THE FIERCE FRONTMAN OF SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS TALKS ABOUT BFF AND MENTOR LADY GAGA, THE GROUP’S NEW EP AND ALBUM, AND SOME OF SPW’S WILDEST FANS!

A sparkly, nude, J.Lo catsuit — a la New Years Eve, perhaps?

Tranter laughs. "It’s gonna be like J. Lo-meets-Iggy Pop."

This seems fitting on various levels. The decadence and bare-bone rock ‘n roll associated with the Lopez/Iggy Pop combination is a suitable description for Semi Precious Weapon’s style of music. And Tranter and his SPW crew — Cole Whittle (bass), Steve Pyne (guitar) and Dan Crean (drums) — are going to have to be well-clothed and costumed — 2010 is set to be a big year for the group; much of this an extension of the strong foundation they set in 2009.

First of all, the group recorded a full album in L.A. that promises to aurally capture the ‘filthy party’ they create in their live show. Second? They were hyped by and came under the tutelage of two massively important tastemakers — gossip blogger Perez Hilton and pop superstar Lady GaGa. They’ve ended up touring with both; as headliners this summer on Hilton’s ‘Perez Hilton Presents’ gig and now as one of the opening acts for GaGa’s ‘Monster Ball‘ tour. The latter is an old pal of the band. (She’s also an executive producer on their soon-to-be-released album).

Frontman Justin Tranter excites the crowd at a fashion week event in New York City! — Click HERE for more EXCLUSIVE SPW pics!

"We’ve just been a band in New York, working our asses off and driving ourselves around in a murder van," Tranter explains. "We met GaGa because she was a fan of ours and through friends of friends we checked her out and asked her to open for us at some New York shows in 2007. It was her first couple of shows as Lady GaGa and we just became friends with her and her whole posse."

He says it’s been "amazing" to see her success. "It’s great to see that the world is ready for things that are different and exciting.’

‘I think we’ve inspired each other a lot," he continues. "SPW was a big influence on her first record. The whole idea of willing yourself from within and willing yourself to be beautiful."

Self-empowerment is a strong lyrical theme in Semi Precious Weapon’s music. They released a 3-song EP on January 18th that includes the anthemic, nouveau-punk self-titled track. The lyrics? "I can’t pay my rent / but I’m f—ing gorgeous."

"It’s just about literally when there was a time in New York City and I was collecting cans to eat but I was still going out to parties and looking like a million bucks," Tranter says. "The songs are either about how I love myself or about the really amazing, disastrous women of New York City who inspire me. I can’t seem to make a friend who isn’t a stunningly-beautiful train-wreck."

BassistCole Wittle rocking in full effect! — Click HERE for more EXCLUSIVE SPW pics!

The EP is just a teaser for the full album set to be released this spring. It was produced by Green Day and Beck‘s producer, Jack Joseph Puig — whom Tranter says perfectly helped capture the raw energy of the group.

"We’ve worked with a lot of producers, but it was so exciting because Jack really believes in the art form of making a record," Tranter says. "We’re just a four-piece, dirty, fuckin’ rock ‘n roll band. He really made sure the party and the filthiness were being felt on this record without seeing it — that you could feel the filthy dance party in it. People think you need a fake bassline or synth pad to dance, but I’m confident that we’ve found a way to make people dance even though it’s rock ‘n roll."

Yet Puig also managed to nail down a musical dichotomy. On the record, SPW showcases its more sensitive side, veering from filthy party band hailing champagne and public sex to presenting two more emotional ballads: a subtle love song called "Look At Me" and another, "Leave Your Pretty To Me," that was recorded with a 30-piece orchestra (courtesy of Mary J. Blige, who was doing the strings for her new record the same night that SPW was laying down their own tune.).

Tranter and his crew are excited about their tour and record release, but what seems to satisfy him the most is the idea of making music that connects with a diverse swath of listeners. On their MySpace page, Semi Precious Weapons urges their fans to comment, promising that they "WILL almost always get a comment back from a band member who is truly interested in your life, no matter how strange, fabulous or boring it may be."

"Labels still have power and money," Tranter says, "but it’s the fans that are actually in control. Knowing who your fans are and what they want is the smartest thing we can do. I think our fan base is extremely diverse — whether it’s the gender-confused teenager who looks up to me as a hero or the 33-year-old dude who wants hear a f—ing guitar solo."

He pauses. "Or the sorority girls who masturbates thinking about me onstage. I’ve gotten letters from some girls in Utah who actually have done that. It has happened!"