There is nothing like a well-engineered song through a pair of great headphones. Over the years there have been many songs that just blow you away when listened through headphones, in a dark room, lying on the floor. Let’s look at two this week.
BILLY THORPE – “CHILDREN OF THE SUN” (1979)
When this song hit in ’79 it amazed me. The composition combined with the engineering blew my mind. If you put this on, clear your ind and listen, you can imagine the spaceships flying throughout your head and whirling around you. Sadly, Billy passed away in 2007 but he will never be forgotten with his timeless music to fill our ears. Check out “Children of the Sun”:
THE MOODY BLUES – “NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN/LATE LAMENT” (1967)
For being recorded in 1967 there’s a lot going on in this song. Make sure you check out the full release not the radio edit. If you tune out the world and just listen you can hear many layered instruments and vocalizations that are not readily apparent through regular speakers. This was one of many songs my mother (may she Rest In Peace) brought to my attention. LISTEN to it:
I will be updating this topic regularly ENJOY! (and get some good headphones)
Sometimes you see a band that just sticks with you. I mean pretty soon they are eating your food, ordering pay-per-view, making long distance phone calls, on and on and on… Beelzebubba is one of those bands. Seriously though, on a recent trip to Hollywood I caught their performance at the Whisky A Go-Go. Prior to the show several people had asked me if I had ever seen Beelzebubba before. To be honest I hadn’t, nor had I ever heard of them before. I was quite taken aback when they took the stage dressed as people right out of my worst nightmares. Cowboy hats, western shirts, and pointy boots OH MY! I thought I was at a rock show?!?! As soon as they started playing though….everything was gonna be ok, or was it?
I caught up with Adrian Jackson Dunham (A),and Zachary Maxwell Dunham (Z) and tried to figure out the question, What in the HELL is Beelzebubba?
Z: I’m not really sure how to define it…
A: A really fun band, the inception of which is from our heads… We dress like Texans who are trying to look sharp for the ladies… We do songs you might not expect to come out of a ten-gallon hat… We are a country band.
How did this unholy union come to be?
A: Zach and I always liked to play music together. Beelzebubba is a vein we hit and ran with. We have always been fascinated with outsider art, primarily music and concept albums of this genre. Thor’s “An-Thor-Logy”, AKA “Ride of the Chariots”, The Shaggs “Philosophy of the World”, and anything by The Kids of Whidney High are my greatest influences. I feel that these all reflect the way the world really is.
Z: Me too. My brother and I have been playing music together since 1998. Our stuff has always been just for us, trying to make each other laugh. We grew up in a small town where we’d get snowed in a lot, so we needed to entertain ourselves. It started as really silly rock (we sang songs of praise about the wrestler Goldberg and Yassir Arafat). Then we got really into NES video game music – covering classics and making our own. In 2005 we formed our first band called Hokma Gandhi. We sucked, playing at one or two total shit hole bars, and believing all the time that we were geniuses; and we didn’t have to work hard because we were going to be discovered and magically whisked away to the realm of stardom. We did that for two years, until Hokma Gandhi blessedly dissolved. Then Adrian and I sort of went our separate ways – I moved to NYC and he stayed in LA. Do you want to add anything about Hokma Gandhi?
A: No. You said it, that’s fine.
Z: We reunited in 2009 when I moved back for work. One day in the summer of that year, we were driving around listening to a mix Adrian had made. The only song that wouldn’t skip was “Cop Killer” by Body Count. We love that song, always have ever since we were kids. Adrian said, “How awesome would this be as a country song?” I said, “Fucking awesome. In fact, this should’ve been a country song.” Adrian said, “Let’s record it – like a slow country shuffle,” and I replied, “No, let’s do it as a moderately peppy two-step.” We then immediately set up the laptop and recorded it in his kitchen in about a half hour. That was the first track we did. Adrian and I reinvented the song as a country song, almost an exact rendition except for the chord progression in the chorus – Adrian makes very careful, considerate musical liberties with every cover we do. We showed “Cop Killer” to some people and they all laughed their asses off. Then we sort of left it alone, and did other stuff to make each other laugh, like traditional Jewish Power Metal…
A: Hineih Ma Tov is still one of my favorite things we’ve ever done…
Z: A few weeks later, Adrian came to me and said we should start a band. But what kind of band? Our tastes are so varied and eclectic? He suggested that we just do like we’ve always done and just do whatever we want – kind of like Mr. Bungle or Ween or Frank Zappa. But I came back and said that Cop Killer is really something to be proud of and we can take our secret formula of comedic song writing and do an entire album of country-fried punk, heavy metal or gangster rap songs. Now we had a country band with a Satanic through line. Adrian came up with the name by combining an ancient pseudonym for Satan (Beelzebub – Lord of the Flies) and Bubba, a pretty standard redneck name…
A: Which coincidentally is also the name of a Dead Milkmen album.
