HARDCORE SUPERSTAR TOM KEIFER (Cinderella) JOHN WAITE SISTER HYDE STEVIE D (Buckcherry) TROUBLE CIRCUS And Much, Much, More…..
Coming from the dark depths of Norway Trouble Circus is not what you would except from a Norwegian band. Rebelling against the Norwegian music scene, they are little by little leaving their mark throughout Europe and conquering The Sunset Strip one club at a time. After speaking to Eirick (Eric) I know for a fact that no matter what hits this band, nothing will tear them down or crush their dreams of success. KCM- Hi Eirik
KCM- Yea it all started with Crashdiet and hopefully you will be leaving your mark as well.
Eirick- Hi how are you doing? KCM- Good and you. Eirick- I am good thanks. KCM- Thanks for taking the time out to do this. Eirick- No problem. KCM- So it’s been a real good year for the band I know you played a few nights in LA with Crashdiet, how was that experience? Eirick- Yea we played a couple of gigs in LA last spring and we are going to go back in October. We are going to play a couple of gigs at the Whiskey and maybe at the Roxy, so that’s the plan. KCM- What was your experience like seeing LA for the first time? Eirick- I fucking loved it! We opened up for LA Guns and we totally kicked ass and stole the fucking show. It was a great night there was a lot of people, and it was amazing. So we are going to do three shows there again in October, so that’s going to be real wicked. KCM- That’s great and hopefully you will make your way to other countries. What was your favorite part about LA? Eirick- My favorite hmm I don’t know, it was kind of crazy. It was my first time there and the experience of the Sunset Strip, looking around, going to the beach, the sunset, everything was so amazing. Now there’s a lot of Scandinavians going down there to play and we are going to be a part of that movement, and I think the Sunset Strip is going to start going back to the way it was in the 80s.
Eirick- That’s the plan, we are starting in LA and seeing where it goes from there. KCM- I have high hopes and I can definitely see that happening. I really love the new single “Use Your Mind” is there an album in the works? Eirick- There is, we’ve had a lot of problems in the band lately and we had to kick out some members because of their heavy drug abuse, you know the whole cliché, but the band is now better than ever. I can’t set a date but during 2014 we are going to release a kick ass album. KCM- I am glad to hear that you are strong and even though there were problems it’s good to hear that you didn’t give in or fall into the whole drug thing with them, and that you fixed the band instead of giving up. Eirick- Oh yea there’s always lots of problems (laughing), you just have to figure it all out. The band is fucking super now and it has never been better than now. KCM- Continue to have that good head on your shoulders and that’s going to keep the band and everything together. Eirick- Exactly that’s the trick. KCM- Can you talk a little about the impact that Michael Sunden had on your life and on the band. I am so sorry for your loss he was an amazing person, truly one of a kind. Eirick- Well that was a real punch in the face. We had a lot of things coming up and now none of that can happen.
We are under new management called She Wolf Management, it’s a good management but Michael was the best. He just lifted all the bands to new heights so it’s very tragic. He’s done so much for us when Crashdiet came to town and I have never seen a manager like him nor met a person like him, it is such a shame. KCM- I am glad that you found new management so fast. Eirick- Yeah it’s a struggle but you have to keep hanging in there. It’s quite difficult but you just have to keep working and as long as you keep focused it should be possible to be lifted up like that again. It was a very big loss. KCM- All these bumps in the road is what makes you stronger. It’s said that there are three elements that make up the bands; sound, sleaze rock, metal, and punk which do you feel you bring most to the band? Eirick- I don’t know I listen to all music from Jazz to folk. I grow up with rock n roll you know like the old guys The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and I think that influences the band. Our new album is probably going to leave the metal behind a little bit and focus on maybe some more punk and party music, you know like good live music. KCM- Your vocals to me have a punk rock style to it. Eirick- Oh thank you, I have actually evolved during the period of this band. I have played with other bands but this is actually my thing, and we just have to make it. We have to make this album better than the last one because we had a lot of problems with the last album. We recorded the album at like 100 different places and in a lot of different studios. We were quite young at the time and we didn’t know much about all that shit, but now we are much stronger especially after we have been in the states and experienced larger venues. It made a big impact in the whole band. KCM- It’s very rough when a band is recording an album because you are literally putting your blood and everything you have into that album. You are giving it your all and it’s very hard spending all those long hours with the members, and getting on each other’s nerves. It’s a very grueling period for a band. Eirick- You just want to kill all the fucking band members (laughing), it’s quite frustrating. I think this album is going to be so much more than the last one. KCM- I am looking real forward to hearing it. I can already hear the change in the band just from the one single.
The band sounds so much stronger and much more together. Eirick- I promise it will be so much better. KCM- So does the band have any trouble fitting in the Norwegian music scene since Black Metal is such a major part of Norway’s music scene. Eirick- Yes we have a big problem fitting in here. I don’t even know what to say about the music scene here, it’s mostly indie rock bands and cheesy electrical music. We don’t fit in; we have a lot of attitude. It’s a small country here and if you look different here people will notice it, I think the US is much better for us maybe Germany as well Asia and South America. Sweden has a great rock scene but Norway doesn’t at all, maybe it’s just too cold here and too up north (laughing). I don’t know what to say, but fuck Norway I want to go to the States and the whole band agrees as well. me.
KCM- Oh yeah you guys fit here perfectly. I will say that Norway has the best death and black metal bands, and I always said I would love to come to Norway and experience a black metal festival. I’m listening to lots of different things as well, and you need to be in an environment that is very diverse. Eirick- Thank you. Bands like Turbonegro got popular here after they got popular in the US, so all those bands struggle first out here in Norway. Norway has the “who the fuck do you think are you” attitude if you are doing something different. KCM- I love all of Northern Europe and I always wanted to visit all the different countries. I am actually fascinated with the Norwegian culture, so can you tell me something interesting about your culture or any interesting traditions that you follow? Eirick- We live way above the Arctic Circle and it’s completely dark for 6 months out of the year, and we have the midnight sun in the summer for three months. So it’s quite strange to live that way in the dark period as we call it. People get really into themselves during that period and some people get really depressed, but I use that as fucking inspiration. I write a lot of songs during that period. KCM- Do you feel you write at your best during that period? Eirick- Oh yeah, it’s a lot of red wine and just sitting inside creating music. There’s not that much to do because the weather is fucking horrible during that time. KCM- I love the cold so I would love to experience a Norwegian winter; I know that sounds crazy (laughing).
KCM- In your eyes what is the hardest part of being a front man? Eirick- I don’t know (laughing). Every time we play a gig I don’t want to hang out with the fans as soon as the show ends. I just want to have a couple minutes by myself and then go out and say hello to the fans. I don’t consider it hard at all though. There are a lot of drunken people after the show starting conflicts and it’s hard to try and catch a little breath after you come off stage. Except for that I think it’s fucking great (laughing). KCM- (laughing) I‘ve a lot of respect for you admitting that. It’s understandable that you don’t want to deal with the fans as soon as you get off stage, and I agree with that. You deserve to have some minutes for yourself after performing. Eirick- Yeah I need like 10 to 15 minutes just by myself with no other members there or anything, I just want to chill out for a couple of minutes. KCM- That’s understandable and lots of people don’t admit that, that’s why lots of musicians lose their patience’s. I think it’s really important for musicians or any performers to have there down time. That’s how you keep yourself on track. So if you can go back to one moment in your life and re live it what would that moment be and why? Eirick- I don’t know that’s a hard questions (laughing). My daytime job is working at a mental hospital with locked up killers and rapist. So it’s totally different than the band life, and it’s pretty strange but I use that in my music all the time. KCM- Wow you must see some crazy sights at your job.
Eirick- Yeah it does (laughing) KCM- I am always complaining about the winters in New York, we get hardly any snow anymore and the weather doesn’t really get that cold either. At least the dark period is good for something or I should say, “good for your music’. Eirick- It’s quite hard to explain so you kind of have to see it for yourself. KCM- Yeah you can probably learn a lot about yourself during that time. Eirick- Yeah you do.
Eirick- Oh yeah it’s fucking crazy, but I don’t know a special period that I had in my life sorry (laughing). KCM- Nah that’s all good, does your job have any influence on the music and your lyrics? Eirick- Of course you have personal contact with them and the things that they did you realize how lucky you are that you are not crazy. I don’t know if its right to say but I get some ideas for lyrics and stuff like that. Some of the stories of the patients are so tragic and it sparks so much inspiration. If you can understand what I mean I am very lucky that I don’t have to experience what they have experienced.
KCM- I am sure every day you come home from work you must appreciate your sanity. Eirick- Yeah but like I said we had a lot of our band members that were into drugs and shit, so it’s very good to be sane (laughing). I can’t deal with people who are really fucked up on drugs, so I had to just get rid of them and start all over again. KCM- Unfortunately you got to do what you got to do and I don’t blame you, you shouldn’t have to deal with that shit. That’s what destroys music and breaks bands apart. Eirick- Yeah you have to wind up canceling shows and shit like that, you can do what the fuck you want but don’t fuck it up for other people. KCM- And in these days lots of bands are having trouble getting record deals because of their drug habits. Eirick- Yeah it’s like a rock n roll cliché. Me and my guitarist Kristian we love to party but you have to think about how you do it. Everyone likes to party, but you shouldn’t do it every day. I am not saying you shouldn’t party but it’s the way of parting that’s the problem. KCM- Can you explain yourself in one sentence? Eirick- In one sentence? That’s a hard question (laughing) hmm crazy baby crazy (laughing). KCM- (laughing) I’ll take it (laughing)! I like crazy people well crazy people that are sane (laughing) Eirick- (laughing) yeah crazy people that are sane (laughing). KCM- So just generally speaking, tell me what’s up ahead for Trouble Circus? Eirick- Well our guitarist went to LA yesterday and we have one show booked at the Whiskey the 21st of October and we have two more shows out there but the dates aren’t confirmed yet. We have one show booked at the Roy, but we are going to play some other small venues on Hollywood Blvd. There’s a couple of small places downtown that we are trying to play at as well, but our plan is just to go down there do the three gigs and just see what happens. I think we need to go down there just to get that feeling again. I really wish we can open up for Steel Panther at The House of Blues but we are still negotiating about that. The two shows that we are doing are called “Hookers and Blow” its Dizzy Reed’s band and they play every Monday at the Whiskey, so we are opening for them. KCM- You will get so much recognition playing down at LA. Eirick- I think you just have to go down there and just start a band there, that’s my opinion.
KCM- Yeah everyone looks up to the LA scene. Eirick- I really want to go to New York as well. We just have to see in the future, but our plan is to do the LA thing now and just see what happens. KCM- Yeah just take it one step at a time and trust me everything will fall into place. Eirick- Yeah and we got new management as well but I don’t know if they are that experienced with the whole US scene. So we just have to take one step at a time. KCM- Yeah and honestly after playing LA the next place to play is NYC. I can totally see you guys playing in some really good venues out here. Eirick- Yeah I really want that to happen. KCM- Well I wish you guys the best of luck and I am sure great things are up ahead for you. Hopefully you get your asses to NYC! Eirick- We will! I promise you that. (Laughing) KCM- (laughing) Great thanks again for taking the time out and doing this. I really enjoyed talking with you. Eirick- Yeah you too thank you very much, and I will see you in NY (laughing). KCM- Yes and we will be in touch. Eirick- Ok thank you have a good day. KCM- You too, bye
John Waite is back with vengeance with a brand new album, sound and attitude. It’s hard to believe that this is the same man I had spoken with just a few short years ago. Read all about his inspirations and expectations for the future in this interview and you will never look at this artist the same way again‌..
KCM: Hi John, how are you? JW: I’m good just doing laundry at the moment. KCM: Aren’t you domesticated… JW: (Laughter) Yes semi, well you know I try to keep it together. KCM: Well it’s good to know that you can do other things besides music. JW: Yeah… KCM: Well I kind of have a bone to pick with you. The last time we spoke, you told me that you were going to be living in New York City and that you would be hanging out in Bryant Park. Well I have waited for you and nothing…. JW: I’m sorry, no one’s more sorry then me right now, in fact I wish I were in Bryant park right now. One of these days you’ll find me there and I’ll be by the carrousel. KCM: This new album is awesome and your voice sounds fantastic. JW: Well thank you very much. KCM: It’s got an open and airy feel to it and even though I’m not a big fan of ballads I do like them on this album. JW: They were the best songs that we’ve had that were slow. You can’t just have a record that starts out at ten and stays on ten. A record has to have a middle, beginning and an end and it certainly has that. “If you ever get lonely” it’s probably better than the recorded version in the studio and the rest of the songs are the songs that we’ve had most fun with. KCM: “Evil” and “Mr. Wonderful” I just love them,
I love the bluesy component in them. JW: Well it’s very simple, the whole idea was to get back a three piece band with a singer and even I don’t play guitar anymore, I just sing. This is the first time that I’ve been able to do that because we have a guitar player that’s really the real McCoy. Keri Kelli has come in and given us a real kick up the ass really. It’s been really refreshing. It took him couple of months to find himself in the songs because we never rehearsed, we’d just go backstage and play the songs. We’d just do them in the deep end and he came up swinging and after two months he was so good that we all felt it was worth recording. It wasn’t easy, we played a couple of gigs in South Philly in a converted church that was a recording studio and we invited people in Philly to a free concert, bought some beer, got it announced on the radio to invite people for two nights and most of that was great but we had some tuning problems towards the end of the set because it was so hot. So we waited for another month and then recorded like four more shows and we weren’t getting stuff that was all that good and on the last night we got a tremendous gig and we got the rest of the album, so I guess if you wait long enough it just comes but the band it surprises me at how well they’re playing and I sing better. It sort of an inspired record and I’m very pleased with it. I’m also very surprised by the reviews being that this is a live album.
