Hailing from Sheffield, UK, Mother of Tigers has roared their way into the spotlight, earning first-time nominations for Best New Artist, Artist of the Year, Best Band, Best Album, and Song of the Year at this year's Universal Music Awards. Known for their electrifying energy onstage, they began as a cover band, drawing heavily from cult classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. With the movie celebrating its 50th anniversary, Mother of Tigers is paying homage to their roots with a show-stopping tribute. And for this special performance, they’ve invited ... a very special guest...
The murmurs of the crowd turned to cheers as a makeshift lift (gold-painted...), evocative of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, descended into the center of the audience. A low bass rumble played by Millie Harkin, vibrates through the hall as the camera zooms in.
A spotlight fixed on the lift as the band Mother of Tigers took their places on stage: Lead singer Michaela Ward-Chambers lounged on an ornate, gothic-style chair, her black sequined dress sparkling under the lights. Freya Thomas adjusted her electric guitar, while Derya Çetin tapped her drumsticks rhythmically on the snare, and Louise Orchard sat behind a grand piano, her hands poised over the keys with dramatic flair. The audience could see a banner on the stage reading " Annual Transylvanian Convention".
Then, with a hiss, the lift doors opened.
Bathed in dramatic spotlight,
Erich Hess stood there, lips curled into a devilish grin. He stands motionless for a beat, wearing a white shirt, a black leather jacket hung lazily over his shoulders, and tight jeans.
Erich Hess (singing, with a devilish smirk):
"How d'you do I
See you've met my
Faithful handyman..."
The audience gasps and cheers as Erich steps out of the lift, his movements deliberate, each step a homage to Tim Curry’s iconic strut. He prowls through the crowd, locking eyes with startled celebrities and offering a knowing wink to a particularly flustered pop star. At one point, he flicks a hand through his hair, causing a ripple of applause.
"He's just a
Little brought down because
When you knocked
He thought you were the candyman." He spins dramatically in the stage's direction. The band kicks in, a thunderous cascade of drums, bass, and electric guitar, as Erich strides through the rows of tables, throwing his jacket in one of the guests ' head, his every movement oozing charisma.
"Don't get strung out
By the way I look
Don't judge a book by its cover..."
By the time he reaches the stage, the band is fully unleashed. Michaela Ward-Chambers, stands at her mic, grinning. Millie Harkin plucks her bass with precision, her voice blending perfectly with Michaela's in sultry backing harmonies. Freya Thomas shreds her guitar, while Louise Orchard pounds on the keys.
Erich (onstage, mimicking Tim Curry’s theatrical gestures):
"I'm not much of a man by the light of day
But by night I'm one hell of a lover!
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania!"The audience erupts, the energy in the room now bordering on riotous. Erich saunters over to Colby Mayfield, who gamely assumes the role of Brad.
Erich (Singing and joining Colby)
"Let me
Show you around, maybe
Play you a sound
You look like you're both
Pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual
That's not too abysmal
We can take in an old
Steve Reeves movie"
Colby Mayfield (nervously, in character):
"I'm glad we caught you at home. Could we use your phone? We're both in a bit of a hurry..." Michaela leans into her mic, arching an eyebrow as she delivers a deadpan "
Right." The crowd roars with laughter.
Colby Mayfield:
"We'll just say where we are
Then go back to the car
We don't want to be any worry"Erich grabs Colby’s water glass, drains it, and tosses it over his shoulder, never breaking eye contact with the camera.
Erich (cutting Colby off with mock impatience):
"Well you got
Caught with a flat, well
How about that!
Well babies
Don't you panic..."Following the rythm, Erich and Michaela leave Colby and return to the stage, near the gothic chair.
Erich (singing)
"By the light of the night
It will all seem al right
Ill get you a satanic
Mechanic...
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania!"Michaela and the band join in for the next refrain, their voices harmonizing in perfect theatrical unity. Freya takes a moment to kick a leg into the air, channeling Columbia’s high-energy antics, while Derya smashes the drums.
(Derya Çetin)
Then Erich spins dramatically and heads toward Michaela, who reclines lazily on the crimson chair. They exchange a conspiratorial glance as the band punctuates his every move with sharp, deliberate notes. Erich sat across the chair, Michaela’s leg over him.
(Michaela Ward-Chambers)
Erich (with a devilish grin):
"Why don't you
Stay for the night?"
Michaela (whispering, with exaggerated drama):
"Night!" Erich:
"Or maybe a bite?"Michaela (whispering, coyly):
"Bite!" Erich:
"I can show you my favorite
Obsession..."
I've been making a man
With blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my
Tension!"
After moving Michaela's legs, Erich stood languidly from the chair.
Erich (singing)
"I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania!"Then he and Michaela launched into a series of energetic dance moves, culminating in a perfectly executed Elbow sex gesture, evoking the iconic move of movie characters RiffRaff and Magenta.
(Millie Harkin)
The band leans into the song’s crescendo, their backing vocals reaching a fever pitch.
Erich and Mother of Tigers (harmonizing):
"I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania!"
Erich pauses, grinning mischievously at the crowd, then delivers his final spoken line with a perfect pause for comedic effect:
"So
Come up to the Lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici...pation
But maybe the rain
Is really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not
The symptom!!"
The room hangs on his every word, and as the song ends in a dazzling explosion of lights and sound, the audience leaps to their feet in a thunderous ovation.
