Interviews    Gardy-Loo!
by Scott Myers

Do you like shit? If not, skip this interview, go read something else. If you haven't got a weak stomach feel free to read on. Hellride Music talks to Gardy-Loo's Ben Meyer about shit, the legendary El Duce, scat
movies, and more shit. Enjoy, you sick fuckers...

Hellride Music: Hey Ben, how are you?

Ben Meyer: I'm Ok. Hold on I got to take a shit.

Hellride Music: For the CH readers who don't bother to read my CD reviews(you bastards), could you tell them where the name Gardy-Loo! came from?

Ben: The term "Gardy-Loo" was used in England before the invention of modern day sewage facilities. On page 131 of the brilliant novel Ghoul, author Michael Slade describes the terms origin. "Even walking down the street in those early days was a hazardous pastime. British in-house facilities then consisted of a chamber pot, the contents of which were tossed out the window to a cry of "Gardy-Loo!". This came from the French term "Gardez l'eau" and God help the Englishman who wasn't bilingual. The term is still used today in 'going to the loo'."

Hellride Music: What's the band's history?

Ben: Gardy-Loo! was formed in June of 1990 when Nasty Savage called it quits. Ben Meyer, Richard Bateman, and Craig Huffman decided they were due for a change. They wanted to start a whole new band with a different style and musical direction. The first thing on the agenda was to choose a name- Gardy-Loo! was the ticket! In December of 1990 Gardy-Loo! played it's first show and the stage antics, and props started flowing right away. The 2nd show played was with Pantera and Deicide. Since then, Gardy-Loo! has played over 500 shows all over the USA, with bands such as Obituary, Biohazard, Murphy's Law, Mentors, Iced Earth and many more. Gardy-Loo! has a musical style as unusual as the name. Every song has a different musical direction , lyrics that cover sick, diverse amusing topics, With song titles such as "Brown Nose," "Cellulite Junkies," "The Fart Song," "Whores, Sluts, Lesbians," "Squeal Like a Pig," "First Shit of the Morning," "Sausage Party," "Virgin," "Fuck You in the Ass," "Pot," and many more. The main intent for the audience is to laugh and have a good time.


Hellride Music: Who is currently in the band and what do they do?

Ben: Ben Meyer- Guitar and Vocals, Richard Bateman- Bass and Vocals, Dave Silverthrash- Drums and back up Vocals, Andy Adcock- Guitar and Actor as the turd man, Jake Crash- El Duce Impersonation and Vocals.



Hellride Music: How many cds have you guys done? Album titles? And on which labels?

Ben: Gardy-Loo! and has recorded 6 different releases. The first demo tape "Gardy-Loo" has sold over 3000 copies. The second release "Stool
Sample" was painted by the famous serial killer "John Wayne Gacy", The 3rd release was called "Florida", The 4th release was called "Campfire
Goodies", it has the song "Fuck You In the Ass" used in a surfing movie called "Fugit" and has the famous comedian "Pretty Paul Parsons" who performed on the song "Gerbil" which has got a lot of airplay. He is now on George Carlin's label called Laugh.Com. The 5th release was called "Perverts on Parade" and was done with the famous "El Duce" who was singer for the Mentors. He got #40 in the 100 sleaziest moments in rock, which is in the Spin Mag. He was considered a punk-metal smut lord and became famous when Tipper Gore considered him a poster boy of what was offensive. She was the spokeswoman for the PMRC in the mid 80's and was quoting lyrics that he wrote, "Anal Vapors", in a congressional hearing. He was accused of killing Kurt Cobain and appeared in the movie Courtney & Kurt. Eight days later he was struck by a train. We sure are gonna miss him. R.I.P. Gardy-Loo! has just finished their 6th release called "Socially Unacceptable" and just signed a deal with Crook'd Records to release it. "Socially Unacceptable" will combine the very first demo on cd along with a surprise. Crook'd Records also signed a deal to release "Stool Sample" and "Perverts on Parade".