We have gotten a lot of interest in it and we’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback. I’m enjoying it. KCM: I know Keri Kelly; he played in quite a few bands and as you said having him in a band is like a breath of fresh air. It’s a new inspiration, a new kick in the butt. JW: Absolutely, we’ve been waiting for that kind of guitar player for years. You never know how long this thing is going to last. I get a call from Keri sometimes and he is in Russia or Yugoslavia and I’m in England. We both travel a lot but we’re a band and it’s something that we’re doing and if we come up with the right gigs we’ll probably tour next year but we will not play clubs anymore.
come up with the right gigs we’ll probably tour next year but we will not play clubs anymore. We certainly went back and did the ground work and with “Rough and Tumble” we’ve had number one hit in America on Classic Rock Radio. It shocked me beyond belief and I certainly couldn’t believe that something that Hard Rock could get to number one on Classic Rock. The track itself I never thought it was going to be a single so obviously I still have a lot to learn. I didn’t expect people to go for that but they did and that cleared the way for that sort of raw approach to recording a live album. There are no overdubs, there are no corrections it’s absolutely live and the most impressive thing about it is that it has not been doctored, replayed or re-sung. It’s just an exciting live record. KCM: It is! You can hear it in your voice, it’s just fresh. It was kind of like listening to somebody else, I was like wow John really stepped it up! JW: Well it was time to make that kind of a record, I had massive songs like “Missing you” and “When I see you smile” and somebody announced on the radio the other day that I’m one of the world’s best balladeers and I said “hang on a second” there were these two songs that were ballads but they were so big that it makes people think that that’s all that I am, but I was always a rock singer with country and blues roots. Beyond everything else it’s rock and having songs as big as “Missing You” it’s a curse and a blessing at the same time you know.
KCM: Well I hope that with this album people still don’t think that you’re just a balladeer. JW: I hope not, because this album is just about as Rock’n’Roll as you can get. KCM: So what do you do as far as taking care of your voice? JW: Nothing. I come from a very hardy stock and the travel is what gets you not the singing. For some reason my voice got stronger as I got older and I don’t know why but it’s best sometimes not to ask. I have no idea why I’m still able to rip these things apart but it’s such a joy to be able to do it at this point of my career. KCM: What do you do to kind of get into a groove before a show? JW: Nothing, we don’t even play backstage. It’s just one of those things where maybe I’ll have a cup coffee or split a can of beer between four guys just for something to do. I might go into the shower and sing a couple of notes just to hear where I am with my voice, Keri plays scales and everybody else is telling jokes. I am extremely relaxed, I used to be a nervous wreck before I went on stage and now it isn’t like that at all. KCM: So what changed? JW: I think its confidence when you know what you can do. It’s not about anything else but going out there and giving everything you’ve got, it’s almost like Zen, it’s like you almost know the songs backwards.
It’s the fact that we are energized by each other and the audience but every night is different. It’s like being an archer when you know you’re shooting for the bull’s eye, its complete focus.
You just go on stage play for hour and a half and just do what you do.
KCM: What are you doing for the rest of this year?
JW: Well if there’s interest then we’d love to go.
JW: We’ll do five or six gigs and then we’ll see what happens. We’ve played a gig in Ohio about three weeks ago, a headline gig to four thousand people and it was just a huge success and the crowd went nuts and I came off stage feeling like a million bucks and I thought well that’s how great we can be on a big stage you know. As I mentioned earlier with “Rough and Tumble” we’ve played everywhere we possibly could just to get to radio to get us a number one single, but it’s grueling and it will kill you. You can’t do that more than once every five years if you have to do it. I don’t want us to play clubs anymore. The band belongs on a really big stage and if there’s a way to keep us on a big stage then I think we will tour next year. If we can’t do what we do best then I’d rather we didn’t work. It’s a strange thing to say; but it was so pure and so right and anything less than that isn’t good enough you know. I would put this band up against anybody because we’re that good.
KCM: Do you have a favorite off this album when you perform live?
KCM: Would you consider playing festivals? JW: Yeah festivals are great, I love festivals but I don’t wanna go out on sort of a packaged tour where all you do is play your greatest hits, but if there’s a festival situation it’s a free fall especially in Europe.
KCM: Europe is a great option for you.
JW: It depends; “If you ever get lonely” always brings the crowd to its feet. I like “Evil” because I think it’s better than the album version. I think they’re all good, I mean “Saturday night” is good. There isn’t a band track on the record and I like them all. KCM: I really like the whole record as well. JW: I’m thrilled to hear it. KCM: People who know your career they will recognize that this is an opening for you of something bigger and better. JW: I think so too, and it’s time to do things the way you really wanna do them. KCM: I’m glad that everything is going so well for you and my gut feeling is that you will have at least a couple of hit singles with this album. JW: Wow with this live album that would completely blow my mind… KCM: If I had a radio station and I had the power to do it
I would definitely put “Evil” on top of that list (both laughing hysterically). This song is one of my favorites on the album and I do love “Mr. Wonderful” I mean the guitar work it’s just amazing! JW: Well back to Keri, I think he’s the key to the whole thing. KCM: I’m really happy to hear that everything clicked for you. JW: Thank you, thanks so much! KCM: So when am I going to see you in New York City? JW: I think I’m going to come sometime in November just because I have to see the city again and it will be like fall. I’m thinking of renting an apartment there just for a few months just because I miss it so much. KCM: The last time you were in town I didn’t get to see you because I was on assignment but this time around I’ll make sure to be there. JW: Absolutely! We’ll go on the carrousel in Bryant Park. KCM: Oh definitely, and I’ll get the cotton candy! (both laughing). JW: I’m not kidding, we’ll do it! KCM: Yes I really want to and I promised myself that I would tell you how disappointed I was that things fell through the last time. JW: Hey I’m disappointed too! (Laughing) that’s my favorite place,
so if I get to the city we’ll hit the rides. KCM: I’m looking forward to it all and thank you for taking time out of doing laundry to talk to me. JW: Thank you so much, it’s great to talk to you, I really enjoyed it and thank you for your kind words.
I will be honest, this was the first time I’ve ever seen Reckless Love live. After listening to their catchy and energetic tunes, I was filled with anticipation to watch them perform. I was captured by the vast amount of young ladies showing up to observe the spectacle that was about ensue. I’ve never seen anything like it. Metal gigs are usually filled to the brim with blokes banging their heads, but this is ladies’ night. Reckless Love prides themselves on being the object of a rock chick’s fantasy and performing a set of sexually driven songs surely leaves their female dominated audience in a frenzy. The night began with their killer supporting act Laura Wilde- a woman who shreds gorgeously and is the Australian equivalent of Lita Ford. Wilde and her backing band played some amazing hard rock, helping to heat up the crowd for Reckless Love perfectly. Finally, the boys take the stage in studded attire with colour coordinated florescent skulls on their leather jackets. They open their set with “So Happy I Could Die” off their new album “Spirit” and the teenage girls consuming the front rows began screaming like banshees in heat. Some were trying so hard to grasp onto Olli Herman’s spandex clad leg that he was lucky not to have fallen into the crowd. It gets even hotter with their second song “Bad Lovin’”. Olli began shaking his hips and Pepe was playing his animalistic guitar. The sound was brilliant even if I was standing left hand side next to the cabs- the deep vibrations coming from Hessu’s bass drum punches you right in the chest. Of course they couldn’t have a set list without one of their big hits “Beautiful Bomb” which entails more of Olli’s booty shaking and Pepe’s guitar licks. Moving along we get the killer anthem “I Love Heavy Metal” enticing me to put two devil horns up in the air and chant the chorus. The rhythm section wasn’t left out from the attention that both Olli and Pepe were receiving. “Night on Fire” gave Hessu Maxx a time to shine with the song’s impeccable percussion foundation and Jalle Verne finally lets loose with his bass guitar on “Hot” at the end of the set. There’s no surprise that after a successful show in Leeds last year at the Cockpit they decided to come back again. The audience went insane for them and was the driving force for Reckless Love to put on such a spectacle, which probably left a very damp floor that night.
I’ve come across a lot of front men who mostly emulate others and are not exactly authentic but Hyde Jekyll of Canadian Sister Hyde is the total opposite of what one might expect. He is a well refined world traveler who still holds on to the timeless style in fashion, rescues dogs and who owned an eyeless cat for fifteen years. He is everything that’s unexpected looming from behind his mysterious façade and viewing the world from his own perspective…If you’re intrigued thus far, read on and you’ll find out about the man, the woman and the beast that is Sister Hyde.
KCM: So How is it going with the band? HJ: Just playing shows in the immediate Toronto area, but we’d really like to get down to your neck of the woods in New York. Sometimes I see on your Facebook page that you post videos of bands like the Biters. KCM: Yes they are a great live band and they put on an amazing show the last time they played New York City with D-Generation. HJ: I do find Canadian bands to be lacking in theatrics a little bit. I’m lucky because I’ve lived in London, Hollywood and Seattle, so a lot of the bands I seen in Seattle were really crazy and I got to witness a lot of crazy theatrics. KCM: To be honest the whole glam thing is gone in New York, it has been for a very long time unless it’s the horror glam type of a thing. There is a great band from Chicago called The Last Vegas, they played a lot of the mid-west. You would do well on tour with them; I think Sister Hyde is a nice fit. HJ: We recorded in Milwaukee and did whole bunch of shows in Chicago, what a great town. KCM: How was the rock scene there? HJ: Well that’s hard to say because the rock scene is kind of dead everywhere, isn’t it? Unless of course you’re in Scandinavia there are a lot of great bands there and the fans have real appreciation for rock. The thing is to really escape the genre labels and just say we play good music instead of we’re glam, we’re punk and so forth.
Let people make up their own minds. Success to me is getting your stuff out there and letting people hear it and then having them make up their own minds. HJ: Have you seen around New York City?
Iggy
playing
KCM: By the time I got the news at which club and so on it would have been too late to go over and catch a glimpse of him on stage. HJ: Iggy was influenced by Jim Morrison quite a bit in the early days and I think Jim Morrison played at this college that he was going to and turned it back at the crowd and Iggy was very impressed by this. There is a term that Morrison came out with called “Theatre of Chaos” which I like to think that I’m involved in because the shows that Sister Hyde does you never know what I’m going to do next. KCM: You certainly do have that theatrical facade about you. HJ: I also think that we need more mystery, women need more mystery from the front man and so that’s why the legend of the vampire is so lasting. People want that mystique and the larger than life front man. KCM: Well it’s a nice escape where everyone can create their own scenarios. KCM: You seem to be consistent with Sister Hyde because both albums are amazing. HJ: Oh thanks very much. KCM: That’s what I like just basic, groovy Rock’n’Roll.
HJ: Oh yeah you can certainly feel it. KCM: Where do you draw your inspiration from for a song? HJ: Well you know the inspiration for Sister Hyde really came from the Dickens era in literature. The kind of Jekyll Hyde legend, so that’s the breeding ground for the band, but really for the songs I would have to say that they’re from experience in a way. It’s basically my life being played out in those simple rock songs, like “Pills and Liquor, “On the Rails” of course they’re kind of drug influenced. “I’m not your Canine” is about a relationship but it’s kind of like I’m not your dog so don’t pull on my chain and it’s definitely very canine oriented song with the bark and that sort of thing. KCM: You definitely captured the comedic spin. HJ: Yeah because you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously. I think people respond to that these days because there are way too many people out there who take themselves too seriously. These songs are really no different from the Rock’n’Roll tunes from the fifties in a way where they come from youth, sexual frustration and problems with dealing with authority figures. My songs on the “Sex Change” album deal with a lot of different subjects like the song “Mouse Trap” is about a very young girl whose put herself out there, so its serious subjects wrapped in humor. “Sex Change” is about gender reassignment but also there’s a lot of humor in it. The idea is to create confusion and that’s always big with Sister Hyde. That’s why I think it’s certainly a gimmick in a way but it’s something that I’ve been always involved in because I’m a bit of a cross dresser. I would dress up in my mother’s clothes at the age of five to school and she had this great walking closet with sequent jackets, boots and high heels and stuff so I’d be wearing her stuff in grade five. The girls thought it was crazy and strange but they also really liked it. The boys just wanted to beat me up but at the same time they knew that I was cooler than them.(Laughing). So when I was in Seattle I did a bunch of pride shows for the gay pride and I did some of them in drag. KCM: That must have been cool. HJ: Yeah I think every man should be in drag at least once in his life. KCM: To explore their feminine side.
HJ: Yes exactly to explore their feminine side. I’m really kind of sick of this masculine tough guy kind of an image all the time.
HJ: Yeah you gotta be vocal when you want something. How many people get opportunities where they don’t take them and then they regret it?
KCM: What do you think is the most profound lyric that you have written so far?
KCM: So even though you live in Canada where are you originally from?
HJ: Oh wow that is a good question. I wrote a tune a long time ago called “Spanish Blood” and one of the lyrics was “I’d die for you my love in Spanish blood” it was a romantic tune and I think on this album should I say “Cock of the town” that’s not very profound is it? (Laughing). I always liked the time period in Bowies career in the “Diamond Dogs” period where there was a bit of double on tundra to his lyrics, where they didn’t mean one thing they meant a couple of things where you kind of read between the lines, but I like to keep it simple though. KCM: It’s simple yet interesting. HJ: Right. I’m keeping it simple but a bit snarky and I noticed that you said that I say things that other people are afraid to say. KCM: Yes you do. Even in the song titles you’re saying what other people are thinking but are afraid to say. HJ: Right, “I wanna have sex with you” . KCM: Exactly, it’s in your face and who really says that you know? Who do you know that would come up to somebody and say that? HJ: (Laughing) Yeah but you kind of want to don’t you? KCM: Well, I’d do it!!(Laughing). That’s the difference, I don’t hold back. I’m very confrontational when I want something and life is too short to hold back.