Z: And that is the birth of Beelzebubba. I’m the manager of the band – getting gigs, scheduling rehearsal, etc – and I also have a lot of creative input. I came up with the flag and the costumes, for instance. But the feel, the overall artistic vision, is Adrian’s. He designed the website, he orchestrated every song.
Tell me about the magical alchemy of players that comprise Beelzebubba.
Z: I’m the lead singer. My background, all of my training and stuff, comes from musical theatre. Freddy Mercury, Mike Patton, Stevie Wonder, Rob Halford and Ozzy Osbourne are my favorite singers.
A: I’m the lead guitarist and I sing backing vocals. I went to music school, studied experimental music. My favorite musical style of all is Judas Priest. I met John in school – he’s our drummer. He’s good at just about everything from blast beats to Bach. And he’s really good at World music, like African ensemble drummer and Indian tablas.
Z: Aaron, the bassist, is one of my buddies. He’s got a sick sense of humor and he loves outlaw country music above all other things in life. Although this is his first band, he’s been playing guitar and bass for years with his brother, who is a drummer. And James, the pianist, is someone I met through doing choral work. He’s a veteran, highly proficient in both guitar and piano, and also music composition. He’s written several musicals and teaches regularly.
What does the future hold for the band?
Z: The future holds a lot of fun and a lot of work. We hope that this can be our full-time job. We want to play all over the US and the world. We’re very confident that we reach a wide audience, and what we represent and what we’re saying really hits a nerve in our current sociopolitical climate. We’re definitely interested in fame and fortune, but we abhor complacency. We want to rock. We want to disturb, challenge, infuriate and horrify. This could be the best job ever.
I know that you started out doing covers, but I have heard rumors of some original tunes coming our way, is this true?
A: Yes. We’ve got two new ones, “Get Away, You Fuckers”, which is about being stuck in Los Angeles traffic, and “Maybe Sandusky”, which is about Jerry Sandusky being President and other characters who in the public eye. We’ve also got a couple more in the works.
(“Out of State Fuckers” comes to mind – the Hellion)
Z: A little over a month ago, I told Adrian we have to start making our own songs. People keep saying “Amazing covers! Do you have any originals?” We’re really good. People are watching. But if we don’t say what’s in our hearts and solely stick to these covers, people will stopwatching.
A: Our approach to playing other peoples’ songs… I mean, listen to our version of “Bitches”, then listen to Insane Clown Posse’s and tell me it’s not original. That being said, I totally agree that if we only do our covers we’ll only get so far. If we want to break out we have to take a risk and put down what we’ve got.
Z: At first we were scared: How do we incorporate who we are and what’s going on with us into the formula, created originally for transforming pre-existing songs. We weren’t sure, and we didn’t want to force it. Then one day I was walking down the street, talking to Adrian on the phone, and this cute Green Peace girl standing in front of a local restaurant, trying to get people’s signatures for something, started mocking me. She put her hand up to her mouth and mimicked me walking and talking on the phone – I assume in an effort to get my attention so I’d sign whatever petition she had. I kept talking, but as I got close I had this irresistible urge to scream, “FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING CUNT” as loud as possible. I didn’t, of course. I went home and explored that urge and realized both my brother and I have a tremendous amount of rage. Rage, I believe, is what separates lasting comedy from comedy that is cute and transient. Comedy in music runs the risk of being cute, which is detestable to Adrian and me. It must be fueled with rage, or else you’ll get stuff like Andy Samberg, Jimmy Fallon and Dimitri Martin…
A: Or that guy… What’s his name… I don’t know, it doesn’t matter.
Z: After we figured out the rage ingredient, we sat down and wrote three songs in one day, all of which we’re really proud and excited for.
A: Yeah, “Maybe Sandusky” took only twenty minutes. We took a quick break, which is when I came up with “Get Away, You Fuckers” while I was taking a shit. I showed it to Zach and he said, “Perfect.” – meaning the song, not my dump.
Z: We proved to ourselves that our formula works, and we’ve sort of hit our stride. Our goal is to get at least 12 tracks by the end of the year. Then we cut an album.
A: And when we cut an album, that doesn’t mean we won’t do “Cop Killer” or “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”, et cetera.
I was lucky enough to catch a live show, can you describe a performance to the readers?
Z: It’s a full show, sixty minutes, with no explanation or dialogue, but a definite emotional arch and direction. It’s very theatrical in this sense. It’s challenging for the audience. We set it up as a sort of demented sing along – these covers are popular songs many people know, but presented clean and yet entirely pissed off. So the audience finds themselves indulging in lyrics, screaming lyrics that could probably get you arrested in the real world. However, it leaves the audience with a feeling of completing a fun, crazy and unpredictable journey.
