Year of the Cock
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 09:11AM 
Bring Back Glam! recently chatted with guitarist David Henzerling of Big Cock. The band is bringing back glam with their decadence-driven lyrics and heavy guitar solos. Henzerling has been making glam-worthy Metal for years, performing with Lizzy Borden, Keel and King Kobra. He talks about forming his dream band, musical influences and why every image-conscious rock star should have at least two names. Transcription follows.
Bring Back Glam!: How did Big Cock form?
David P. Henzerling: Big Cock is a band all of us have wanted to do for a long time. John Covington (the drummer) and I have been friends ever since high school and when we talked about it with Robert Mason, his reply was “Big Cock…and why not?” Colby we just found wandering the streets, so we gave him some leather pants, a bass and pointed him to the stage. That’s a true story, except for the part about the leather pants. Look, when all you sing about is cars, booze and girls, it’s pretty clear that we’ll never grow up – and that’s just what you’re gonna get from Big Cock.
BBG: How long did it take you to record Year of the Cock and who did most of the writing for the album?
David: Year of the Cock took about a week to record. We did everything live in a great, big warehouse out here in Arizona in the middle of the summer, so it was fucking hot. I wrote most of the songs and even borrowed a few from my King Kobra days (“Take it Off” and “Mean Street Machine”). In fact, “Mean Street Machine” was one of the first songs I ever wrote back in high school. You’d never know I went to Catholic school from writing a tender love ballad called “Hard to Swallow. ”
BBG: What was it like producing Year of the Cock versus other albums?
David: It was much easier, more fun and cheaper. We did everything our way and didn’t have to answer to anyone but ourselves. After all, what label in their right mind would sign a band called Big Cock with songs called “Bad Motherfucker” on an album titled Year of the Cock? God Bless us for going out on a limb and making this a reality, otherwise the world would have no Big Cock. We know you love Big Cock, Allyson!
BBG: How is performing in Big Cock these days different from the glam days of Lizzy Borden, and Keel?
David: It’s much more fun now, since it’s our own band and we can - and do - whatever we want. Listen to the songs and you’ll see what I mean. The great thing is that people have really responded to our no-holds-barred, aggressive, arrogant cock-rock. It also helps that Robert is such a bad-ass singer.
BBG: What is your greatest tour memory?
David: Two, really – the first was King Kobra’s first opening slot for KISS in front of a huge festival audience. It was a great rush and I’ll never forget the roar of the crowd when we started playing. The second was a few years later, when we played a concert in Mexico with Quiet Riot and La Toya Jackson. La Toya refused to ride on the bus with us to the gig. I guess us long-hairs were a little too unsavory for her champagne tastes.
BBG: What's the deal with Big Cock and Rocklahoma? You had a contest running to play the festival. Is there a definitive deal in the works?
David: Nothing special – we just entered the (Jpot Music) contest like anyone else. It looks like a fun show and it would be great to be a part of it. Of course we would surely kick ass.
BBG: What made you first pick up a guitar?
David: Ace Frehley of Kiss and Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple.
BBG: Your brother is also a musician. Did you grow up playing together?
David: My brother Dan used to play drums and we had a band when we were kids that only played Kiss songs -- because they were easy enough to be able to learn. He later played in an early version of the Gin Blossoms here in Arizona and then switched to guitar.
BBG: What's the deal with the dual names (David Henzerling vs. David Michael- Philips )?
David: My real name is Dave Henzerling. Back in the 80s, you had to change your name into something Hollywood, like Steve McNasty or Sting or Nikki Sixx . It was the law, you know.
BBG: Do you play songs from your collective former bands during your Big Cock shows?
David: We play two King Kobra songs (but not in the live set) and a cover of Tom Jones’ “She’s a Lady” from our second CD.
BBG: Are there plans for a follow-up to Year of the Cock?
David: We will keep making Big Cock records as long as the fans keep listening; we are simply filling a void - pun intended - in an industry greatly lacking music in the cock-rock genre.
Reader Comments (8)
I know. The band is more known (I think) for their debut release. Interestingly, www.amazon.com has the release dates wrong...unless they are selling re-issues or something.
Allyson
bob_vinyl - cleverness (or lack thereof) is in the eye of the beholder. The maybe-not-so-subtle lyrics and even the name "Big Cock" are vehicles that allow us to keep making music and get our "ya-yas" out. We do it because it's fun and because it gets attention. I've done it that way since I was 16 and I'm still doing it that way today.
Metal Mark - I did the Metal Sludge interview in 1999 just before I graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Engineering (Computer Science). I originally quit college to join King Kobra and wanted to finish what I had started. I've never left music, but have since found many alternate ways with which to succeed financially (unlike many of my 80s counterparts, unfortunately). The side effect of this is that I continue to be able to do the music business the way I want, not the way others, i.e. the record labels dictate. Hence, Big Cock.
Allyson, Rob Rockitt - the two Big Cock albums now have national distribution as of January of this year (available now at Amazon.com as well as in Best Buy stores and other retail outlets). We'll also release both albums in Europe on Majestic Rock Records this summer and Japan (hopefully) in the fall. All of this a prelude to the 3rd Big Cock album, due this October. Not bad for an over-the-top, shameless and not-so-clever college graduate, eh?