Candye Kane is a tough chick from Cali who came up playing country, blues, and rock on the L.A. punk scene in the '80s at the same time as she stripped to pay the bills.
Later, she became a porn star, beat an abusive relationship, and survived cancer, all while still making and recording music.
Today, she tours 250 shows a year. And this Saturday, she's in Miami at Will Call for a bluesy Halloween weekend bash. So we here at Crossfade recently spoke to Candye about playing piano with her tits, and the difference between the porn and music biz.
See also:
-Miami's Halloween 2012 Music and Party Guide
-Ten Best Halloween Parties in Miami
Where you at right now?
We played in Key Largo last night. We're on our way to the next town. We been on tour for three weeks.
Where did you play in the Keys?
At the Bayside Grill. Tonight, we're playing in Goodland. I don't know where it is, but we're on our way. After this, we go to France and Holland. Every day, a new place. It's a lot of fun.
How many people in your band?
Four people. We have a van and we all take turns driving, and we drive around from town to town about 250 days a year.
You touring on an album?
I have a record called Sister Vagabond and it's on the Delta Groove record label, a pretty famous blues label, and I was nominated this year for two National Blues Awards, Best Contemporary Female and Best Blues CD of the Year. I didn't win, but it was great being acknowledged.
I read online you used to play shows with Black Flag?
In LA in the '80s, I was part of the music scene. We all played in the same clubs and we all made music in the same places. Rollins and Lee Ving are buddies of mine. It didn't matter what kind of music you played. I was a punk rock anarchist 'cause I was a stripper by day and musician by night.
I saw a video on YouTube where you're playing the piano with your tits...
I used to be able to. Not anymore. I had giant boobs, but then I had cancer and I lost a bunch of weight, lost 150 pounds. I'm only a 38D now. I was a 44H. So it's kind of hard to do that. I haven't done that for a long, long time.
That's awesome that you beat cancer.
It's amazing! My last CD was called Superhero, about overcoming adversity, if you look at my past I was in the Big Book of Breasts, I've been a battered wife, I was a porn queen, a lot of the things I been through made me stronger. So I'm grateful for all the bumps and grinds along the way that made me tougher, stronger, and able to handle all the craziness. So the cancer, I knew I would survive 'cause I already survived so much other stuff.
Sounds like you have a sense of humor about things?
I was a big girl, almost 300 pounds, with huge knockers. I have a good sense of humor.
What can people look forward to in your show?
I have an amazing guitar player. She's 30 years old, and she's incredible for guitar fans. If you're a fan of B.B. King or SRV, you'll love Laura Chavez. If you like women and blues and electric guitar, you'll get your money's worth.
What's the difference between porn and the music business?
In the music business, they lie to you and say they wanna be your friend. In porn, they flat out tell you who they are. They're honest about being sleazy pornographers. It's almost the same. They're both sleazy. But in music, they try to act respectable. In porn, they admit that they're liars and they don't care.
Candye Kane's Blues Halloween. With Psycho Devilles and Haitian Hillbilly. Saturday, October 27. Will Call, 700 NE Second Ave., Miami. The show starts at 10 p.m. and cover costs $10. Ages 21 and up. Call 305-577-5900 or visit willcallmiami.com.
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