A: Yeah, a lot of it is about a band getting up there and rocking. No excuses, no fucking around, no whining!
Z: Stand flat-footed, facing the audience. No self-indulgent jamming with our backs to the audience, which for some reason is a tasteless trend in most live music.
A: It would be funny if we all turned around during every solo… The drummer, too.
Are there any of today’s artists that give you inspiration?
Z: Not that many popular artists. I’d say a lot of Mike Patton’s projects. All the bands we play with inspire me, however. Young people trying to find their voices against a shit load of obstacles. I’ve been there, and I’m always reinvigorated and inspired by people who have the courage to try to express themselves in a public forum. Pussy Riot inspires me. Aaron, Adrian and I saw Glenn Campbell’s final performance at the Hollywood Bowl. That was incredible.
A: I’ve named a few earlier in the interview. I’m inspired by, the now defunct, Afrirampo, Pussy Riot, Secret Chiefs 3, and I like that song by Selena Gomez, “I Love You Like a Love Song”, baby.
What advice would you give to a group a young people trying to start their musical careers?
Z: I have three things to say. First, always be true to yourself, no matter how crazy or unpopular or unmarketable you think your music might be. All of the greatest bands in history did what they wanted to do. Do whatever your instincts dictate, regardless of failure. And when you do inevitably fail, relish it, for it will lead you to what cannot fail. After a decade of not having a totally awesome product, we’re finally doing it, and it’s turning out to be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. Second, set a noble goal. Mine is to make a really fun product from scratch with my brother. We’re not rich and famous, but we’re making our own totally original thing, and we’re laughing our asses off doing it. This means I’m living in my goal and I feel fucking successful and grateful; it keeps me working hard in rehearsal, finding gigs, playing shows, and all the other tough necessary things a band’s gotta do. And third, don’t buy into your own publicity or image. It’s a show, and at the end of the day you have to wash your dishes and do your laundry.
A: I’d say when you play a gig be sure to stay and watch the other acts. It’s courteous to stay and it’s a good opportunity to network and study live performance. I’ve seen it for years where bands just play and bounce. And the other piece of advice is, I’m paraphrasing Lemmy Kilmister, but he said something to the tune of, “Don’t try to write something great, that’s not how great music is done. Writing music is about putting down what you got.”
What do you guys think of the music scene today?
Z: It depends on what scene you’re talking about. If you mean American Idol or the Grammy’s, I’m sickeningly reminded of the Nazis – how they systematically exterminated the Jewish artists and intelligentsia; and then introduced their own artists, saying, “Ah, now this is how art is supposed to be.” I always like seeing live music. My brother and I saw Primus at the Wiltern last October. That was incredible. We saw Dio twice before he passed, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with Rob Halford… All of these shows were so wonderful and memorable. I also like seeing unsigned, no name bands because I never know what I’m going to get. Sometimes it sucks, sometimes it’s magnificent – either way, it’s always a learning experience. So I guess I think of today’s music scene as school, looking for what works and what doesn’t so I can make the best product possible.
A: Yeah, the coolestscene I ever saw was at Metal Masters in San Bernardino in 2008 – that’s when we saw Motörhead, Heaven and Hell and Judas Priest. You could talk to everyone. Everyone was super friendly and had nothing to prove. Everyone was exactly where they wanted to be.
Are we ever gonna see Beelzebubba spread their music throughout the world on tour?
This is my continued quest to bring to you bands that you might not have heard before. I think these bands are worth checking out and should have the support they deserve. The “corporate world” needs to pull their head out and start listening!
