ThundHerStruck - L.A.'s All-Girl AC/DC Tribute Band
Pizzazz Magazine Music Interviews

A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

PIZZAZZ Magazine: I think all girl bands make sense for 2 reasons. 1, it's a great gimmick, all that T&A up on stage and 2, mixed sex bands always suck. HOWEVER... How does it make you feel when a girl band depends on the T&A over talent?

Steph: Well, it takes all kinds! But as you said, nothing wrong with a little T & A, as long as you have something to back it up!
Tina: I don't really care for those type of girl bands because a large majority of the public DO notice how good or how bad a band is! But if some people want to see a crappy girl band just because their tits are hanging out, that’s their choice.

PIZZAZZ Magazine: There are a good three female AD/DC cover bands in L.A. and it seems at some point all the various members have rotated from one group to the next. What's that all about?

Dyna: Really, who’s the third??? I know of ‘Girls Got Rhythm’ and us, ‘ThundHerStruck’! Oh! You must be talking about our old band ‘Whole Lotta Rosies’. Haha!
Andrea: The four of us, Dyna, Tina, Stephanie and me were Whole Lotta Rosie for the last 2 ½ years. But we had a serious ‘falling out’ with our old rhythm player, so we got a new “Malcolm”, changed our name, and now we’re kickin’ some serious ass!!!!
Steph: Actually, ‘Girls Got Rhythm’ was the original W.L.R. They had the same old rhythm player, Trudie, but they had a falling out with her, replaced her and changed their name. Sound familiar?
Tina: ‘Falling out’ with Trudie is quite the understatement! I’ll spare you the mud~slinging antics…but as far as the band situation is concerned, she has basically got 4 new girls to try to replace us in Whole Lotta Rosie, (W.L.R.) Meanwhile she’s promoting THEM using OUR track that WE recorded for the compilation CD, ‘Voltage Overload’, as well as using OUR bio… as if it were this new lineup that has achieved all these accomplishments! What a joke! If you are going to say that “You are W.L.R.”, at least introduce yourselves as a whole new line-up and accomplish your own achievements!! Don’t ride on ours!!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: I just interviewed another cover band that says they recorded a song for a tribute album that I recently discovered YOU were the ones who recorded it. What's that all about?

Carin: Seems like desperate liars- how lame is that??? That kind of stuff only makes those people look like fools!! What it's about is desperation I guess!! It's really pretty stupid to lie like that!
Steph: Yeah, but that must have been our old rhythm player from W.L.R. (If I’m not mistaken, didn’t her new bass player tell you in an interview that they had recorded the track for the Voltage Overload CD? Unbelievable!!!)
Dyna: That’s just plain WRONG! Yes, Whole Lotta Rosies recorded the song ‘Back in Black for the AC/DC tribute CD, ‘Voltage Overload’, however, that was when WE were the band. That’s me singing, Tina playing guitar, Steph playing drums and Andrea playing bass. It doesn’t surprise me that our old bandmate would say that!
Tina: Well, I guess some people will take credit for anything, especially when they can't do it by themselves.

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Some argue that tribute bands can't come up with their own stuff. Do you have your own stuff? I know part of the reason here is that no one goes to see original bands anymore but they do buy CDs off the net... There IS a market...

Dyna: . I have a solo album I put out a few years ago. It’s sort of in the style of melodic industrial rock. You can hear some of the tunes on my website: www.dynagirl.net. I’m currently writing and recording material for a second record, but between school and ‘ThundHerStruck’, it’s been a slow process. Hopefully it will be out sometime this year. Who knows….maybe we’ll throw in one of these tunes at a ‘ThundHerStruck’ show sometime!
Tina: I think that there are a lot of bands out there in the tribute scene because they make money doing it. I've been in many original bands, even signed to a major recording deal, but I'm not in this business to "make it" anymore, now I'm in it for fun!!!! And how much more fun can you have than playing AC/DC? (Don’t answer that!!)

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Tell me something about Andrea she wouldn't want me to hear and what she brings to the band besides an instrument....

