Exclusive: Godfather of Desert Rock Mario Lalli Chats About ‘She Wants to Die,’ First Single From Rubber Snake Charmers’ New LP
Desert rock – and perhaps Queens of the Stone Age and Kyuss too – probably wouldn’t exist without Mario Lalli. His presence is ubiquitous in the scene, by virtue of his leadership in bands like Fatso Jetson and Yawning Man, the integral production role he played in Josh Homme’s Desert Sessions projects that laid the groundwork for QOTSA albums, and beyond.
Now, Lalli is roaring back with a bevy of new projects and ventures, including solo material, represses of Fatso Jetson records and a new album by yet another one of his bands, Rubber Snake Charmers. The desert-rock collective actually formed in 2010, with a lineup that was as loose as its sound. Members past and present include Robby Krieger of The Doors, Brant Bjork, Gary Arce, Nick Oliveri, Alain Johannes, Joe Baiza and Sean Wheeler.
While Rubber Snake Charmers put out a live album, Folklore From The Other Desert Cities, in 2024, they announced their proper studio debut record today. Electric Mecca will see the light of day on February 5 via Heavy Psych Records.
The Obelisk debuted the album’s first single, “She Wants to Die” – which is also the lead track to the album – earlier today. But The Bad Penny landed the first interview with Lalli about the song.
“It’s an actual song, as opposed to the improvisational jams [that comprise the rest of Electric Mecca],” he said. “She Wants to Die” “was created as a jam, but we shortened it and created a four-minute song. So it’s an actual tune, not just a jam. It was from the sessions with Vincent Meghrouni (ex-Fatso Jetson), Robby Krieger, Sean Wheeler and myself at Robby’s studio.”
Lalli added: “It had a really unique instrumentation in contrast with the rest of the session. There’s some really groovy, distorted Wurlitzer sounds and some beautiful psychedelic guitar stuff. Along with Sean’s vocal delivery, it was a no-brainer to open the record [with ‘She Wants to Die’].”
Check back for much more from The Bad Penny‘s interview with Mario Lalli, the first he’s given about Rubber Snake Charmers, his new solo material and more.
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