My friend Kurt Arft told me check out this band. HELL YES! Acid Bath, Eyehategod, Pantera, Down, Motley Crue, Blues, Black metal, Country, pagan Chants are the influences this band cites. I’m really liking the vibe these guys have. Check out their video for “The Art Of Mourning”:
What would happen if the children of “Outlaw Country” parents were sneaking away and listening to Metal and Hard Rock? You get Shotgun Rebellion that’s what. “Outlaw Metal” is the calling card of this band. Let’s keep our ears open for these guys! Get some “Devil’s Home Brew” right here:
My good friend Kathleen Holstead got us an interview with these guys for our Bleach Bangs Radio show (http://www.bleachbangs.com/) and they have been on my radar ever since. Hard working good solid band. check out the video for “Guilty Wreckage”:
Heretic was born during the mid 80’s in Southern California. They were one of the top acts in the LA area, love this band and think you will too. Given new life and a new release they are ready to show the world some power! Here’s “Remains”:
I have to thank my friends over at Eddie’s Mates (http://www.facebook.com/eddies.mates) for bringing these guys to my attention. This Power Metal band backs that up! They are headed out on tour so look for them! “1000 Quatrains” :
Dronika are a band I have been fortunate to have witnessed the birth of. Putting the final touches on their debut Album and making plans for GLOBAL DOMINATION. Here’s sneak peek of “Prophets Of Doom” (demo) :
Cyanide Saints is a hard driving band that will make you sit up and take notice. Coming on strong they are ready to take their place on the Rock world! Catch them while you can! “Raising Cain” :
Metallica, Pantera, Anvil, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Unearth, Slayer, The Agonist , Mastodon , Motorhead , Kill Switch Engage have all fired up Caym. Young and with a head full of metal this band is ready to kick your ass. “Jukai”:
I saw The Treatment open for Kiss/Motley Crue recently. Hailing from the UK and opening for icons of rock such as those! Wow! A fresh look at straight up Rock N’ Roll you better see them soon! “The Doctor”:
One of the problems in the music industry today is there really are no outlets left for a newly formed band to have a voice. That is one of the things that I want to help with here and in our related video show Rock U-Night (http://rockunight.com/).
I heard of Messiah Sin, a band still in its formative stages and decided to interview them and give them a taste. Hopefully they will be helped by others who have been there before as they journey down the path of being a Rock N’ Roll band. Let’s go and meet Messiah Sin.
Tell us about some of your earliest musical favorites and how and why you ended up choosing Hard Rock/Metal.
MS: For me (A.j.) it had to be when I heard Green Day for the first time on the radio when I was at the tender age of 11 They stayed my favorite band for around 2 years, then I found Metal, specifically the Master of Puppets album by Metallica, heard Battery, ripped me a new ear hole, loved every second of the blistering speed and harsh vocals. After trying to be such a punk like I viewed the Green Day clan, I thought to myself, this metal thing could really be me. And ive been a die-hard metal fan ever since. Now Mr. Dirzuweit, he was fed Metallica and Rob Zombie for breakfast by his tattooed and jail-bird father. He knew how to be hardcore before he even knew how to walk right or potty trained (he’s still not potty trained haha!) and I believe metal and music came a bit weirder for ole Chandy, he picked up music like your everyday average high school goer did, by the marching band, he plays the set of snares for his school band and I suppose he just transferred that know how to his ravaging and devastating pig skin pile he’s got now.
You fell in love with the harder side of Rock, now which artists lit your soul on fire and influenced you further?
MS: Our major influences are rather cliché yet make us unique because of our influences different sounds. My major guitar influences are most definitely Kill em All era Kirk Hammett, then the modernized sound of Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom to the faster Kerry King and back down country lovin’ bluesy metal of Mr. Wylde himself. Jonathan D. gets his inspiration from different eras of different artists. When I ask him to sing a little Barbie Girl for me, however, he tells me to fuck off. haha. Though he does tend to stick around sounding like (but not limited to) …And Justice For All era James Hetfield, and then the darker side of Ozzy sometimes, like can be heard in the song Junkie. Then we have ole Mr. Hogan, drumming it up by the likes of Mr. Vinnie Paul taking a tea break with Lars Ulrich being served by Jon Bonham, he has such a groovy yet thick and primal tense way about his drumming art, its hard to pin point what he’s taking his advice from today. haha.
How did you end up choosing the instruments you play?
MS: I chose the guitar because no, I didn’t want easy chicks, no I didn’t want the fame and fortune, I wanted to be able to reach out to people and make their day better by simply doing what I love doing you know? Because when I was a smaller child and I was being taunted, Metallica never called me names, when I was having a bad day, Black Label Society always knew just what to say, and when I was lonely, Randy Rhoades had his touching solo to Mama I’m Coming Home to make me feel like he was there. And I wanted that for other people. For Jonathan, I was always his sort of body-guard. He’s older than me but when he was getting picked on, I stepped in to help get those dick shovers away and keep my buddy safe, he picked up the guitar because I think he felt the way I did you know? And as for the singing, well, that just came naturally, though we didn’t find out it came naturally untill we got drunk one night, then it just kinda stuck. We call him Mr. Pipes. haha. And as for the skinsman, ole C-daddy P he was pretty much required to be a nerd and join the school band, got rebellious, started listening to metal, and transferred the knowledge haha. It’s not like a drummer is going to change the world eh? haha He is the driving force of the band though. He creates the oddest stuff for my riffs that you would never think would fit in a million years and it does perfectly, he definitely separates us from a lot of people I think.
For fun I often discuss with others “dream band” lineups. What would one of yours be?
MS: Our collective dream band line up stands as follows:
Rob Zombie vocals
Zakk Wylde L.G.
Kerry King R.G.
