liveDaily Interview: Kid Rock
March 29, 2006 11:53 AM
liveDaily Contributor
In the song "Devil Without a Cause," the title track from his 1998 breakthrough album, Kid Rock (tickets | music) raps "I'm gonna stomp all over your test of time."
liveDaily Interview: Morgan Rose of Sevendust
March 22, 2006 12:47 PM
liveDaily Contributor
During Sevendust's career, the Atlanta-based band has carried a number of future stars as its opening act. Now the group, including drummer Morgan Rose, would like to see its day in the spotlight
Interviews
Live Review: David Gilmour in Oakland, CA
April 17, 2006 03:18 PM
liveDaily Contributor
Imagine seeing Pink Floyd perform in an intimate theater or club, something that most fans under 50 never had the chance to do. That's pretty much what it was like to see David Gilmour in concert at the lovely Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA.
Goo Goo Dolls - Rob Takac – Interview – July 11th 2006
By: Scott Legato
BTB: First things first. The Album GUTTERFLOWER, the song Up! Up!.... I LOVE that song! I am surprised the record label never tried to promote that as a single. I know people know Jon as being the lead singer of the band. The bass line in that song is so catchy even though Jon isn’t singing it. I thought it had a lot of potential of being a hit for you as a singer and for the Goo Goo Dolls.
ROB: WOW, thanks, I really like that song and thanks for the compliment. The way the music industry is twisting and turning, the collection of songs is becoming less important to them which is a scary thing, I think.
BTB: I think music these days, Besides bands like yourself, I mean this whole RAP, R/B stuff is just killing the music industry.
ROB: The problem is there was always a body of work. You could always buy a single by a band but the albums/CD are out there. No one was buying CD singles. Now unfortunately, you go to I-Tunes and you just grab the song you want, which for the consumer is great, but for the growth of music is not really a great thing. Because you don’t have those unproven tracks out there, you know swirling around the masses, being left on because the consumer is too lazy to turn it off after the single. I think a lot of people learned about music that way.
BTB: Plus a lot these band had to deal with the NAPSTAR deal where people were doing free downloads. I am sure it affected you and a lot of other bands. Here you are, trying to make a living, your music is being pirated, coming off of a tour, going home having to find a day job to make ends meet.
ROB: Yea, I remember going to a record company function and them telling us that we where charted as being in the top 5, ten weeks in a row for being the most illegal downloaded band. They said congrats for being one of the most popular bands out there. Then I said, yea for being the most popular band being ripped off.
You know as a band, you have to have at least 5 to 6 good songs on a CD to make people want to go out and actually buy the CD. So that is what we are working on now with the tour and getting people to hear the new stuff.
BTB: One of the best things you guys put out in my opinion is the MUSIC IN HIGH PLACES DVD filmed in Alaska. That is just a KILLER DVD. When I watch that, it gives me goose bumps. In fact I have goose bumps now just thinking about it.
ROB: Thanks; yea that was a crazy day.
BTB: The song “Here is Gone” on the DVD where you are in the glass encased train, cruising thru the wilderness. As I am watching this, I noticed the tourist's faces as they are getting into the song. Now that would have been the ultimate vacation to be on a train to view Alaska and have the Goo Goo Dolls show up and entertain you. What a rush that would have been.
ROB: Yea, that was a really wild trip. We where suppose to go to Cuba and do that. Right at the last minute, something weird came down. There was some trade embargo put into place and they cancelled our VISAS to go. So at the last minute, we/they decided to go to Alaska. And being from Buffalo, they thought it was OK to drop us off in any icy situation necessary from airplanes, helicopters or dog sleds. But it was fun man and really awesome people up there. And yea, it was just amazing.
Another DVD we did was recorded in front of the City Hall in Buffalo on 4th of July in the pouring rain. I was watching it after we had finished it and said thank God it started raining, because it is really hard to make an exciting live video.
BTB: But in the back of your head, being on stage while it was raining; did getting electrocuted ever enter your mind?
ROB: I was worried about that but what I really was worried about was the 30,000 people drowning due to the fact the drains where plugged and people where standing in a foot of water. It was just crazy.
BTB: So you guys are touring with the Counting Crows. Who decided who was going to headline this tour? I personally felt that you (Goo Goo Dolls) should have headlined that show. I stayed and caught the first few songs of Counting Crows; it about put me to sleep.
ROB: Well I think it was just obvious how the day should go. You know the Crows are a little more laid back.
BTB: Maybe a little too laid back? Like I said, I almost fell asleep
ROB: HA HA HA
BTB: I felt you guys should have headlined the whole show.
ROB: Yea, we talked about it but that is just the way it worked out.. Originally we where going to flip flop evenings but the problem is when you are on tour doing 50 shows if you don’t have a routine it gets really messed up. So we decided to keep ourselves in a routine. Quite honestly, it was a little difficult walking out on stage in the beginning. I have played all these gigs walking on stage at 9:15. so having to walk out on stage at 8:00 and the sun is beating in your eyes, it is a whole different animal. I will have to admit it took a couple of shows to get use to how to approach the first few songs as people are still getting settled in their seats with their Nachos. (laughs).
BTB: You know, I photograph a lot of shows so I was kind of excited to shoot you guys in daylight. The last time I photographed you guys (May 1st, 2006) here in Indy for that private show you did, the lighting wasn’t the greatest and I wasn’t too happy with the shots I got. But I can tell you; I took some nice shots on this show. I will send you the link.
