RIP Tokky Horror

Interview: Eerie Rose Photographs: Jody Hartley

The first time I met Tokky Horror was in the smoking area of their sold-out Blondies show, taking photos before the gig for our fourth 5.18 print edition’s cover story. Charmed by their down-to-earth and friendly nature mixed with sharp wit and banter, I was even more hooked the minute I saw their set: an addictive, loud whirlwind of energy that tore up the tiny venue, infecting each and every one of us crammed inside. It was clear to me why they had gained such a dedicated cult following - not only do they create a really unique, intense form of music, but it was entirely backed up by heavy, chaotic live shows that left you reeling and begging for more. I got to know the band a little more over the coming year, assisting Forrest Flowers supporting the Bristol and London leg of Tokky’s Autumn ‘23 UK tour, and I never ceased to be impressed by the community they had created, and the ferocious energy they bought out to them night after night.

The break-up instagram totally caught me out - thinking it was a joke at first, I didn’t process how I felt about the news until much later. The end of Tokky Horror made me think about a whole host of things - growing up, the crushing weight of life under capitalism, the reality of trying to be a musician or artist of any kind in the UK at the moment. It felt heavy, but at the same time liberating - nothing has to last forever, and aren’t we so glad it happened regardless?

Tokky Horror started as a digital collaboration back in lockdown - and resulted in a cult band that played shows from arctangent to glastonbury. Did you ever picture just how far it would go?

M) I'm not sure what I pictured for it. I think the things we have done have been amazing, I don't think I ever thought we'd get Glastonbury, but that's probably due to a lack of self esteem rather than what I wanted. All I knew is I wanted to get out and play gigs really.

Z)  I don’t think we would have created anything if we didn’t think there was potential to get out and push the limits of what we were capable of. I’d say as an artist you always want to believe in what you’re doing. But that’s more in terms of the music we wanted to make. I’ve never been a huge fan of using festivals as a milestone or benchmark of success. Sure we played Glastonbury, but it was one of our smaller festival crowds, sure we toured big venues opening for Enter Shikari but I’m not sure how much the fans actually liked us. Playing back rooms and D.I.Y. spaces across the country, spots you’d never tell your mum you’ve been too, has always yielded more for us. It lead to the real success, which was finding “our people”, the same people who showed up in their masses to say goodbye to us, which was a very beautiful thing.

Whilst it was incredible just how big you guys got - 2023 saw you touring pretty much non stop, which whilst fun, is quite physically and mentally taxing. How did it feel playing so many shows?

Z) I loved it, it was our first time touring with Hendri (drums) and Drian (guitar). We released Kappacore and it felt like we were at our best. The vibe within the band had never been better. However, despite that, I made the decision that after our tour in October/November I’d be stepping back from touring. It was a combination of things and I don’t want to take the narrative of “life got in the way” because I’m actually blessed that the band was such a welcoming and accepting space. It was more that, I felt it was time. I’ve toured for nearly ten years (most of my life with a break for covid) and it was just time for my next chapter. Touring is a very consuming thing. So we ran through a bunch of scenarios, none of which seemed to feel right, and after a lot more thought, that was when we called it a day. 

M) Yeah same, I LOVE TOURING I FLIPPIN LOVED IT DID I SAY I LOVED IT YET? I would do all that again in a heartbeat. I love being in vans, I love being with my pals in vans, I love going to places in vans, I love meeting people in new places, honestly I love tour. Despite doing various musical projects for years before Tokky, Tokky was my first go at touring properly as a band really and honestly, 10/10. I suppose I haven't really answered your question, yes it is taxing as fuck, but the joy I get from it well outweighs the tiredness, and you learn so much, and experience so many people. Also getting home and chillin in your pjs for a day or two afterwards feels so flippin good. 

How did you know it was time to stop - time to end on a high? I feel this is always a better decision than running something good into the ground, whatever the reason. 

Z) Yeah as I said in the previous question, I kind of called my own involvement but was keen for the band to carry on. I think the main thing for us was we’ve always been about liberating. Whether that’s musically and encouraging people to just have a go. Or playing shows, where we want people to dance and have fun and be silly. Or out values and ethics and so on. It was important we always captured that, and I think we did. So ending how we did, with a huge two day party with all our friends was spot on.

M) As Zee said, I think as a band we all ended up wanting different things. I think 'quitting' is sometimes so liberating too, you open up time to so many more opportunities and experiences that way. Not gonna lie I do sometimes feel pretty gutted that this is over BUT we did good shit, we love each other, created a community and I am excited to see what's next. 

