Episode 87: Dick Valentine – Electric Six

I'd like to imagine that I'm like a lot of people when I say that I enjoy music that doesn't take itself too seriously. That's probably why I found myself resonating with Electric Six when they first broke onto the scene over two decades ago.By the time they turned heads with 2003's debut album, 'Fire', the group had been around for quite some time already, having first launched as The Wildbunch in Detroit back in 1996, and adopting their current name a few years later following some shuffling of members.That debut album was an impressive one, spawning hits like 'Danger! High Voltage', 'Dance Commander', and 'Gay Bar,' and proving that you don't need to be a solemn-faced, suit-wearing rocker to make a splash.They certainly rocked though, blending elements of rock, disco, and even metal in their work to craft a sonic palette which was as varied as it was impressive. Hell, their latest tour poster calls it 'disco-punk and metal-funk', so it's one hell of a descriptor.Pretty soon, they became a prolific entity, and between 2003 and 2023, they averaged around one album a year between myriad live shows. That initial success brought with it a pair of Australian visits in 2004 and 2005, but from there it was a long wait for a return. In 2023, they made a long-overdue comeback, following it up again the year after. Now, Electric Six are back for another Australian tour this month, and to celebrate, I was lucky enough to spend some time with frontman Dick Valentine (or Tyler Spencer, as his driver's license would tell you) for a chat about the group's enduring legacy.Anyway, have a listen to Electric Six's lofty discography (maybe start with 'Fire' – it's great!), have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.