http://www.facebook.com/Gypsyhawkusa
http://www.metalblade.com/gypsyhawk/
http://www.metalblade.com/gypsyhawk/index.php#pre
I recently picked up the new CD from Gypsyhawk “Revelry & Resilience” and it kicked my ass from the get go. I will be posting a full review soon.
The track “Hedgeking” is an amazing piece of work. You are missing out if you don’t check it out!
http://www.facebook.com/thehardponys
Tell us the sordid history of The Hard Ponys
I’m afraid the sordid history is something the public isn’t ready for. The Reader’s Digest version, minus the very, very sordid parts, is this:We played together from ’89-’91 as Flash Bastard. Reunited in late 2009, played a couple of reunion shows in 2010 and decided we had more we wanted to do. So we came up with a new name, recorded an album and started playing as the Hard Ponys.
I notice the unusual spelling of Ponys. Any particular reason for that?
Purely visual. Danny came up with the logo and the name sort of simultaneously and the proper spelling didn’t look right. We argued about the spelling amongst ourselves, and even though I usually don’t go for misspelled names, I argued for it in this case. The right way looked…wrong.
To me Rock N’ Roll is just that, I don’t need to put any more labels on it. No neoclassicpostthrashgrungedeathblackgothspeeddoomstoner here, your thoughts?
It’s gotten a bit ridiculous. Seems like every new band you hear has their own genre or sub-genre. If that’s the case, why not just let the band name double as the genre. “Oh, who are you?” “We’re the Screaming Skulls.” “What kind of music do you play?” “Screaming Skull.” I mean, I see the point of differentiating up to a point. Blues and polka aren’t the same thing. Even within Rock N’ Roll, I can see drawing a distinction between, say, metal and punk or prog-rock and rockabilly, but where does it end?
What era of Rock does it for you?
I’ll try to answer for the band as a whole here, even though we’ve got our own opinions, individually. As a band, I think it’s mostly ’70’s and ’80’s rock that we’re drawn to the most.
I really enjoy the CD tell us about the experience of making it?
It was great, apart from having to pull everybody else’s weight, even though they didn’t appreciate anything I did. You’d think they’d be grateful for me sneaking in and re-recording their parts for them after they screwed everything up. No, it was actually kind of a dream. Some of the songs are new but several are not, songs we’d played live ages ago and were very proud of, and it was great to finally get them down so that people can hear them. You know, in case anybody wants to.
Does any of you have any formal musical education?
No, not really. Well, you’ve heard the CD, right? Seriously, though, none of us have had any serious formal training. Well, that I know of. Not sure in Jim’s case, he may have had some proper drum lessons in his woodshedding days. The rest of us, though, are mostly self-taught. I took one vocal lesson which actually helped a lot because I kept the practice tape of vocal exercises even though I never went for another lesson. Rob and I started a classical guitar class together, but he dropped out after a few classes. since he was my ride, I dropped out, too.
What is the most memorable moment in a performance for the band?
When we can go two songs without me smashing into Rob or Danny and knocking them out of tune. Actually, the part where I DO smash into them is better for me.
What music new/old are you listening to that would surprise us?
Well, people are pretty aware of my obsession with Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John and ’70’s Easy Listening in general, so probably not that. I actually like some Nicki Minaj songs, and some Ke$ha songs. That might be a bit of a shocker.Rob posted a link to a Jack Johnson song on his Facebook the other day, and that surprised the piss out of me.
What piece of advice would you give the young musician?
Sell out straightaway. See if you can get a song in a car commercial. Change any lyrics the record company wants you to, wear what they tell you to wear. Don’t concern yourself with musical integrity, just go for the fastest payout. Oh, and do all the blow and hookers you can get your hands on.
Where can I buy a The Hard Ponys t-shirt?
You can’t. But keep an eye on the post.
UPDATE: Dreams do come true:
the Hellion
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)
the Hellion
http://www.facebook.com/Beelzebubbaband
http://www.beelzebubbaband.com/
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 stop watching.
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 coolest scene 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?
Z: I fucking hope so.
Here’s a taste:
And now you know !
the Hellion
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!
