Melissa's Hand of Doom

From: New York Post, 2002-10-20
Date added: 2002-10-25

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'This is not my job," says 30-year-old former Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur of her new band Hand of Doom. "It's just a beautiful vacation."

Hand of Doom, Auf der Maur's Black Sabbath tribute band (Sabbath was fronted by Ozzy Osbourne) has played a few dates around town for the past year. Their first record, "Live in Los Angeles: Black Sabbath Tribute" (Idaho Music) - a seven-song EP recorded at Johnny Depp's Viper Room - hits stores Tuesday (it is also available through www.retrophonic.com).

She describes it as a "celebration" of Ozzy and says she got the idea long before he became America's Favorite Dad.

"No band I've ever been in - no band I've ever been influenced by - would exist if Sabbath didn't exist. They are the inventors of a very particular genre of music and conceptual experience, and I must be humble and worship," says Auf der Maur, who splits her time between Manhattan and Montreal. "And we started HOD way before 'The Osbournes' existed." Auf der Maur sings and plays guitar; fashion designer Molly Stern, Money Mark's Pedro Yanowitz, the Infernos' Guy Stevens, and filmmaker Joey Garfield make up the rest of the band. Nick Oliveri (of Queens of the Stone Age) also takes a turn on vocals.

Auf der Maur even met the Madman himself (Ozzy's wife, Sharon, briefly managed the Pumpkins before falling out with singer Billy Corgan). "He's so sweet," she says. "He poured me tea and served me crumpets while Sharon talked with me about what I would need from a bass tech."

Aside from Hand of Doom, Auf der Maur is working with local stars like ex-Lemonhead Evan Dando, Ryan Adams and former Pumpkins colleague James Iha on a new project, and has recorded songs for a couple of films. Next up is her just-completed first solo record, "Auf der Maur," which she hopes to release in early 2003.

"I love being the bass player, and that was obviously a big part of my musical role and personality for the last seven years of my life," she says. "But doing the Hand of Doom thing has really worked my voice and even my confidence - if I can present Ozzy's songs, then I can present my own."

Hand of Doom performs at Staten Island's Club Drink on Saturday and at Filter 14 (432 W 14th St. at Washington Street, [212] 366-5680) on Oct. 30.

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