ROB: Sure, here is my email address: SORRY CAN’T GIVE THAT OUT!
BTB: Let talk about your song writing techniques. I am a guitarist and I think Jon is a genius with his alternate tunings. How do you adapt to that?. Do you stay in standard tuning or do you use alternate as well?
ROB: I kind of tune where the bass should be. I ignore the fact the E is the point of reference as far as tuning goes. I generally find where it is most comfortable to play. I don’t know if you noticed but I switch basses a lot. I generally have basses tuned to D, a bass tuned to E, etc… And so, whatever key I am playing in, I like to play open strings, right? Because I chord a lot to be able to play octaves, (and that comes from being in a 3 piece), I generally play across in whatever key the song is in.
Same as in Jons tuning. When we started it just happened that way because we never went to theory classes. To find an interesting chord we would change the guitar other than what we knew. We just continued down that road and it just took off from there. Make sense?
BTB: Absolutely
BTB: Let talk about the new record. How are record sales?
ROB: It's going good, you know, we were never a band that would sell millions of copies in the first few weeks. Play New York, Chicago, Paris, London and go home, you know. We will be out here for the next year, slugging it out, selling records
BTB: have you reached Gold status, yet with this new album?
ROB: You know, not sure, I haven’t checked in awhile. But I think it did 90,000 first week, so we got to be close.
BTB: How did you go about picking “Give Alittle Bit” for a cover song?
ROB: Jon had played it in a commercial years ago, for the GAP with a bunch of Musicians. So he knew it on the guitar. We were at rehearsal one day and just started to play it. We ended up playing it on the encore on the July 4th Buffalo show DVD.
BTB: One last question, A buddy of mine wanted me to ask you a question, When was the last time you threw a TV out of a window
ROB: Hold on Brother, let me open this window…LAUGHS!!!!
BTB: Tell the guys I said hello and continued GOOD LUCK on the tour and record sales.
ROB: OK, thanks, Talk to you soon, Brother!!!
See Photos of The Goo Goo Dolls - Click links below
Guitarist John 5 Delights in Navigating Through Musical Genres
JOHN 5 – Interview July 21, 2006
By: LINDA GABRIELE
Guitar chameleon John 5 (aka John Lowery) has carved out a very successful career teaming up with an impressive array of musical performers, including Wilson Phillips, the Go-Go’s, Rick Springfield, k. d. Lang, and David Lee Roth. Most recognizable as a member of Marilyn Manson’s band for the past several years, John 5 is now out on the road with Rob Zombie.
Professionally and personally, John 5 has never limited himself to any one style of music. Although he is reputed to be one of the most talented rock ‘shredders’ of his generation, John actually favors country music and bluegrass. His solo material “Vertigo” and the most recently released “Songs for Sanity” is an impressive mix of rock, progressive bluegrass, and country.
John 5’s reputation as one of the most down to earth and nicest guys in the rock industry proved to be reality when he sat down to discuss his influences, work ethic, current projects, and insights for up-and-coming musicians. Throughout our conversation, his infatuation with the guitar and delight in musical collaborations were obvious and contagious:
I saw the Rob Zombie show in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. It was fantastic, great energy. It was as if the band threw a party and the fans were invited. Because of your performance and the vibe, it was the first time that week that I wasn’t inside my own head, rather I was totally in the moment and loving it. Do you ever consider the emotional impact your performance and music has on your fans?
Well, I think it’s very, very important. Because I used to go to shows all the time and that’s what changed my life. You know, seeing Van Halen and seeing Motley Crue and seeing bands like that. Their shows were a different thing. It was more of a party. It wasn’t like, “Okay, we’re playing to the crowd but we’re not recognizing the crowd,” or something like that. It’s more of a great big barbeque. So, that’s what we kind of want to do is have everybody be a part of this party and have a great time and just have a great rock show. I think that’s what we’re doing because everybody really likes it and there’s a lot of energy and there’s a lot of things going on. We’re not just standing there moping. You know, we’re having a good time.
Hasn’t there ever been a time, though, when you might be having a bad day and it’s tough to crank up the energy?
No, that’s the time I look forward to. I love doing what I’m doing. And, I’m real thankful and I love getting up on the stage. And, I’m never not into it.
You have a birthday coming up soon – any thoughts or reflections?
Not really any thoughts or reflections. We’re just going to celebrate in Canada. I think that’s where we’ll be at. We’re just going to have a big party and have fun. You know, it’s weird because age is so strange. You don’t feel any different.
Do you have a show that day?
I believe we’re performing in Saskatuan or something weird like that.
Will your family be celebrating with you?
Unfortunately no, but my Rob Zombie family will be there.
Speaking of birthdays and family, let’s go back to your childhood. You grew up in Grosse Point, MI. I grew up in Harper Woods, MI. (Neighborhoods next to each other.)
You’re kidding! Wow, that is funny – weird small world.
We also share some of the same musical influences, particularly Van Halen and Kiss. But, here’s the thing – I’m older than you are. So, I’m especially curious as to how you were introduced to their music at such an early age without MTV?
I had older siblings and they were into all sorts of music. I was turned on to music very very early on. Just introduced to everything - the Beatles and Stones, even the Monkeys and Van Halen. Everything very early on, so I’m really happy about that.
Musical family?
Not really, no. Just me.
You started playing guitar at the age of 7 and played in clubs when you were in the 7th grade. You were just a kid.