Gene Hoglan drums
Cliff Burton bass
Very cool lineup, haven’t heard that one before. What classic bands are you still listening to?
MS: Well classic bands have always been a huge part of my road rage! Haha! But the ones I have been playing the most are Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and of course Motorhead! Jonny Boy has been cranking up the Crue lately, Motley Crue that is, along side Alice Cooper and a little bit of Dio! Chandleroni has been throwing down some old school Metallica beats lately and Guns n Roses are his main pick!
It still freaks me out to see bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses to be thought of as classic bands. How about newer music that been in your ears?
MS: .Me myself and I have been getting heavily into Children Of Bodom, Machine Head, Otep, Airbourne and that kick-ass new thrash band Dr. Livingdead! Tightydirzuweities has been getting into Volbeat (because i showed them to him!) Mastodon (same!) and Dethklok Chandler “Hulk” Hogan definitely went heavier with the newer bands cranking Messhugah, Five Finger Death Punch, Divine Heresy and Justin Bieber! (he’ll kill me for that one) haha
Have you lit the stage on fire yet? Or is gigging still to come?
MS: No! Sadly, we have had plenty of people come down to the practices and jam out with us but no gigs as of yet! Mainly because we are minus a bassist and also because I come from the middle of bum-fuck nowhere where all you have are the rednecks and their four-wheelers and the preps with their books (what are those people going to do when they have to leave high school by the way? Rednecks will probably keep on doing what they do, and the preps will burst into flames when they realize the world isn’t made of cookies and books) … yeah… but no.
The music scene has changed so much around me during my life. What is your take as a new band?
MS: The music “scene” as a thought of the collective band is not where we want it to be, I mean it’s not a drought or anything, you don’t see Ozzy with empty floors and nosebleeds, but the appreciation is gone i think. You know back in the day when people were going to bars and pubs to see Metallica, they must have really thought “wow! That takes talent! Look at his fingers fly! How is he hitting the bass drum so fast! Do you hear how he wails the vocals! Bass! Lights! MUSIC!!!!” You just don’t see that nowadays. It’s all about who can play fastest or come up with the most satanic lyrics, or for the other side of the spectrum, who can say bitch the most times or who can hit that button on the drum machine in the fanciest way. Theres just such a shortage of people who will take the time to sit down and listen to what the band is doing, appreciate the work and meaning of their instruments singularly and as a whole. They all want it now, now, NOW! They don’t want the adventure to getting to a good part in a song like in “It Gets Me Through” by Ozzy, that piano riff is good, but it gets repetitive, I’ll admit, but I appreciate the work that went into it and I love the ride it gives me before Zakk cranks out that amazing riff.
Everyone has some music in their collections that is a “guilty pleasure” for them and yet would surprise others. Fess up about yours.
MS: Haha that’s a fun one. Me I love classical music so you’ll find plenty of Luciano Pavarotti, Beethoven, Mozart and Bach. Also I love the Rat Pack, so there’s tons of Mr. Sinatra on there as well. Jonny the Honey finds an awkward enjoyment from that new electronic doohickey they like to call dubstep or whatever. Personally I think thats silly. As for Bambi Chandi you’ll find loads of gay porn sounds and Justin Bieber brushing his teeth. Haha. (He likes Frank Sinatra as well) ha-ha
Where did the name Messiah Sin come from?
MS: Well all we can think to say here is Messiah Sin is NOT a satanic metaphor. Most people like to try to make it into that, nope, It’s a metaphor for following that little voice inside your head saying maybe you should push past that comfort zone and do something that might be considered wrong. Do it because you never know how much time you have left to do crazy things. Its better to be 90 and on your death-bed saying “wow, I can’t believe I did that!” rather than “Man, I wish I did that”. Messiah Sin stands for temptation in all its glory. Hence FYMS, FOLLOW YOUR MESSIAH SIN!!!!!!!
From the whole band! Thank you Mr. Hellion! It means everything! Much Love and Respect
Allen Joseph Greene (Lead Guitar)
Jonathan Grey Dirzuweit (Rythym guitar/Vocals)
Chandler R. Hogan (drums)
MESSIAH SIN
There you have it. I’m gonna keep my eyes and ears on this band. Hopefully they weather through the trials and tribulations and succeed.
If you haven’t heard Sunset Riot you are missing out. JP is one of the band’s two guitarists and we appreciate him giving us a moment of his precious time.
What were some of your early experiences with music as a child in Australia?
