Based in Camden, Guru Honey Badger marches to the beat of her own drum. Born into punk, she has been expressing herself musically and through other forms of arts most of her life. From being in a band, performing and choreographing burlesque, street performances to making her own outfits she’s done it all. She also has a big heart. Aggy Gillon caught up with her after her show to discuss all things Honey Guru Badger and her quest to find a new band member.
How many Rebellions have you done?
Guru Honey Badger: Never!
This is your first?
Guru Honey Badger: I remember Blackpool as a little kid. My Uncle was in a punk band. Before Rebellion there was an event and it had Chumbawumba, Not Sensibles, all that lot. There was a band called Badger and now I’m called Guru Honey Badger! I’m 50 next year. I was born in 76. I’m from punk, I’m born of punk.
You can tell from your performance!
Guru Honey Badger: F*King yeah!
So you’re a Burlesque and street performer as well?
Guru Honey Badger: I also do fetish performance. I run a cabaret called ‘Rock & Roll Cabaret’ once a week in Soho on a Wednesday. Of course I’m not there this week as I’m here in Blackpool. I love Burlesque. I love the self expression and people not telling me what to do because life is too short! Do what you want, embrace your body, do it! Seriously. Don’t wait, do it. Treat everybody good. As Guru Honey Badger, we don’t care. Just treat us good and we’ll treat you good back.
What came first? The music or the theatrical kind of performances or did it all come at the same time?
Guru Honey Badger: As a kid there was the punk side and then there was the very Catholic side. So therefore I was a bit of a rebel. I played guitar. They thought I was a witch. They used to chant burn the witch, burn the witch!
Speaking of your fetish performances, have you played Club Antichrist?
Guru Honey Badger: I’ve done a lot of them. I’m waiting for them to book me as a main act as I’ve been doing ‘Satan’s Strip Show’ for so long! They have so many new performers coming in though. I do a different act every time I perform and I make the costumes. I just love it.
Have you been in different bands? How long have you been Guru Honey Badger?
Guru Honey Badger: Guru Honey Badger started about a year before lockdown started. I met a guy from Sex Gang Children and he went, hey, up! Let’s do this. We started making music but he lost interest. I love men but I just have female members now.
Yeah, you now have your lovely guitarist, Emily. You were saying before that you are looking for another member?
Guru Honey Badger: Yeah, someone to do synth or drums. We just need another member basically to complete it. We have new material that I want to get out there. At the moment we are just doing it acoustically. Which, yeah, it’s OK but I want that heavy Guru Honey Badger sound. Honey badgers growl! They are fierce! So I’m just going to advertise it. Just contact me on Instagram if anyone is interested. I live in Camden and there are practice rooms around the corner from me run by my friend Barry. It’s a really cool place. If you want to give it a go, come please as I need to get something together.
Have you got any albums or EPs out at the minute?
Guru Honey Badger: I have indeed! On Reverbnation. I’ve been on there for quite a few years. ‘Monkey Skull’ is my favourite. ‘Living Dead Girl’ is a very gothy one which I absolutely adore. A new one which is slightly different which was procured by a guy who used to work for The Banshees is called ‘Lumen Dreaming’. That’s a new release. None of this is on vinyl at the moment. It’s a work in progress. We are working on new material as I mentioned and that’s why I need that extra person. We need that steady back beat. I can’t do everything. I literally wish I could.
You were giving you ‘Talk To The Paw’ badges on stage. Can you tell me about that?
Honey Guru Badger: I have a lot of rescue animals at home. I have guinea pigs, fish and two cats. The cats were badly treated and I have had them for two years. Biscuit and Bowser. He is very wary of people and he has this one person who is his go to that comes to visit him every night. The ‘Talk To The Paw’ badges are inspired by Biscuit. He’s a very friendly cat but when I come to sit next to him his paw comes up like ‘talk to the paw!’ *laughs*. Animals do not deserve to be mistreated. They are beautiful. I help out at a charity shop in Camden called ‘Rock n Roll Rescue’. That’s my main thing. I work for a lot of charities as well as my performing arts. I’m giving back for all my sins for being human!
What inspires you?
Guru Honey Badger: Everything inspires me. Even walking along the street I’ll see a person, a building or something. However from the past I would say the very gothic, Mary Shelly, Frankenstein, all that kind of stuff.
Are you here all weekend? If so, who is on your hit list?
Guru Honey Badger: Definitely The Damned! Obviously. Chumbawumba. There’s a few things on the literary stage I want to go see.
What advice would you give another woman who wants to go down the same path as you?
Guru Honey Badger: Don’t be afraid of what other people think. Just do it. You’ll get people that don’t like you. Find a group of people who love you and they will be your rock. Be authentic to yourself. Stand up for the good in life.
Interview and photos by Aggy Gillon