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I Killed The Prom Queen.
 Over the last few years Adelaideans I Killed The Prom Queen have grown into one of Australia's most successful hardcore bands, playing in sold-out venues and touring with some of the biggest names in hardcore and metal. Currently on the road for the Destroy Music Tour, fans will be saying goodbye to 'Prom Queen for a few months as they head over to Sweden to record with Fredrik Nordstrom.
"We're pretty stoked because we didn't think that would ever happen," enthuses vocalist Michael Crafter. "He's done the majority of big metal stuff we've always loved so we're pretty happy that we've actually got the chance to go over there. But we're also pretty nervous because this tour finishes and we pretty much get on a plane and leave - and after Europe we go to America so it's a really long trip for us." The boys have been lucky enough to play with some of their favourite bands along the way. "Caliban is one of Kevin's favourite bands and Soilwork are definitely in Jona's top two or three so we were really worried about how those bands would be," Crafter says. "But they were all super-nice to us and really keen to help us out in any way. They're just as down to earth as any other band we've ever played with." One band in particular who 'Prom Queen enjoy playing with is Byron Bay's Parkway Drive. "They've been the closest band that we've been to for the last few years. We always hang out with those guys and we love going to Byron," Crafter enthuses. "We enjoy playing with them because they always put on a really good show and kids get really excited to see them, so it's always good to be around them."
'Prom Queen have a reputation for an intense and interactive live performance. But the crowd plays a big part in the live shows, according to Crafter. "I think if kids weren't dancing and singing along and jumping off the stage and just having fun the shows would lose a lot. They wouldn't be as fun, that's for sure. If the crowd's going psycho and are really into it then it's going to make the band way more into it. We're just happy when kids are singing along and dancing."
With hardcore becoming more mainstream recently, you could say that it is in danger of becoming a trendy thing to do. "I think the main time when it was becoming more of a trend and more mainstream was when Day Of Contempt were going out with Frenzal Rhomb, The Mad Caddies, and 28 Days a few years ago. At that time those bands were massive so they were playing to totally different crowds," Crafter recounts. "Hopefully the kids that are into it are there because they really do care about what hardcore is and what it has to offer. I know I'm 24 now and I've been into hardcore since I was 15. I know for a fact that I'm not going to be selling out on it and going to whatever is cool next."
Hardcore music also tends to come hand in hand with strong beliefs such as veganism and straight-edge. "Me and Sean [Kennedy, bass] are vegetarian and the other guys are vegan, and me, Jona [Weinhofen, guitars], and Kevin [Cameron, guitars] are all straight-edge," Crafter explains. "There's a lot of hardcore bands in Australia where some of the members are straight-edge so I think it does play a big part in the scene and it always kind of has. Because there's bands like Wish For Wings and Chuck Norris who've all got high views on their straight-edge beliefs I think it's definitely something kids are always seeing at shows and it's definitely something everyone knows about."
With the amount of line-up changes 'Prom Queen experienced over the past few years, there were times when the band feared it would all fall apart. However Crafter, Weinhoten and drummer JJ Peters continued nevertheless, their strong friendship keeping the band together. "We all went to high school together and we were really good friends since we were about 12 or 13, so we just stuck at it and found the right people. Sean and Kev have been in the band for a couple of years now so this is the strongest this line-up will ever be."
With new members came a different sound in 'Prom Queen, and the new material brought forth a more metal and evolved sound. The upcoming release will no doubt show even more metal influence with Fredrik Nordstrom on board. "I think there's equal amounts of metal and a lot more European metal influence, but there's still a lot more rock and punk-rock elements in there. We've been jamming pretty much every day and night for the last few months and sometimes 'til five or six in the morning. We've actually made a real effort to write something that we enjoy as much as hopefully everyone else will."
Maddi West
 | I Killed The Prom Queen headline the all-ages Destroy All Music tour at Fowlers Live on Fri 12 Aug. |
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