Yeah, really young but it worked, you know. And, I always am thankful for doing those crappy, crappy gigs because it’s all experience. I think that’s what’s most important. You know, if you’re a doctor, each time you operate on someone you’re going to get better at it. So, I’m really happy for doing all those crappy gigs that I’ve done.
Did your parents approve?
They were supportive. They were coming to shows when I was doing them that early on. I never drank or anything. And, they saw that and they know that. And, parents know. They knew I wasn’t doing anything weird so it was good because they let me do all these shows. As long as I got up and went to school, they were cool with it.
I understand that to this day you still practice, practice, practice.
It’s all I do - is just learn and play, just study and learn, that’s it. I just love it. It’s my passion. I’ll just never stop doing it. It’s what I love to do. I just love to learn.
Will there ever come a point when you’ve learned all you can technically and the rest is just style?
No. You can always learn more.
What encouragement would you give to budding musicians?
You can always get better and you can always learn more. You just have to have that mindset that “Okay, I want to get better and I want to learn more.” Again, it’s just like a doctor. If you get really great at what you do you’re going to be able to chose where you live and where you practice. And, the same goes with anything. If you’re a great musician, you can pretty much work and be happy. And, that’s why I love to learn. I love music. I love to be the best that I can be. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
Any specific tips?
Learn what you want to learn – like, if you love Ozzy, practice ‘Crazy Train.’ Learn how to play that. So, you’ll get it. You’ll want to play it if you love that song. You don’t want to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’ You want to play ‘Crazy Train.’ And, you will continue to learn how to play that song until you get it because you love it. Or Metallica or something - that will keep you going because you love it.
The literature about you suggests that you’re particularly fond of bluegrass. Is that your favorite style?
I love county and bluegrass. It’s just a whole other style of music I enjoy playing because it’s completely different from rock music. It’s played in a different key and a different mode and different style. And, it’s just like speaking another language. It’s interesting. It keeps it fresh.
What’s the most challenging style of music to play?
I don’t know. Anything could be really challenging. You just have to study. But if you study, it could all be really easy. It just depends on the type of music. It could be rock, classical, jazz or country - anything. It’s all difficult, but you just need to practice to get it right.
What’s the most challenging for you?
There’s this style of music called western swing. And, it’s pretty complicated. It’s kind of like you’re playing the bass line with your thumb and the melody with your other three fingers. And, that’s pretty challenging - kind of like playing piano on guitar.
I note that you’re currently working on a guitar instruction DVD. When will that be released?
Coming out pretty soon. I’ve got to get home and work on that. I’ve been touring so much so I’ve kind of put that on the back burner a little bit, but it will be coming out soon.
What level of ability will it be geared toward?
It will be geared toward advanced ability.
And, speaking of guitar instruction, I’ve viewed your current instructional stuff on YouTube. I noticed that your touch is, honestly, pretty sensual. And, you’ve been quoted as saying that you “have a very light touch.” Is that something you’ve trained yourself to do or does it happen more organically when you pick up a guitar?
It depends on what you’re doing, of course. If you see people like guitarists and things like that, you see that it’s very graceful. I think that’s the best way to make it flow and to make it sound very effortless. Anybody - a piano player, a martial artist – it’s very important to be graceful with what you’re doing and play with that feel. Of course, there’s a lot of time that you play really hard. As well, it depends on what you’re doing.
You’ve got so much experience and technical expertise – can you still be just blown away by someone else’s playing?
Of course, I love being influenced. That’s my favorite thing. I love to be influenced. I love to see great players. I love that. I love to see that stuff. It’s very inspiring.
Who inspires you?
I love Chet Atkins. I love Buckethead, Yngwie, and Paul Gilbert. Seeing those people -it’s just great to see, to see it really done well.
You’ve actually been able to play with some of your mentors, haven’t you?
Absolutely! Rob Halford, Manson, and Zombie, of course. And, I just wrote a song with Paul Stanley (of Kiss) a little while back. It’s going great. I love it.
You‘ve contributed to a number of tracks on Zombie’s ‘Educated Horses.’ Were your contributions all by playing or also writing?
Playing and writing. We had a great writing relationship and we’re just going to continue on. You know, it’s not going to stop, just going to keep going.
In listening to your most recent solo CD ‘Songs for Sanity’ – amazing by the way – it seems to me that your own style is a unique blend – yet it certainly seems to compliment Zombie’s sound. Has it been as easy mesh for you to play Rob’s music?
It’s been a great pleasure and honor to play his stuff. It’s the best band I’ve ever been in and my favorite band.
At this point in your career, is it actually rather easy for you to adapt to another style?
If you practice anything it could be easy for you. I still want to concentrate and watch what I’m doing to play as good as possible for anyone I’m playing with.
You’ve done virtually everything – session work, bands, TV shows, commercials, movies. And, now you’re a model for Total Skull (Sheri Zombie’s clothing line)!
(Laughs) I just took a picture for Sheri. I’m just going to play guitar and that’s it.
It’s seems that you’ve written and performed music for everything but, say, theater. Ever thought of giving theater a try?
No, I just did a song for Meatloaf. It’s going to be on his Bat Out of Hell 3 and it’s called ‘The Monster’s Loose’ and it’s a very theatrical song. It’s very epic. It’s really cool. That comes out on Halloween and I wrote that with Nikki Sixx and Desmond Child.
