Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
Kev: The band/project formed in 2021 and KK stands for Kev Korpse, Verkefni is Icelandic for ‘Project’. I’m obsessed with Iceland! I’m the band’s vocalist, bass player, synths and I also record and produce everything. The other half of KKV is Mark who is our lead and rhythm guitarist.
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
Kev: We are both based in Wrexham and we worked together in an office for 6 years. I’ve been trying get some sort of music project off the ground ever since 2015 and eventually we recorded our first (cover) song last year and now we are writing our own material.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
Mark: Bands like Big Country & The Rolling Stones, helped inspire me to play chords & focus on rhythm guitar whereas, Eric Clapton & Slash made me learn to play lead guitar. I improvise a lot & from this create my own tunes, riffs & solos & I like to think, to a certain extent, my sound has its own identity.
Kev: Honestly, too many to list. My heroes though… Toyah, Steve Strange and Kurt Cobain. Current bands such as Kælan Mikla and Diavol Strâin have been quite influential.
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
Mark: Since the age of 18 being an international rock star has always been the day-dream. ;o). (Even now!)
Kev: Yes always! When I was in school, I would bring in a new song I’d recorded during our Music lesson every week! I also once recorded vocals for a song in the same recording studio that K-Klass used – they had one hit in the 90’s and were also from the Wrexham/Chester area.
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
Mark: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Deep Purple’s Greatest Hits, Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire, Lovebites’ In the Beginning Best of 2017–2021, Smith / Kotzen, Band-Maid’s World Domination, Greta Van Fleet, Alter Bridge.
Kev: Live Fast or Die by Maid of Ace, Ever Crashing by SRSQ, The Buried Storm by Darkher, Miss Gendered by Lizette Lizette, Kiss of Death by IC3PEAK. Also, Kraków Loves Adana cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘It’s My Life’ is superb!
Do you sing in the shower?
Kev: Not singing but random cat sounds now and then.
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
Kev: Just trying to get our name out there really. We’ll be exploring different genres and there may also be some collaborations as well as some solo stuff.
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
Kev: No plans to release any albums, we’re just releasing singles and music videos in between our busy daily lives. We’re hoping to release our next single in September and another before the end of the year.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
Mark: Wembley Stadium.
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
Mark: Guns n’ Roses –Appetite for Destruction.
Kev: Oh gawd! So many to choose from! I suppose it has to be The Blue Meaning by Toyah.
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
Mark: Les Ketchup – The Ketchup Song, Abba – Summer Night City, Adele – Set Fire to the Rain.
Kev: I’ve always been quite a fan of Dollar (not even joking).
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
Mark: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Guns N’ Roses (1987 era), Van Halen (original line up), Alter Bridge, Big Country, Pearl Jam, Blondie.
Kev: Nirvana, Kate Bush, Björk, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Sex Pistols, Stevie Nicks.
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?
Mark: Reckless – Bryan Adams.
Kev: I can’t actually remember the first one I bought but I do recall buying Licensed To Ill by The Beastie Boys and getting a disgusted look off some lady in the shop as they’d recently had bad press (front page news as well!)
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
Kev: I think we’d just like to thank them for their ongoing support by sharing our posts, videos and generally spreading the word.
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!
Kev: All of our social media can be accessed via kkv.me.uk
We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?
Kev: We’d both like to thank you for giving us this opportunity and for all the shows you have provided for us all.
This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum