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Photo Credit: Volker Wilke

Vocalist Jutta Weinhold is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of female-fronted Heavy Metal. Jutta broke into the genre after nearly 15 years of exploring theater musicals, club music, and the Blues. In 1985, Weinhold formed the dramatic Metal act ZED YAGO. Their music was heavy and focused on the fictitious adventures of the daughter of the Flying Dutchman. ZED YAGO released two albums between 1988 and 1989 before red tape, lawyers, and egos got in the way.

Weinhold was crushed that she had to walk away from the band she created, but forged on with VELVET VIPER in 1990. Under her new band name she released two studio albums Velvet Viper (1990) and The 4th Quest For Fantasy (1992). You've heard this a thousand times before, but the '90s were not welcoming to Heavy Metal acts anymore, and VELVET VIPER became a victim like their American counterparts.

After revisiting her painful time with ZED YAGO through journaling, Jutta found closure. She began performing the music again live, and decided to revive VELVET VIPER in the process. Guitarist Holgar Marx was instrumental in the band's resurrection, as he and Weinhold have formed a partnership that has led to 4 studio albums and numerous club and festival live performances.

The latest album by VELVET VIPER titled Nothing Compares To Metal was released on August 25, 2023 through Massacre Records, and it is quite possibly their finest album since reforming in 2018 (KNAC.COM review HERE). I had the chance to catch up with Jutta Weinhold and Holgar Marx to find out more about it, and the crazy ride that got them here.

www.velvet-viper.net