HJ: I’m originally from London and I grew up in Canada. My Dad moved here because he was a diplomat and I know that I should be saying that I was completely raised in the gutter for Rock’n’Roll but that’s not really the case. I did rebel against my parents because of that. I had a fair amount of talent in illustrating, sculpture and painting as well and they always wanted me to be an artist, but the more they wanted me to be an artist I wanted to be a rock star instead. KCM: That’s a typical Gemini behavior because I’m the same way as well. HJ: (Laughing) Are you a Gemini as well? KCM: Yes I am! And the more someone tells me to do something the more I do the opposite. HJ: Yeah exactly, do the opposite. My Dad always wanted me to dress up in suits, read the newspaper and keep up with the world but I did the exact opposite. Born in London moved to Canada and then I lived in Switzerland for a couple of years. I studied some art in Spain and Mexico and then grew up in Washington D.C. as well. KCM: Then you could never say that you regret not seeing the world because it seems like you’ve seen a lot. HJ: Exactly.
KCM: I traveled quite a bit as well but I like to see more of the States because this country is so huge that it will probably take me the rest of my life to see what I want. HJ: I like the States as well because there’s so much character. For example I took the Greyhound bus to Milwaukee for my recording and it took me 25 hours on the bus, but we went through places like Detroit and Cleveland and things like that and I had my little sketch book with me so I was drawing all of the little people in the bus station. Doing drawings of black people and they’re all crazy characters. Then when I got back to Canada I couldn’t find anything to draw, it was so different. There are no black people up here at all, so then half of the characters are gone right off the bat. KCM: This country is extremely diversified when it comes to race. HJ: I lived for quite a bit of time on the west coast in places like Los Angeles and Seattle and the great thing about those places was that they are so liberal and free thinking. KCM: What was the experience like of living in L.A.? HJ: Hollywood was really an eye opener because when you live there it’s kind of like living in a third world country. There’s so much extreme poverty and extreme opulence. So you’ll have somebody sleeping on the sidewalk and then a huge mansion right next to them. It’s like its own country; it’s like a planet Los Angeles. I think when you live there you find out that the majority is Hispanic culture and it’s really a bit of a beautiful mess. It’s a bit of a trap. Every musician from all over the world comes there to be discovered and what not. There’s a lot of competition and people are a lot into name dropping. People are very much driven by exterior and the way they look that there’s no substance. I also don’t think there’s any kind of a style where as I’m all about the timeless style, fashion and culture. Music to me is art; it’s like an art performance and mastering the stage and that kind of a thing. KCM: So what are you more of Dr.Jekyll or Mr.Hyde? HJ: Hahahaha…Given the fact that I’ve rescued all those dogs I think that’s the best thing I’ve done in my life and that to me is probably way more important than making it in terms of fame because I don’t think it’s something that people have done and I can truly say that I’m proud of that. So that’s really the Jekyll isn’t it? To me that’s kind of like God, a religion. If you do something like that then that’s really the God in you, and the other times mostly I’m Hyde because I’m a bit naughty. I am a naughty Hyde.(Laughing). KCM: So if you had a movie made about you who would play you? HJ: I don’t think that there’s anyone that could play me darling..
KCM: Hahaha good answer. HJ: Yeah no Johnny Depp, I don’t think he could. Well you know you have to be your own sex symbol and there are too many people looking up to celebrity’s not realizing what makes someone a celebrity. Yes being recognized at an airport is one of those things but it really has to start within you, you have to be your own sex symbol. For me I don’t really fancy myself as a man or a female I see myself as a human being, who’s really quite an animal and I think that was the whole thing about Hyde that he was really a beast, so the whole thing was about sex. KCM: I seen the Broadway production of Jekyll and Hyde starting Sebastian Bach and I was blown away. His singing was amazing. HJ: When I met Sebastian Bach in Toronto he was the one who got me to go to L.A. and he said “They gonna love you in Los Angeles” so I went down there and I’ve seen all these bands drunk and high and all that but when I’m on stage I’m always straight because I think that the audience should be the ones that are drunk with Sister Hyde and the performance. I think the key to being a successful musician is being humble and filled with humility.
Elvis Presley portrayed that, he had a huge ego and in the end it killed him but at the same time when he started out and was on a movie set the crew was amazed that he offered to get them all coffee. So as much as I want to be pretentious a lot of me doesn’t allow it. I was so sick of bands that would look down on their shoes and had no image. If you look at all the bands now they’re all cookie cutter and look like they’re from a grocery store. KCM: I like what you said, I like to be pretentious too I just don’t know how? (Laughing). HJ: I guess I should get a cigarette holder that might be a good start. KCM: Nowadays that there really isn’t a particular image to bands anymore, in my opinion they should at least be able to play instruments well and sing well but that’s not always the case. I come across a lot of hideous music all the time. HJ: Here’s the thing, so many bands work on their instruments and everything else except the vocals and it’s really the vocals that we are listening to because when you talk to someone that’s what you hear, their voice. In the end I want people to relate to my lyrics like I call it the universal jugular, you’re hitting the jugular of the singer and The Beatles did that. That was the whole success of The Beatles. KCM: I think what makes people relate to music is just great melodies, simple lyrics and just being straight forward and saying what you mean. After all people are not that complex and they’re thinking what you’re thinking they’re just not saying it. HJ: I think I was successful with this record because I didn’t give a toss what the current style of music. I didn’t care of what people thought of me or what they had to say. It’s very freeing when you don’t have a manager telling you that you’ve got to be really modern about this and have a hip hop beat instead of a rock beat. I try to diversify things and keep them unpredictable. KCM: Well you have a diverse personality. HJ: It has to be the Gemini, doesn’t it? The twins, one is the devil and one is the angel sitting on either shoulder. KCM: Exactly. HJ: Yeah but isn’t every human like that in a way?
KCM: In a way, but a lot of people don’t see themselves as that and I’m gonna tell you why. With the people that I’ve come across its usually one way or the other, they don’t know how to do the whole balancing act and that’s what gets them into trouble. That’s where the weakness of the personality comes in because they are stuck on one side of themselves. HJ: Right, they don’t know how to manage. KCM: A lot of philosophers said that you need to have balance in your life, you can’t always be just good and you can’t always be just bad, you have to have the perfect balance. HJ: It’s true you know, I think people have to embrace the evil in themselves as well as the goodness. That’s why I’m so drawn to the Sister Hyde movie. It’s when Doctor Jekyll takes the drink and then he turns into a woman. Not only was he an evil monster but he was also an evil monster woman and so that was a cool thing for me to realize, and then that whole gender confusion is cool. KCM: That’s where the whole mystery thing comes in and you have to interpret the situation for yourself the way that you see it. HJ: Well you have to be your own sex symbol and you can’t always look up to someone else. KCM: You have to be your own winner, your own hero and I think that comes with knowing yourself and because a lot of people don’t know themselves they’re either stuck on one side or the other, but mostly it’s the evil side that’s why they tend to destroy themselves because once they fall into that they don’t know how to bring themselves up. HJ: You know you’re so right, too many people just know how to take and that’s the whole problem with the world today. KCM: I don’t know one regular person that I know of who does not have the celebrity status that puts them self out there to do something for someone or who pays things forward to others. HJ: I know some celebrity will spend three thousand dollars on lunch and just imagine how many animals they would help with that. KCM: Now on a slightly different note I have to address this issue that I really don’t like shy singers. When you’re a leader of a band you better be ready to put yourself out there. HJ: I just had practice with my band and we went into this part in “I like it with the lights on” a song from the first album and it goes; Do you like it with the lights on or the lights off? Now everybody knows what you are talking about and one person held up their lit up cell phone and then everyone started to do that. Well I do kind of like it with the lights on. (Laughing).
KCM: Ask any woman what she likes and you’ll almost get the opposite answer from most of them. HJ: I don’t want to get into religion because I think that everyone should have their own but I think the church made us so afraid of our own bodies that we’re most likely would want the lights off. KCM: America is so sexually oppressed. HJ: That’s true and there was a good analogy I heard about America “ A little boy wanking off too much in the bathroom”, and on that note I would also like to say that I’m coming out of the gate like a race horse with this album and nothing will hold me back. I would also like to thank you because people like you are hard to come by who are so encouraging. KCM: You’re welcome and the way I look at it is that we need more great music. HJ: Well I love when people underestimate me because then you find power in that. KCM: Exactly and I think if you remain yourself but still be unpredictable you’ll do great, that’s a good thing to have. HJ: I had a DJ in one of the Canadian cities come up to me and he said “You look like you’re totally out of control on stage but I realize that you know exactly what you are doing”. KCM: Yeah, that’s a good assessment.
KCM: How are you, then? TK: I’m doing quite well how about you? KCM: Great! Your debut solo album “The Way Life Goes’ has received a highly positive reception from music websites such as AllMusic and Music Enthusiast Magazine. What’s your reaction to all of this success? TK: It’s great. We’re having a great time being out on the road this year, supporting the record and touring. We spent quite a bit of time making the record and it feels good to finally have it out and it seems like the fans are receiving it well so it’s all good. KCM: It has taken you nine years to make the album. Why has it taken this long to create it? Would it have done as well if you hadn’t put that much time and effort into it? TK: Well I think everything happens in life the way it’s supposed to. When we started making the record, the intention was to not have any pressure and just make music for the sake of making music. So I made the decision to produce the record independently with the idea of taking a finished record to a label later for distribution and promotion. There wasn’t anyone breathing down our neck, deadlines or release dates that we had to live up to. It was for the love of music and we just worked on it, recorded and rerecorded until it felt just right. I never intended it would take nine years and never saw that one coming but I don’t think I would change it. I think everything we went through really contributed to the final product. KCM: So it’s been more of a laid-back process? TK: Yeah. And just getting the opportunity to step away from it too. We take long, long breaks, you know like months at a time. Just not listen to a note of it and then come back and work on it. It’s great to have the luxury of having that kind of objectivity. KCM: Your fans have been waiting so long for something new from Cinderella. What has been the reaction from the fans of your band to your solo stuff? TK: So far so good. Everybody seems to like the record so I’ve got no complaints. KCM: How does your solo work differ from your work with Cinderella? TK: It wasn’t a lot different for me. I mean the recording process, not having a record label involved was different because of all the reasons I’ve just described and we just really took our time, so that was quite different. I never really made a record that way before. Cinderella was always a very scheduled, budget, deadline and release date thing. We just spent about six months on those records and when it was done, it was done and that was it. .
You never really got to look back, so that aspect was different. In terms of the creative process in writing and all it wasn’t a lot different. I was pretty much the main songwriter and lead singer in Cinderella and a good bit of the guitar work too. My involvement or role in this record was very similar to what I did in Cinderella. KCM: You had the honour of playing on the David Letterman show in the end of June. What was that like? TK: It was a blast! In all these years I’ve never done a live late night T.V. show like that. Honestly, I was a little nervous going in and realizing that it’s broadcast to so many people and all. You get one shot at it so, [Laughs] that’s a little nerve wrecking but they were really, really cool to us coming in. The people there were just amazing and we got a great sound check and got to run through it a bunch in the afternoon, so I felt pretty good by the time they actually did the taping. It was a lot of fun. KCM: How did the solo tour go across the U.S.? Any interesting stories you would like to share? TK: It’s been going great! It’s still ongoing. We’re on a break right now. We actually wrapped up the first part of our leg in June after the Letterman show. We did a few on-off gigs, went up and did the NFL hall of fame induction show and we just did a few shows with Halestorm up in Atlantic City and New York. We’re getting ready to going back out later in the year and tour through next year. But right now we’re kind of hanging out here for a little bit. KCM: Cool! The gigs that you did supporting Halestorm, how did that go? TK: It was great! A lot of fun to play with those guys, they are a great band and probably my favorite of the newer bands out there. I really love Lizzy Hale’s voice and their songs. We all hit it off really well. We actually went up and did a song together during the encore and it was a lot of fun. KCM: That sounds awesome! When are you coming back to the U.K.? TK: Well, I would love to get over there on this record. We’re just getting started, the record just came out at the end of April and we plan on being out supporting the record through the end of this year and all next year. But I would love to get over there. KCM: You are heavily influenced by the blues. I’ve recently listened to one of your old Cinderella songs, “Bad Seamstress”, which features those elements wonderfully in the intro. What made you fall in love with the style and who would be the artists that have inspired you?
TK: My first inspiration for blues was really the hard rock artists that I grew up on in the 70’s like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Those bands were kind of like the second generation that came to me. I remember when I was a teenager a friend of mine played me B.B. King “Live at the Regal” and I didn’t really know what blues was. I only knew that I just loved a lot of the rock bands. When I first heard the B.B. King album, I turn to my friend and said, “That guy sounds like Jimmy Page.” He kind of laughed, he was a bit older than me, and he said, “Well actually it’s the other way round, this is blues music and this is what inspired the guys you like,” and a light bulb went off and I was like, “Oh!” So that’s what really got me digging back and I really started my love of blues. I love everything from Howlin’ Wolf to Muddy Waters to Johnny Winter, Robert Johnson. I mean I just love it all. I encourage up and coming musicians to really look into what inspired their heroes and people that they love because you can get a lot more musical depth that way and you can interpret there influences in your own way. KCM: Yeah I totally agree with you on that. Aside from associating yourself with rock and blues, what other types of music are you also interested in and would like to try in the future? TK: Pretty much what I do, is what I do. I’ve taken a stab only a couple of times at just pure blues. I actually did a Christmas track a couple years back, I did like a Chicago style blues version of “Blue Christmas” and I really loved doing something like that pure. It was a lot of fun and had some great players on it from here in Nashville. I really like that recording and how it came out. So I think outside of the hard rock genre or the rock genre, if I did anything that was a little more specific or different, it would probably be a blues or blues/classic R’n’B. In terms of music, in general I love everything if it’s good. I like anything from Top 40 to you name it. If it’s a good song and it’s well done I have an appreciation for it. KCM: What would you say has been your favorite song so far? Have you been listening to anything recently that has captured you at all? TK: There have been a few things. I love Bruno Mars. I really, really love that track he has with the piano, the ballad called “When I Was Your Man”. He’s just an incredible singer and just classic. I also like Imagine Dragons, their song “Radioactive” has really caught my ear and they’ve got some cool stuff. And as I mentioned, Halestorm. I’ve been into those guys for quite a while now and actually getting the opportunity to play with them and see them play live, that always takes things to a whole new level. When you actually get to see an artist which you like live, they were pretty bad ass, and they really deliver. I like their new single “Here’s To Us” a lot. KCM: You’ve even worked with country artist Andy Griggs on his album “Freedom”. How did you guys start working together? TK: That actually came from my wife Savannah, who worked for years at a publishing company as a staff writer. She had an artist deal and she produced and wrote tons of demos for publishing companies and she’d been working with Andy.