Have you written with anyone else recently?
Just been on the road most recently. So, I’ve just been working, working, working, out on the road.
When out on the road, what else do you do to blow off steam? Sports, maybe?
Not really. Just play the guitar and go to movies.
What’s the last best picture you saw?
I saw Pirates, it didn’t kill me. But, I saw Click and I really liked it.
Really? I thought it got bad reviews.
I know. And, Pirates got good reviews. Shows you how good I am with movies.
Finally, I’m interviewing you from somewhat rural Ohio. Here, a fair number of people don’t know who I’m talking about when I mention Zombie or Manson, and when I try to explain, someone jumps in with, “You know, the guy who worships the devil.” I don’t know what causes such misconceptions. And, I understand that you had dealt with the Columbine backlash. Any thoughts or frustrations concerning these gross misconceptions?
Well, I think it’s really easy to point the finger at someone else instead of parents or instead of a certain situation. It’s very easy to point your finger at someone who really didn’t have anything to do with it. I think that’s been going on since the beginning of time. People have problems, “That guy’s a witch”, or “Let’s burn him.” It’s been happening forever. So, it’s just silly that people point the finger at people who have nothing to do with things.
But, given that you’re such an amazingly talented guitar player who lives a clean lifestyle – do you feel personally cheated or frustrated with people who may pass judgment based on some of the bands you’ve played with?
Actually, no. I know who I am. And, if you ever meet me, you’ll know who I am too. And, you’ll know what I’m about
Interview with Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight
August 5, 2006
By: Linda Gabriele
“Gabe”
According to their online biography, the band Dropping Daylight “blends the piano-based songwriting of Sebastian Davin with the power and energy of a great young rock band (guitarist/brother Seth Davin, bassist Rob Burke, and drummer Allen Maier.) The result is a unique sound that displays a musical maturity beyond their years.”
Having seen the band in concert, I can attest to the fact that their online biography is not simply effective PR. Dropping Daylight has the chops and the enthusiasm to make good things happen for themselves and their audiences as they travel the road playing great music.
A few days after their show in Ft. Wayne, I ‘sort of’ caught up with the band on the road in Iowa. I say ‘sort of’ because, well, it was on the phone, and we had a bitch of a time with the connection. But, Sebastian Davin was a good enough sport to forge ahead with me:
Tell me about the name Dropping Daylight.
Our bassist came up with it. We were all trying to think of a few names when we had our name change. And, we just made a list of names and that was the name that our management and everybody else really liked.
On the band’s Myspace page, you’re categorized as ‘Rock/Alternative/Other’. How do you see yourselves?
Catagorizing ourselves is always kind of weird. I just think of us as a rock band. I put ‘other’ because there’s other parts to it, like piano, and there’s a lot more melody and singing then goes on in a lot of rock bands. But, when people ask us what kind of band we are we usually just say, “I don’t know, we’re a rock band and we have piano in it.”
Dropping Daylight is the opener for much of the Breaking Benjamin tour. Opener’s a tough spot.
We kind of think of ourselves as the underdog. I mean, no one really expects to like the opening band. And, so, we just come out and basically our mission is to surprise everyone and, kind of hit them over the top of the head. We always think the good thing about being the opening band is that everyone has like no expectations. They’re not expecting to like it so if you really come over the top and kick some serious ass you can really get a reaction from people.
How was Dropping Daylight chosen for the Breaking Benjamin tour?
Let’s see, Ben (Burnley vocalist for BB) was a fan of the band. And, the guy who produced their CD also produced our CD. And, when they were making their new CD, I came by to play piano on it. And, just struck up a friendship with Ben. And, when it came time for them to do a headlining tour he really wanted us to come out on it.
During the show, at Piere’s in Ft. Wayne, Seth returned to the stage and played with Breaking Benjamin on ‘The Diary of Jane.’ But, you hadn’t been touring with BB for long – maybe a couple weeks. So, how did this happen?
I’ve been friends with Ben, and Ben just really likes our band and he really enjoyed watching Seth and so, you know, with him I think – he didn’t really like playing that song on the guitar anyway, Ben doesn’t. So he was stoked that Seth was interested in playing it with them.
Your debut CD ‘Brace Yourself’ – any particular meaning in the title and/or the tracks on the CD?
Basically, the theme is brace yourself for life and all the stuff it throws at you. It’s kind of like the thought that there is no training for all the stuff you have to deal with in life. ‘Brace yourself’ just kind of became a little mantra to myself as we were going thru the music business and not knowing how to deal with everything but having just to keep on going anyways. That’s kind of the thought behind it.
Any airplay yet?
Our label hasn’t put us to radio yet. I think September is going to be our radio month. But, some stations have loved the CD so much that they’re already playing it.
I see on your calendar that Dropping Daylight will be in Ft. Wayne at Piere’s again on September 16th - who will you be playing with?
Crossfade!
Things are happening fast for Dropping Daylight – any thoughts on staying centered as things get crazier?
We’re just kids from the Midwest. We don’t really ever loose track of who we are and what we’re doing here. Whether we’re playing in front of twenty people or 20 thousand people – for us it’s all the same thing – just friends from home playing our songs. If you simplify it like that it keeps you centered for sure.
Speaking of your Midwest values and work ethic, have you experienced the LA entertainment industry work ethic yet? In my opinion, it seems to take ten union guys five weeks and a lot of ego to change a light bulb out in Los Angeles.