What have been your Tokky highlights?

Z) My favourite show was playing Islington Mill in Salford. It was carnage, the whole room was shaking, sweat was dripping off the roof, people where throwing themselves off anything that could hold em. Beautiful stuff. But I’d say my actual highlight though was probably just meeting the band, the music we’ve written and experiences we’ve had. I’m not the same person than when I started this, I’ve grown and I like who I’ve become. We’re basically siblings at this point and I couldn’t really have done what we’ve done or asked for a better group of people to be around for the past five years.

M) I wish I was as eloquent as Zee, I loved touring with Shikari and yeah that gig at Islington Mill was absolutely buzzin, it was one of my favourite nights ever. I loved being in the van on tour, being busy and collaborating with some amazing artists along the way. Just being asked by Zee to do it in the first place was a huge buzz for me and I'll always remember that.

How did you decide where to play the final shows? Do you have favourite cities or venues that mean a lot to the band?

M) I don't even remember a discussion around it to be honest, I think we've always just gone down so well in Manchester, I think our first ever sell out show was there, it kind of feels like the band's natural home. 

Z) I did personally cringe at Manchester, because the band is called TOKKY horror. But if we’re honest its where the band always seems to have connected the most and it is Mol + Drian’s hometown. Rod who ran the shows with Homobloc/Warehouse Project has always been great to us and we felt it was right to play two sweaty gigs in one of our favourite venues, ran by a promoter we trusted. We wanted them to be up north, because everything is always down south and we wanted them to be affordable and easy to access.

How did the final shows feel to play?

M) Honestly I still don't think I have the words for it. I tried to say things on stage and just ended up in tears, I didn't even get past my first point of thanking CLT DRP for being such amazing friends and support. I just feel so grateful that that was something we got to do, and for the reception from people. Our fans are actually fuckin sick, I love that at our shows we've never really had any trouble, and they seem to be a little aggressive, ecstasy fuelled, love driven queer haven for people. I am so in to that, and I genuinely hope that some of these people that we have come to know through playing shows keep these spaces alive within their own projects. I'm gonna keep a hopeful eye out for that.

Z) Yeah it was fun and emotional. We tried to keep it as business as usual as possible because that’s our legacy really. Forgetting the outside world for a lil bit and losing yourself in it all. But it wasn’t really possible and towards the end of the final set there were a lot of tears! But to have Bob from The Bloody Beetroots, one of our biggest influences, fly from fucking Italy to join us on stage in this sweatbox in Manny. Absolutely blew my mind. I hope people take away from it that you can do anything, just crack open the laptop and get started. You just need to do. During covid I was listening to lots of Bloody Beetroots, wanted to do something like that and then four years later he’s onstage with us, we’ve written a song together, and we’re going for a Bundobust. Life is a weird journey just get stuck in.

If you could do it all over again - would you? Would you do anything differently?

Z) Not really, I think we can say we did everything with the best intentions. My only thing would be the times I felt bad about stuff. I felt like our streaming numbers weren’t good, or we weren’t traction on a single or any of that nonsense. None of it matters, just forget it. If I had any advice for anyone it would be just create. Block out the noise and just create.

M) It's where me and Zee definitely differ but I would just play more shows. I'm in no way disappointed with what we did, but I'm just a fuckin fiend for it haha. Other than that, not really. Maybe get in the room more together?

Is this really the end? What's next for you all individually?

Z) For me it is. Next up on my agenda is lots of walks and time growing my plants before the songs start to pour out again. It’s a curse and a blessing, I can’t ever stop writing music I think the question is what I or we do with it.

M) With everything going on in our lives personally, I reckon it is the end yeah. People are already joking about reunions but honestly I'm 30 now, and I'm not sure that I'll be up for storming about pretty much naked and covered in fake blood when I'm 40, and I think that live experience of Tokky should remain unsaturated. 

I am working on a few bits, I don't wanna stop gigging so yeah I'm keeping up with DJing, I also have a collaborative project with The Technoist in the making, as well as some other collabs and solo productions on the horizon, so yeah I'm not planning on stopping! Oh, as well as texting Zee every week asking when we're gonna do the reunion. That's high on my to do list.

Tokky Horror’s final release KAPPACORE: XTNDED EDITION featuring collaborations + remixes with Zand, Vlure, Blazer Boccle, Bobby Wolfgang and more is available on limited edition 12” from the Venn Records store.

RIP TOKKY HORROR - WE LOVE YA 5eva! x