ALL HAIL THE YETI
http://www.facebook.com/officialallhailtheyeti
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”:
SHOTGUN REBELLION
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shotgun-Rebellion/108501432544041
http://www.shotgunrebellion.net
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:
MUKAGEE
http://www.facebook.com/IAmMukagee
http://mukagee.com/Mukagee.com/Home.html
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
http://www.facebook.com/HERETICUSA
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”:
PHANTOM -X
http://www.facebook.com/PXMetal
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
http://www.facebook.com/dronika2012
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
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cyanide-Saints/293338120719162
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” :
CAYM
http://www.facebook.com/tighterthanyourdadsboots
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”:
THE TREATMENT
http://www.facebook.com/TheTreatmentOfficial
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”:
CAGE9
Cage9 has a modern style and hard charging playing. They are on tour so get out and see them in a town near you! Here is the video for “Comatose”:
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!!
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 check them 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!
http://www.facebook.com/ScatteredHamlet
“Skeleton Dixie”
the Hellion
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 to broaden 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 music styles 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)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksite/175647035817743
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FEAR-DEATH-XPERIENCE/25562763683
the Hellion
Kurt is the bass player for the in your face band DIE HARD TIL DEATH, he took some time from his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.
Where did young Kurt come from?
Kurt: I was born in Columbia, MO in 1969 and have pretty much been a Midwest boy my whole life IN, MO, IL, WI. I did live Maryland for a year. We moved around alot cause of my dads job.
When did music become part of your life and what type of music was it?
Kurt: My first recollections of my exposure to music was around 5 or 6 yrs old. My dad had an acoustic guitar that he would pull out once in a while and play, also his Mom played piano and guitar and can remember sitting on the bench with her while she played. My Moms Dad also was big into music and played organ. My Mom was a big influence as well, she always had music playing in the house and in the car. Around 7 years old I found her record collection and she actually put albums on for me to listen to. Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Doors, stuff I still listen to today.
What was the catalyst that made you realize that becoming a musician was your calling?
Kurt: At age 10 Santa Claus left me an acoustic guitar under the tree. I just thought that was the coolest and I couldn’t wait to play it. My parents enrolled me in lessons at the local music store. The instructor I had, was such a dick though, he had no patience and if I didn’t play it exactly right, he’d chew me out and tell me I wasn’t practicing enough, even though I was playing the thing day and night. Pretty much ruined it for me. I ended up putting it down after a lil bit and started playing saxophone in the school band starting around 5th grade and played all the way till the end of my Sr yr in High School. Once I graduated High School, I was like what am I gonna do now? I played music for all these years, learned how to read music and all that, but I knew I wasn’t gonna continue playing saxophone, that’s not cool. I had met a couple of guys at the community college that played guitar and hung out with them and got bitten by the guitar bug again. So, bought a Fender Strat, a lil combo amp, and started messing around again. Took some lessons from a friend of mine, grew my hair out, noticed the chicks were diggin it and as they say the rest is rock n roll history. Also, when I saw Kiss for the first time, I was mesmerized. Kind of the same story as Gene Simmons told when the first time he saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, that was when I realized “I’m in”
We all know the bass is the most important instrument in a band,. when did you decide to take on the most important position of playing the bass?
Kurt: Well thank you for saying that, I happen to think Bass is pretty important part of the band as well haha
A buddy and I wanted to start a band, he was a guitar player too, he was lead, I was rhythm. We’re talkin early 90’s here, so finding a bass player back then was almost impossible. My thinking was everybody and their mother plays guitar around here, and being that at that time I knew I wanted to do this for a living, bass would guarantee me a job cause there are just not that many of us around. So I switched from guitar to bass. And I have to say, it was the best decision I ever made. Bass fits me and my personality and attitude so much better than guitar
Give us a little band history Kurt, how many bands have you been in?
Kurt: Lets see………..professionally I’ve been in 5 bands. Last Laugh, Kamikaze Butterfly, Die Hard Till Death,
Skinwalker, and ScreamKing. But total with garage or basement bands, 7.
Two of my personal favorites are Die Hard Til Death and ScreamKing, can you tell a little about them?
