Do You Really Wanna Taste It

The Zoo Crew is cranking up the vibes at THE ZOO radio station, spinning the electrifying track "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam from their 2010 album Non Stop Rock 'n Roll for all the Zoo Freaks out there. This song, a glam metal anthem, carries a deeper story beneath its catchy riffs and shout-along chorus. According to lead singer Åge Sten Nilsen (aka Glam), the track reflects his personal struggles with fame's darker side. In a 2022 Billboard interview, Nilsen revealed that the song, co-written with guitarist Trond "Teeny" Holter in just minutes, explores the destructive allure of egomania and celebrity life, with lyrics like “Do ya really wanna taste it / What’s going up must come down” serving as a cautionary tale. He shared that living as his stage persona Glam 24/7 led to a divorce and personal turmoil, making the song a raw reflection of that period.

The song's resurgence came unexpectedly when director James Gunn chose it as the opening theme for the 2022 HBO Max series Peacemaker, featuring John Cena. The show's iconic, deadpan dance sequence to a shortened version of the track brought Wig Wam to a new global audience, revitalizing their career. Nilsen noted in the same Billboard piece that their Scandinavian booking agency dropped them just days before the Peacemaker premiere due to low interest, only for the show’s success to spark a wave of new bookings and fan enthusiasm. The music video for "Do Ya Wanna Taste It," shot in 2010 and released by Frontier Records on YouTube, is a deliberately cheesy throwback to glam metal excess, which Nilsen described as an unintentional precursor to the Peacemaker sequence.

Wig Wam formed in Halden, Norway, in 2001, channeling the spirit of 1980s glam metal and hard rock with a tongue-in-cheek flair. The band—vocalist Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen), guitarist Teeny (Trond Holter), bassist Flash (Bernt Jansen), and drummer Sporty (Øystein Andersen)—started as a session band playing covers of 1970s and 1980s classics by bands like Kiss, Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin at a local club. Their high-energy performances at an 1980s-themed party led to more gigs, and they quickly became one of Norway’s most popular live acts, earning a fanbase known as Wig Wamaniacs. Inspired by glam rock pioneers like Sweet (whose song “Wig-Wam Bam” inspired their name), T. Rex, and Queen, they crafted a sound blending glitter-soaked hooks with humorous lyrics, adopting stage names and flamboyant outfits to match.

Their big break came in 2004 with their debut album 667 ... The Neighbour of the Beast, followed by a third-place finish in Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix with “Crazy Things.” In 2005, they represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv with “In My Dreams,” becoming the first metal band to perform there, finishing ninth and topping Norway’s charts for three weeks. Despite a 2014 split due to internal tensions, they reunited in 2019, releasing Never Say Die in 2021 and Out of the Dark in 2023, fueled by their Peacemaker revival. Their slogan, “Rock is the new schlager,” captures their playful yet rebellious spirit.

Fans can connect with Wig Wam through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates, throwback photos, and new music teasers. The band’s dedicated fanbase, the Wig Wamaniacs, is active on platforms like the Wig Wamaniacs Facebook group, where fans discuss shows, share memorabilia, and celebrate the band’s glam metal legacy. For Zoo Freaks craving more, diving into these communities offers a vibrant way to join the Wig Wam party.