MTV: Semi Precious Weapons Marvel At Gaga's Impact On Their Success

MTV Shows

"Back in the dark ages — you know, like, 2006 — when Lady Gaga was just a girl named Stefani, she used to open for Semi Precious Weapons at gigs all around New York City. Of course, things have changed slightly since then, but Gaga has never forgotten that the Weapons helped her out when no one else would, and she's returned the favor by taking them with her on the globe-trotting Monster Ball Tour.


It's a pretty nice gig for the glam guys of Semi Precious Weapons, who've already admitted that they "owe their lives" to Gaga. They're taking full advantage of all the perks that come with being the Lady's hand-picked openers — and we do mean full advantage.


"It's been crazy," SPW frontman Justin Tranter laughed. "We showed up at the airport in New Zealand, and there were literally, like, 40 kids with huge signs that said, 'Justin, I Want Your Baby.' Because we have a song called "Put a Diamond in It," where I sing, 'Who, who, who wants my baby?' And there were all these 15-year-old boys at the airport dressed like us. ... We had some pretty legendary hotel parties, where, like, [bassist Cole Whittle] got a black eye, and [drummer] Dan [Crean] had sex multiple times. Things worked out really well."


While that kind of action was fairly common overseas, SPW are still working on graduating to that level of debauchery Stateside. Though, thanks to Gaga, it appears the goal is certainly within reach. In June, the guys will release their second full-length, You Love You, through Geffen Records, and they've started selling out venues outside of NYC. They still have a ways to go, though, before SPW fans in America can match the, uh, dedication of their supporters across the pond.


"In other countries that we go to, because we're on this massive tour, and they're hearing our songs on the radio already, they view us as superstars," Tranter explained. "And here in America, they view us as a band that's been harassing everyone for three years, desperately trying to break through," he said. "[But] the difference [from when] we used to play in America three months ago to now is insane. We're selling out shows on our own, and kids know every single word. It's really amazing.


"Another difference [between] the rest of the world to America is, here, when we say, 'You should have sex to our music,' people chuckle, like, 'Oh, that's quirky,' " Whittle added. "Over there, they just do it." -- Credit: James Montgomery/MTV