Prick Magazine - SLUNT Feature

SLUNT

by Jonathan Williams
Photos by Frank Mullen
From the February 2005 issue of Prick Magazine.

Slunt is not bashful. "We haven't talked about an anus yet in this interview," says Abby Gennet, singer for the New York City four-piece known as SLUNT.

"That's probably a record," replies guitarist Pat Harrington. "We've gone, like, five minutes without bringing up assholes!"

"That's because no one's tattooed their asshole," says bassist Jenny Gunns.

"I've tattooed a couple in my day," replies quick-witted drummer Charles Ruggiero.

In many ways, this exchange should tell you what this raunchy and rocking quintet is all about. Led by Gennet, a former rock journalist and MTV VJ whose sexy sass is complimented by her sweetheart charm, SLUNT is a rock 'n' roll band in the truest sense. On its self-titled EP released this past November, SLUNT revels in getting fucked up and the always-entertaining consequences you have to deal with the next day.

Leadoff track "The Best Thing" is a cocksure (or should I say cuntsure?) putdown about stealing an ex-boyfriend's car and screwing his best friend and dad – and feeling good about it. "Not About You" and "I Wanna Be Your Only One" have just as much swagger and whiskey-fueled attitude, falling somewhere between the tough girl metal of Lita Ford and the cavity causing catchiness of The GoGos. And the bands sleazy cover of Romeo Void's "Never Say Never" couldn't be more fitting for this band.

Abby Gennet (vocals & guitar).

Pat Harrington (lead guitar) & Abby.

Getting drunk and screwing seem to be dominant themes not only for SLUNT's songs, but also for the band's everyday life. In fact, it was inebriation that led, at least in part, to some of the band's tattoos.

"The memorial tattoo for my dad was done on Father's Day," says Ruggiero. "He had been dead for a number of years and I was out with my buddies at a bar, we were drinking and I was like, 'How can I honor my dad, dude?'

"My mother loved it," he adds. "At first I was like, 'My whole family's going to be really pissed off.' But even my grandmother, his mother, actually liked it. Then when my mom passed away, I decided to honor her.

"This was actually done by a girlfriend of mine, Sabrina Ward Harrison," he says of the faces on his forearm. "She's a multimedia artist, she's got some books out that are like journals. I used to be a bartender and one day she was at the bar and we were getting hammered and she started drawing on my hand. She likes to doodle these faces – it's almost sort of a self-portrait – they're all over her books and her art. She was drawing them on my hand and I was like, 'I wanna get that.' She was like, 'Really? Would you do it? People say they're going to do it all them time, but no one's got the balls.' I said, 'Design me a tattoo for this part of my arm and I'll do it.'"

Pat Harrington.

Charles Ruggiero (drums).

Harrington, who fits many stereotypes associated with his Irish heritage, had other inspirations when getting his ink.

"I was in this other band called Gaggle of Cocks and when I went to go see the artist, Tommy Helm, I gave him three words. I said, 'I want cock, flag and fire,'" he says. "So what he came up with [was] a big chicken wrapped in an American flag, stepping on a big skull with a city blowing up behind him.

"This one's what I call the bug-up-my-ass tattoo," he says of his Celtic knots. "It had been a while since I had gotten anything and I just woke up one Saturday morning and was like, 'I gotta get a tattoo.'"

According to the band members, SLUNT has also inspired a few potential tattoos as well. While touring with bands such as Zeke, Fu Manchu and, most recently, Marilyn Manson, the band would often hang out before and after its sets, signing autographs and meeting fans.

Abby Gennet and Jenny Gunns.

"We're really into interacting with the crowds," says Gennet. "We give hugs, but no kisses – not on the lips. We definitely go out and meet people and sign things. We sign a lot of man boobs and arms and whatever, butt cracks. We've had a couple of guys say they were going to get it tattooed on them, so we'll see. I told them they should send us pictures and we'll put them up on the website."

The cover of the band's full-length debut, Get A Load Of This, which is due out next month, features a model with a SLUNT tattoo across her chest.

"Most of the songs that are on the EP are going to be on the album, plus a bunch more," says Harrington. "The EP is just a great intro to what you're going to be seeing from the full-length. It's a nice little taste, so you get a little teaser of what's going to happen when you get the full-length. Just expect more straight-ahead rock."

Abby.

Pat & Abby.

When it comes to winning over new fans and inspiring tattoos, Ruggiero attributes it to more than just the band's straightforward approach.

"We're pretty nice people and we hang out at the mooch berth," says Ruggiero.

"Mooch berth?" questions Gennet.

"No more Jack Daniel's for Charlie!" replies Ruggiero.

SLUNT will be on tour in February and March.

For more information, go to www.slunt.net or www.repossessionrecods.com.

back to top