Photo by Capital M

What do Bad Religion, Avril Lavigne, Suicidal Tendencies, The Vandals and Tenacious D have in common? Musician BROOKS WACKERMAN, that’s what. The long-time drummer steps from behind the kit to front alternative rock outfit KIDNEYS.

In 2003 Wackerman decided that it was time he once again (first time being with punk band Hot Potty) stepped into the spotlight as a front man and creative driving force of a musical project. The result is Kidneys which features John Spiker (Tenacious D) and John Wackerman (Lindsay Bucking Ham). When playing live the group features drummer Tony Palermo (Unwritten Law) and bassist Josh Paul (Suicidal Tendencies).

“I’ve always been interested in song writing,” he says of the inspiration behind self-proclaimed muso-pop act Kidneys, “I’ve been playing guitar almost as long as I’ve been playing drums.” Wackerman started playing drums at the age of two and is part of the famous Wackerman drumming family – his younger brother Chad once playing with Frank Zappa, his dad Chuck a jazz band teacher – he later started playing guitar at the age of nine.

“As soon as I started learning guitar and learning heavy metal songs I started getting into writing my own compositions,” he explains, “I’ve been writing for a while and about six years ago I accumulated 15-20 songs that I wanted to record under the name Kidneys. I just went into the studio. The record is pretty much just me.” Wackerman played all instruments on the self-titled release with the exception of bass on a couple of tracks.

Miss Bianca & Brooks

Asked about the difference between former band Hot Potty and Kidneys the Bad Religion drummer replies, “Hot Potty was around eight years prior to Kidneys, I liked Hot Potty more when I started it and then towards the end I was tired of the songs I wrote and I thought it was just really immature. When you’re a thirteen year old kid writing songs you’re always going to look back and be like ‘How could I write that?’ I was sick of writing punk… Kidneys still has a punk element to it but I find it to be more melodic and have better hooks in the choruses. I just wanted to start fresh.”

Kidneys’ ten-track album has been described as The Descendents meets Elvis Costello. “If you know me and you listen to Kidneys you can tell I wrote it, it’s my personality. Even though some songs are serious I still have a sense of humour on them,” he laughs, “I’m disciplined but I have a sense of humour about what I’m doing. If you don’t have that you’ll kill yourself…”

While there are no immediate plans to bring Kidneys to Australia Wackerman is optimistic that it will eventually happen hopefully sooner rather than later. After playing in such high profile bands over the years Wackerman admits, “Playing in Kidneys is a very humbling experience. After playing a show like this (we’re sitting backstage at the recent Pennywise/Sum 41/Vandals gig) where there’s thousands of kids and then back home we have a Kidneys show and there’s seven people in the audience it’s entirely humbling. I’m a firm believer in sticking with it. Even if it is only seven people, if all seven people see you and then tell you after the show they love what you’re doing that makes me want to do this for a while. I’m ok with it.”

Kidneys’ album is out now check out: www.myspace.com/kidneys