On a bittersweet note, our drummer for the last 2 years, Aaron Apter has parted ways with the band but we are happy to report that he is in Chicago pursuing his dream of making music full time and we will wish him the best.  We all have no doubt that with as much talent and determination that Aaron possesses, he will prevail.  Our best wishes go out to him as he freezes his ass off in the unrelenting Chicago wind.

Instead, I am formally announcing the coming of a new album titled Petty Standards at the end of January.  It will a 5-song E.P. (Extended Play) that will  feature studio versions of some of the bands favorite live covers that have endured over the last 16 years.  These include, Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway, It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing by Duke Ellington, Ain't That a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin, Bim Bam Baby by Frank Sinatra, and I'm Dead by former Chicago retro-rockers, the Moon Dogs.

Petty Standards will be a download only album and available January 28th through iTunes, AmazonMP3, ShockHound, Lala, GroupieTunes, Napster, Nokia, eMusic, Rhapsody, and the Limewire Store.  

Yep, believe it or not I am a comic book writer and I will most likely have at least one book coming out this year.  I'm not going to go into it much but I am very excited for what I have been working on over this past year.  If you are a fan of Horror, then you will be in for a treat.  More on this as it develops but I'm hoping we will have it out through a publisher come Halloween 2010.

I will have some work featured in the Mammoth Book of New Erotic Photography which will be out in all major book stores Spring of 2010.  I am very excited about this as the pursuit of photography has taken a lot of my time this year.  So far I have been fortunate enough to have been published in W25 Magazine twice, Secret Magazine, on FilthyGorgeousThings.com, and have been featured on some very popular blogs.  I'll be doing a lot more and we'll have a web site up soon so stay tuned.

I have also signed a deal with PoeticLicensePrinting.com to begin offering graphic t-shirts f the "PULP!" photos that I have been using for flyer artwork.  The shirts should be available after the first of the year and I will definitely keep you updated as soon as I find out when they will be made available.  The graphic above will be available.

So, that's all I can think of for now.  I'm in a fog induced by the 10pm to 3am recording hours that I lived for 3 weeks.  I'm not a late night person usually so that was tough on me and my sleep clock is still really off and it hurts. 

So, until next time- which won't be so damned long, I promise- please have a wonderful Holiday.  From me and the boys in the band, we wish you all the love, success, and peace in the world.

I will have 4 pieces exhibiting with the Ikeros Art Collective in Atlanta, GA - September 22nd. 

The show features 20 different erotic photographers and will be held at the Art Space International (1192 Huff road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318)

Out now in Ohio


JUNE Issue of FLIPRAG features the following interview with Wolfgang Parker:

Fliprag: Where does the name Wolfgang Parker come from?
WP: In 1993, I graduated high school and did a lot of traveling around the country. I went down to Graceland to see all of Elvis' tacky shit and came back with one souvenir, which was a 45 of Jailhouse Rock. The day I came home, no one was home and I put that on and I literally had the epiphany of my life to pursue music. That summer I stayed in Maine, Austin, New York and all different places. I knew I wanted to do a jazz punk thing and I only knew anything about one jazz musician, which was Charlie Parker. Wolfgang came from when I was traveling to all these places. For some reason, every time I turned on the TV, the movie Amadeus was on. It was a stupid coincidence that I ended up merging those two names. But literally it's from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Charlie Parker.

Fliprag: When was the band formed?
WP: I started writing the music in 1993 and 1994. We started seriously going after it in 1995 so it's been…fuck, fourteen years.

Fliprag: Since starting the band, have your goals changed?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Thank you all who braved the elements and came out to Skully's to celebrate the U.S. release of "Room Nineteen." 

The turn-out was such a wonderful vindication of all that the band and I do.  We appreciate the support and I personally have to say that it feels so good to have the venue rave to me about what a cool crowd we have.  In a business where the standard is, "cheap assholes that act like the world is their toilet," I am filled with a twofold sense of pride in my band and the fact that we have the best audiences in the world.  I mean that!

I would especially like to thank Tony Yates for coming out and playing, James Oberlin for lending his talents to the band once again, and everyone that purchased a copy of the new album and had us sign them.  In such tough times, it is impossible to overlook the fact that this music really means something to people and that puts us in a fortunate minority of bands that play original music.  THANK YOU!!!!!