JP: Well music was always around me from as early as I can remember old blues, rock, Gospel and old church hymns where what my family listened too. My Grandfather on my mum’s side played the ukulele and the organ and my grandmother and he would sing hymns together. I spent a lot of time around them while I was young and the two things that really rubbed off them was their unshakable Faith and love for music. I always loved music. It would just seem to evoke so many emotions in me and take me places! I would even at times just make up a story around the song and try to tell people that the song was about that! They always told me it wasn’t what I claimed it to be hahah I remember trying to tell a family friend that this one Petra song was about a ninja defeating the bad guys but he only just one etc etc. It must have been so funny for them because I just believed it to be true!!
Did you play a musical instrument as a child?
JP: My parents always encouraged me to play an instrument but I never stuck at anything. While I was in primary school I think I started to learn the piano, clarinet and the trumpet.
I learnt the trumpet for a few years only because I was forced to. Most of the time I had no idea what I was doing and would look at the person next to me to see what they were playing and follow them.
Then I gave it up once I hit high school and skateboarding became my main focus. I wanted to be a Pro.
What decade of music inspires you most?
JP: you know I don’t think there is anyone decade. I’m inspired but all genres and eras of music. I’m very eclectic.
I will say though lately I have been really enjoying stuff out of the 60’s and 70’s. There is just something about the music that comes from those eras!
Something so honest and I don’t hear it very often in today’s music. I often wonder if I will ever feel the feeling I got when I heard ACDC’s “TNT” for the first time, “Since I’ve been loving you” by Led Zeppelin, any number of Queen songs or “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix.
What were the reasons for learning to play guitar?
JP: I don’t think I have any real reason other than it was just something that I really felt I should do! I didn’t understand that feeling or really know where it would take me.
I just decided after Christmas with the family in 2004 I would get my mum’s old nylon string guitar from my Auntie’s house and I was going to be a guitar player.I can’t imagine my life without the guitar now it feels like such a huge part of who I am and what I’m doing with my life.
Were you self-taught or did you have formal lessons?
JP: For the most part I am self-taught.
I got one formal lesson from a music school when I was first starting out. He was a local guy that everyone raved about and he went to my church so I would see him play on Sunday mornings. I was pumped because he was good!
I got there and he kept trying to teach me “sweet home Alabama” and at that stage I wasn’t interested in learning that song. I wanted to learn acoustic style songs! So I flat-out told him “teach me something else”. That’s when I was introduced to the amazing song writer that is Paul Kelly and the song I learnt was “To Her Door”. That song is killer such a great story! Since then I would learn off other people or artists that would pop into my life. If I liked something they were playing then I’d get them to teach me it or I would watch from a distance and try to learn it in my head then take it home to work on!
How do you go about writing music?
JP: Well most of the time it starts with an emotion and I try to get out how I’m feeling through chords a riff or a lead line. I will gradually put pieces of lyrics, chords, riffs and lead lines together and start to build a song.
There is no real structure sometimes all I get is a chorus and I sit on it for a long time till something triggers the rest of the song.
I try to be really honest and only work on the really good songs that I come up with. I refine them and try to make them the best possible song I can on my own. If I’m writing for Sunset Riot then I do the same thing but once we get in a room together the song really comes to life! There is a great writing chemistry within our band. Del is great to write lyrics with as well we connect with each other’s lyrics and feel things deeply so we collaborate well.
If you could step in and do one performance with any band which would it be? And why that particular band?
JP: I would love to play alongside Elvis! He had such a huge influence on me when I was a kid! So I would have to say Elvis!
I can see it now!! HAHAH I wish that could happen so badly!
You have been fortunate to be in a touring band. What is the single most memorable moment you’ve had while touring?
JP: I don’t know if I can put it down to one particular thing! It’s all so amazing! Just waking up every day and doing what you love to do and meeting so many amazing people and hearing so many different stories! It’s not just about the big things it’s about all the little things. I never want to take any of this for granted and just enjoy every part of it the huge ups and the massive downers. Cause one day I may never be able to do this again (touch wood). This is all I want to do with my life is play music and guitar for people and bring them some joy, hope, peace or something they can relate too in any part of their life and hearts.
What music would people find surprising to find you listening to?
JP: People are often surprised that I listen to Blues, folk and Gospel. But that’s what I was brought up on and I can’t escape my roots. Blues will always be a part of my life one way or another! There is just so much in it!
If you could give a lecture to young musicians, what would you tell them?
JP: I would tell them the truth about the music industry and how hard and cut throat it can be! I would also tell them to stay away from drugs and the drink and not let those things become the focus. It’s about the music, the songs and the fans! Stay in school and learn as much as you can because these days you have to be a business man. The industry has changed and it’s not all Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll.
What do you think of the music scene both at home and here in the US?
