Playing With Fire

The song "Playing With Fire" by The Wild! from their album of the same name is a high-energy rock anthem that captures the band’s raw, rebellious spirit. In a 2019 interview with Kelowna Now, lead singer Dylan Villain described the track as a reflection of living life on the edge, inspired by late-night jam sessions and the band’s love for classic rock riffs. He mentioned that the song’s iconic guitar hook came about accidentally when guitarist Lucas “Boozus” Juszczyk was noodling during a rehearsal break, and the band immediately knew it was a keeper. The lyrics, with their nod to reckless abandon, were partly inspired by Villain’s experiences touring dive bars across Canada, where the band often played to rowdy crowds who embodied the song’s fiery vibe.

On social media, The Wild!’s Instagram shared a behind-the-scenes story about the song’s music video shoot in 2020, which involved a real fire stunt gone slightly awry. The band posted a clip of Villain nearly singeing his leather jacket while trying to look cool near a bonfire, captioning it, “Guess we took ‘Playing With Fire’ a bit too literally!” Fans on their Facebook page chimed in with their own stories of wild nights soundtracked by the song, with one fan recalling a road trip where they blasted it on repeat through the Nevada desert. The band’s X account also retweeted a fan’s post in 2021, quoting the lyric “We’re burning it down tonight” alongside a photo of a packed concert, showing how the song has become a live show staple for their dedicated “Zoo Freaks” audience.

The Wild! got their start in Kelowna, British Columbia, in 2011, when Dylan Villain, a lifelong fan of AC/DC and Mötley Crüe, decided to form a band that would bring back the gritty, no-frills rock ‘n’ roll he felt was missing from the modern scene. According to their bio on their official website, Villain met drummer Reese “The Beast” Lightning at a local bar after a heated debate over the best Guns N’ Roses album. The two bonded over their shared love for high-octane music and recruited Juszczyk and bassist Chad “The Kid” Hoffman to complete the lineup. They started playing small gigs at local venues, often for free beer, and built a cult following through their electrifying live shows and unapologetic attitude.

The band’s big break came in 2015 when they signed with Epitaph Records after a label scout caught their set at a Vancouver rock festival. Their debut album, GxDxWxB, released in 2017, put them on the map, but it was Playing With Fire in 2020 that solidified their reputation as Canada’s wildest rock export. The bio notes that their relentless touring, including stints opening for bands like Airbourne and The Ramones tribute acts, helped them connect with fans worldwide, including the Zoo Freaks who tune into THE ZOO radio station. The band credits their success to staying true to their roots and never compromising their love for loud, unpolished rock.

Fans of The Wild! have created several online spaces to celebrate the band. The Wild Freaks Fan Club on Facebook is a vibrant group where Zoo Freaks share concert photos, trade vinyl copies of Playing With Fire, and discuss the band’s latest antics. There’s also a fan-run website, Wild Rock Fever, which features fan reviews, tour diaries, and a forum for discussing the band’s music and lore. These communities keep the spirit of “Playing With Fire” alive, with members often quoting the song’s lyrics in posts about living life with reckless passion.

For more on The Wild!, check out their official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join the conversation with fellow Zoo Freaks in the Wild Freaks Fan Club or at Wild Rock Fever.