Yes, but we didn’t sign on with any of those companies because that’s how they work. We signed with a label in NY called Octone Records. They’ve had really great success with Maroon 5 and Flyleaf. But, their staff is small. There’s only like twelve people on their staff. So, everything they do has to be really efficient. And, absolutely you get a lot of personal attention. They don’t have enough bands to just throw you at a wall and hope you stick. They have to make it work otherwise their company doesn’t do well.
Family – is it tough being out on the road and away?
Yes, my little sister she’s growing up and she’s getting her driver’s license and I’m missing out on a lot of the things. And, there’s a lot of things I want to be around for but by the same token everybody, our family, kind of understands that we’re doing this because it’s a dream that we’ve had and they’re all incredibly supportive of it.
Any good road stories?
Yeah, our bassist Rob on the Warped tour was in a porta-potty doing his morning business and the porta-potty ended up getting picked up by a forklift and moved all the way across the park.
Anything you want me to include?
Just include whatever you actually thought - whatever it is.
Hum . . . my thoughts . . .
I think that Dropping Daylight is an incredibly talented and well grounded band with a wide open adventure ahead. And, I think that any reader considering the Crossfade show on September 16th should definitely go early!
SILENT CIVILIAN – JONNY SANTOS DOES METAL HIS WAY
BY LINDA GABRIELE
Recently, at Woodshock in Bellenfontaine, I sat down with former Spineshank front man, Jonny Santos to talk about his new metalcore band, Silent Civilian. Shortly thereafter, I watched my first Silent Civilian performance.
Let me get the comparison out of the way - I liked Spineshank, but I'm LOVING Silent Civilian!
And, although I made a point not to bring up his Spineshank days, Santos welcomed the opportunity to discuss his musical evolution, "You're seeing a lot of guys like me, who years ago were in other bands, start resurfacing again. One of the reasons I left Spineshank, I could see the shit. I could see the Titanic going down. I felt like the whole industry was like a grocery bag full but wet at the bottom."
Santos momentarily courted the idea of giving up music altogether, "There was a point of time where I thought 'I'm done. I've made two or three records and toured the world. I did it.’”
But, a compulsion like his was impossible to deny. Santos readily agrees, "It comes back at you. It gets to you. I found myself every night at home getting ideas for songs and I'd start writing songs. There was just no way (I could stop) and it's true - even if there was nobody to listen, I'd still have to write and do it for myself."
So, instead of quitting, Santos took some time to get himself centered, "I had to do a lot of soul searching to find out what I really wanted. I got remarried and cleared my head before I even attempted to start this band."
And, most importantly to him, he reentered the music biz on his own terms, "I went with an indie (label) because they basically said 'Here's your budget. Go make the record you want to make. I didn't have anybody ever sticking their head in the studio going, 'Uh, we need that song to have less screaming and it's got to be under three minutes and thirty seconds, or otherwise blah, blah, blah.' Nothing like that. They said 'Go make the record you want to make. We signed you because we signed you. You obviously know how to write songs so go make the record you want to make.'"
Santos wants to give the same opportunities to up and coming bands, "Now that we're touring, I'm getting the opportunity to see a lot more local bands and every band who gives me a CD goes in that drawer (motions) and when I get home I go through them and whatever band I like I take them straight to my guy at the label and tell him, 'Check these out.' And, we go from there. Eventually, Chris (Mora) and I are going to start our own label as a subsidiary. I basically want to design an indie label that will be like a stepping stone for bands to get a record made, get them out on the road, and get them started off."
As for Santos’ own new band, Silent Civilian, the current lineup includes Chris Mora (drums), Marcus Rafferty (guitar), and Stan Derby (bass). While Santos and Mora are permanent members, Rafferty and Derby are in a trial period and need to prove they’re hungry and deserving enough for their place with the band, “We don’t want to be hasty about giving people the job right off the bat. We’ll see how it works. We’re hoping, and things are looking really promising. Obviously, when we decide, we’ll make an announcement.” Having seen them play together, “really promising” is an understatement. Separately, each member is intensely talented, and together the meld is exhilarating.
And, those who remember Santos simply as the vocalist for Spineshank are in for an insane surprise. The man does some wicked shredding, "I played guitar before Spineshank but they asked me to be that guy in front. It was cool, but I missed the guitar because I've always been a guitar player. And, when I left Spineshank, I went immediately back to playing guitar. I actually feel more comfortable playing and singing. And if I'm not singing, I still feel like I'm part of the band, part of the music, and I just love it. It shocked a lot of people. And, it was kind of cool. It helped to reinvent things - new band, new sound, doesn't sound like Spineshank, Jonny's playing guitar . . . really it helped bring something new because so many people expected me to come out and do Spineshank Part Two. I know that's what everybody was expecting. I knew better."
Santos’ commitment to making mind-numbing metal, stems from a genuine love for his fans, "I love it. I love being on stage. It's the worst addiction I think I've ever had. I used to do a lot of drugs and just be a raging alcoholic and none of that ever compares to playing for people every night. Most of the fans are kids that are going to school all week or people who are working all week and they go out and buy a ticket for a Friday or Saturday night and they want to have a good time. They want to forget about everything. They want to feel that metal just hit them right in the face. They love it. And, I love it."