JP:The Live music scene in Australia is in a really bad place! It used to be vibrant but now days seems to be considered “dead”. The Australian pub scene produced some of Australia’s biggest bands! Some of those venues that created the platform for those bands have now since shut down. To the people who come out and watch live music it’s still so alive but to the masses I think it’s a case of them “not knowing” what they are missing out on! There is a rock revival to happen around the world and it is time!! America is a fantastic scene! We have had the best tours over there!! You guys are really flying the flag high for live music!
America has really set the standard for me and the rest of the SR boys!
But to all the fans in every country we are so very thankful for all the support that you give us! We are completely independent and do it all on our own with no label support or management!
It’s the fans that keep the Sunset Riot machine going and we could not do it without you so thank you!!
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Peace, Love and Rock n Roll
JP
Thanks for sharing JP! I know we will be hearing more from JP and Sunset Riot in the near future! I’m gonna leave with a couple of live videos of “Trash VS. Class” and “Stir Crazy”:
Tell me about the first musical memories of young Redd.
REDD: My first Rock N’ Roll memories are all accredited to my Dad. When I was probably about 4 or 5 I can remember watching all of the old Beatles movies like Hard Days Night, Help, and so on…we had the VHS box set.
Who was your musical mentor?
REDD: I did not really have a personal musical mentor like a family member or a family friend. I’d have to say my first guitar instructor, Phil Bush, from my small town would be the closest thing to a mentor early in my playing because, fortunately for me, this guy was the only guitarist in my small town and he was a rocker! Having him as an instructor at the earliest stage of my playing still has an impact on my playing.
Why did you choose to play guitar?
REDD: Led Zeppelin. When I was 12 my dad played me Rock N’ Roll from Led Zeppelin IV and I immediately knew what I was going to do with my life.
I love that you play Gibson Les Pauls. Why did you choose them?
REDD: It’s the power and beauty of those guitars. The look, feel, tone, and iconic status just makes those guitars irresistible to me. And it just so happens that most of my favorites play them (or at least have played them at one point in their career).
Give us a rundown of your rig.
REDD: My rig is pretty basic actually. I have two Les Pauls with my main one being a Standard Sun Burst with Alnico II pickups by Seymore Duncan and my Gold Top is a custom shop build with Gibson 57 pickups. My amp is an Egnator Renegade and my only pedals are a tuner and a Cry Baby 95q Wah-Wah. That’s pretty much it.
One of my favorite things about you is the fact that you smile when you play, your enjoyment on stage is apparent as I have shared the stage with you, What goes through your head while performing?
REDD: I genuinely love what I am doing. I’ve been fortunate to be in the position I am in where I have made my dream of becoming a touring Rock N’ Roll guitarist come true and I could not be happier. Life is short and unpredictable and I can never know when my last show will be so I every gig like it’s the end of the world.
I see a reflection of some of guitars greatest players in your style,who are your guitar icons?
REDD: Jimmy Page first and foremost (I don’t want to envision what the world would be like if Led Zeppelin never existed). Some of the others include Joe Perry, Slash, Billy Gibbons, George Harrison, Angus Young, David Gilmore, Dimebag,Ted Nugent, EVH, Tony Iommi, Joe Walsh, Jeff Beck and so many more of those classic rockers (if I listed all of them the article would be way too long).
What do the “Hell Riders” mean to you?
REDD: The “Hell Riders” are the reason for everything Scattered Hamlet does. There is nothing more important to us than our fans and the “Hell Riders” make us who we are.
Shit Redd, I found your iPod in the parking lot what’s gonna surprise me on it?
REDD: That’s really a better question for Jake, Rich, and Adam. I’m the only normal person in this band and I think everything you would find on my iPod you probably have on yours.
What advice would you give to a young guitar player?
REDD: Don’t ever think you are good enough. There are a lot of better players out there and see that as an opportunity to improve your playing. If you really want to be a guitarist you have to dive in head first, treat it as a lifestyle and not just a chance to play Rock Star on the weekends. Also put the damn video games down and play your guitar.
What do you think of the music scene these days?
REDD: That is a tough question because there is more going on now then there ever has been with the diversity of sounds and the technology that is easily accessible to everyone. It is difficult to tell exactly what the “Scene” is living out in Hollywood because the industry moves so fast out here but as far as Rock N’ Roll goes I think it will be back on top pretty soon here.
I would also like to work in a question about Erik Kluiber like what it was like playing guitar with him when he toured as our guitarist last tour. I want to say something like: Getting to play with a guitarist like Erik was a great experience. I was fortunate to share the stage with him and I am fortunate to have him as a friend. I wish him and his band Gypsyhawk the best and if you haven‘t heard of these guys you definitely need to checkthem out because they will blow you away.
A really great guy, I always love talking to him. Redd is such a down to earth guy. Make sure you check him out in the band SCATTERED HAMLET!