Andy asked her one day if the three of us could write a song together because he was a Cinderella fan. He came over to the house and he said, “You know I’m really looking to do something like you did with “Dead Man’s Road”.” So I pulled out the national steel and started playing that riff, that’s on top of “A Hundred Miles of Bad Road” and the next thing I knew the three of us had a song. KCM: You’re very lucky to have had a musical family. What type of advice or lessons did they give you that helped you along the way with your career? TK: My mom played piano and my father was a trumpet player, my genetic father I didn’t really know very well, he died when I was young. So there is like musical genetics there I guess. I think in terms of music, the thing that I learned from my mom more importantly than music was just her attitude towards life- that anything’s possible and to never give up or stop working towards what you want, so I think that’s the strongest message I learnt from my mom [Laughs]. KCM: [Laughs] when you started Cinderella you took the role as lead singer due to not finding the right person. Did you find it a challenge to build the confidence for it when you were originally supposed to just play guitar? How did you overcome this? TK: Well, I had a sound in my head and I just couldn’t find someone. When I started writing songs and stuff there wasn’t anybody around that really had what I was looking for so I just decided to take a swing at myself. I was really more of a guitar player before that, playing in all the cover bands. I would play guitar and I was always the guy that would step up when the lead singer wanted to take a break and I would sing a couple songs, but I was never really a lead singer [laughs]. I’ve learned a lot. My voice has grown and those early demos when I first started doing it, it’s not very good. I wouldn’t call myself a naturally gifted singer, I’ve worked at it over the years [laughs]. And then of course I had the horrible condition just when I thought I was getting the hang of it. Around “Heartbreak Station” I felt like, “Wow! Maybe I am a singer”. I got hit with the paralysis and that was a very long story but I’ve been able to overcome it. I took that challenge. What I went through doing that has probably made me an even better singer because I’ve learned so much and the attempt to recover my voice from being able to study with such great coaches and teachers. Everything’s for a reason, right? KCM: Yeah it does. You’ve suffered some major trauma back in the mid 90’s. You ended up having problems with your voice, divorce and the death of you mother. That must have fuelled you to writing the songs for the “The Way Life Goes”. How did you get into the process of writing songs for the solo album? TK: That was certainly was a very dark period of time. We also lost our deal with Mercury Records at that time and the whole music scene was changing. So it was a pile on and I think that fuels the writing. Things kind of seep in and they stay with you and those emotions stay with you. My first attempts at writing in the mid 90’s were okay. I think I was trying to do something that was very different from
Cinderella and all that stuff ended up on the shelf because it just didn’t really feel like me. I eventually started writing stuff again that felt like me and, you know, it just has to come from real inspiration and it has to come from a real place. I try not force songs. Every time I do, it just feels fake or contrived. Life is my inspiration for songs, so that is why the title of the album is “The Way Life Goes” [laughs]. KCM: [Laughs] Yeah. I feel like a lot people who do write songs nowadays don’t much effort in, like they are very repetitive musically and lyrically. Do you agree with that? People just end up making such a simple song? TK: Yes. KCM: It was also a bad time for Cinderella musically due to the whole grunge movement happening which resulted in glam metal fading in popularity. You did take quite a large blow from that. How did you feel when you guys went on hiatus? TK: It didn’t feel good. There was kind of an across the board dismiss of 80’s music. I don’t know what else to say about it. You work hard and you get to this point in your life where you think, “Wow! Everything is working out,” and then the rug gets ripped out from under you and that happened to everybody. I think going back to what I said I learned from my mom, the most important thing is you just don’t stop. I know people who had trouble recovering from that kind of disappointment. You got to keep working and just try putting it out of your head and pulling yourself out of the hole. And that’s what life is about, because life’s gonna throw curve balls at you all the time and you just have to dodge them. Sometimes you get hit with them and you just got to process it, move on and get ready for the next one. KCM: The problem with your vocal chords kept reoccurring in later years and doctors said you may not be able to sing again. But you finally managed to get it strong again, how did you reclaim it? TK: It’s something that there is no medical cure for because it’s neurological, it’s partial paralysis. So there is no surgery or medicine that can fix it, you just have to train it. And you have to work with coaches and speechologists. It’s not an exact science and most people who get it never really sing again or sing anything like they use to. So it’s been a very long battle, up and down, up and down. I’ve had six surgeries to repair damages from straining because it’s just hard to sing with it. But in recent years I’m happy and grateful to report that it’s pretty stable. It still rears its head every once in a while, gives me problems. But I’m slowly getting my confidence back and I think I’ve learnt enough on how to utilize what I’ve learnt from the teachers and all to keep it maintained and working. So I’m just glad I can still do it. KCM: Well that’s good to hear that you haven’t had any other problems with it recently. No reoccurrences this year at all?
TK: No, in the last four years or so it’s been pretty strong, it’s been pretty stable. I mean some nights I sound better than I did before it happened and some nights I don’t. But it’s fairly consistent, so like I said, I’m just glad to be able to still do it. KCM: Well that’s great. Finally, what are your future plans, will it focus on Cinderella or your solo project? TK: Well, I take things one day at a time. Right now it’s the solo record because it’s just come out in April and we’re really just getting started on it. My label is very supportive, so I’m all about that right now. So we’ll see what the future holds.
I was incredibly excited that people were asking more and more for us to interview Hardcore Superstar and as their latest album came out and the internet waves were slammed with one of my favorite songs “Above the Law� I knew that the next thing I would be doing is scheduling and interview with Jocke Berg the band leader sort of speak. He is awesomely open, genuine and funny and clearly just as crazy about the fans as the fans are about the band so on that note it made sense to make Jocke our Winter Issue cover artist. By Agnieszka Wilde
KCM: How are you and how’s everything going? JB: I’m great! I got home just a few hours ago; we played this festival in Sweden last night. We had a blast, a lot of people showed up so it was cool. KCM: I have a lot of questions for you only because people in America are starving for you guys and the fan base here is quite incredible.
JB: We have one more festival in Finland, then we play a few gigs in Mexico and then we start rehearsals for the European Tour with BuckCherry. KCM: Between your energy onstage and Josh Todd’s energy this is going to be one hell of a tour!! Its high octane, you’ll have so many jealous fans here in the U.S. JB: (Laughing) It would be cool to bring that tour to the States.
JB: When I had my MySpace page I got emails from guys especially in the California area saying “You must come down to the Sunset Strip” and things like that.
KCM: People don’t understand the logistics of what it’s like to put a U.S. tour together, it’s so much more then just the band wanting to come over.
KCM: The Sunset Strip Festival is pretty big in L.A. and you guys would do well playing there.
JB: Right…I wanna go tomorrow!
JB: Oh Yeah, when is that? KCM: It’s typically during the summer, August I think?
KCM: So far you have released three videos off of this new album and I read that there will be another one? JB: Yes, one more to “Because of you”.
JB: Maybe next time.
KCM: That song seems to be a fan favorite as well.
KCM: What was it like to play with Def Leppard and BuckCherry?
JB: Yeah, that will be released before our European tour.
JB: We have not played with BuckCherry yet but we are doing this European tour with them in November and December and hopefully next year we’ll be able to tour the U.S. with them. It isn’t decided yet, but I hope so. Playing with Def Leppard was very cool. Joe Elliot sings the way he writes, but when he talks it’s almost like Lemmy. The man singing on stage and the man that was speaking to me it was like two different people (Both Laughing). That was very cool, they are nice guys and we had a blast with them.
KCM: “Cutting the slack” the instrumental piece which I happen to really like, how did you come up with the concept?
KCM: What are you guys doing for the rest of this year?
JB: We always want cool intros on our albums and this time around we wanted it to sound a little bit circus like, a bit folky. We know this Swedish guy who lives in Berlin and he’s done five intros for us already. KCM: It sounds really cool, it sort of draws you in and it’s not expected at all. It’s kind of freakish Halloween like type of a thing. JB: Exactly.
KCM: What I love about Hardcore Superstar is that you guys come up with the coolest album and song titles and sometimes it seems like those are things that people are thinking about but are afraid to say; so with this album, is it more personal, fiction or both?
JB: I was like “Of course I am!” When he said that I was like “Oh that’s such a cool title for a song” So now I call myself Jocke above the law.
JB: (Laughing) I mean if we’re talking about lyrics it’s like the band Hammer Fall, they write about dragons, demons and knights, but we’re not that kind of a band. I’d say its half fiction and half real life. We write lyrics about girls and people with a little twist of black irony.
JB: My family inspires me a lot. They have been so supportive my wife and two kids. I could say something like “ drugs” to sound cool but I don’t do drugs, that’s not me. I couldn’t have that energy on stage if I drank myself to death every night you know.
KCM: That’s what I mean, young kids relate to what you are saying….
KCM: You actually have to take care of your body to have that energy onstage and that’s something not everyone understands.
JB: (Laughing) Yeah because we’re saying what they are thinking… KCM: That’s why you’re so relatable because they’re living through your songs. I have to ask you about “Above the Law” it’s my favorite song and the melodies are kick ass, I can’t get them out of my head, so what inspired this song? JB: Actually I was on a holiday in Turkey with my family. I was sitting by the pool and you know I have a lot of tattoos, I got two stars one on each shoulder and in Russia if you have those tattoos it means that you have a high rank in the mafia. So I’m sitting by the pool watching my kids swim and this Russian guy….. KCM: Oh no…… JB: Is swimming towards me and he had shades on but didn’t speak English, so he just pointed at my stars and he said it just like this (Jocke putting on a Russian accent) “Are you above the law?” KCM: I love it (both laughing)
KCM: Who inspires you in your personal life?
JB: Yeah, I have to train and I have to run and work out. KCM: One of the fan questions was; how do you keep in shape? JB: I run almost twenty kilometers a week and I do a lot of sit ups and pushups and things like that. I just want to keep in shape you know. As you get older it’s a lot harder to keep in shape but I’m a lucky guy and I train a lot. KCM: The whole drug thing is a thing of the past I think at least in the music industry. Nowadays there are a lot of recovering alcoholics and drug attics. JB: Yeah, and that’s very sad and I never in my whole life done drugs. Of course I like whiskey and beer but then who doesn’t? I never wanted to try drugs because I saw so many friends of mine do it and what it did to them after taking cocaine, speed. It’s better to down few more beers then to fall into the drug addiction.
KCM: That’s a smart approach to the lesser of two evils, and quite a few people have lost their fortunes and families because of drugs. JB: Exactly, and we wanted to continue doing this. In music there is no age limit, you can do it until you’re like 70, I mean look at Lemmy. You have to be in shape for that. KCM: Unless you’re out on stage and your kids are pushing you out… JB: In a wheelchair…(Laughing). KCM: What would you say is the worst thing about your job? JB: I love to tour but the family is very hard to be away from and we fly them out to some shows when we play in Europe. KCM: It has to be hard especially when you have kids and I know it sounds “un-rock star” like but I think it’s normal once you have kids. JB: Maybe it’s like that now but back in the 70’s and 80’s there were a lot of drugs and maybe they didn’t care as much about their families. KCM: It’s true I think they didn’t because lots of guys would have girlfriends on tour while they were married or even separate families. JB: I would never cheat on my wife because I wouldn’t want her to cheat on me. KCM: I agree with you on that. I also believe that everyone has the right to privacy, even rock stars as some people might disagree with this statement. JB: I always tend to take a lot of time for the fans because without them we wouldn’t be here. When you have this type of a job you’re out in the public and you have to smile, but sometimes I don’t feel like smiling.
KCM: If you ever come to L.A. then maybe you’ll have a chance to see how crazy the paparazzi gets with the celebrities out there. JB: We played in L.A. once at the Troubadour back in 2004 and we also played in New York City at CBGB’s. KCM: Wow all the legendary places that have closed. JB: I know, but it was cool to play those places before they closed. KCM: What’s the biggest crowd that you ever played to and where? JB: Yeah we played to 200,000 people in Poland at the Woodstock Festival. I remember going out on stage and saying to myself “Wow, what’s happening?” There were people everywhere. KCM: Did you get nervous?
JB: No, I got excited. I’m so focused when I go out on stage; it’s just me and the audience. That’s something I can tell my grandchildren about.(Laughing). KCM: You’ve been doing this for quite a few years and during that time you probably did a lot of growing up and when you decided to start a family was it hard to separate the band from your private life? JB: No, because I am the type of a person that needs to have two outlets the family and the band. I always put my family first but the band is my job and they understand that I have to do interviews and go to rehearsals, so really it was not hard separating the two. KCM: How do you not kill each other after so many years of being together as a band? JB: Actually we talked about that yesterday so it’s funny that you mention it. Martin and I have been playing together for 20 years now. We’ve played in bands together before this band and of course we’ve had a few issues throughout the years but never really any fights, they’re like my biological brothers and I love them with all my heart. Nowadays if there are problems we can talk about them but we don’t have any. I can look at Martin, Adde or Vic and I can tell when it’s better to leave them alone because they are just not in a good mood. It’s also because we know each other so well. KCM: It’s a different mindset because now you’re older. JB: Yeah, we’ve done everything together so those are the people that I know best in the world. KCM: All for one and one for all as we say here..(Both laughing). JB: The Musketeers. KCM: Do you have a favorite song on this album? Even though I know it’s hard to pick.