Carin: Andrea is probably the best bassist I’ve seen here in Los Angeles- including men, women AND national bands- she is absolutely great and a very good friend! I’m happy to be in this band with her.
Steph: Very true…but boooring!!
Dyna: Ok…I got one. Although I have to agree with Carin first, that Andrea is a true pleasure to work with! Not only is she a fantastic bass player, but there’s never a dull moment when she’s around. She’s incredibly entertaining, even when she’s not trying to be. She probably doesn’t want me to mention this, but it’s so funny I can’t help it. One morning when our band was on the road, Andrea was walking to the lobby with her coffee in her hand. She bent down to flip her hair back and when she flipped it up, she threw her coffee in her face! Sorry Andrea…we love you!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Tell me something about Dyna she wouldn't want me to hear and what she brings to the band besides an instrument....

Steph: Well, first I would say that she is an absolutely AMAZING singer and performer! A total hot sex kitten at the helm!! Although I can’t imagine that she wouldn’t want you to hear that…she hears it at every show and then some!! Hehe! But I will tell you our little ‘Jagger Queen’ had quite a fun time in Daytona at the Bike Week Screaming Orgasm Contest!!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Tell me something about Carin she wouldn't want me to hear and what she brings to the band besides an instrument....

Dyna: Gee, Carin is so new to the band that I don’t have any good stories about her yet! You’ll have to ask me that one again later! As for what she brings to the band, she brings a great attitude and a great talent. I can’t tell you how incredibly refreshing it is to hear the rhythm parts played correctly!
Andrea: I’ve known Carin a loooong time…oooooh the stories I could tell! But then I guess she could tell some about me too!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Tell me something about Tina she wouldn't want me to hear and what she brings to the band besides an instrument....

Dyna: Hmm…I don’t think Tina has anything to hide. If she does, then she’s really good at hiding it because I don’t know what it is! Tina is probably one of the most easy going musicians I’ve ever worked with. Besides that, what band wouldn’t want to have a guitar repair expert as a member?
Steph: I have to agree with Dyna! And I’ve known Tina forever! She may have a little ‘dirt’, but compared…it’s more like a spec of dust! She is honestly just a RIPPIN’ guitarist with a great attitude and a lot of fun!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Tell me something about yourself that you wouldn't normally want me to hear and what you bring to the band besides drum kit....

Steph: Well, I guess I can make up some really cool stuff…but the fact is that I like to rip it up on drums, tear it up with tequila, and live it up with my friends!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: So, Steph, are you Tommy Lee's sister? I met the drummer of Fair Game with Ron Keel at the Whiskey back in 91 I think, could have been 92 but I think it was 91. Someone said she was Tommy's sis? Am I off base? I liked the show, there is a case of having a hot band that may have been a gimmick but the music was cool. What happened?

Steph: Small world isn’t it? Well, first I am not Tommy’s sister. Although that’s a common mistake because my name is Stephanie Leigh, (not Lee). Athena is Tommy’s sister. I did play for ‘Fair Game’, (along with Tina), and we actually recorded a CD called ‘Beauty and the Beast’. When I left the band Athena took my place and the rest is history…well at least we thought the rest was history until Ron released the CD 10 years later!! It’s now available now on amazon.com.

PIZZAZZ Magazine: My wife is a retired porn star. She is also a member of Mensa (sigh, gorgeous and brainy, I am in love), but tell me, what is Dyna going to do with her Ph.D. in biochemistry/molecular biology?

Steph: Yeah Dyna...what’s the deal with the brain? Also, you poor guy Don! Sounds like life is pretty rough, eh?
Dyna: That’s a good question! I’d really like to go into forensics, but who knows. Right now I’m conducting research in the field of neurodegenerative disease, and I really find this area very exciting. The truth is, I won’t know until I get there so I don’t concern myself too much with that at the moment. Right now is the time to decide what things I like and don’t like…that way I’ll increase my chances of being happy in the future. That’s what it’s all about anyways, right?

PIZZAZZ Magazine: What was Minnesota like compared to L.A.? Do you tend to get bigger crowds on the road?

Steph: Actually our Minnesota gig is next month. But we have played some awesome events, like the “Rockin’ The Rivers Festival” in Montana, “Bike Week” in Daytona as well as some amazing over seas tours, like Japan and Bosnia! The crowds are definitely different! In L.A. you really have to work for the crowd! (I guess there are so many bands here, that a lot of people can take it or leave it.) You really have to kick ass to get respect and a good following! I mean, you always play your ass off anyway, but out of town everyone is generally pretty appreciative that you’re even there, much less rockin’ out! In L.A. they expect you to be there and rock out! I have to say, we do have an incredible following locally, but when we play these festivals we’re playing to 2,000-10,000 people and it’s quite a rush!!!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Besides Madison Square Garden as a headliner or opening for AC/DC what's the dream gig?

