Photo by David Cieplinski

by Matt Dixon, May '07

1. Please list the members, what they do and give a brief history of the band:
Erica Butler: drums/vox, Rachelle Goguen: keys/vox, Tiina Johns: bass/vox, Stephanie Johns: guitar/vox. We've been playing for about 3 years now. Tiina and I were working together and listening to a lot of Link Wray and we really wanted to start an all-female instrumental band... which is what we were doing for a while, but then started to cover Roger Miller and folks like that. Then we just started writing our own stuff, etc, etc.

2. The Stolen Minks can be described as:
Garage-rock, fun, dance-y, stuff like that. We like to try to throw politics in there, sometimes. Really DIY.

3. How was the name chosen, what does it mean for the band and what were some other names considered in the beginning?
Tiina and I were standing beside about 25 mink coats. Also, we love John Waters and he loves Mink Stole.

4. What were the original goals of the band? Have they been met?
They have been met and surpassed, for sure. Our original goal was to play a show. Then it was to record. Then all these other things that we didn't even have time to dream about happened, like being #1 on earshot twice, and being asked to play all these wicked festivals like Pop Montreal, Ladyfests and Toronto Pride.

5. What are some of the things you try to communicate through your music?
Within the band, the politics vary a bit, but we're definitely a feminist band. It comes out in the music because it's something we think about a lot and incorporate into our lives. We try to blend politics and fun. I think that who we are sort of comes out in the music. We like to goof around and have fun, but we're fairly political at the same time. We do almost everything ourselves, we really like to be able to sell cheap cds and merch, so that's another focus.

6. Do you think it's necessary for independent musicians and bands to have a form of ethics?
Without a doubt. You don't want to find yourself in a van with a bunch of yahoos who'll dip your hand in warm water while you're sleeping. Or freeze your bra. Your band members need to have certain scruples. We actually all played a heated game of Scruples together before committing to a tour.

7. How did the mini tour with The Guest Bedroom come about? Were you already friends with them?
Yep. Tiina and I were both old pals with Alan. They set up a bangin Toronto show for us last summer and we really wanted to return the favour.

8. What is your musical background? When did punk rock/indie/whatever come into play?
I've been playing guitar since high school and have been in a handful of other bands before this one. Erica and I played together in a short-lived band before. Tiina has some pretty strong indie roots and Rachelle only listens to hardcore rap.

9. Where did the distinct rockabily influence stem from?
I like a lot of old music, there was a while where I refused to listen to anything recorded after 1960. I guess that's where it came from. It's also the most fun to play. You got your blues scale and you're off the the races, son!

10. What's your ideal show situation? (type of venue, crowd, other bands, etc)
Playing with another fun band, fun enough to get in our faces and heckle us, we play with a lot of our rowdy pals. A crowd that likes to dance, any interesting venue is a total bonus, but if it's a bar situation, we pray that the soundperson is not a total douche.

11. When do you think is the best time and situation to listen to a the stolen minks record?
A lot of people say that they listen to the records while cleaning their house or shopping for groceries. Personally, I'm glad to be associated with such productivity. Maybe they should pipe the album into grocery stores everywhere. But it probably doesn't make people hungry enough or something.

12. What's your favourite dance party song?
We're pretty big fans of Trina, The Ying Yang Twins, Missy Elliot... "We Run This" is a pretty classic Minks jam. Or "I Want My Ass Smacked".

13. What can we expect from The Stolen Minks in the future?
We're focusing on our big-ass tour across Canada in July, we're going to Vancouver and back, which we haven't done yet. I think it's going to rule, we're going with Play Guitar, I want us all to get matching tattoos. Then we're going to record another album when we get back, maybe not in a basement this time. But who knows? It's nice and cool down there.

14. How can people contact you?
thestolenminks.com, myspace.com/stolenminks, 2737 northwood terrace, halifax, NS. B3K 3S9. thestolenminks@gmail.com

15. Any final words?
All of the craziest people I know come from PEI. I hope they aren't the exception to the rule. We can't wait to play!