JB: Yes I have one, “Are you gonna cry now” because it’s raw and heavy. I like that kind of music. That’s the funny thing because when I work out or run I don’t listen to Motley Crue. I listen to bands like Lamb of God or Hatebreed because I love the energy of those bands you know and because “Are you gonna cry now” has that kind of a heavy feel, I think it’s the best song on the album. KCM: What’s your favorite brand of beer? JB: I like Bud Light. KCM: Are you serious? JB: I like every kind of beer.(Laughing) KCM: It’s very unlikely that an American would name Bud Light as they’re favorite beer. JB: Really what would they say? KCM: Usually beers like Stella Atrois, Heineken or Becks. It’s funny how different sides of the world dig the imported stuff. KCM: If your life was made into a movie which actor would play you? JB: (Laughing) that’s also a question we talked about in the band.
If anyone ever did a movie about Hardcore Superstar; Martin would be played by Morgan Freeman, Adde would be played by David Hasselhoff, Vic would be played by Jean Claude Van Damme, and this is the best part, the guy who would play me would be Jackie Chan. The movie would be called “The broken few”. KCM: If you could be a super hero who would you be and why? JB: Spiderman easily. KCM: The next few questions are from your Stockholmian friends so here we go: Why is everyone in Gothenburg named Glenn? JB:(Laughing) we have a lot of famous soccer players named Glenn, they even have T-shirts printed in Gothenburg where everything is Glenn. KCM: Why is there a strange habit of strangling herring in Gothenburg? JB:(Laughing) I don’t know, its history it’s been like that for hundreds of years. KCM: Here are some fan questions. “What do you do to get psyched before each show?” JB: I do a little shadow boxing to pump myself up. Then we all take either a shot of Jager or a shot of Whiskey to get the adrenaline going, but the intro helps a lot as well. When we hear the intro it’s like “Come on let’s kick some fucking ass!”(In his best Jackie Chan voice). “What advice would you give to a young musician who wants to make it?” JB: Go your own way and practice on your instruments like hell. Write songs because for every ten you write maybe one is good and for every hundred you write maybe eight are good. Don’t give up on yourself and stick to a lot of practicing and play together with your band. When I see Idol on TV I think it’s so sad because people go there with the wrong intent. They all wanna be famous and that’s the wrong way in. I always say; you gotta pay your dues and do the dog years in your rehearsal room first in order to learn to play your instruments, write good songs and play as a group. “I read that in 2014 you’re going to Australia?” JB: Yes we’re going to be out there for two week and we are doing the Soundwave Festival. It’s like a Festival on tour, we’ll do five shows with Soundwave and then we do three more off shows. “Are you going to be doing any songs from the “No Regrets” or “Beg for it” albums?” JB: I can almost promise you that we won’t do anything off “No Regrets” Maybe from “Beg for it” we’ll do “Into Debauchery” or the title track “Beg for it”. “As a kid which musician inspired you to be who you are today?”
JB: There were a few actually and Steven Tyler is one of them and as a band of course I have to say Motley Crue because I grew up with them. My Mom listened to a lot of Rod Stewart and Free. So I’m going to say Rod Stewart and Paul Rogers the singer from Free. KCM: Free is a great band most kids today don’t know who they are. JB: You have to check them out. “How did you get such an awesome and distinctive vocal technique?” JB: I get this question a lot. The funny thing is when I started singing I was a guitar player before and when I was 16 years old I was in this glam band we started in high school. So then this one guy said; why don’t you sing and play guitar. So after a while it was like; why don’t you just sing because you suck on guitar. So I sang for couple of years and then I took opera lessons, private lessons. I recorded every lesson I took and I practiced on my tape recorder. My Mom she almost killed me because she was so tired of her screaming son upstairs, but that helped me a lot. Yeah my voice is raspy. KCM: You can definitely tell it’s you without watching a video or anything. JB: People tell me that all the time that they know when it’s Jocke singing. KCM: You have this unbelievable tone and that’s what makes you distinct. JB: I have this special voice. KCM: That’s a good thing, that’s why you’re growing with every album. JB: Thank you! KCM: I have to say that with the last three albums Hardcore Superstar has become very popular in the U.S. and when we asked the fans who they wanted to see they said you guys because no one really talks about you here. JB: Yeah because we have always had problems with record companies and stuff like that’s why as I mentioned earlier in the conversation it would be awesome to tour with BuckCherry as their support in the States. That would be a dream come true for us. “If this was your last day on earth which song would you listen to?” JB: Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird”. “What’s the ultimate band dead or alive that you would take on tour with you?” JB: There are so many that it would be a festival (laughing). I love everyone so I would have to take everyone with me. KCM: Of course here’s the question that everyone wants the answer to. When will you play the States? JB: Nothing has been decided yet but we had a talk within the band and we all agree that it would be a dream come true to tour the States with BuckCherry.
We are working on it so hopefully things will work out. KCM: That would be a great tour between Josh Todd’s and your energy on stage, it would be explosive. That’s a sweat fest! JB: We would be like the rabbits you know, the energizer bunnies. The Energizer Bunny Tour! (Laughing). KCM: There you go, you nailed it! Well it was a pleasure speaking with you. JB: It was nice to talk to you too and say Hello to New York from me.
Deeper Than The Bone Cry Me A River Sweet 16 It’s Not A Dream Above The Stars Let Me Go Butterfly Without You Breath Away Cut Arms Of Suicide
With a name like Audio Porn you just can’t go wrong. They are a killer band ready to rock ‘n’ roll. “Deeper than the Bone” is straight up hard rock that echoes in your ears when you hear the chorus thanks to Azriel St. Michael’s haunting vocals. “Sweet 16” is a sleazy song that exudes sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. “It’s Not a Dream” begins with a slick guitar solo provided by Jeff Westlake with drummer Byron Black as the rhythmic back bone. “Above the Stars” is the perfect description of a relationship ending in heartbreak. “Let Me Go” and “Butterfly” give you the feeling that you’re on cloud nine with absolutely no worries or a care in the world. Going acoustic is perhaps the best way to go with a ballad like “Without you”. That feeling you get when you’re with the person that means the world to you is explicitly clear in “Breath Away”, which is an exceptional song from these rockers. Despite showing a soft side, Audio Porn has a way with showing their feelings in a humorous way, heard in “Cut “and “Arms of Suicide”. This is a band that many listeners will instantly get hooked on and automatically connect with.
Any Weather (606 Version) TMI Soulmates To Strangers Make It Back Hard To Grow Up Fragile Reality, Mentality Bad As We Can Be Different Everybody Needs A Hero
The thing I always loved about Joan Jett and still do is the piercing frankness in her lyrics; kick ass melodies that keep you from sitting down and the catchy hooks that grab you by your heart strings. Her latest effort “Unvarnished” consists of so many great elements that it’s hard to get into it all in one little review, but having said that “Any Weather” is just an all-around groovy tune which was cowritten with Dave Grohl. She also co-wrote “Soul mates to Strangers” with Laura Jane from Against Me. Clearly having guest musicians and fresh perspective has given this album quite the popularity. I also happen to love “Make it Back” which is an inspirational song after hurricane Sandy and I can’t stop listening to “ Hard to Grow up”, “Bad as we can be” and “Different”. “Unvarnished” displays exemplary musicianship from Jett herself as well as Thommy Price (drums), Dougie Needles (guitar), Kenny Laguna (keyboards) and Acey Slade (bass). This is one of those albums that you want to blast in the morning because you know it will keep you effortlessly going all day long!!
Pissin’ On Your Grave Hope Your Gonna Die Gasoline Bitches Sick As A Dog Showdown Blood Brothers Slutmachine Wrecking Ball Gimme A Shout Scumdogz
This CD belongs on a long road trip as Hanover’s Scumdogz give off more of a biker vibe. I’d say they are somewhere between ACDC and Hell Yeah with the dirty more spoken lyrics sort of like Motorhead. They come packin’ with very strong song titles and even more aggressive melodies. Songs such as “Pissin’ on your grave”, “Gasoline Bitches” or “Slut Machine” ensure that you’ll have a good time. This band is the throw back to the 80’s hard rock with less than stellar vocals, but who could possibly care about that when you have pounding drums and guitar riffs that have you banging your head for hours on end.
Night On Fire Bad Lovin' I Love Heavy Metal Favorite Flavor Edge Of Our Dreams Sex, Drugs & Reckless Love Dying To Live Metal Ass Runaway Love So Happy I Could Die Hot Rain Die Hard (U.K. bonus track)
If you want to escape from rock music that has all too depressing or over the top society hating overtones then look no further. Reckless Love is a prime example of a rock ‘n’ roll band that keeps to the tradition of having fun and partying. They are one of the few modern glam metal bands that have managed to achieve similar success to Poison and Ratt back in the 80’s. Their third album ‘Spirit’ is loaded with exhilarating and sexually driven songs that will get you chanting each chorus and making all the girlies scream. The album’s first track is the single “Night on Fire”. The tribal introduction and jungle noises tie into the album’s cover art. Following the wild and animalistic song is “Bad lovin”, featuring guitar riffs reminiscent of the 80’s and over powering harmonies during the chorus. Lyrically the song is intriguing, with Olli Herman singing “Don’t matter if you’re straight, don’t matter if you’re gay, don’t matter if your bi it will get you anyway”. It could be liberating for anyone’s sexual orientation, if it didn’t lean towards the humour found in the songs of Steel Panther. The catchiest song on the album has got to be “I Love Heavy Metal”; you just can’t go wrong with a song about your favourite musical genre. Musically, this song is guitar centric. The riffs Pepe plays are killer because they are memorable like Slash’s riff from “Sweet Child o’ Mine” or Angus Young’s in “Highway to Hell”. The song also features some decorative techniques such as backward speak and synth techniques. Reckless Love is not a band that you should expect the unexpected. They are a band whose main focus is assuring that fans get an adrenaline rush and a feel good sensation while listening to their music. It’s an adequate album no doubt about that however, it doesn’t show any striking differences musically or lyrically, not to say that it won’t happen in the future. But at this moment in time, the party isn’t over!
Bang Your Head Caught In The Ride Take The Fight Down Heart On The Run Wild Into The Night
The new six track EP “Wild ‘N’ Ready” from the U.K.’s own Damn Dice proves the hair metal scene still alive and thriving. If you dig VAINS of JENNA or CRASHDIET, you will be enthralled with Damn Dice. Once you press play and “Bang Your Head” blasts from the speakers, all you will want to do is just that- bang your head from the beginning to end. The song’s solo is so beautiful that the hair on your arms will stand. “Caught in the Ride” inspires you to live life to the fullest rather than wait for life to pass you by. The tracks “Take the Fight” and “Down” are exemplary examples of “us against the world” attitudes that possess a liberating vibe, making you want to scream. “Heart on the Run” has a perfect harmony of vocals provided by the entire band. “Wild Into the Night” tops it all off, giving everyone listening feelings of spontaneity and excitement. “Wild ‘N’ Ready” is an eargasm waiting to happen. Electrifying and awe-inspiring, this EP really does prove that hair metal is not dead.
High All The Way You, Me, Tonight Time Fallin' So Wrong Here I Am Say My Name The Queen Devil May Care Slow Up, Get Down Behind The Veil Going Down (Bonus Track) Best Damn Everything (Bonus Track)
Hailing from Norwich in the United Kingdom, The Burning Crows hits the modern rock scene with some killer rock n’ roll anthems. “High”, the first track on the latest album “Behind the Veil”, combines elements from a mixture of 70’s rock genres. The guitar intro is reminiscent of southern rock solos by Blackfoot or Molly Hatchet. As the song progresses, a similar shuffle feel to UFO’s song “Doctor, Doctor” appears. The third track “You, Me, Tonight” has power and edge like early AC/ DC and Thin Lizzy. Lance Daniels’ incredible guitar licks and Chris Chapman’s pounding drums give the song its juice. After some energetic grooves, the album slows down with an amazing ballad. “Here I Am” floods your ears with its alluring acoustic guitar, a compelling guitar solo and the background strings. Following is the hard hitting and stimulating title track “Behind the Veil”. This song it captures the spirit of 70’s rock, drawing inspiration from the finest of the genre and featuring high calibre song writing. The Burning Crows keep the spirit of 70’s rock ‘n’ roll alive with their vivacious new album.
Change Better off Gone If You Ever Get Lonely Head First Mr. Wonderful In Dreams Evil Saturday Night
Legendary John Waite has released a great live album filled with refreshing vocals and power punched guitars thanks to a Keri Kelly a phenomenal guitarist who played with a wide variety of hair metal bands including Alice Cooper. Keri brings new energy to this album and his influence has shot these songs up to hundred degrees of hotness. John’s voice has never sounded better than on this album. These tunes are edgy, groovy and inspirational. My Favorites are “Change”, “If you ever get lonely”, “Head first”, the ever so bluesy “Mr. Wonderful” and of course “Evil”. What you get here is the purity of 80’s goodness combined with edgy and melodic Rock’n’Roll, with modern perfection.
Bath Salt Party The Present How2kill Commit to Knife Cinema Verité Undead Eat Lead A Little Light Conversation Batdanse Blood Drive Not If I See You First Fingernail Marks Re-Animation
They describe their music as “deadly undead rock” and describe themselves as “the band that survived doomsday”. Death Valley High is back in action and better than ever with their rebirth album “Positive Euth”. I cannot get enough of this dark, gritty record. I love all the diverse elements they combine. Every song sounds different from the next, emanating vibes of rock, horror punk, and twists of industrial. It’s been years since I have heard anything this marvelous come from a U.S. band of their genre and I must say I have found my new craze. Everything about this record is brilliant, from the album artwork all the way down to the song titles. I love this album from start to finish but some of my favorites off the album are “The Present”, “Bath Salt Party”, “Commit To Knife”, “Undead Eat Lead”, “Blood Drive”, and “Psycho In Your Parasol”. Death Valley High is one killer band and I hope to catch them on tour. Fair warning for all who check out this awe-inspiring spectacle: you will get the urge to bathe yourself in blood and dance under the moonlight while listening to this killer album!
