As promised - Amy 'Lita' Dumas interview

Amy Dumas - better known to many as high-flying, risk-taking (and, frankly, gorgeous) Lita from the WWE is currently touring in the UK and Ireland with her punk-rock band The Luchagors.

The tour comes to Auntie Annie’s on Wednesday 8 July. Tickets cost £12 and are available at the door.

Pied Piper caught up with the tattooed – and very media shy – lady, ahead of her visit.

PP: Hi Amy - what you are doing with yourself these days?

Amy: My schedule is much more relaxing. I must admit I enjoy it. I have a radio show on Project96-1 here in Atlanta I do on Sunday nights. It's a one-hour punk show, I love doing it. The last Saturday of every month I am involved with the Silver Scream Spook Show at the Plaza theater in Atlanta. It is a live improv-comedy show with elements of a variety show, vaudeville, and old style spook shows. It is a lot of fun to do. Also, I am always doing stuff with my band as well, even if we aren't on the road, we are at the rehearsal space and dreaming up future possibilities for the band.

PP: It’s been a few years since you left wrestling, do you ever miss it?

Amy: No, I don't miss it. Maybe if I didn't do any other form of entertaining in front of a live audience I would miss it, but I still get my fill of being an entertainer, just not in the ring.

PP: You have been working on your music career and even independently produced your debut album with The Luchagors. How has the music industry treated you, did your past career and high profile help or hinder your progress?

Amy: I would say the music industry has completely ignored us. It is very hard to switch forms of entertainment without some company or lable behind you. I would say may past career has been a catch 22. It has made for somewhat of an instant international fan base, but music people seem to be turned off. Until they see us live, that is.

PP: What inspires your music?

Amy: I would say day to day life can inspire me lyrically, but musically, I grew up on 80's and 90's punk and hardcore. The guys had more of a rock background, Jay, our bass player grew up on similar music. Band wise I would say 7 Seconds, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Lunachicks, X, as well as The Ramones, Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy.

PP: Can I ask what your fondest memories of being a full time wrestler are?

Amy: I would say the time before I broke my neck, when I still felt invincible.

PP: Would you ever make a return to the ring, perhaps for one last match or storyline?

Amy: Sure, I have never ruled out a brief run, or a match. Just not a full time schedule again.

PP: So, now us British and Irish fans can look forward to seeing and hearing The Luchagors over the coming week or so, are you looking forward to the gigs and what can we expect from a live Luchagors show?

Amy: Well, definitely high energy, and anything goes. We don't plan a lot in our shows. Not even the set list. We just feel it out and make sure everyone has fun. I must admit, we put ourselves at the top of that list, though. But usually if we are having fun up there- you guys will, too.

PP: Do you find the life on the road any easier in a band than when you were wrestling?

Amy: Travelling with the band is completely different. Alone time is hard to get. We are usually piled into one room, but we chose that life. It's fun. Jay has fixed his snoring so that rules! With wrestling, there can be too much alone time, a lot of driving and a lot of hotel rooms alone.

PP: What’s next for yourself and The Luchagors?

Amy: We really want to concentrate on getting out a new album, so we will start writing and demoing that soon. Look out for it.

We certainly will – just as we’ll look out for you lot down the front come the 8th of July!