-- MTV News staff report
What does a German rock band from the '60s have to do with one of the hottest new acts around? For these kids from New York City, everything.
Meet the Mooney Suzuki, a garage band that derived its name from the surnames of Can singers Malcolm Mooney and Damo Suzuki. The group formed when Graham Tyler (lead guitar) responded to a flier for "musicians wanted" that Sammy James, Jr. (vocals/rhythm guitar) had put up in downtown record stores.
According to James, the band's sole mission was to get signed by garage rock label Estrus Records. Yet he's also said, "If someone's going to tell you that they picked up a guitar for any other reason other than the fact that they want to be a rock star and meet girls, it's a lie."
Nevertheless, the Mooney Suzuki traveled across the country for five days to make it to a single show in Bellingham, Washington. The band was to perform for the head of Estrus, Dave Crider. It turned out that Crider liked the band so much that he quickly sent them into the studio with producer Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Monkeywrench). When they emerged, it was with their debut album, People Get Ready, in hand.
The album came out in September 2000 and immediately following the release, the Mooney Suzuki toured nonstop for over a year, clocking three consecutive laps around the United States. Though the schedule was grueling, all that stageside practice paid off. The band earned a reputation for putting on killer live shows that pleased not only fans, but also the band itself. "I'll play any time, anywhere and let the show and the music speak for itself," Taylor said.
After traveling the States with the likes of the Donnas and Bratmobile, the Mooney Suzuki were ready to take some time off the road and lay down a new album. This time they teamed up with Jim Diamond (the White Stripes) in his Ghetto Recordings studio. Over three hot days last summer, the band recorded their second record, Electric Sweat, which came out April 9.
It's pretty clear the boys have the hard-work part of rock stardom down pat — now they're ready for a little glory. "The goal is to turn this from, 'Hey, I'm in a band!' " James said with forced enthusiasm, "to, 'I'm in a band,' " he concluded, proudly fanning a wad of imaginary money.
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