The applause from "Sweet Transvestite" hasn’t even begun to fade when Louise Orchard transitions seamlessly into the opening notes of "I Can Make You a Man." Her fingers glide across the piano keys, drawing the audience back into the Rocky Horror world. The stage lights soften, creating an intimate glow, as Michaela Ward-Chambers takes center stage.
Michaela moves to stand beside Louise Orchard, placing a hand on the piano as she begins to sing. Her voice is rich and theatrical, her delivery drenched in innuendo.
(Louise Orchard)
Michaela Ward-Chambers (singing, with a smirk):
"A weakling, weighing 98 pounds
Will get sand in his face
When kicked to the ground..."
With deliberate sensuality, Michaela turns her attention to Erich Hess, who now stands statuesque beside the piano, perfectly embodying the stoic, muscle-bound Rocky. Michaela extends a single finger, tracing a slow line from his throat to his chest, her movements mirroring those of Tim Curry in the film. Erich doesn’t flinch, maintaining his greaser bravado with a slight pout, much to the delight of the crowd.
Michaela (continuing, with playful exaggeration):
"And soon in the gym with a determined chin
The sweat from his pores
As he works for his cause...
Will make him glisten
And gleam, and with massage
And just a little bit of steam, hm hm hm..."
She chuckles knowingly, breaking the tension as Erich strikes an over-the-top bodybuilding pose, flexing his imaginary muscles in slow motion. The audience erupts in laughter and cheers, while Louise leans into her piano, beaming at Erich’s antics.
Michaela (turning to the audience, her voice soaring):
"He'll be pink and quite clean
He'll be a strong man
Oh, honey!
But the wrong man!"
(Michaela Ward-Chambers)
Erich, still by the piano, catches Louise’s eye and gives her a dramatic wink, eliciting an exaggerated sigh from the pianist. Michaela notices and strides back toward center stage, her devilish grin suggesting she’s not about to be outdone.
Michaela (with mock jealousy):
"He'll eat nutritious, high protein
And swallow raw eggs!"
The line is delivered with perfect comic timing, and she punctuates it by miming cracking an egg into an imaginary glass and tossing it back. The crowd roars as Erich mimics lifting dumbbells in exaggerated “gym bro” style.
Michaela (circling Erich, her voice dripping with mischief):
"Try to build up his shoulders
His chest, arms, and... legs!"With this line, she pauses dramatically, her eyes gleaming as she gestures toward his legs. The audience laughs again, the playful chemistry between the performers impossible to ignore.
Michaela (belting, harmonizing with the band):
"Such an effort
If he only knew of my plan
In just seven days
I can make you a man!"At this moment, the other members of Mother of Tigers join in, their voices blending in lush harmony that fills the room. Erich takes the opportunity to mime an Olympic-worthy gym routine: push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups and squats.
Michaela circled him like a cat, her every movement deliberate, her voice sultry:
"He'll do press-ups and chin-ups
Do the snatch, clean, and jerk
He thinks dynamic tension
Must be hard work..."
(Freya Thomas)
The electric guitar cuts in for a sharp riff as Freya Thomas steps forward, adding a touch of rock 'n' roll flair to the number. Michaela, feeding off the energy, adopts a more explicit attitude, leaning into her mic with sultry intent.
Michaela (practically purring):
"But a deltoid and a bicep, a hot groin and a tricep
Makes me shake, makes me wanna take Charles Atlas by the han-han-hand..."She pauses, her delivery so deliberately suggestive that the audience erupts into cheers once more. Erich spins on his heel, striding confidently across the stage to join Michaela, flexing his arms with mock seriousness.
Michaela and Mother of Tigers (harmonizing):
"In just seven days
I can make you a man!"
The lights flare, the harmonies building to a triumphant crescendo as Michaela turns to the audience, her arms outstretched in theatrical glory. Erich mimics lifting a giant imaginary weight, “struggling” with exaggerated effort before triumphantly hoisting it above his head.
Michaela (grinning, leaning into the mic):
"Dig it if you can..."
Michaela and Mother of Tigers (together):
"In just seven days
I can make you a man!"The audience erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.
At the end of the song,Erich Hess and Michaela Ward-Chambers stood center stage, joined by the rest of Mother of Tigers. The band members exchanged grins. They gathered center stage for bows and congratulations, but Louise wasn’t done. Still seated at her piano, leaned into her mic with a wicked grin and sang:
"Toucha, toucha, toucha meeeee....I wanna be diiiirty!"
The crowd erupted once more, the artists onstage melted into laughter.
Backstage, the energy was electric. Derya Çetin twirled her drumsticks triumphantly, Freya Thomas high-fived the crew, and Millie Harkin was already brainstorming captions for the inevitable flood of social media posts. Erich, meanwhile removes an ornate cigarette case from his jacket." you know, they say rocky changes a person..." erich opens the case and removes one of several blunts." you and I...the people around here...we have the bond only seen in buddy cop movies. It was fucking rad working with you." Erich nods sagely and then adds." oh,i should share. Im a terrible guest."
“Thanks, but I quit smoking since… yesterday,” Michaela replied, laughing. She grabbed a beer from the cooler, twisted the cap off with a satisfying hiss, and took a sip. “But yeah, I had a lot of fun too. That was great. You smashed it”.
Freya, who had joined Erich and Michaela, finally spoke up. “Erich, you’ll forever be my fav sweeeet transvestiiiite!!” And the room erupted in laughter.
Over the next few days, Mother of Tigers dominated headlines across Sheffield and the UK. Critics raved about their gutsy reinterpretation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
