Die Mannequin

Interview with Bestfan

2011-03-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Care Failure recently spoke with Bestfan about her Juno nominations, who influences her and the music she constantly plays on her iPod. Check out our exclusive interview, below.

(BESTFAN): Congratulations on your 2 Juno nominations! How does it feel to know you are getting recognition for your hard work?

(CARE): Its kind of silly. The whole ceremony and the “what are you wearing” and all that kind of stuff (laughs). [To me] its not that interesting but it’s nice and looks really cool on paper and apparently parents give a f*** about it, that’s what I’ve noticed. Like you said, it’s cool to get the recognized for our hard work.

(BESTFAN): Is there anything you’re looking forward to while attending this year’s awards show?

(CARE): (Laughs) Yea, I mean it’s nice to go out and have a good time. No real band stuff, no loading in. It’s all just a bit of a break; maybe get a free drink or something. I’m singing a song with The Beauties the night before the awards. There will be a whole bunch of musicians singing different songs to celebrate the Junos 40th anniversary. I get to do a Neil Young song which is really rad. Singing that is probably the best part about it.

(BESTFAN): Tell us some of the biggest differences in when you are on stage with your band versus a night of Deejaying.

(CARE): I get really bored of my own music really quickly and it’s nice to play someone else’s for a change. In a way it’s a little bit about pleasing the crowd but your also trying to educate too and play new stuff. But it’s not like I’m f***ing spinning records, I don’t have any talent or anything. This is the computer age unfortunately and for bar deejaying nobody cares if you have a deck or not, so it’s kind of sh*tty and really cheap. Overall, they are equally fun. I love being in the studio and I love to be on stage but it’s a whole different vibe when I’m deejaying.

(BESTFAN): Who were your biggest influences (musically or not) while growing into the rocker you are today.

(CARE): Growing up I got into Sonic Youth really badly. I remember when I was like 11, I was really hot for them and they came through Toronto that year to do a show and I couldn’t go because I was too young but I was really into them. I really loved Beck, I got into him when I was like 8 and yea I was obsessed with him for a while. Anyone who is a little bit strange.

(BESTFAN): What is the craziest thing a fan has done to get your attention?

(CARE): Well there are always cute “Marry Me” signs and things like that. I got some really cool art a couple weeks ago a fan brought to some deejay night I was doing and they are these really cool portraits on canvas. The funniest thing I got was this little Kurt Kobain doll, it’s from his MTV unplugged so he’s sitting on this little chair and there’s a detailed little sweater. That was probably the funniest thing I’ve got from a fan.

(BESTFAN): Tell us about your label “How to Kill”. Are you guys working with any artists through that label?

(CARE): Unfortunately, I had a horrible manager and I had to escape him. Now that I’m not dealing with him any more I’m fighting to the get the rights for my label back. The label hasn’t been doing anything for the last little while and won’t be for the next couple months. It was something I was suppose to own and right from the beginning his party didn’t do the job they had to do, and I’m not bad talking anyone I’m just being honest. The thing that really sucks is that I’ve been wanting to explain to people what’s going on with the band and the different things that are happening with us but I’m walking a really thin line between being completely honest and saying what’s going on for real, with our camp and our team. There have been lots of changes in the last four months, and I know I sound like a bitter ex-girlfriend so I need to try and find a balance. We do already have people working for us that are a “kagillion” times better and actually ask me what I want and what I want to do. It’s great because I’ve never had anyone ask me that before. We’re having a press conference sometime next week, we have some good news and we have some really s**tty news too.

(BESTFAN): When can fans look forward to hearing new music from Die Mannequin?

(CARE): I’ve been in the studio for the last couple months off and on, only off because we have to fit it in between shows. We’ll be playing some new songs at our show at the horseshoe (CMW 2011) but to actually buy and listen to new stuff, well, I’d like to have everything done in the spring. I’d like to do something where I would release three songs together in groups, every month or couple weeks, but new music really ‘effin soon. There will be a lot of new stuff coming out in the next month or two.

(BESTFAN): Describe your songwriting process in the studio. Is it a collaborative effort of does everyone in the band have certain way of approaching the creative process?

(CARE): For all the stuff that’s come out so far it’s always just been me and a bedroom. Just going crazy and writing songs like a maniac. A lot of my old songs were written when I was 16-17 now I’m older, I’m a grandma I have other things now that make me wet musically.