Not recognizing the impact of his talent and drive, Santos is modest and surprised that fans support his latest reincarnation, "I'm shocked. I'm really overwhelmed by the support we've been getting from the metal community. Being gone out of the industry for two and a half years, I didn't think anyone would even care. But, the fans are coming out and the people are buying the record. I didn’t expect to sell any records but the next thing you know it blows right out of the gate and we’re on Headbanger’s Ball. I’m still kind of floored."
Santos is also mindful of his fans in marketing Silent Civilian’s debut CD Rebirth of the Temple. “I know I get pissed off to pay twenty dollars for a CD and it’s only a half hour long. We wanted to make sure that we did not rip off our fans. That’s why I made a conscience effort when we made the CD to make sure that kids got their moneys worth. Our record is over an hour long. We couldn’t even fit another song on it. And, on top of the music, you’ve got a documentary on the making of the record and you get the video. You get that record at Best Buy for $12.99 – thirteen bucks and you’re going to get your moneys worth.”
Rebirth of the Temple, might be thrifty for the pocketbook but Santos spared no expense in creativity and power. The CD is loaded with in your face metal with a message. “I didn’t want it to be lyrically driven one way like ‘My daddy didn’t love me and my girlfriend left me, blah, blah, blah.’ I’m so over that shit. Rebirth, the title track, it’s my song, it’s my anthem, it’s my rise from the ashes. Basically moving on, loving the past, but knowing that you’ve got scars, but you’ve got to keep going. Just a rise from the ashes, reinventing yourself, a rebirth. The Temple representing my body and soul.”
“If anything on this record, there’s a lot of free thought being promoted. And, letting people know my message that it’s okay to form an opinion of your own and have your own beliefs. So many people believe in other things but they don’t believe in themselves. That’s kind of my message to people – learn how to believe in yourself, learn how to form your own opinion, and don’t be afraid to stand up for that and don’t be afraid to be that person. It’s important for your dignity. It’s part of who you are and who you’ll be for the rest of your life. You’ve got to do things on your own terms to truly be happy.”
Jonny Santos has returned on his own terms – writing, playing, and performing amazing music for metal fans past, present, and future.
Santos invites metal fans to the band’s upcoming show with Nonpoint at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus on September 9th, and to Silent Civilian’s myspace page to experience Rebirth and to see the video for ‘The Song Remains Unnamed.’ And, according to Santos, once you’re loving the music, “It never hurts to get online at MTV.com, go the Headbanger’s Ball and let them know ‘Yo! I want to see more Silent Civilian!’”
Lisa Marie Presley Makes Her Own Way
By LINDA GABRIELE
In an uninspired rap and R&B dominated era saturated with videos in which women are objectified and splayed across low rider vehicles virtually naked and marginally talented female pop singers are wearing costumes so tiny that we all know them like their gynecologist, it is refreshing to hear singer/songwriter Lisa Marie Presley talk about refusing to package herself and sell out, and insist on staying dedicated to her brand of rock regardless of marketability.
And, let’s face it – Lisa Marie has plenty of coin to just sit on her ass and do a whole lot of nothing. But, true to her musical heritage, she is compelled to share the music she feels in her soul, “Music should be deep and emotional and provocative and make you think and move you.”
The stunningly beautiful Lisa Marie could have very easily taken the saleable pop route to stardom, but she feels very strongly that, “I’m not going to do anything that is going to sell my soul to get played on the radio. . . . I’m not capitalizing on anything. I don’t ride on coat tails – it’s not an easy road but I do it. I didn’t do pop. I didn’t do a rap record. I didn’t do R&B. I didn’t do Elvis covers. I didn’t do any of that. I’m sort of doing my own thing and I have sort of made my way doing that. That’s to me very gratifying.”
And, especially admirable in a world of public relations sound bytes, she pulls no punches nor edits herself when sharing her thoughts on the current state of music and her new tour during a recent telephone press conference.
When discussing popular music, Lisa Marie is blunt, “I won’t listen to what’s going on right now in music because I’m not inspired by it at all.” She continues, “I look at what’s going on lately and you really don’t even have to have that much talent . . . anymore. You’re a celebrity no matter what you do . . . you can kind of become famous for anything. . . . How many talented people are out there right now that can’t get anybody to pay them an ounce of attention because they’re not doing whatever’s quote/unquote popular on the radio right now?”
She is equally frustrated with a music industry currently unsupportive of female singer/songwriters, “I’m a fan of a lot of female singer/songwriters and I watched all of their records come out and sort of drop last year. If you’re a female . . .sort of in the rock realm or alternative . . . it’s not getting a lot of love right now in that area period. There’s Tracy Chapman who put out a record and I don’t know what happened. I think she’s amazing. And, it’s a little sad because that’s the kind of music that I personally respond to and get inspired by. And, there’s just absolutely no window or place for it.”
Lisa Marie is candid in stating that her own CD, Now What wasn’t “marketed worth a crap.” And, when asked if her label dropped the ball, she responds, “The label didn’t even lift the ball.”
Nonetheless, she remains optimistic for herself and other dedicated female artists, “I’m hoping that someone’s going to break through and make it okay again.”
In spite of mediocre marketing, Lisa Marie’s two CDs have received positive reactions from both critics and fans alike. Her debut CD To Whom It May Concern reached #5 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold. Her second CD Now What was released in 2005 and reached #9 on the Billboard 200. Now What was certified gold in November 2005.
Currently on tour, Lisa Marie performs music from both CDs and has been pleasantly surprised to see and hear fans singing along during her performances.
