Would you like to tour in support of this solo album or are you already playing some of these songs live? No, we’re not playing them live. The fact that it just came out last week. It wouldn’t be fair to ask KIX fans to listen to Steve Whiteman music when they come to listen to KIX. There’s a possibility of next January or February when Brian goes on tour to do Rhino Bucket shows – if everybody has the free time, that would be the time for us to go out and play the shows and let people hear the music that want to hear just that music. I know that everybody would love to do it, but it would just depend in schedules. With KIX being around for a very long time, you constantly have anniversaries of album and tours and everything. And you have a 40-year anniversary this year of the KIX Self-Titled album. Looking back on the album, what do you think of it now in retrospect and the fact that it really is 40 years old? I don’t think you ever stop loving your first album, because it took a year to write it and you got to perform it in front of people before it was actually recorded, and knowing how it went over in those crowds. And I think that album still holds up. I like the diversity of the first two albums – it wasn’t just one genre. Like Midnite Dynamite, we seemed to get harder and just stay in that ballsy hard rock genre, whereas the earlier albums had stuff like Heartache and For Shame and things that would never make a KIX
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album today. Yeah, that album is still very special to me. What has kept you so passionate about KIX and music since you first started in 1977? Yeah, but before that I was in local bands before I moved to Hagerstown. I think you’re born with it. I think in some people, there’s just a passion for sports, for music, for acting – and if you’re lucky enough and dedicated enough just to put the work in and do the time, that you can achieve your goals. We probably shoulda coulda done better, but we did what we did, and we’re still doing it, and we’re still happy doing it. I think you’re born with that passion, and I don’t think it ever goes away. Do you have any messages for KIX fans who are reading this now? I just hope they give the solo album a chance. Just because it’s not KIX doesn’t mean that it’s not good hard rock music. If they want to pick up a copy, then can go to www.rightrocksportswear.com. I believe the first order of 500 sold out in like two days – they’re on back order now and we’re getting more printed up and getting them out there. Obviously, you could download it from iTunes and Amazon and all that stuff. So, I hope they give it a try.
www.rightrocksportswear.com
August/September 2021
HIGHWIRE DAZE