I love working with people too but the collaborative writing process is a whole other thing. Usually I end up writing the whole song, it’s kind of a scam because you have to give away 50% to someone in the room that didn’t write anything. It’s been weird. I was also never really given any time to write with other people. I mean, they sent me around the writer’s circle. Went around all through the States, and through Canada too. All the singles that we’ve released I’ve written myself. It’s important that I have my own time where I write by myself, there is a lot of pre production as well. I’ll even go in the studio and force myself to finish songs other wise I wouldn’t be able to. Then there’s Tony, he is my bass player and a writer too and we’ve been together for 7 and a bit years and he writes songs but we’ve only ever written a couple songs together. I try to make time for people that I like, a couple friends of mine and some are random. Now that I don’t have that big bad wolf and the label breathing down my neck, I’m able to do things that I want to do instead of writing with the usual writers.

(BESTFAN): Would you rather pack a small venue or fill a stadium to half capacity?

(CARE): Pack a small venue! It takes a lot to run around in a stadium. I mean, I don’t mind it but a small venue is more intimate and more fun. There is definitely something to be said about playing arenas but I like small venues.

Bestfan Quick Q’s

Favourite Movie?
Serial Mom

Favourite City you’ve played in?
Hanover and Stuttgart, Germany

Favourite televison show as a child?
Thundercats!

Name 3 songs in heavy rotation on your iPod?
1) Al Green – “Can I Get Next To You”
2) Michael Jackson – usually “Beat It” or “Billy Jean”
3) Drive Like Jehu…awesome band!

-End of Interview-

The band will playing a live show with The Birthday Massacre at Toronto’s hot spot, The Opera House on March 25th for the JunoFest and they’ll be at the 40th Juno Awards, also held in Toronto on March 27th. They are definitely a band you want to look out for! Be sure to buy a copy of their album FINO + BLEED, in stores now!

Care Failure - Die Mannequin @ Mkey SIN Studios

2011-03-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

Care Failure - Die Mannequin

Royal York Hotel
Photography by Mikey Sin - Mkey SIN Studios
www.mikeysin.com
www.diemannequin.ca

JunoFest with The Birthday Massacre and Arie

2011-02-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

Die Mannequin will be playing at The Opera House with The Birthday Massacre and Ariel on March 25th as part of JunoFest.

Tickets are $17.50 for just this show or JunoFest wristbands are $30 for both 3/25 and 3/26. You can buy show tickets HERE and wristbands HERE.

THe official die mannequin PreParTies

2011-02-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is THe** official Pre-ParTy for myself and die mannequin.

The firsT is Tomrrow niGHT aT cherry cola's (wed.. feb. 9TH..). fllowed by Tursday feb. 10TH also aT cHerry's..).
everyone is inviTed of course.. and There is:

**no cover..
**cHeaP drinks..

** and music/dj alla me, care f.

we fiGured Two juno nominaTions.. so Two niGHts THis week.

more info below:
**************************

***yes ye yes.!. come join me.. (Tomorrow) wednesday.!!. and** Thursday niGHT.!!.
*** aT cHerry cola's rock n rolla cabareT & lounGe.
*** from 9:30 on.!!.

we are celebraTinG die mannequin's and myself's Two juno nominaTions as i dj The niGHT away for boTH niGHTs.!!.

so Tomorrow, wednesday february 9TH, as well as Thursday febuary 10TH aT cHerry cola's (rock n' rlla cabareT & lounGe..)..

so.. *if you cannoT make iT one niGHT.. jusT come The nexT.!!.
maaa band die mannequin Has been nominaTed for Two juno's.. weird enouGH.. so i THouGHT i would weirden uP The sTakes and dj Twice in a row for Two fun niGHts insTead of one.

come on ouT. for more Punk rock and rock and roll To some drunked dance sTePs afTer midniGHT aT THe mosT PerfecT Place i could THink of.. cHerry cola's.