We are talking with Adz Darksite Redpath from all the way from Wales. He is the guitarist for Fear Death Xperience and Darksite.
What can you tell me about your first musical experiences as a child in the UK. Adz : For me its impossible to corner it to one individual event , I was born in 1978 and my father ran a successful folk club before I was born and is an incredible banjo player and often played with my mother who sang and played the Appalachian dulcimer , as well as this my father was a luthier so I was always in the workshop watching him work on instruments from the point I could crawl , henceforth the music thing is less events in my life and more a second by second interwoven part of my existence .
What are some of the most outstanding musical memories from your childhood that stay fresh in your mind today? Adz: again there are many but I remember many times before even my eighth birthday I used to sneak downstairs after my bedtime into the smoke-filled living room full with bikers and musician’s and just sit behind the sofa and just take in everything , which back in the early eighties just fuelled my mind to want more than being a member of the 99% and seeing all these at the time so-called outcasts who were actually doing something with their lives rather than the yuppie culture at the time that was just about work and not about fuelling the soul . my soul is music and without it both me and my soul die .
At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to play music? Adz: I truly think ive always known and wanted to be a musician , ive even got pictures of me with guitars when I was literally half their size so I guess it’s just something that has always seemed obvious for me , I just have never seen another real option for me as it has been my calling for as long as I can remember .
Was guitar your first choice? and why or why not? Adz: yes I would say it was my first choice I got my first proper guitar at 11 although by then I was insanely into iron maiden and Metallica so six months later I got a bass and that was my main focus until I was maybe 16 at which point the scope I felt I had on the guitar was just too enticing to stay away from any longer , although I did play guitar throughout the whole time I was a bassist I always knew it would come back to being an axe man.
What was the process by which you learned to play? Adz : I have had one proper lesson my whole life , when i was in secondary school the 4 people who took music for their exams were offered lessons , we had a guitar teacher brought in that my friend took to like an addict lol , myself I went to one class where we were shown the basic blues scale and that just bored me senseless as I was mad addicted to playing the likes of slayer and Metallica , Pantera etc at the time so I didn’t go again which I found out after was probably good for me as the teacher spent almost 2 months going over that scale apparently lol , so other than that I am totally self-taught.
What were/are some of your musical heroes that influenced your musical spirit? Adz: well band wise I was brought up on a crazy mix of hard rock and folk everything from Earl Scruggs to Little Feat and Zappa , but the bands I site as my original influences when i first got into music and really sparked my interest are without doubt , Metallica , iron maiden ,slayer , Pantera etc , at the moment im hugely into a massive variety of bands but in a big way the bands , Cirlces ,Textures , Neosis etc , on the other side as a guitarist ive a small number of players who truly interest me , for example , Zakk Wylde , James Murphy , Steve Vai , Tremonti are all players I can listen to all day , musically though I don’t have one hardened group of bands or any one style that I adhere to as I truly believe that to be a great musician you must listen to as much of all styles as you can tobroaden your horizons and expand your knowledge and inspiration
What do you think was/is different about being a musician in the UK? Adz : that’s an awkward one to answer without pissing off a lot of people lol , lets just say its a very closed scene here at the moment , unless you’re in with the current trends and are constantly kissing up to the right people here then your fighting an ever increasing uphill battle and are more than likely going to be ignored shunned and just plain cast out .
If you could be a musician during any period of time what would that be and why? Adz : Ah bro it would have to be the eighties , to be a part of the birth of thrash and death metal etc would have been insane although if im honest I think I would pick right now as I see huge advances ahead within musicstyles and scenes and I believe only for the positive .
Would I be surprised by anything on your MP3 player? Adz : quite possibly hehe.
What do you think of the happenings in the music world these day? Adz : I have very mixed feeling’s to be honest , it’s harder than ever to be a part of the scene as a band , I think we all see there simply aren’t enough people getting off their lazy asses and going to shows anywhere which is just shocking to myself . on the other side I hate the way everything has gone to iPods etc I miss having that vinyl or cd and reading the sleeve notes and having that tactile object that in some cases can change your life , like I remember taking the cassette of the black album to school every day and reading the lyrics all the time etc , I think losing these things is a shame although the changes do hold huge possibilities so I attempt to embrace it as much as possible when it’s warranted , I think the way labels play the game is also sadly hugely different , we don’t see any labels paying anything towards bands or investing anymore apart from major’s , they expect the bands to do everything unless you by some glance of fate land with a label that actually believes in what you’re doing and will put their money where their mouth is which is so rare now its a joke , however that’s only from what ive heard in the U.K. , I can only hope it moves forward in the future.
Interesting conversation with my brother from Wales. Make sure you go to the band pages and “like” them if you find them to your tastes (which I’m sure you will)
the Hellion Rocks 