DRESDEN DOLLS LEARN DRESS-UP FROM THE GREATS…AND FROM FAMILY

Dresden Dolls may be the most exciting act in rock, combining their entertaining theatrical approach to music in a Tori Amos meets Marilyn Manson Grotesque era kind of way. The band recently upped the ante by inviting an orchestra to join in on what has traditionally been a one-to-one experience between drummer Brian Viglione and pianist/vocalist Amanda Palmer.

Dresden Dolls, while unparellelled in their set-up and staging, are not without their influences. Palmer said she saw a lot from her family and from the world of music in the ’80s.

“Yeah, I mean it’s an interesting combination of a lot of things for me because I’ve seen this, you know, maybe not so much bands, but I remember as I was 11 and 12 seeing my older brothers and sisters going to the Rocky Horror picture show and getting dressed up all punk and and going into parties. And it was always a part of that whole idea of costume and make-up and gettting all glam-ed out in the ’80s was a big part of cool.”

Dresden Dolls are releasing a DVD titled, Paradise, which was taped in their hometown of Boston. The band is almost done with the follow-up to their critically acclaimed self-titled release.

“I was especially into bands that had that sort of side – not necessarily the goth side but like Prince and the Stray Cats are another favorite, and the legendary Pink Dots with the face paint and Bowie and all these things. There seems to be a common thread in the level of interest in music and the level of costuming going on with the people singing it. So I just figured there was something happening there.”