demo called Valley of the Paper Dolls, which sold out. While trying out many different drummers, the duo came upon Zero through an online ad and the band finally clicked when McMurray joined in early 2006. Valenti and Fry had hired another drummer just the day before McMurray emailed them, but he dedicated himself to learning some of their songs and, as Fry says, “he got us, he got the vision and we loved him. Plus he had a cool accent and that helps!”
Alluding to the band’s unique moniker, Greta says, “John came up with Minx because the band had a female lead singer and had the sexy cat vibe going for it. The Fuji came from me just looking at a videotape, but it seems to work together quite well and we kept it! I think it’s exciting that we have been able to create something new here, with no rules, that brings together all of our influences. Despite the differences in our backgrounds, we love the music that happens when we’re working together. We’re a family and FUJI MINX is out illegitimate child that we love as our own.”
Originally conceived as a sociopolitical musical statement aimed at world situations and the government, Users Cheaters Theatres began to take creative shape after the members of FUJI MINX decided to steer away from outside targets and point the accusing finger at themselves. “The concept went from global to eternal,” says Fry, “boiling down to a tug of war between who we are and who we want to be, and the conflicting feelings we all have in that struggle.” Valenti adds, “It’s about us and our own demons. We placed the songs in an order that tells a powerful story during the live shows, that we will enhance visually on our upcoming tour” The show will develop over the next few months, but you can expect it to be donned with backup singers, costumes (Designed by Project Runway’s Kit Pistol or by GV herself), video, set pieces, and more. GV concluded, “We’re constantly adding things that will make your concert ticket a bit more worthwhile and perhaps do something you haven’t seen before.”
>Watch a recent interview with FUJI MINX at Vlaze.com
>Listen to a radio interview about the making of the debut album at KIAC.