Dyna: Playing in front of an endless sea of U.S. military men!!! Oh wait! We already did that!!!
Steph: Too funny…you guessed mine exactly!! But if I had a #2 it would be to rock at the OZZ-FEST! (We’ll open!)
Carin: Hampton Colesium, Va! Pretty much my home town!!
Tina: Playing with AC/DC of course!!! And I mean literally...haha!
Andrea: They’re all dream gigs!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: You are scheduled to do something with Warrant.... I just interviewed Erik Turner and he says the old band reunited with a new lead singer has lit a fire under their asses. Did they need it? I want to see them again now... A drunk, aging, head shaved, angry Jani was a turn off....

Steph: We are scheduled to play with Warrant and Great White in North Dakota, Oct. 2nd. That’ll be a ripper! I had no idea that they had a new frontman! Hhhmmmm…no drunken Jani? I’ll have to check this out!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: You're doing a show with Alice Cooper, that has to be exciting, does he ever age? Amazing... What bands besides AC/DC have influenced you to do what you do?

Steph: We did the Rockin’ the Rivers Festival with Alice Cooper last year and it was incredible! You are not kidding! The man never ages!! He looks great! He truly is a talent! Just to watch his show was amazing...but we went on right after him and got to rock his crowd HARD!!! That was cool!!! As far as other band influences...I am a total connoisseur of music! Everything influences me whether it’s to play, write or listen. Music is my candy for the soul!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Ok, when I interviewed your old bandmates in February they said some things that you are telling were complete lies. Can you expand? According to an email from the 'other' AC/DC band which is now defunct, this same bandmate wasn't exactly honest about other things as well. Please clear the air. Ladies, the floor is yours.

Dyna: First of all, you mean bandMATE/ (singular form, not plural). Her current line-up is all new, and from what people have told me, temporary. I would have no problem if she would just fess up and tell everyone the truth…that her new band is exactly that…NEW. They have a familiar name…and that’s all. They are NOT the band that won the Best Tribute band titles, they do not have a song on an AC/DC tribute CD, they did not play for the troops in Bosnia & Okinawa, nor were they involved in any of the accomplishments listed on our former website. WE were that band, and we are now ThundHerStruck. I can’t imagine that she’d ever tell the truth though, because without those accomplishments, she’s nothing but a pair of saline bags with makeup.
Steph: D’Oh!
Andrea: I think Tina said it best earlier…quit using our accomplishments to ride the gravy train! If you’re going to say that “You are W.L.R.”, introduce yourselves as a whole new line-up and accomplish your own achievements!! Don’t ride on ours!!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Doesn't current rock sound either whinier or suckier than ever? I think that statement sounded whiny and sucky... What gives with this crap? Will it end?

Carin: I HOPE SO, AND SOON! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS CRAP???
Dyna: I don’t know…Whiny and sucky can be good things…it all depend on the context in which they’re used! (Well…maybe not whiny….)

PIZZAZZ Magazine: Ok, happy days... Laughs... Tell me a joke...

Tina: I work at a music store (no that isn't the joke), and a guy came in and handed me a tunematic bridge, (that’s a part off a Gibson guitar), and asked me if I could set it up and adjust the action. I looked at him in total disbelief and asked, “Where’s the rest of your guitar?” His response was, “You mean I have to bring the whole guitar in? You can't just set up the bridge without it?” Ya know, that’s like bringing your tires to the car dealership without the car and asking them to balance them… Duh!!!
Dyna: I got one! OK, (my apologies in advance to Tina and Steph…) What do you get when you stand a blond on her head? Answer: A brunette with bad breath!
Steph: Please…Why did the blonde hava a sore belly button? Answer: ‘Cause her boyfriend was blonde too!!!

PIZZAZZ Magazine: And what did we forget besides your website address?

GIRLS: How much you kick ass Don!! Thanx so much for the interview… We’ll leave you with a bit of Shakespeare: “A Rose by any other name…” Well…I think you get the point! Be sure to log on to ThundHerStruckROCKS.com and check out the ULTIMATE ALL~GIRL TRIBUTE TO AC/DC!