Kurt: To date, I would have to say DHTD is my biggest accomplisment and what I’m most proud of. Between the
success of the record, the touring, being selected for Rockband, and all the people who I’ve gotten to work with
and become friends with, it’s been pretty cool. It’s opened alot of other doors for me professionally that I don’t think
would’ve been before. DHTD is a straight up ass kicking METAL band and I’m very proud of it. ScreamKing is
classic heavy metal band in the vein of King Diamond, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest. I worked with Joe, the singer, on a
couple tracks in the studio and have known him for a couple of years, we’ve stayed in contact and just really get along and see things the same way.
We all heard of the history of bands on tour, any amusing stories from the road?
Kurt: Hmmmmm well besides the typical cliche drunken hotel debauchery, I used to smash my bass on the stage at the end of every show, not to the point where I would destroy it, but I’d give the body a couple good whacks into the stage. This one night, we were playing in Chicago at the Double Door, had a killer show, sounded great, the crowd was really into it, good energy, so I for what ever reason smashed the bass a few times and then rammed the
headstock into the stage, it ended up going through the flooring of the stage and sticking. All the lights went down
on stage except for one, and it was shining on my bass with the headstock stuck into the stage, like a sword. An
Excaliber moment is what we called it.
If you could be a performer in any musical period what would it be?
Kurt: the 70’s
Why the 70’s? That happens to be one of my favorite periods as well.
Kurt: For one, the musicianship in the 70’s was incredible, everybody was a master at their chosen instrument. The singers could all sing, no screaming, guitar players smoked with great riffs, leads, solos, there were moving, walking bass lines, and the drummers beat the crap out of their drums and did shit on them that I don’t think many can do today, and with a single kick drum. Second, the songwriting was amazing back then, listen to a classic rock radio station today and I’m blown away by the amount of quality songs that were written by many bands. Classics as we call them. Third, not only did they play and write great songs, they put on a show, they entertained. They looked like rockstars, the total package. I don’t think you can say that about any other era in music.
I found you iPod under the seat of my car, what kind of surprises am I gonna find on it?
Kurt: There’s a few. Christina Aguilara-Amazing voice, that song “Dirty” the video, WOW! Who didn’t wanna fuck her then? I have some classical music on there, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky. Poison, big into the hair band thing.
What words of advice would you have for the youngster trying to start a band and enter the music world?
Kurt: Write, Write, Write, Practice, Practice, Practice. Focus on the music, the process, the writing. Get around as many other players or “veterans” of the scene and learn as much as you can from them, do’s and don’ts. Shoot for the good clubs or venues and play with those bands. Build some experience and a fanbase. Also, utilize your social media! Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, etc….. I didn’t have any of that stuff back when I started, it was pounding the pavement and flyers. Respect what you do, who you do it with. Leave your ego and entitlement attitude at home. No one owes you anything, you have to go out and earn it! Be confident, not cocky, there’s a BIG difference. And last not but least, DON’T BE A DICK TO PEOPLE! I got that tidbit of advice from Rob Blasko, and it’s probably one of the best bits of advice, you’ll go alot farther in the biz if people like you as a person and know you’re not a “rockstar”
With all of the changes and the advent of digital music and social media what are your viewpoints on the music world today?
Kurt: There are so many good bands out there and they are not getting the recognition or credit they deserve. I’m very impressed by how the indie scene rally’s around its own and is making a scene where there is no scene anymore. Thanks to internet radio and social media, those bands are gettin an opportunity now, I just wish it was on a bigger, broader scale. The corporate music world has circled the wagons so to speak, if you’re in the circle, you’re very lucky and bands wanna stay there, there is no risk taking anymore by record companies due to the economy and state of the music biz. Record companies are closing down, getting rid of positions. streamlining their operations. The bands, promoters, booking agents, venues, everybody needs to work together and get rid of
this me me me mentality. I think bands now are putting out some of the best music in a long time. Every album that comes out now is a homerun in my opinion, putting the fans first and giving them what they want and pay their hard-earned money to see and listen to.The indie scene is going to be the catalyst for the next great movement in the music business. Everyone keeps fighting and fighting hard and remember who we do this for and why we do it. \m/\m/
Check out Die Hard Til Death “The Will”
Thanks Kurt! Appreciate the time from your busy schedule. Be sure and check Kurt out at the following sites:
http://www.facebook.com/DieHardTillDeath
http://www.diehardtilldeath.com/
http://www.facebook.com/screamkingmetal
the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 