***music:
iT varies.. buT for These niGHTs i wil be PlayinG everyTHinG from rock n roll, (d'uH..). Punk rock, fuck rock, dance rock .e.T..c you GeT The idea..) To...

some n.w.a. To .m.i.a.
meTallica To THe melvins..
THe suPremes To sonic youTH...
local bands To souTH african scene darlinGs...
THee kills To eaGles of deaTH meTal...
..jay Z To brown b.
neil younG To bob dylan..
dafT Punk To (nazi Punks fuck off..). The dead kennedys..
so There is someTHinG for everyone.. of course. because we all enjoy *Good music. and of course TakinG requesTs.!!.

i do noT Go ouT mucH..Those wHo know me besT.. so Take advanTaGe of These Two niGHTs.

no cover.***
cHeaP drinks.**

THis is The* official die mannequin Pre ParTy..!!.
Thank you.!!.
from The boTTom of my fever..
. .-.. .care .f..

( die mannequin.).

.************

Updated:

sHiT sHiT sHiT.!!. isuck sooo Hard.. i GoT my own Pre parTy days mixed uP/... eGG on my face.. i miGHT as well eaT worms.!!!. Here is my ooPs.! face...
Pre ParTies are noT Tomorrow.. i rePeaT., vuT are beinG Held nexT week.!. buT did you like The HyPe mucH.??. i did...
sorry.!.
i Have cHanGed The deTails in The evenT.!.
a mass aPoloGy.!! To everyone.!!!.
so sorry.!!.
fever.!.
. .-.. .care.. .f.. .
(die manneuqin..).
(and Horrible screwer0uPper-of-daTes...)..

i Have obviously losT sense of daTe and Time beinG Held uP in sTudios... meH...
ooPs face.???.

Some shots from the Lysten festival

2011-01-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

Photos by Brian Goldschmied

Happy Holidays from Care

2011-01-01T02:59:00.000-08:00

Hey all.!. i wanT To send you all a HaPPy Holidays GreeTinG.. and esPecially a new year’s wisH ouT for all of you nice folk Here on facebook: i HoPe you all Have a GreaT new year, full of Good HealTH*, some Good wealTH THrown in THere.. also for you and your families… as well as a HaPPy and ProPerous …new year in wHaTever you do in life.. ThrouGH your arT.. career’s.. work.. friends and relaTionsHiPs.. love and family. may you turn your journey inTo The HaPiness and “Goal” you crave.. because in realiTy, lookinG back.. ThaT will be wHere your True HaPPiness always was…

from THe boTTom of my fever..
. .-.. .care .f.

Care Failure at the red carpet, Hard Core Logo II World Premiere

2010-12-16T22:13:00.000-08:00

Photo: Joern Rohde/www.wpnn.org

Die Mannequin live at Hard Core Logo II, Whistler, BC; Dec. 4, 2010

2010-12-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

Photo: Joern Rohde/www.wpnn.org

Live at the Legendary Red Rooster

2010-12-15T09:53:00.000-08:00

Photo by Alex McCusker

Holiday contest from DM

2010-12-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Hey mannefans,

The holidays are closing in on us and we want to make sure that you're all in the spirit. That means that it is contest time.

The details: Pick your favorite Die Mannequin song. Pick your favorite holiday song. Take the DM lyrics and sing them to the tune of the holiday song. Or, if you're feeling very adventurous, lay some holiday lyrics over some of Care's guitar shredding. We think that "Do It or Die" and "Jingle Bells" could work out pretty well. Either post a link to the video on DM's Facebook page or tweet the link @diemannequin.

What you get: If you're in Toronto, you will get a pair of tickets to see DM at Sound Academy this Wednesday. You'll also get the band all to yourselves on the VIP balcony at the beginning of the night. If you're not in Toronto, we'll owe you tickets to see DM when they're in your neighborhood (no support or festival appearances, sorry kids).

Deadlines: The deadline for Toronto entries is noontime on Wednesday, December 15th (day of show). The deadline for non-Toronto entries is this Friday, December 17th.

WFF2010 Festival LIVE - Day 4 Highlights

2010-12-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

There's a clip of Care Failure in Hard Core Logo 2 hiding in there as well as Dazzer Longknife getting a gold medal.