Bite Hey You Confession Love And Pain Feel You Upside Down You Must Go Fooling Myself Bad Bad Story
Russian rockers Reds Cool return with their sophomore album “Bad Story”. Michael Wagner, known for contributing on works with legends such as Dokken, Mötley Crüe, and Alice Cooper, produced this spectacle. The album itself has a nice melody to it and the band sounds like a cross between Whitesnake and Journey. Their bluesy hair metal vibe flourishes in “Bite” and “Hey You”. Power ballads “Confessions’’ and “Love and Pain’’ feel extra heavy because of the groovy riffs. “ Feel You” expresses the heartbreak after the person you love most crushes your heart. Flaunting their wild side, “Upside Down” divulges sexual desires only fit for a rock band. A song like “You Must Go” sounds like it was inspired by a collection of old jazz music while maintaining its rock ‘n’ roll purity. "Fooling yourself” features a thick guitar sound and growling vocals. “Bad Bad Story” concludes the album, bringing about an angry sensation and your insides burn, feeling the pain the song emits. Reds Cool delivers rockin’ songs and this newest effort does not disappoint.
1. False Awakening Suite i. Sleep Paralysis ii. Night Terrors iii. Lucid Dream 2. The Enemy Inside 3. The Looking Glass 4. Enigma Machine 5. The Bigger Picture 6. Behind the Veil 7. Surrender to Reason 8. Along for the Ride 9. Illumination Theory i. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire ii. Live, Die, Kill iii. The Embracing Circle iv. The Pursuit of Truth v. Surrender, Trust & Passion
Possibly one of the best Dream Theater albums to date the band returns with an iron fist. Making it there twelfth studio album and their second overall with Mike Portnoy replacement Mike Mangini the band delivers to its fans. As with most Dream theater albums the band opens with their instrumental track “False Awakening”. All the instruments are perfectly in sync with one another making it a great introduction for the band. “Enemy Inside” kicks off with the progressive thrash metal guitar riff that guitar virtuoso John Petrucci is so well known for and eventually leads into vocalist James LaBrie’s melodic voice. “The Looking Glass” automatically once heard reminds me of Canadian progressive band Rush you get an exhilarating feel when you hear this song. The beginning of “Enigma Machine” has a lot of dark elements which is expressed by the creative genius of Jordan Rudess’s synthesizers. As the song progresses both bassist John Myung and John Petrucci show a strong bond between one another as they put their skills to the max. Lyrically the band takes their music into a whole new level which is exemplified in “The Bigger Picture”. “Behind the Veil” and “Surrender to Reason” has so many different elements that are so hard to describe as it starts off soft than gets heavy and it is just mind boggling how these extraordinary musicians pull of such amazing feats. Mike Mangini’s heaviness on the drums give a nice touch on a soft song like “Along For the Ride”. The longest track on the album with a length of twenty two minutes and seven seconds “Illumination theory” is a masterpiece of a song from top to bottom than many Dream Theater fans will not be disappointed with. This album overall is one of a kind and is a perfect continuation to the catalog of music that they continue to produce. This album automatically receives a five out of five star rating.
Dark Verses Freakenstein Death Of Rock ‘n’ Roll Exorcist Six Hundred & Six Six Suicide Death Ride Bang! Rest When I’m Dead The One I Fear
DARKC3LL comes flying out of hell, middle fingers raised high with the new album “Dark Verses”. These guys are evil and darkness at its purest and finest, creating fear and controversy throughout the world. DARKC3LL is the new Satan and I want to sell my soul and join the party in the fires of hell! It was instant love simply from reading the brilliant song titles and gazing at the cover. I am enamored with bands that are dark, evil, obscene, and know how to start up some good ol’ controversy and that is exactly what you get. “Dark Verses” is pure insanity that beguiles listeners with a perfect blend of industrial, metal and rock. Vocalist J.Dracman is a beast with a voice that sounds wonderfully clean or dirty, with a growl that will pierce right through your heart and grab you in all the right places. This album is vile bliss and I want to see these guys corrupting our youth and leaving their wicked marks throughout the world. This is not for the weak or the easily offended, you have been warned!
Greed is God Dear Mum You‘re not Cinderella Forever Ends Today Fiction & Reality You‘re not comin home Train To Hell Eighteen Hold On To Your Dreams Rock n Roll Girls Life‘s a gas
This super group is filled with all the right names of the 80’s glam rock scene and held together with a bit of cheesiness inspired by their boisterous past. I have a love-hate relationship with this album because some songs are enticing and others not so much. The most enthralling aspect about “Beautiful Disaster” is Steve Summers’ vocals and Cherie Currie’s guest appearance on three songs. Though I am not a fan of female singers I did enjoy the songs enriched with her contribution. The best tracks on this album include “Greed Is God”, “Fiction & Reality”, “Train To Hell”, and the marvelous cover of Alice Cooper’s hit “Eighteen” that Shameless made into their own. The rest of the album is not worth listening to and doused in too much cheese. If you’re a huge fan of 80’s glam or haven’t found your way out of that era you will definitely enjoy this album. Musically it is admirable but style wise it just fell short.
Charlatan’s Web Intro (Love Letter From A Booking Agent) Never Coming Back Wading Through The Dark Bad Man I’m Glad You’re Dead Pretty Little Things Losing My Mind School For Young Ladies Strangle You Rogue
A band like Bobaflex is a difficult band to classify and the cover art has death metal vibes. The cover art is misleading and the best way to describe them would be industrial hard rock with a melodic twist. Tracks like “Never coming back” and “Wading through the Dark’’ are killer candidates for radio airplay. “Bad Man” is the sort of song you would expect to hear during a bar fight. If you dislike somebody and they just irk you then “I’m glad you’re dead” is the perfect match. Bobaflex’s lead singer Shaun McCoy’s vocals in “Loosing My Mind” sound like Buckcherry mixed with a little bit of Josh Todd’s signature voice. “School for Young Ladies” is a party anthem just waiting to be discovered. Bobaflex is a unique band with songs that are somewhat generic yet captivating. I definitely look forward to hearing any new music these guys release.
The Main Attraction Web Of Lies A Shot In The Dark Silent Victory Deception In Jade Hearts Secrets In The Shadows Hollow Triumph Exile In Sadness The Scarlet Nymph Halo Of Light
Chasing Violets continue to release mesmerizing music with their second release “Jade Hearts”. “The Main Attraction” flaunts French sisters Sarah and Melissa Fontaine vocal abilities, similar to that of Lita Ford. Musically, the synthesizers in the song remind me of the beginning of Asia’s “Heat of the Moment”. Chasing Violets possess an enticing 80’s hair metal sound, displayed in “Web of Lies “and “Secrets in the Shadows. The alternation of vocals between the sisters and guest vocalists on the album mix well, best heard in”A Shot of the Dark”. The title track, “Jade Heart”, is an edgy song with a catchy chorus and slick guitar solo. “Halo” is a hard rock disco song that adds a nice touch to the record. The band generates a strong pop sound, bringing you back to the time when bands like Rush and Van Halen began incorporating synthesizers into their music.
Paradise Angel of the World Life has just begun Goin all the way Alive Life 2 Live On the run Soldiers Fallin Dark Reflections Legacy
Continuing from where they left off with their debut album “Infinite Stargaze “and sophomore “Out From The Cold”, Cold Spell return, turning the duo into a trilogy with “Frozen Paradise”. “Paradise” is an uplifting song with lyrics like “All my sorrows, I leave it all behind”, emitting feelings of empowerment that make all of your troubles fade away. “Life Has Just Begun” is an optimistic view on feeling like you can have a fresh start no matter what life has dished out to you. “Frozen Paradise” is well produced; all of the instruments jump out and electrifying listeners, best heard in “Goin’ All the Way” and “Alive”. The track “Life” opens your eyes, making you believe that you’re on a journey pursuing your dream before all of the chances disappear. “On the Run” entices you with Michael Larsson’s galloping guitar riff, providing a powerful adrenaline rush. The screeching vocals that singer Niklas Swedentorp wails intensifies the rush. “Soldiers” is a unique song honoring the warriors who fight to protect our freedoms. “Falling” lifts spirits, refusing to let anyone feel like they are caught up in a downward spiral in life. “Frozen Paradise” is a full on rock album from top to bottom with inspiring lyrics; not one track is disappointing.
TNT Diet Ballad of the Lower East Side Eighteen Angels Saturday Night Special Stained Glass Heart Horns and Halos Child of the Revolution Soul Surrender Half the Way Ritual Hands Are Tied Happy Neverafter Don’t Block the Sun
Michael Monroe has always had the ability to bring me back to the glory days of great music when the New York City scene was sizzling with more talent than anyone could keep up with. This album is no different as it kicks off with the fire ball of energy “TNT Diet” and “Ballad of The Lower East Side” tugs at my soul as it reminds me of all the wrongs that were right at places like CBGB’s, Coney Island High or even Don Hills. This song definitely pays homage to the greats that hid in the dingy alleys of St. Marks Place or Minetta lane. Michael has always known how to create memorable melodies and relatable lyrics. What you see is what you get and that’s what I always loved about him. This album is awesome from the very first song to the very last. If you truly love Rock’n’Roll then you can’t miss out on not having “Horns and Halos” in your collection.
Solid Ground A Different Light It's Not Enough Cold Day In Hell Thick And Thin Ask Me Yesterday Fools Paradise The Flower Song 09. Mood Elevator Welcome To My Mind You Showed Me Ain't That A Bitch The Way Life Goes Babylon
It has taken a lot of hard work and preparation for the Cinderella frontman to create a solo album, nine years to be exact, with his solo writing dating back to when the band parted ways after their last album “Still Climbing” in 1994. Tom Keifer’s debut album “The Way Life Goes” was worth the wait. With blues and hard rock influences the album features adept song writing and musicality. The album starts off with “Solid Ground”, a strong start with soulful harmonies and the rawness of Keifer’s vocals. The new material also shows Keifer’s development as a songwriter by introducing new styles. “The Flower Song” is an absolute change from what he has done in the past, featuring acoustic guitar with organ and a simple but effective beat on the drums. The subject matter is happy, laidback and being about love and having a great time. “Mood Elevator” is one of the most energetic songs on the album, featuring a great power in Keifer’s vocals and guitar riffs and the bass guitar fills help drive the track. My favourite song has to be “Welcome to My Mind” with its trippy tones and creepy bends on guitar. It gives the album variation in feel and sound more akin to what you might get from Alice Cooper. Tom Keifer has the potential to be very successful with his solo career. I heard wonderful things about the album prior to hearing it myself and it held up to my expectations. If Cinderella comes out with an album in the near future, they may have to compete with the standard of composing and ingenuity Keifer has managed to achieve. I’d recommend giving this a whirl, even if you are a die-hard Cinderella fan.
All Alone Yeah! It Aint Over Yet In Another Life Falling Into The Arms Of Some God Nobody Superstar The Meaning Bible Black One I Love Broken Home Ode To Jackie Leven
This is amazingly Tyla J Pallas’ 23rd solo album, an extensive amount from the Dogs D’ Amour frontman. “The Devil’s Supper” is a dark, emotional and melancholy enriched catalogue of songs. It has a lot of similarities in musical style to old school Alice Cooper albums such as “School’s Out” or “Killer” and Tom Waits’ “Closing Time”. The music makes you feel like you’re at a local bar drinking away your sorrows while the guy on stage plays some hearty blues, symbolizing your emotions. Tyla’s vocals don’t sound pretty or pitch-perfect in this album, however, one could say the rawness of his wails adds a woeful atmosphere to the songs. After all, the blues epitomizes melancholy, which this album achieves quite well. “Religion” is blues brilliance with slide guitar and a soft beat on the drums while Tyla’s vocals sound raspy and grim with some pitiful moans in between, emphasizing the mood. “Ode to Jackie Leven”, like the title suggests, is about the famous Scottish folk musician Jackie Leven who sadly died of cancer back in 2011. This song pays great respect to him with the use of bagpipes to emphasise his Scottish heritage along with piano and strings as the song fades at the end. Then we get pure blues with “Wisdom” featuring Tyla alone on acoustic guitar. To people who are fans of Dogs D’ Amour, don’t expect full on heavy rock ‘n’ roll but laid back, honky-tonk rock. The album features well written songs, interesting instrumentation and defines the meaning of blues. If you’re down in the dumps and would like something to drown away the tears then grab a bottle a whiskey, toss in “The Devil’s Supper”, and drown those sorrows away.
Damage Dressed To Kill Givin' It Up Before You Die She Starts Sucker God's Kidding Russian Roulette Fuck It All
Jolly Joker will appeal to people who like the New York Dolls, Poison or Mötley Crüe. A moderately new band hailing from Spain, Jolly Joker steps up to the plate and can easily compete with other modern bands around the world like The Last Vegas, BlackRain and Crashdïet. Musically, Jolly Joker has a solid hard rock sound that will remind you of the New York Dolls and early Guns N’ Roses; “Damage” exemplifies that sound. “Dressed to kill” and “Givin’ It Up” pay homage to bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison; it feels like Vince Neil is singing right into your ear thanks to vocalist Lazy Lane. “Sucker” kicks off with a heavy drum beat and a western guitar riff, exuding the feeling of being on the open road- a nonstop to nowhere. “God’s kidding” starts slow but picks up, morphing into a great rock song; it has to be one of my favorites on this album. “Sex, Booze, and Tattoos” is a fantastic starting point for this band. This band can go far and I hope to hear more exhilarating tunes from these guys.
ASK FOR MORE I DON’T CARE PASSING TIME QUEEN OF HEARTS SILVER DREAMS TIL I FIND IT
Releasing their EP “Bacchanalia” Boston rock act The Strange Avenues have released a small catalog of music that consists mainly of blues oriented music mixed with punk rock. The first track “Ask for More” shares a similarity to “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper while still having more of a bluesy feel to it. “I Don’t Care” shows more of a punk rock style making them sound like a cross between early punk bands the Misfits and Fear. The bluesy style that the band possesses gives them an edge, reminiscent something the Dead Boys would have put out today, clearly heard in the tracks “Passing Time” and “Queen of Hearts”. The EP picks up towards the end with “Silver Dreams” and “Til I Find It”. It is definitely not a bad start for the band, showing that they still have a lot more to offer.
