Werthner, 29, hails from Queens, New York. He's average in height, could bench a Volkswagen Beetle and wears black plastic frame Buddy Holly glasses. If he could hook up with one female celebrity it would be Wynona Rider and he likes Star Wars movies. One wouldn't expect what sort of credentials he's got that aren't music related. He's got an economics degree from a college in upstate New York and he loves math. He's one of those people who's obviously always thinking. He's an intellectual and a self proclaimed "experimentalist." "I'm such a weirdo when it comes to writing, I'll write in any style," says Werthner. He's written progressive rock, English rock and even death metal, while the album illustrates rap, punk, rap-rock, soul and funk. Don't file Hot Action Cop in the same section as Limp Bizkit though. Werthner says his band is not a rap-rock nor a nu-metal act. He likes to compare the band's music to Fishbone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Werthner found it difficult to concentrate in New York so he moved to Nashville to focus on his musical career. "[Big cities] get caught up in their own hipness and sometimes lose the big picture of what the world really wants as opposed to what their little clique really wants," says Werthner. At home his family and friends were a distraction from his focusing on music everyday. Like many young adults trying to get on their feet, he was bombarded with people asking him "where are you going?" And "what are you doing?" We've all been there right?

Werthner eats a fruit salad while we chat at an outside table at Clarke's in Chicago. As I ask questions he ponders each one carefully. He squints his eyes slightly and taps his chin with his spoon. Werthner even offers me some of his fruit, but I decline due to my nerdy food allergies. As time passes, I begin to realize that Werthner is not a typical rock star. Then he backs up my notion by saying "I'm not a joiner, I'm not a clique guy, I mean look at me; I play guitar and rap and wear glasses and none of it all really fits together."

Werthner adds that he likes to do the opposite of what everyone else thinks is trendy. Hence the whole premise of Hot Action Cop.

After moving to Nashville, Werthner teamed up with a friend of his, who also produced HAC's album. From there he got together Tim Flaherty on guitar, Luis Espaillat on bass and Kory Knipp banging away on the drums. Werthner explains that he wanted to write an album that everyone could relate to. "Part of it might have been a reaction from 9/11," he says. "Things were really so dark and I wanted to make something that was a little lighter and funnier." He seems to have achieved what he set out to do. The album's songs about oral sex, strippers and "Captain Morgan's and Ecstasy" definitely make a person chuckle. But Werthner insists the album has some serious songs too.

"I'm really not trying to impress writers or musicians, although a lot of my friends [who] are writers like what I do," explains Werthner. "They say I'm not just some punk jerk-off trying to get laid."

The critics, however, haven't been as open as Werthner's friends. Countless publications reviewed Hot Action Cop's album and blew it off as a blow job joke. Others criticize the band by calling them womanizers and misogynists.

Werthner begins to discuss how he got into rap and its influence on him and his music. He points out the fact that rap is heavily influenced by sex, parties and drinking. "You really don't hear many comments about it when it's in hip-hop," he says. (Now Werthner is getting a little serious and emotional). "As soon as a white guy does it, it's; "Oh my God, he abuses women, he exploits women."" "What!" he exclaims. "Most of the fans of this band are girls."

Werthner tells me that HAC is not out to get down girl's pants. Hot Action Cop just like to have fun. "We just want to party," says Werthner.

Surprisingly "party" is not something HAC do a lot of these days. They are a hard working band on a grueling tour schedule. They drive their own van and set up and tear down their own equipment. That's why Werthner says his favorite drink is coffee. He goes on to explain that another reason for the band's lack of drinking is due to the fact that they put on such a high energy show. It's obvious that Werthner is trying to be respectable and that HAC is trying to make a name for itself. No matter what the critics say or how his band is judged, he's going to prove them wrong.

"People either love [our music] or hate it," says Werthner. "It's funny to see what happens to people when they hear it." With that said, I asked Werthner how he feels about Eminem. Werthner says he loves Eminem. He loves how he pushes everyone's buttons and gets so many different reactions to his music. "That's the thing about Hot Action Cop - I hope in the future - is I always want to leave a little room on the record to confuse people and push a couple of buttons," says Werthner.

Hot Action Cop has been on MTV (and off). They performed "Fever for the Flava" during the end credits of MTV's Real Cancun movie and even had a song on The Hot Chick movie. The self-titled album has been big overseas, but still struggles in America.

So where will Hot Action Cop be one year from now? Werthner says the band will grow. "I think record is good enough [and] we'll over come all of this bullshit that people throw at us and get ready to make a solid record," says Werthner.

Werthner says the band has a lot of barriers to overcome. He seems to be happy with where the band is at. "If it was too much too soon, it wouldn't feel right," he says. Hard work pays off and Werthner is willing to bust his ass. "It feels much better to earn it," Werthner says assertively.

By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder