SmartShanghai | Interview: The Toxic Avenger

Interview: The Toxic Avenger

By Morgan Short, Nov 6th, 2009 | In Nightlife

The Toxic Avenger, a.k.a. Simon Delacroix, is an Electro Thrash DJ/Producer from France who recognizes that Slayer is Word. Singed on IHEARTCOMIX, The Toxic Avenger has blown up in a big way these past few years for his Hardcore-inspired originals (Superheroes in 2007 and Toxic is Dead in 2009) and remixes (see below).

This Friday, The Toxic Avenger rips up Not Me like a deformed superhero. SmartShanghai emailed him to cyber about what Europe is like these days, Troma Entertainment, and being influential according to Rolling Stone. Here's the event listing.

Here's three teaser Toxic Avenger remixes, gainked from around the webs. Taste it:

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And this is an original track by Toxic Avenger, remixed by Bloody Beetroots. (Not the other way around.)

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For people who have never heard you before, can you describe what the Toxic Avenger sounds like?

Toxie: Yes. It's like Justice but cheaper. Hahaha. Actually, I'd say it sound like a kid that wants to do Garage Rock and Metal, but only has synths.

You were recently named one of Rolling Stone's "Top 5 Influential Musicians". How have you been using your influence? For good or for evil?

Toxie: For evil. Obviously. Using your influence for good is totally boring. Actually I was kinda proud I must say. I was not like if it was my mother telling me I'm good. It's fucking R.O.L.L.I.N.G S.T.O.N.E.S!

It seems like your really blowing up both in Europe and the States. How are you taking the accolades?

Toxie: Haha... I wasn't prepared for it. I just make songs in my bedroom, just for fun, and in just a few months people starting recognize me in the streets. Of course I released some tracks on vinyl, but I'd thought I would only sell about 50 copies. Since then we've had to do five represses.

And now I can say the same things as the bands I like used to say back in the day: "it was so shocking to hear my songs on the radio!"

Your MySpace biog has you "taking cues from Hardcore and Punk". What cues are you taking? What are your Punk and Hardcore influences and how do they show up in your production?

Toxie: Well, I used to play in tons of Hardcore and Punk bands back in the day. I'd say on a daily basis, 99% of what I listen at home to is something rock-influenced. Basically, I think you can feel the same energy in my music that's in early Hardcore music, like The Dead Kennedys, for example...

Is there any song that can't be fixed by just side-chain compressing the fuck out of the bass? Whomp whoomp whomp?

Toxie: Yes, there's tons of crappy songs, but... if you are good enough, you can do miracles.

What sort of stuff are you listening to these days?

Toxie: I just told you that on the previous question ... tssss! Actually, I just listened to the new Midnight Juggernauts, and I loved it!

Tell us about your new EP, Toxic is Dead.

Toxie: Well, we have done a wonderful music video for that. It involved a
girl, guns, car chases, a gas station, and some suicide scenes... cool
huh?

On that EP, there's "Toxic is Dead" the original, plus four remixes by
South Central, Drop the Lime, Cyberpunkers, and Franki Chan.

What more can I say. I hate being a salesman when it comes to my music!

What's the Electro scene like in Paris these days? And clubbing in general? A movable feast?

Toxie: There's around two or three decent clubs, but it's certainly not the Eldorado every people outside France think it is.

Is there any new stuff coming out of Paris that you would recommend to people?

Toxie: No.

Ha ha. Ouch, this is not really a joke I must say. There's a guy that I
really like called MiKiX The Cat, but he moved to Berlin.

Well yes, there's still the Teki Latex imprint called Sound Pellegrino. They release some pretty decent stuff.

How about Europe in general?

Toxie: I'm all about New York, Im sorry! There's Italy. Italy is doing well at the moment, with people like Bloody Beetroots, Crookers... if you like this kind of sound.

You're currently flying all over the place -- China, the US, Brazil. Can you give us some highlights from shows from your recent tours? What was a good place to play and why?

Toxie: Well, I really enjoyed South Africa, Australia, and I recently went
to the US for another tour there. This is my fourth one I think, and I was touring with Mixhell... Mixhell is Laima and Iggor. Iggor was the drummer of a band called Sepultura... so I was really excited.

Now he is making Electro with his wife, and sometimes he leaves the decks and plays drums... and it's magic.

Besides Toxic Avenger, what are your favorite Troma Films. You know
there's a "Toxic Avenger" musical?

Toxie: I knew there was a musical but I haven't had time to see it yet. For my favorite Troma films, I'd say Manic Nurses Find Ecstasy or Surf Nazis Must Die... or maybe Rabid Grannies as well. I've seen them all and I like them all.

What sorts of stuff can people expect from your Shanghai show?

Toxie: R. Kelly. Everything gospel, country music, a lot of cheesy white trash pop songs.

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Toxic Avenger tonight at Not Me. Cover is 60rmb. He's going on at like 12:30-1am, if you're coming from other events.

Tagged: Interviews Event Previews Clubbing