Born To Rock Comin' Out Fighting Bad Girl Knife In My Heart Concrete Jungle Don't Believe A Word Shout Germany Rocks Danger Zone Emerald Blood On The Sand Lost In A Minute Masquerade Heat Of The City
I am sorely disappointed with Sinner and their album “Touch of Sine 2”. Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting a typical boring bar-rock band, especially since they are German. It is annoying when a band re-issues older songs with only a few new ones to accompany them. That is exactly what this album consists of. Don’t get me wrong, they are talented musicians and have been around the block more than a few times but this album did not enthrall me. Not one song popped out nor was there anything memorable on this album. They should have kept this album locked away in 1985 and tried a different approach. I would never catch myself listening to this on purpose; it’s too boring for me. However, it could be worth it to check out anyways- you might find something in it that I couldn’t.
4th Floor Sell Out My Drug Ain't Expecting Love Machine (acoustic) Top Side (live in the studio) Crazy (live in the studio)
Silverjet is a four piece wrecking machine hailing from Sheffield. Presenting to the world a dynamic and compelling selection of hook filled rock n’ roll songs which will drive you insane. The band has already made critical acclaim for their last three albums. Now they’re back with a brand new and amazingly catchy EP “4FSO” (4th Floor Sell Out), released on October 8th along with the CD release of their 2012 album “Push Kick Bravado”. The EP consists of six tracks with groove induced riffs and ear pounding power. We start off with the eponymous track “4th Floor Sell Out”, featuring brutal riffs alongside Dave Kerr’s charismatic vocals. My favourite song is “My Drug” and music being my addiction, it fits perfectly. The rhythm parts are also exceptionally strong in this track. Liam “Pais” Hill’s bass line manages to be predominant as well as Lee Stoyles’ robust drumming. It also includes an acoustic version of the song “Machine” from “Push Kick Bravado”. The new acoustic version features flamenco like riffs on guitar and a samba based rhythm on the hi-hat during the verses, a dramatic change from the hard and in your face version. Don’t let that take you away from the rawness the EP supplies with the live studio recordings of “Tops Side” and “Crazy”. Silverjet’s collaboration of powerful guitar riffs, vigorous vocals and potent rhythm section have certainly made “4FSO” a thrilling set of tunes which I suggest to people who like their rock ‘n’ roll hard and ear-splitting.
A New World Order Chaos Is King Fuel For My Fire Children Of The Sand Slaughterize 66 Fucking 6 Cruci-Fiction Dead Man Walking Enemy Of My Enemy
For me, discovering this album was like finding gold in my backyard. These thrashers from the U.K. deliver the finest modern thrash metal- recreating and revitalizing the genre with this album. Sy Keeler is a truly amazing vocalist and brings the music to a whole new level with his unique vocal style, setting Onslaught apart from all the other trash and metal bands around today. I can picture this band headlining heavy metal festivals and I hope they continue on and make it to that point. Any metal head could appreciate this thrashing band, so be sure to add this album to your head banging collection and support all genres of metal!
Live For Today New Year’s Eve The Devil May Care
I expect nothing but the best from these delectable Norwegians and they did not disappoint with this three song EP. These three singles are astonishing and will leave you begging for more. What captivates me the most about these three songs is the combination of rock and pop, giving the songs an 80’s Depeche Mode ambience. I anxiously await a full-length album. There is nothing to not love about this band. They truly have it all and know how to show it. So be sure to check out this stellar EP and their video for “Live For Today”, you’ll be enamored with what you hear!!
From The Ashes Lost In This World The Spell If They Don't Care A Voice Is Calling Promise Not To Hate Me When Darkness Falls Everyone Here And Now Change It's Time One Day
Ever since my discovery of The Lost Area I have been lost in their world, unable to break away from their spell. “From the Ashes” is as addictive as heroin and hot as a midnight sun. Hits like “Lost in This World” and “From the Ashes” drive this new effort and it is impossible to go wrong with any track off of this album. From start to finish it is one euphoric high that left me begging for more. The two things I love most are the music’s unique sound and VDiva’s sexy deep ranged voice. The Lost Area has everything and then some and this album proves it. This band is elektrorock done right and I am hungry for more!
By My Side Jack and The Magic Bean Woman’s Best Friend
The newest three song EP presented by Jolly Rox is a motley array of rockin’ tunes. The keyboards in “By My Side” are reminiscent of an electronic pop rock song and could easily be compared to tracks from Van Halen’s “5150”. Vocalist Joey Zalla’s voice can even be mistaken for Sammy Hagar at times. The bass guitar riff in the rock anthem “Jack and the Magic Bean” seduces listeners. “Woman’s Best Friend” makes you want to jump with its strong modern punk influence. This EP is a great effort put forth by Jolly Rox, I will have high expectations for any upcoming full length record.
Decimation Escape Forever United Destiny Inner Silence As One Crying In The Rain Shadows Of My Past Redemption (Bonus Track) Reach For The Sky
After a five year hiatus, German power metal band Tragedian returns with a vengeance. Tragedian show they still have what it takes to put out awesome music with “Decimation”. The title track “Decimation” uses synthesizers to create a strong melody. The next song on the album, “Escape” gives off a medieval vibe and also incorporates a melodic thrash metal sound. There is no doubt that Dany All’s intense key playing, Gabriele Palermo’s killer guitar shredding, and Val Shieldon’s impressive vocals emit the unity towards one another, best heard in “Forever”, “Destiny”, and “United”. The rhythm section of the band, consisting of Steve Vawama’s on bass and Max Polon on drums, provides the backbone of the band best heard in the tracks “As One”, “Crying in the Rain” and “Shadows of My Past”. The band also shows a darker softer side in the power ballad “Inner Silence,” which begins with a classical riff and picks up with an intense solo. “Decimation” is an incredible comeback for the German metalheads, proving they haven’t lost their touch.
Pleasure and Pain Basement Falling Apart Resurrection Stardust Mourning Star Left of Me Pay for This Take This Babylon Syndrome LUX
Gemini Syndrome starts off strong with their debut album “Lux”. The band manages to combine an alternative metal sound with hardcore scream. The opening track “Pleasure and Pain” spouts a thrash guitar based riff that automatically encourages a raging mosh pit. In addition to this, the screaming combined with clean vocals provided by Aaron Nordstrom strengthens songs like “Resurrection”. Tracks like “Falling Apart”, “Stardust”, and “Syndrome” start with classic riffs provided by guitarists Rich Juzwick and Mike Salerno that instantly hook you. Playing a twist on words “Mourning Star” begins like an anthem, which according to Nordstrom expresses how you live life and use your time. “Left of me” expresses the pain of going through tragedies but still having something left of you that cannot be taken away, thus giving a sign of hope to listeners. ”Pay for this”, a statement of what comes around goes around, can easily get listeners hyped up and ready for anything. “Take this” is somewhat of an upbeat love song that shows a softer side to Gemini Syndrome. The concluding track of the album “Lux” is brief and shown to be a continuation of “Mourning Star”. Gemini Syndrome’s first album does not disappoint and can appeal to anyone willing to listen.
Height: 5’5” Weight: 130 Waist: 26 Hips: 34 Hair: Black Eyes: Blue Breast: 36 Cup: C Shoe Size: 8 to 8 1/2 Tattoos: One 69 on back of neck for Cancer Piercings: Size 2 plugs and labret
“If I was the U.S. President I would: Take care of the people in my own country first!”
Current Occupation: Server What people don’t know about me: I was a Teenage Stripper and I am a psychic/medium! My Ambitions: I would love for one of my books to make the best sellers list! I hope to be the Betty Page if our generation!! My Turn-on’s: Food, Humor, Hands, Smiles, eyes, and asses!! Turnoffs: Liars and mean spirited people My Current Crush’s: I've had a huge crush on both Tegan & Sara. And I’m really loving Miley Cyrus’s new hair! MMM I didn’t even notice her before that. I feel like such a pervie. My Fetishes: I’m a pretty bad ass dominatrix. The higher the heels the better! I love threesomes and the idea of having sex with strangers! Like a Photoshoot gone wild!! My Favorite 5 Bands: Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan & Sara, TLC, Linkin Park My Favorite 5 Movies: Grama’s Boy, Role Models, What Dreams May Come, Serendipity, Pixar Movies Last Read Book: The Celestine Prophecy By: James Redfield My Political View: They’re all evil! One World One Love If I was the U.S. President I would: Take care of the people in my own country first! My Headstone Should Read: Here lies the girl who asked to be cremated…… Please List Any Links to Your Work: www.facebook.com/happyjenn82, www.ultravixens.net/lipsticklc, www.facebook.com/ realstoriesbyJ.Newell, www.facebook.com/rentapinup
L7,
1. What type of experiences made you the woman that you are today? Growing up in the projects, having addicts for parents, starting to strip at 15, meeting my wife, discovering Bettie Page, and taking my spiritual classes are all of the most important experiences to me. Each of those things helps mold me into sexually aware, strong appreciative woman I am today. 2. If you had the power to change one thing in the world what would it be and why? I would change the way that people think. Instead of choosing to focus on negative aspects of life they would have to ability to easily feel the beauty and love that is always around them. 3. What is your idea of an ideal man? I don't have an ideal man. I think attraction is all about chemistry. I like kind, interesting, funny, honest, people. Beauty itself is in the eye of the beholder. 4. What turns you off in a man? Mean people suck! 5. What hidden talent do you possess? I can give a mean lap dance, and I am a professional tarot reader and certified Reiki Master! 6. How did you get into modeling? Brooke Long of Brooke Long Photography offered to shoot me with my unicycle and Mija Lou of The Rockabilly Pit required me to have a modeling fan page in order to enter their pinup contest. I created the page only 4 months ago, started with 88 likes and we're almost at a 1,000 already! 7. What is the one goal that you have yet to accomplish? It would be pretty amazing to see myself on the cover of a magazine. 8. Who do you want to be when you grow up? Your Hero! Haha! I just want to be the best me that I can be! I have a lot of talents and I would never want to box myself into one career or path. And besides I’m never going to grow up! 9. Do you do anything outside of modeling that you want people to know about? I am a writer. I specialize in Memoirs. I have written two already. One is about being a teenage stripper and the other is about my relationship with my heroin addicted father. You can read some of them @ www.facebook.com/intimatetruthsbyhappyjenn. 10. Describe yourself in five words.. Bright, Intense, Evolving, Spiritual, Happy
Calling All Pinup Girls, Alt Models, Ink Diva’s & Rock’n’Roll Sexpots.
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Stevie is one in a million. He was such a gem to talk to and it was the most inspiring conversation I have ever had. I learned a lot from this interview and I hope you all will learn something as well. SD- Hi, Rita. KCM- Hi, how are you doing? SD- I’m good, and you? KCM- I am good, thank you for taking the time and doing this. SD- Yeah! What’s going on? KCM- Nothing, just talking with you (laughing). So are you ready to begin? SD- Yes, shoot!
KCM- So what inspired writing an album based on the seven deadly sins? SD- At the very beginning of the cycle we were thinking of ideas and which direction to go. Josh based it on he’s father’s suicide and it kind of all built from there and then tied in with the seven deadly sins. Then it just went on its own and months later we came up with Confessions. KCM- The album is amazing and I really love the whole concept. SD- Yeah, we are really proud of it and it was a lot of hard work. I feel like it is in a different direction than all the other Buckcherry albums, but it just seemed like a natural progression of the band musically, individually, Keith as a producer, us as songwriters, and us as musicians. We are really proud of this album. KCM- Yeah, it’s extremely deep as well. What I love so much about every Buckcherry album is how it always sounds different from the last and that’s how it should be. SD- Yeah, I think it sounds different from the rest but it’s still Buckcherry because it’s a guitar rock album, and it’s topped off with that Josh Todd vocal, which is unmistakable. KCM- I always say there is one Buckcherry and there will only be one Buckcherry because of how unique the band’s sound is, you can’t mock Josh’s vocals. SD- Yeah, obviously we have our influences that we are drawn from a lot of the 60s and 70s but we like to think that we made it all on our own if you know what I mean. We are always striving to be better in the rock ‘n’ roll world. KCM- Can you describe what your experience was like writing this album? How was this experience different from all the other albums you have recorded? SD- What we do is the ideas are generated individually, we will bring in a riff or Josh will say, “I have an idea and it kind of goes like this in my head.” There are some videos online of us working on some songs, but most of the time it starts out as a riff or sometimes completed songs. It will come into the room and we will kind of give it personality and each guy will put his thing on it. Then we will start recording and Keith will kind of walk us through performances and will get the best performances out of us and structures the riffs and how the long choruses and bridges will be as well as producing Josh as far as melodies and harmonies. So it’s a big task and we are doing it all ourselves. The outcome is really good. I can’t say that it’s different each time but I think as time has gone on we have become more independent rather than working with others, like this one has definitely been more of just us five and Keith producing.
KCM- Yeah, the whole process is really interesting. I love talking to musicians about this subject and how they choose to record an album. Every band has its own way of doing it and it fascinates me. SD- I love to play live but there is something really special about the writing and record process, it’s almost like putting together a puzzle. KCM- And you are really putting yourself to the test as well and challenging yourself in so many different ways. SD- Every day and sometimes every minute and it’s like putting what you do into a spot where others are. As a dual guitar band you have to figure out where to be and especially where not to be. It’s easy to play but to figure out where not to play is always very important. KCM- Of course. So what was your favorite part of the first leg of the tour? SD- Oh, the first leg (laughing). Gosh, we are already on number 223 so I am not even really sure where we were at that time (laughing). I think for the most part we have seen the U.K., Australia, Japan, and two years ago we went to South America, which we are headed to again next month. At the beginning we were playing headliners in festivals and then it went into playing arenas with Kid Rock. It seems like wherever there are people who want to see us and electricity we’ll be there. KCM- That’s the way it should be. So, you will be going to Europe and you have two great supporting acts: Hardcore Superstar and The Last Vegas, and all that energy is just going to be so overwhelming. It’s going to be insane. So what are you looking the most forward to? SD- Obviously I love to see the world, I love the audiences and I think they hold a little more value in the music than the majority of the U.S. audience. The difference I see in the U.S. audiences is that they are single driven and I don’t think that’s their fault, it’s more the record company’s fault because they just kind of push singles instead of pushing the band if you know what I mean.
