Because Jack Hanley and his band Wayne Gacy Trio have prevailed over 40 plus bands In the Stripperband contest for Cheezyflicks feature film called, Stripperland. The contest lasted more that 12 weeks at 5 venues, and used a process of elimination style to choose the most appropriate band.  And what fits into a film about zombie strippers that kill? How about America's number one murder rock band?…SERIOUSLY.
Now they're going to open Rockfest this Sunday August 29th at the Washington County Fairgrounds!

WGT won handily and it was of little surprise. In the face of so many other good to great band performances, the conceptum-obvimus was that WGT stood out by a mile. Oh yes, the performance was spectacularly wild and over the top- but the defining factor was sheer style, musical approach and just plain inappropriate antics which were especially engaging… simply, uber- appropriate if you will.

Ozzy is supposedly credited with biting heads off bats, Alice Cooper killing Christians and FZ eating shit. Will Jack sacrifice a goat, a young man or one of his band members? Either way Rockfest audiences will be all at once shocked, amused and surprised

There seems to exist an ignorance continually misinterpreting the Trio calling card as merely crude, rude and seedy. Note to self:  An adoption of pseudo celebratory posturing of one of America's most distasteful killers is meant to be ironic…or is it?

'Certainly they mean it don't they?'  Seems the mantra of those we've witnessed becoming particularly shocked by Jack Hanley's shows in the past.  The same ones who ignorantly believe stupid rumors like Gene Simmons is on drugs, the Beatles hated God and Black Sabbath celebrated satanism and war. Lighten up friend…its only murder.

Starting shows passing out rotten candy, telling jokes that even Robin Williams would eschew, in his smeared and insidious make-up, Hanley loves reveling in the taboo-what killer doesn't? Beats the hell out of digging up the basement 7 nights a week.
The boys in the band play with a strikingly mean and calculating precision. Expressionless behind their wrestling masks- one can almost detect great satisfaction playing up such delirium. Guitarist Tony Toole sticks his forked tongue out at the most grotesque moments when they play. This band revels in the music as if they are divvying up a huge bloody steak, except they rabidly slurp the blood first, then delicately chew the dry meat…for hours.

Back-up singer June Dahmer croons her parts and echoes Jack's chorus lines, gently writhing along with the chord changes. Her cold dead eyes light up with a sparkly gleam only when she's pushing and pulling around an expressionless sub-girl she's got attached to a chain around her neck.

Concocted from a kind of punk, psycho-surf, metal and rock mish-mash- think of Sabbath, Wipers, Insane Clown Posse and Frank Zappa all thrown into one and you might still have a bit of trouble describing the music of WGT.    
Either way, the appeal is in the mystery and the sheer satisfactory tone of it all. It is VERY gratifying in so many ways and absolutely perfect for playing a part in Stripperland the movie.

 Notable runner- up band was The Dragonflies, who's haunting Judas Priest-ish, Bowie-glam and cyber-rock styling was a palatable alternate choice. Hard to pass up, they ran a close second and definitely possess a fire-in- the-belly that is seriously lacking in a lot of what we see today. Lead singer Michael X seethed with controlled rage and unleashed passion. Expect great things coming from this great band.
Certainly, congratulations are in order for ALL the bands who played in the competition. Just being selected is a defining moment that can undoubtedly propel careers in a positive way.

The panel of music industry professionals judges voted for the following categories: Planning/ Preparedness, Originality, Interface with Audience, Quality of Performance and Presentation. 

The judges for the finals were: Jon Pitts with Phoenix Media, Pauly and Donnie Rife from Smoochknob, Tim Ward, Big Jim Willig, Stripperland Director Tyler Benjamin, Chad Strut from Showcase Music, Joel Hardage, Lexi from Stars Cabaret, Buko and myself.