Thank you's also aimed toward Skully's staff for taking such good care of everyone, Jeff Eaton for being so diligent in promoting this show and saving me from many headaches, Bill for celebrating his 50th birthday with us, Hells Fire Sinners and Vegas 66 for playing blistering sets and making us work harder, and all of those "ghosts from the past" that haunted the bar last night.

I must say it is humbling to stand on stage and be hit with with the fact that I have been in this exact same spot for 14 years and this music still resonates with people.  VERY few musicians can actually say that.  I heartly thank every one of you that have shared that smokey booze-drenched history with me. 

So, onward!  We will be posting what copies of this limited edition CD we have left on line so keep your eyes peeled for the announcement. 


 

Happy Holidays to All!

Thank you to everyone who posted a comment or sent us a message with offerings of the season's greetings. They are very much appreciated!

So...The demonic she-bitch that was 2008 is about to die her inevitable death and I say, "good riddance!" I don't know about the rest of you but this year was no friend to me. Lost friendships, deaths, constant stress and disaster, and shitty weather made this year bloody terrible. On to the bright and gleaming new year; full of hope and positive change all around!

This year has much promise for all of you out there that have been waiting patiently for the North American release of, "Room Nineteen." Only about 60 days to go!

I am also working on a couple of publishing projects that I am very excited about and one for those just might see the light-of-day in 2009. I will keep everyone up to date on that process. The band and I are also planing to begin production for a new release for late 2009. Again, we will post updates as thing begin to spiral out of control.

Okay, enough of my sunny disposition! I just wanted to post today to send my sincerest wishes for a very happy and safe holiday. May the coming year bring you all peace, prosperity, and love. The band and I thank you for your ongoing support and I personally appreciate the messages that are sent. They certainly help through those dark days. Yes, I read every one and I do my very best to answer them- albeit often late but I do read them so thank you.

Happy Holidays from myself and the boyz in the band!!!!!!

Hello!

Thank you to all for the well wishes for my "vacation." It is very much appreciated. However, true to form, I ended up working a lot but I have taken some time away from music to get a better perspective of what I want out of it and what it means to me.

So...I will be answering messages and adding you if you sent in a request but I will not be doing much more for a while. We have rehearsals for an upcoming show which will be announced soon and I want to get some photo shoots done in the coming months.

THE GOOD NEWS....

*We have a couple of shows booked and we are very excited to get back to rocking!

*"Room Nineteen" will be released here in North America, including hard-copy, in the coming months.

*A new album is being planned for recording and release in 2009. I cannot give much in the way of details but it will be a Punk-Swing album and the material is the very heart and soul of what I do. So stay tuned for that.

That is all for now. I have more things planned and projects in the pipeline but those will have to wait.

I will be on Myspace less in the next 90 days or so but all that means is that I am hard at work getting more music out and getting ready to rule a stage near you;)

~Wolfgang

ALL US CITIZENS SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED!

The Orphan Works Act is being discussed by the Senate and it boils down to the fact that IF it is passed anyone will be able to use your work without paying you and possible even claim it as theor own! This includes your own PERSONAL PHOTOS!  No joke!

So, if you want to keep your work YOURS and keep corporations from destroying all of the art industries and invading your privacy, click the link below and fill out a letter and it will automatically be sent to your rep in the Senate.

NOTE: If you are NOT an artists you can select the last letter entitled "For the Image-Making Public - Protect Personal Property" and send it in.

This act could open the flood gates for looting and robbing of artists worldwide and destroy the livelyhood of anyone that creates art. Apathy is NO excuse.

~Wolfgang

Hello,

Swing by COMFLIX for some two-fisted, black and white shoot-’em-up fin with the new web comic, "The Last Sins of Mark Grimm."  Guns, grit and Wolfgang and his boys pickin’ up the theme.  What more can you ask for, baby?!

~Wolfgang

Thank you to everyone who braved the orange cones, God-squads and mainstream metal hoards to join the band I at the Basement, Friday, September 14th, 2007.  Especially Gretchen and Darcel who flew up from New Orleans, Mike who drove from Atlanta, Georgia and the poor gal in black from Washington that I'm sure faught a harrowing battle with a demonic hang-over Saturday afternoon.

We really appreciate everyone for enduring a long stretch in between the sets and for being so incredibley appreciative.  I could not have asked for a better crowd to entertain for an evening and Alan and Aaron and I are looking forward to the next one.

Big thank you to the wonderful staff at the Basement and the Blood Violets for playing a wicked set- especially Omar for use of his drum and for getting down with us.  What a fucking trooper!

Until next time,

~Wolfgang