I think rock ‘n’ roll is an American art form but there is no value placed on that. In other places, like Europe, it seems like they dive into the album and know the deeper cuts instead of just the singles, they sing along and they are passionate, especially in South America. I can’t tell you what it’s like to see 40,000 people singing your songs and they don’t just sing the singles, they sing all the songs and they’re songs that people in the U.S. don’t even know. I am looking forward to meeting Hardcore Superstar. I didn’t realize the guys from The Last Vegas were on that tour and they’re from my hometown. Do you know Nate? KCM- Yes, I am familiar with all the members. SD- (laughing) Well he took over a job I used to work at a place called The Double Door, so we are all tight and it will be cool to see the world with some old friends. KCM- It’s going to be a great tour, if that was happening in the U.S. that would be so kick ass. I totally understand what you mean about the differences in the audiences in the U.S. and Europe. I am the type of person that when I am into a band I am into everything not just the singles or what is popular. I actually look forward to having the album in my hands, look at the art work, seeing the support tour to the album, all that I look so forward to. I see that all the time when I go to shows, how people stop singing and lose interest because they don’t know the songs. SD- Yeah! KCM- It makes me so pissed (laughing). SD- I know! That gets a different reaction from the band. The band will play harder if the crowd screams louder. If you react in a way of just bopping your head then that makes us feel a certain way but then again we always give 110% and seeing that gives me a not so fun feeling inside. KCM- I agree. SD- Don’t get me wrong, I love America, I’m an American. It just seems on the outside that audiences as a whole are more passionate in other parts of the world. KCM- Yes, it’s absolutely true. So, congratulations on the release of your book “Everything This Way.” SD- Uh!! Yes! KCM- It’s an amazing book. How was the experience of creating the book and putting it together? SD- You know, it’s weird because I didn’t set out to do anything big. It is more a documentation of moving through the world and just documenting every stop. I take pictures everywhere I go and it’s all old school, I shoot with a range finder and film. KCM- The way it should be done. SD- Yeah, and it’s more of a fine art thing and a lot of the rock audience we play to didn’t get it. It’s just like digital music audiences know digital music and know digital photography now and if you go fine art now and or film and if it’s not a glitzy gamey rock ‘n’ roll shot then it’s kind of over looked. So I put out this book for more of the photography audiences and it’s more of a glorified theme of black and white photos. I had a good friend who’s a photographer in New York City do the editing, so I gave him a couple thousand images and edited it down to 200. Then I looked them over and got it down to about 50 images, but alternately it was a limited addition run and it ended up being in the Permanent Collection of MOMA in New York. So I was pretty stoked about that.
KCM- What I love about your photography is how no words are needed to describe your pictures because the pictures truly speak for themselves. I also love how you use film, that’s a big difference. SD- Some photographers think that explaining the photos is important and having a story to go along with the photos is important, then there are others that would rather leave the interpretation to the audience. I would rather have the audience get their own thing from it and I think if you’re a photographer you can put the composition together and know what I was going for and what I want you to look at. It’s not for everybody. There’s a website of different edits and then I have just a blog of random things I see on the road which is over at stevied.tv, I upload more often there. KCM- Yeah, I keep up with your blog all the time and I really enjoy looking at the photos. SD- Cool, thank you. KCM- What is your favorite picture that you took in the book and why? SD- Hmm, it’s hard to say, I don’t have a favorite. Obviously I shoot in black and white but I do a lot of color as well. The guy’s name is James Turnley and his edits made me see the photos in a different light and it told a kind of different story than I had anticipated. I like a lot of them for many different reasons, but if I had to pick one it would be the one that’s on the first few pages of the women in Hollywood. A lot of people come to Hollywood to find fame and fortune, some get it and most don’t. The ones that don’t make it stay in Hollywood and kind of walk around near Hollywood Boulevard. This one woman had her hair all done up all fabulous wearing a big white dress, and in the book she is overexposed but the rest of the photos aren’t, so she looks golden and that’s the one I keep going back to. That’s maybe because that one photo could have easily been made (laughing). You know if it wasn’t for Buckcherry saving my life I don’t know where I would be. KCM- Oh, so the band saved your life? That’s a beautiful thing. SD- Yeah, without a doubt. KCM- I love to hear things like that. SD- Oh, yeah. KCM- If you could live in one decade for one day and night which decade would it be and why? SD- (laughing) Oh god I don’t know, the late 50’s so I could grab a bunch of Gibson Les Paul’s and put them under my bed. I could do the late 60’s during the time of Woodstock so I could see Hendrix and go over to England to see all those bands that were coming up, which I guess was the early 70’s with Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Stones, well they were more 60’s. Just seeing those bands playing clubs would be something incredible, you know what I mean. KCM- That was when music was definitely at its best, we’ll never get that back ever again. There will never be a repeat of that time period. SD- Yeah, it’s not like that anymore, at least in my perception it’s not. I did all my partying and nearly died and now it’s a whole different touring scenario. It’s a whole different time, especially the music industry, no one is selling records, rock ‘n’ roll is turning into electronic music and hip-hop. KCM- It’s really sad how the industry turned out and it keeps getting worse and worse. SD- Well hopefully with interviewers like you and bands like us we will keep it alive. KCM- That’s why I am doing this.
SD- Where are you? KCM- Excuse me? SD- Where are you? KCM- Where am I right now? SD- Yup. KCM- New York City, well Staten Island and at this moment I am just in my room where it’s the only quiet place (laughing). SD- I am in the bus. KCM- Tour bus? SD- Yeah, I am actually in the driver’s seat (laughing). Yeah, it’s the quietest place right now. KCM- I hear that you have an obsession with collecting vintage guitars, watches, and cameras. SD- Yeah! Not so much watches, actually Eric from Kiss got me into collecting watches, I don’t know how but it was him and Doc. Between him and Keith there was nothing to do and we were going from arena to arena just looking online and falling in love with all these watches. I don’t do it so much anymore but definitely guitars, for the longest time I was an SG guy and now I am back into Les Paul’s. My most recent prize possession guitar is a 1960 black custom Les Paul, it’s just like Jimmy Page’s, the one that got stolen. KCM- Oh, wow! That’s pretty golden! You can totally hear, feel, and see the difference between vintage Gibson’s and the current Gibson’s. SD- Oh yeah! You know they are a lot closer now than they have ever been. The 2013’s are amazing; Gibson hasn’t made guitars this good in years. Keith and I have really fallen in love with the newer burst model. You really can’t go wrong with any of the custom shop guitars they are all fantastic. KCM- Yeah, makes sense since you have say over what you want done. About two years ago Gibson had released a special addition Les Paul bass and my friend had brought it. It cost him almost two grand and the bass came with some faults and damages, I was very surprised but then again everything is made on an assembly line. It was upsetting to see how careless they have become. I haven’t picked up any of the new Gibson’s but it’s good to hear that they have improved. SD- Yeah, a couple of years ago there was a lot of talk about the whole exotic woods that they were using. So once everything blew up they went back to using the old production process so they are using hide glue, the correct carves in the top and the shape of the neck. Again with custom shop you get all that detail.
KCM- Most instruments aren’t made in the US anymore, which is also very disappointing. SD- Yeah, most aren’t, you know, just like anything, if you want what you want then you have to go look for it. A lot of times shopping online is really dangerous, you have to go look at it, play it, hear it, and connect with it, then do even more research on it just to make sure this is what you want. Most people aren’t buying 5 to 10 guitars, they are buying one to last them a very long time, so it’s very important to find out about each piece you are getting. KCM- I love walking through the city and just stopping at all the vintage guitar shops. I love walking in and just looking at everything. SD- Yeah, it’s fun and the hunt is half the fun! KCM- I love going to any vintage shop and hunting around. You can find so many different treasures if you just hunt around. So I have a bit of a metaphorical question for you, something to make you think more. Do you feel that you see life differently through the lens of your camera and through the pictures that you take? SD- You know, I don’t know if I necessarily see it different. I may look at photos differently than most. My photography is more in tune with street photography aesthetic so it’s really just freezing moments in time and their happening and if I get lucky I have a good photo. A lot of times I am not looking for a poetic looking photograph so do I see the world differently through the lens, hmm, I don’t know, maybe not but maybe I don’t look at the world like everyone else does to begin with. So I don’t know. Sorry I couldn’t answer that a little more clearly. KCM- No that’s perfect. What is your favorite piece of clothing that you currently own? SD- Oh gosh, I have a derby hat that I brought somewhere on the east coast, so I probably have worn that the most. I kind of cycle through clothes a lot and then I have a lot of clothes from The Forgotten Saints in L.A. Anything from The Forgotten Saints and my Derby hat is my favorite. You know what, I got a necklace that I brought from Bill Wall and I have worn it every single show since 2006. KCM- It’s like a good luck charm now. SD- Yeah! I don’t play anywhere without it, it’s a weird mojo thing. KCM- Nah, I have a charm I wear all the time and I won’t leave the house without it so I can relate. SD- I don’t know, I don’t wear that much clothing when I play live, I end up being half naked (laughing). So if that chain could be considered clothing then that is my favorite. KCM- Yeah, anything that you wear the most and that is your favorite works in my book. So what is the most meaningful piece of ink that you have on your body? SD- Oh, they are all reminders of times and of things I should be doing and things I shouldn’t be doing. Maybe my back piece. It’s Mother Mary and it just reminds me to have faith even though it’s on my back and I don’t see it, I just know it’s there. I quit doing drugs, I was a serious drug addict and I quit in 2000. That’s when I started getting the back piece and the only way I found that I could stay sober is by finding power within myself and faith is a big part of that. KCM- Good for you! Congratulations and keep staying strong. SD- Thank you.
KCM- You have to put your faith in something, that’s what I tell everybody. SD- Yeah, it just can’t be you, it has to be something else because my will was getting me nowhere but trouble. KCM- How old were you when you got your first tattoo? SD- Probably 18, I ran off from Chicago, came to L.A., and got a tattoo right away on Hollywood Boulevard. It’s an awful tattoo, I am not even going to tell you what it is. KCM- Oh, I was just going to ask you that (laughing). SD- It’s a little stick man on my shoulder. KCM- Do you regret it? SD- I wish it was something else but I haven’t covered it up. It’s just a reminder of a time in my life where I was just a kid and I ran away to Hollywood. It reminds me of how ambitious and hungry I was back then and how awesome the world was, I felt like I could do anything (laughing). KCM- That’s what I wanted to hear. I didn’t want to hear that you regretted it. I feel that no matter how stupid or horrible a tattoo is, it still has meaning and represents a time in your life, especially your first one. SD- Yeah, it was a time when life was awesome and I was in the invincible stage. It’s very different now (laughing). I am much wiser now (laughing). KCM- I am glad you see it that way. SD- Yeah I like to think of myself as a guy that sees the world by the glass half full. KCM- Stay positive and you will get through anything. So you had a great year, what was the best part of this year for you and what was your most unexpected accomplishment that you made this year? SD- There has been a lot of good things that have happened this year: the release of the record, the crowd’s reaction, the packed houses, at one point Keith and I got to go up on stage and jam with our childhood heroes Cheap Trick. We got to do “Surrender” with them two nights in a row, it was crazy. I got a crazy great life, I got a wonderful wife at home that loves me and I love her, and we celebrated our two year anniversary just recently. And I am alive! I should have been dead years ago and I am really grateful for all the big things and all the little things too. KCM- I am so happy to hear that. I am so happy to hear that you have such a good head on your shoulders, how strong you are, and that you have someone helping you through all of it. Thank God for that! So I posted up on Facebook that I was interviewing you and I picked out a few fan questions to ask you, are you cool with that? SD- Yeah, sure. KCM- Great! So what can you not play without when you play live? SD- I would say as long as I have my Gibson Les Paul and my JCM800 I can get through anything live (laughing). I can get through any show with those two things. KCM- Does your photography have an impact on your music, writing, and playing? SD- Not really, maybe because it’s all coming from the same place creatively. It’s hard to say, like when I’m
doing photography, I’m doing photography and when I’m doing music, I am just doing music. I am not good at multitasking (laughing). KCM- It’s good because at least you can take a break. Life on tour is so hard that even writing music is draining, so at least you can take a break from that. SD- Yeah, music is a meditation for me, something I can do over and over, feel centered, out there, and the world all comes together for me. I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve been doing music a lot longer so I feel like it’s still a creative process. I am only one guy so it must be related at some level, but I’ve never really thought about it until now (laughing). Good question whoever you are! KCM- Well thank you so, so much for chat ting with me. SD- I am looking forward to meeting you someday! KCM- I would love that. I can’t wait until you guys come around to N.Y.C. SD- Yeah, this was a great interview and great questions. Thank you very much. KCM- Oh thank you, and I am really happy to hear about your sobriety and how strong you are. God bless and keep on this road! SD- Right on, thank you so much, you have an awesome day. KCM- You too bye.
KrashCity Magazine would like to thank the following people. Special thanks go out to: Rita Fabozzi, Keira Kenworthy, Laura Swartz, Matthew Caiazzo and Angie Rebel for their incredible work.
We’d also like to thank: Cycy photography, Ceri Wilkins, Ingrid Clarke, Tuula Rossi, Luis Alvarenga, Magnus Lundback, Kristian Nygård Solhaug, Bob Johnsen at 5b management and Doug Webber.
Super Special Thanks go out to: Jocke Berg(Hardcore Superstar), Hyde Jekyll(Sister Hyde), John Waite, Tom Keifer, Eirik Evjetun Nedregård(Trouble Circus) and Stevie D.(BuckCherry).
As always huge thank you for your love and support go out to the following people: Karys Brandy and Kurt Chalikiopoulos from Turn up your radio, David Ray from Global Rock Show, Roberto from Sounds Like New, Mama Trash, Acey Slade and Star Mafia Boy.
We love you guys! KrashCity Team.