Kerrang June 1998

A common theme links all of Belgian art-rockers Evil Superstars' songs - shagging. They're on a mission to dirty up your little minds...

I think people in England are afraid of European music," grins Evil Superstars vocalist/guitarist Mauro Pawlowski, "but we're working on it."

The Belgian quintet - Pawlowski, guitarist Tim Vanhamel, bassist Bart Vandebroek, keyboard player Marc Requile and drummer Dave Schroyen - are on a mission to pervert, disturb and throw filth at Planet Rock. The Antwerp band's fabulous new album, 'Boogie-Chiidren~R-Us', is a deliciously debauched slab of off-kilter guitars, suave vocals and twisted rhythms, coming on strong with sexy Girls Against Boys grooves bumping uglies with art-rock experimentation.

With Pawlowski crooning 'Come down if you want to have smart sex with a winner, baby' on opener 'BABY, asking permission to shag in the streets on 'Gimme Animal RIghts', and wailing 'I wish today was a very special day but once again sex got in the way'on 'It's A Sad Sad Planet', it's an album desperately in need of a cold shower. "I hope our music is sexy," Pawlowski cackles as we sit down for tea in London's infamous Columbia Hotel. "Girls are very important to us. Not just to make love with after gigs, you understand, but as an audience. I hate music that is hard core strictly for-boys stuff. Sadly, we still get 90 per cent boys at our gigs. Again, we're working on it."

EVIL SUPERSTARS formed five years ago, having variously known one another from school and local bands. When asked if they had any heroes or initial ideas about their musical direction, their charming frontman cracks: "Heroes yes, ideas no. We listen to everything from Lou Reed to The Boredoms, and it's a constant fight to get everyones' tastes represented. That's why our sound is s0 f**ked up."

And how would you describe the Evil Superstars' sound to a visiting alien? "Unearthly," drummer Dave Schroyen chips in.

Pawlowski gleefully admits that the band are currently perceived as more "evil" than "superstars", thanks in no small part to a penchant for trashing instruments onstage and those lascivious lyrics.

We played to three people recently in Sweden," he proudly recalls. "but "it's okay, because we like to be able to smell our audience. The lucky few who get into us now are in for a treat, though. In 20 years' time they'll be able to sell our albums to exotic record shops, where they'll cost £150 in the 'Bad Belgian '90s rock' section. We'll all be bums by then, staring wistfully at our own records through shop windows, wishing we'd held on to a few copies." "But 'Boogie-Children~ R~Us' is platinum in Belgium," Schroyen adds in his band's defence. "Although you get a platinum album in Belgium if your parents buy a copy..."

EVIL SUPERSTARS don't take life too seriously. They claim to be delighted at having the opportunity to be "stupid tourists" in London, and laugh heartily at the idea they might get as big as Bon Jovi ("They should be called Evil Jovi," Mauro reckons, "that would sound more mysterious").

You'd expect nothing else from a band who begin one of their more contemplative songs, 'I've Been Wrong Before', with the Query 'Do witches listen to heavy metal?'. "We love heavy metal," Schroyen insists. "When I was 16 I did a radio show in Belgium called 'Heavy Power', where we played all the best Euro-metal. And Motley Crue have always been a big influence on our sound."

"Have you seen that Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson porno video?" Mauro enquires, turning the conversation back to sex. "That's a sick thing. Not because of the sex, but because they talk to each other like children who've just met each other. "Maybe Pam and Tommy have sex to our music. If not, I could do them a soundtrack with acoustic guitar and bagpipes,"

Have you ever had sex to your own music? "I don't get sexually aroused by work," Mauro opines. "I do actually know someone who has sex to our songs," Schroyen confides. "This bearded gnome comes to our gigs every few weeks and..." You're just being silly now.