Hellride Music: Are all the band members fascinated by shit? The first time I heard "I Like Shit" I thought "this is the funniest fucking thing I've ever heard". But I'm not normal.

Ben: Yes, As the song says, "We Like Shit". I think that I like it more than the rest of the guys. I collect a lot of the Shit flicks. Sometimes we play shows with shit flicks on a small tv which is on the stage. I have seen some people barf watching them but when I'm watching one at home I can eat my dinner and watch, just like it was Dave Letterman.

Hellride Music: I imagine a lot of "normal" people would take offense at some, if not most, of your songs. Has the general publics reaction to your material ever caused any problems for you?

Ben: We have not had too many problems, but once we had some mothers that wanted to protest our show in Sarasota, Florida when we touring with the Mentors and Kill Allen Wrench. They wrote the newspaper and complained to the paper of how they were promoting something that was so offensive. Fuck 'em, These mothers didn't show up.

Hellride Music: What bands inspired your music? I've heard a few bands before that tried to be funny or shocking and lyrically they might have been but the music behind it in general sucked fucking ass. When I heard you guys I was like "goddamn, these guys can actually play their instruments." I was expecting two chord songs and I got old school thrash riffs and some great hooks.

Ben: I like the Mentors alot and SOD and DRI. I was in the Nasty Savage which was an old school metal band. In Nasty Savage there was no comedy but the music had some good thrash riffs. Our newest drummer was in the old band called Hellwitch and his favorite stuff is probably Slayer. Richard our Bass player, played in Agent Steel, Nocturnus, Nasty Savage, Purgatory- which was pre-Iced Earth, Lowbrow. I also play in Lowbrow.

Hellride Music: Any plans to record new material in the future?

Ben: We are working on writing some new material now. We hope to record in January.

Hellride Music: What CDs have you been listening to lately?

Ben: Bach, Watchtower, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality, Nuclear Assault.

Hellride Music: You get extra points for being the first person to mention Nuclear Assault in an interview I've did. I always thought that band didn't get the respect it deserved. Now if I can get someone that says Laaz Rokkit... Anyway, how is the scene down in FL?

Ben: The scene is not as good as people think. It is harder then ever to get people out of their house and off the computer. We did alot of shows in Florida with The Mentors and Kill Allen Wrench that went well. There are a lot of shows that are coming through and it is hard to go to all of them.

Hellride Music: One El Duce question... How was he in person? Alot of people told me he was a crazy motherfucker but I never got to see him live being stuck in this redneck hellhole. The first time I saw him was on Jerry Springer with Gwar and he had me rolling on the floor...

Ben: Duce was great. There never was a dull moment when he was around. He never had an off switch. He was the funniest person i ever met. He stayed with me for more then a month. What a roommate! When he had an audience it gave him an incentive to be more crazy.

Hellride Music: Any touring plans for the year?

Ben: We don't have anything set right now but we are always looking.

Hellride Music: What is the single most disgusting thing you have either seen or you have done on stage? I've seen a few disturbing stage shows and Gen from The Genitorturers wiped KY Jelly in my hair once, but that's about as bad as it gets... oh and David Vincent is a lucky bastard.

Ben: I puked once while we were playing and some dude named Germ licked it up. I have seen people barf from watching the shit flicks that we play.

Hellride Music: Any propaganda you'd like to spread?

Ben: Check out our website www.gardyloo.50megs.com Download free songs at www.mp3.com/gardyloo. Contact us to play in your city.

Hellride Music:: Man, thanks alot for doing this. I hope to hell we offended someone. I have yet to get any good hate mail out of this gig. Any final comments?

Ben: Thanks for spreading the turd.

Read the Hellride Music review of Gardy Loo's Socially Unacceptable.

For more on Gardy-Loo! go to http://www.gardyloo.50megs.com

Copyright 2002 HellrideMusic.com
Interview by Chris Barnes 10/14/01