whorgasm single, which was actually just me, on the S.O.L. label. The single did really well; the response was great and I was having fun. These guys were friends of mine, so we got together and started a band. It was really effective after I’d just been making home demos. Introducing a band into it kind of changes things around. I got really intrigued by it, and we started doing… Well, I don’t want to say we got more serious about it, maybe we’ve gotten less serious about it.
What kind of category is your music in?
I’ve been complaining a lot lately about buying records by a band where one song sounds just like the next song. I get a CD like that, and by the time I’m through the third song, I’m like, ‘Oh God, I’m bored.” I didn’t really set out to make a record I could listen to, but a record I could listen to ALL the way through. As far as labels, it does have pop elements, experimental elements, as well as heavy, mellow, and hip-hop elements. We’re not worried about labels or genrefication or anything. If we have trouble selling it; big fucking deal, I don’t care. You know, I guess that’s like career suicide, but that goes along with the name of the band.
The name has caused confusion in our neck of the woods.
The name came from the Nick Zedd movie Whorgasm, kind of a NY cult movie. I didn’t know there was a Wargasm when I came up with it. All apologies, but I think Whorgasm (the movie) was around before Wargasm was.
What kind of backgrounds do you guys come from?
As the songwriter of the band, I grew up with The Clash, Hüsker Dü, the Replacements. Jason is a big reggae fan and a big metal fan. Damon is Mr. Speedmetal. Everybody’s tastes are diverse. Andrew is much more into alternative, folk music. That’s what’s happening on the record; we shift gears. I also like Pantera, Sabbath, Brian Eno’s more experimental stuff, Sex Pistols, and I’m a big sucker for glam rock. This record is like a fan’s record more than anything. And the next record is already floating around in my head. It’s just like being an actor. You could just play one character, or you can play all kinds of characters. I guess I’d like to play a lot of different characters, preferably in the same movie. Whorgasm is the Sybil of rock ‘n’ roll.