When asked about the stage production for her most recent tour, Lisa Marie jokes, “There’s been so many different things that I’d like but could never do – like the dancer thing where there’s 20 (dancers) behind me and I’m dancing. It’s not my thing. I wish I could say that I was going to be flying through the air – flying through the audience, but it’s not happening. (laughs ) . . . Honestly, it’s not like a lot of bells and whistles. It’s pretty much – we go, we play it live, and try to have a lot of fun when we’re doing it. And, I love it when the audience doesn’t sit.”
Speaking of audience reaction, Lisa Marie takes her inspiration from fans, “Because, I’m not that vain to be doing this and trying to get a bunch of attention and get stared at. I’ve never been like that and I never will be. But, if I’m actually doing something productive then I’m happy. That’s why I do what I do.” She’s inspired by, “hearing what songs did to help (fans) in their lives. They will sing (the song) and they’ll tell me their stories. Something in their life changed because of a song. And, that’s why.”
In addition to changing lives through her music, Lisa Marie actively supports several charities including Presley Place which combats homelessness in Memphis. She is also a spokesmodel for M.A.C. Cosmetics’ Viva Glam campaign because “every single cent that anybody pays through Viva Glam goes directly toward the AIDS (Foundation).”
Lisa Marie sums up her commitment, “I’m all about personal integrity and keeping true to whatever you’re trying to do. . . . I’m just trying to do my own thing. I’m a music lover and I know that’s a little self-sacrificing but I’m doing it. . . . I feel better about what I’m doing if I do it my way.”
Find Lisa Marie’s tour dates and music at www.myspace.com/lisamariepresley or at lisamariepresley.com.
INTERVIEW: MIKE MUSHOK – STAIND
by LINDA GABRIELE
Since Staind formed in 1995, the alternative metal band’s musical evolution has greatly impacted rock and mainstream audiences throughout the band’s five CD history. Of their five CDs, three have topped the charts at #1 and, thus far, the band has sold over twelve million CDs worldwide. Not surprisingly, in 2005, Staind was listed in Hit Parader’s “Top 100 Metal Stars of All Time.”
Staind’s most recently released CD Chapter Five, became their third consecutive #1 CD. The CD opened, in August 2005, to sales of 185,000 and has since been certified Platinum. The first released single “Right Here” peaked at #1 on mainstream rock charts. Singles “Falling,” “Everything Changes,” and “King of All Excuses” have followed with regular radio rotation.
The band has recently ended a lengthy tour to support Chapter Five, which included a stop as headliner at Dayton’s X-Fest several weeks ago.
During one of their last tour stops in Virginia Beach, I spoke with band co-founder/songwriter/guitar Mike Mushok. A bit travel weary, Mushok was looking forward to the end of this tour. He laughs, “We’ve been out for about 16 months now so let’s just say I’m totally looking forward to October 9th!”
Mushok is especially looking forward to time at home with his family as his wife is pregnant with twins and due shortly in November. After a family breather, the band has scheduled dates for a short stint in December and then internationally next April.
Coming off the success of the tour and Chapter Five, Mushok is pleased with Staind’s most recent CD, “it’s lived up to my expectations in that I’m really proud of the record. And, the response has been good. Yeah, I’d have to say I’m pretty happy with it.”
According to Mushok, Staind will likely begin creating their sixth CD next year. When asked whether he feels pressure to write marketable material, Mushok replies, “When we write, we’ve just been real fortunate that the stuff we’ve written has kind of translated into that. So, it’s always really been about getting together and working on ideas that everybody’s into and kind of following it through and seeing where they end up. And, in the end you hope you end up with something better then what you’ve done before. And, hopefully it’s a growth process for the band and that’s really what it’s about.”
I asked Mushok what motivates him when creating music, “For me it’s about sitting down and playing. And, hopefully I’ll come up with something that kind of catches my ear. And, I have a backlog of tapes that I just put ideas down and when it comes to making a record, I’ll go back and start listening to them. And, from that we’ve gotten a lot of songs that we end up doing – and I didn’t even remember playing it. That’s why, to me, it’s always important to continue to play, write, and put these ideas down and move forward. And, there’s never a whole lot – they’re riffs or maybe an intro and a lot of times it’s exactly what’s on tape or it sparks an idea. That’s where a lot of inspiration comes from – just continually playing and putting ideas down and going back and listening to that. It’s just from sitting down and playing a lot.”
Although Stainds’ sound is consistently original and never remotely derivative, I asked whether Mushok takes inspiration from other artists and incorporates that inspiration into his writing. He responds, “Of course, absolutely. But, again in the same sense when it comes down to writing a record I listen to songs too where I come up with a riff and I’m like, ‘That’s a Deftones song or that’s a Pantera song. I can’t do that.’ There’s always that risk. You get CDs from younger bands and you listen and you can tell very easily what they’re inspirations are because they sound just like them. I think it’s just a growing process where you have to go through that and come out on the other side and hopefully find your own thing. You think, ‘I’m sounding too much like Pantera. Maybe I need to try something different and listen to different things.’ That’s why everybody in our band listens to a lot of different things and always has. So, hopefully that helps in making things a little bit different.”