Die Mannequin shoot by Michael Hurcomb

2010-11-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

Photographed by: Michael Hurcomb

Die Mannequin @ Tattoo Rock Parlour 2010

2010-09-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Pics by: Randall Vasquez

Die Mannequin @ Sausage Fest

2010-08-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

Pics by: Tom Eschenbrenner

Die Mannequin @ 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards

2010-06-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Care Failure's on Toronto street

2010-05-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

Die Mannequin Singer Starring in 'Hard Core Logo 2'

2010-02-23T01:57:00.000-08:00

Care Failure, singer-guitarist of Toronto punk rockers Die Mannequin, has landed her first feature film role in 'Hard Core Logo 2,' a sequel to the award-winning 1996 Canadian cult classic about music and self-destruction. Two things the rowdy Failure is something of an expert in.

"I still cannot believe it, being asked to do this. Besides it being a huge honour, it comes with a lot of responsibility and pressure," Failure tells Spinner, just before shooting starts in Saskatchewan. "But I am going to try to have fun with it. It's this new thing I am trying, you know, to make life less miserable...."

Director Bruce McDonald calls the new film a "flipside" to his original, which starred Hugh Dillon (then of Canadian rock outfit the Headstones, now a full-time actor starring in the cop show 'Flashpoint') as singer Joe Dick. It also featured cameos by Joey Ramone and Joey "S---head" Keithley of D.O.A. and a fictional guitarist named Billy Talent. And yes, the band is named after him.

McDonald says he cast Die Mannequin to play themselves in this alternate version of the tale because he wanted to capture a more feminine side of music biz. (He's also trying to get Michael Bublé for a role!) In the film, Die Mannequin is channeling the spirit of Joe Dick to write songs for a new album. In real life, Failure is enjoying writing new material for the movie outside the parameters of Die Mannequin.

"It is the best when there is no suit in your face screaming, 'Write a hit! Hit! Hit!,'" she says. "'Hit' is like the 'n-word' for a songwriter. When you are not focused on that is when you can really let go musically and focus on making a good song. And in the end, those are components that can potentially make a f---ing 'hit.' I feel s---loads of pressure being lifted off of me for some reason when I am writing for soundtrack. It actually feels nice."

Liisa Ladouceur
Spinner

Die Mannequin @ Toronto Plays For Haiti

2010-02-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pics by: Randall Vasquez

Die Mannequin - Bad Medicine

2009-12-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

Die Mannequin - Dead Honey

2009-12-23T00:14:00.000-08:00

Die Mannequin - Miss Americvnt

2009-12-16T00:18:00.000-08:00

Die Mannequin @ Sound Academy

2009-12-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Pics by: Randall Vasquez

Die Mannequin @ Hardball Cafe in Toronto

2009-12-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

Pics by: PETE NEMA

We want the happy ending

2009-12-03T01:51:00.000-08:00

A persevering Die Mannequin muses on Marilyn Manson, exploding heads and balls in your ears

Die Mannequin's Care Failure has lived a life that could translate quite well into rock'n'roll stardom. I won't go into detail except to say that if you know her back story, or have heard tales of her troubled years, you probably get the feeling that, like many other artists, the shit years will pay dividends in the long run.

Fino + Bleed, the long-awaited first Die Mannequin full-length, could be the start of that. While Care doesn't explicitly say that it was motivated by her past, she does touch upon it.

"I had shit backing up for years and years," she admits. "Terrible shit happens to me on a daily basis. But besides that I'm not starving in Africa, and I'm white and live in North America, and my life is never going to be that bad, so I never want to be the cry-baby or anything and say my life's been really hard because when you look at it I'm really, really lucky, and really, really blessed."

Aside from some specific downs of the recent past, including getting her laptop nicked ("It was a kick in the ass that made my balls go in my ears," she says), there's plenty to suggest that she is, in fact, blessed.

Exhibit A: Die Mannequin toured with Marilyn Manson. "It was cool that the Antichrist wanted to play with Die Mannequin because [he] can tour with whoever the fuck he [wants] to tour with," Care says.

Exhibit B: Fino + Bleed kept her head together somewhat literally. "I'm just happy that the record's finally out, because I'd been stuck with the same songs for a long time, [feeling] like my head was going to explode."

A sexy, candid girl playing pop-infused sleazy rock and exorcising demons in the process? As stories go, this one's got "happy ending" written all over it.

Dave Jaffer
The Hour

Bad Medicine (LIVE at The Gateway at SAIT, Calgary)

2009-11-28T10:46:00.000-08:00