Who: Brooklyn's Semi Precious Weapons, a quartet of foul-mouthed, heavy-riffing glam rockers led by rambunctious frontman Justin Tranter.
Sounds Like: Tranter is like Adam Ant, T.Rex's Marc Bolan and Ziggy Stardust wrapped into one, singing lead on AC/DC's Back In Black. On the band's debut album We Love You, which features "Magnetic Baby" and "Her Hair Is On Fire," Tranter's life's-a-party lyrics and cocky swagger takes center stage over riffs ripped from the Knack's "My Sharona." "There’s 10 songs on our record and nine of them are about how fantastic I am," Tranter says. "In different settings, different time periods, different hats, things like that."
Vital Stats:
• Before signing with Razor & Tie, the band self-funded the release of We Love You with the money earned from Tranter's jewelry line, Fetty. Tranter has sold over 100,000 items of jewelry in stores like Barney's and Urban Outfitters. "As a band, we're still broke," Tranter reports, "but as a jewelry designer, no."
• Tranter isn't shy about his ego or causing a little controversy. "The album is called We Love You, but I originally wanted to call it Abort Rock & Roll," Tranter says. "I was strongly advised against that." As for songs like "Semi Precious Weapons" with lyrics like "I can't pay my rent but I'm fucking gorgeous," "That song is just about how fantastic I am," Tranter gloats. "Once you say that out loud, you have no choice but to keep making up brilliant shit."
• If you haven't already seen the band's bombastic videos, you may recognize Tranter from an episode of MTV's Made where he helped a geek turn into a rock god. Tranter has the makings of a good Made coach: The band studied at Boston's Berklee School of Music, where he excelled with a 3.9 GPA. Despite the classical training, "We were like 'screw it, someone needs to have fucking fun. Let’s have fun.' And so we started a party band, and it worked."
Hear It Now: We Love You is out now. In the meantime, check out our exclusive Breaking videos, featuring the band's intense performance of their hits "Semi Precious Weapons" and "Magnetic Baby" live from New York's Cutting Room.
[Video: Pete Maiden]
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
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Frederick Foxrtrott | February 23, 2009 4:35 PM
Yep we just caught these guys at The Bowery Electric. They were in a word...awesome.
PH Lovecraft | February 2, 2009 4:55 PM
Have seen these guys scale the NYC scene from small rooms to big ones in the last couple of years.
Tho I think they’re open to criticism for being a tacky Hedwig and AC/DC mash-up that’s not on par with 70s glam, they are really working for it: tight/energetic/fun live, always on the road, and (at least before signing) outstanding self-promoters. Hate on, haters, but ambition can take you far.
Besides, what do 17-year-old kids today know about Ziggy Stardust or Mott the Hoople?
Toni | January 24, 2009 3:03 PM
i fucking love them!no one cares if people can diss them, if u dont like them then dont listen to them.but i listent o them all day!i ♥ spw!!!
Anonymous | January 12, 2009 1:44 AM
Yawn, another so called glam band who will show us how to wear guitars and play make up.
Glam was rocks great triumph. It was Rocks way of saying we comquered the world and we did it in high heels and make up. It put the fun back in rock and roll.
Glam is about the excess of Rock and Roll. Fallen Aliens, Alcholic Aprodites, UFO's powered by coke spoons.
I will bet this band has never heard Mott by Mott the Hoople of the fans raving about them.
Spend some time on a current actual Glam Band like Phoenix's Crash Street Kids.
Atleast the coverage on Ron Asheton's death reminds us what rock and roll is really about.
I dont need a jewelry maker from Brooklyn to tell me what a genius he is and disguise it as rock and roll.
Scott Herold
Who signs these people? | January 6, 2009 5:09 PM
This is a total rip off band! They need to worry about playing their instruments and not their hair. terrible!!!
Kris | January 6, 2009 3:07 PM
Dear "These guys are posers",
...So the fact that they have learned how to play their instruments upsets you? Bull shit. I think that makes them even better. And Justin isn't acting fey...he is. He has worn makeup and highheels since highschool. He even lived as a woman for a few years. (i may be a bit obsessed) Now he is just in between. I've seen SPW in 6 different states...and they always make every audience has fucking fun. Isn't that rockNroll?
These guys are posers | January 5, 2009 10:34 AM
You've got to be kidding me? Comparing this guy to Bolan, Ziggy and even Adam Ant is an insult to those guys. Wearing glam clohes and acting fey doesn't make you Ziggy. I'd compare him more to a combination of Hedwig and the guy from the Scissor Sisters. That's not necessarily a bad thing but another league entirely. I'm all for anyone doing something fun and different but the songs and vocals are just okay and this stuff won't cross over to the mainstream (again, probably a good thing). Lastly, the guitars at the neck are a tip off that these guys are MIt grads with funny clothes and haircuts POSING as "rock stars." No real punk/glam rocker would dare wear their strap at their neck. It's painful looking at them. Everyone proclaiming them the next big thing has obviously never seen the real deal. Go on YouTube and check out Bowie and Bolan and get back to me.
Stars_Gal | December 30, 2008 11:03 AM
Fucking LOVE these guys! Just stuck Genius on a mixtape for my boss!
...don't tell 'em I'm a genius.
Britt | December 18, 2008 12:18 AM
I fucking LOVE SPW!!!! ...and Dante R.I.P ichannel.fm (yeah, I noticed that was you!) SPW WILL explode, and I can't wait. They are stand out and amazing!
Mark | December 17, 2008 9:41 PM
i <3 them
mj | December 17, 2008 8:27 PM
sharp, strong, and gorgeous...just like diamonds ;-)
franky | December 17, 2008 6:44 PM
oh my fuck! this band is the future-for sure. i listen to them all day, every day.
Dante | December 17, 2008 6:26 PM
I had the chance to interview them at the internet radio station i used to work at, and they fucking kick ass. Give them 1-2 years TOPS, and they'll be EVERYWHERE.
Patrick in NH | December 17, 2008 6:18 PM
Work! This band rocks! 2009 Just got a little more exciting. I wish them all the best! Buy them, see them, worship!
Crystal | December 17, 2008 6:16 PM
I F*!@ing love SPW!!! <3
Barbies Bitches! | December 17, 2008 6:15 PM
Justin has more energy that I've ever seen on stage before... ever.
TipYourHooker | December 17, 2008 6:14 PM
Im in love with them!I got their bag an everything I love talking to them on myspace an their cd is the shit.I suggest people buy it fersure!!
Get Laid! | December 17, 2008 6:02 PM
Amazing!!! They are fucking filthy. Me likey.