Clearly, Pantera has had a strong influence on Mushok, and he mentions the late Dimebag Darrell in the liner notes in Chapter Five. Mushok had been fortunate to have met Dimebag, “In fact, we had played a gig with them about six weeks before that happened. In Albuquerque – I actually hung out with him most of the day. And, I met him, I remember the first time back in early 2000. We were on tour for Dysfunction and playing in Dallas and, him and Vinny came by and actually made a point to come to our dressing room which was . . . I couldn’t believe. He took me out that night and got me very drunk and I was late for an early bus call and that was my first introduction. It was a night to remember for sure! He was an awesome awesome person!”
“The whole time we were recording Dysfunction we were watching the Pantera videos that they had put out. We’re a band who . . . well, we actually still play a Pantera song now on stage. But, back in the day when we used to play clubs we were playing covers also. They were definitely one of the bands that we used to play.”
Mushok has had the opportunity to meet other inspirations including, “another big one, who’s actually probably the coolest I met, Jimmy Page, when we were playing once in London. So, that was pretty cool.”
Mushok also listens to a number of newer bands, “There’s a bunch. Actually there’s a band out with us now called Black Stone Cherry that’s really good. There are a lot of good bands out there. I listen to the new Audioslave record. I’ve always been a fan. And, the Deftones have a new record coming out and I’m looking forward to hearing that.”
He is also interested in promoting other bands, “That’s something that we’re definitely doing. He (Aaron Lewis) had a label and signed (the band) Lo Pro. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out too great which is a whole other story as far as the music business in general and how bands are disposable. They’re an awesome band and still are. They had a song that was top twenty and ended up getting dropped. The label decided that they didn’t want to keep them on the road. Actually they were opening for us and getting a great response. But, the label just decided they didn’t want to continue to support them. Another one of those unfortunate stories.”
Mushok, however, feels that his is a very fortunate story. And, he feels indebted to Stainds’ fans, “I just always want to thank them for allowing us to continue to do this. I feel real fortunate to still be around and play shows and sell records and do this. And, without them, we wouldn’t be able to . . . so thank you.”
PEPPER INTERVIEW - Indianapolis, IN
By: Shayan Habib
Nov 2nd 2006
Fresh in the middle of inciting the best party of this fall outside your girlfriend’s bedroom, The Jagermeister Music Tour co-headlined with Slightly Stoopid, we caught up with up and coming Reggae/Rock band, Pepper to discuss their latest release, No Shame.
How did you go about writing the new album?
We started it over our last tour, we’d write in any down time we had during sound checks, any chance we had to lay down any drums or anything. Most of it was born on tour. A couple of the songs like Green House were written before Kona Town was even recorded.
How does it differ from your earlier efforts like Kona Town and Give It Up?
There’s more songs. We put 15 tracks and 3 skits. We had a lot of fun this time around.
Yeah. Best time ever, by far.
Lots of different producers, we actually used 4 different producers
The first time I saw you guys was at Warped about 4 years ago, and I gave you a listen because one of you was wearing a Bargain Music shirt, who I thought was an awesome band at the time. So you’ve just signed a new record deal with Atlantic. Has a more commercialized deal like this compromised any of your creativity like it does so many other great bands?
Every thing we gave them they’d be like ‘We don’t hear a single, we’re freaking out!” We’re like man, that’s funny, we like a lot of the songs on here, some of the best work we’ve ever done. So that was kind of tripping me out. It’s the same thing you always hear, we played ball with them to an extent, but thank god we haven’t had to blow anybody yet.
What’s it feel like now being able to travel all around the country and seeing people rock out to your music and sing along with every song?
When it first happened it really tripped me out. It’s like, you’re looking at them thinking ‘When I wrote that I was in my bedroom at 9:00 at night, messing around on the guitar.’ All of a sudden people are actually taking it to heart and it’s like, what!?!?
We realize that we’re blessed to be doing this, but you wear down just like any job. I mean, even a porn star… you’re gonna get tired of f-ing. You just gotta recharge.
We’re just three boys from the big island of Hawaii.
We’ve taken every natural progression to get to the point where we are right now. We’re not even there. We started with the van, then the RV.. After we crashed it then the mini bus, now we’re on this (full size bus).
Where were you the first time you heard your song on the radio?
KROQ was playing Give it Up.
When Kona Town came out I heard Too Much on like 94.9 in L.A.
I was at a barbeque and heard it on something like “New Music Weekend”. I was like, ‘This is sick!’
What other bands are you guys into at the moment?
Let’s see here… I like Ludacris’ new album, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkey, Pantera.
What 5 bands would be your dream tour to hit the road with?
Nirvana, The Beatles, The Clash, Alice in Chains, and
The Fat Boys.
Tour to record or Record to Tour?
This time recording we had a ball
We’re getting a lot better at making it sound like we’re doing it live on our albumz. We finish each song individually. Instead of laying the drums down for every song, then adding bass, we’ve been recording one song at a time to keep that live feel.
But to answer the question, it’s tough to say. We love both.
You guys draw a lot upon old school Reggae, artists like Barrington Levy and Dennis Brown.. Do you fuse any other kind of island music into your mix such as soca, calypso?
Wow, good question. There was one track we didn’t put on the album that was definitely calypso style. We ran out of money though, couldn’t mix it.
But in Hawaii where we come from, we have our own flavor of island music, so that’s kind of a different island sound we put in our mix.
What’s next for the record label you run, LAW records?
That takes 2nd priority to Pepper at the moment, but it’s definitely going strong. A band from LAW is going to be on a leg of this Jagermeister Tour coming up, the Supervillains from Orlando, Florida. They put on such a great live show so we’re real excited to have them on board.
