Interview with:
Dave Henzerling of Big Cock
Interviewer: Tawny Khat
Interview date: March 25, 2009
Photo provided courtesy of Big Cock
My assistant, Anita Numan, and I met with Dave on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon out on the front patio of The Billet Bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. I want to thank you, Dave, for taking the time to meet with us. He's a great guy and we had a terrific conversation with him, a lot of it off the record. We conducted the interview in between the sounds of Harley's rolling in and out of the bike parking area in front of the patio. It was a relaxing scene that included a lot of laughter. We had a great time. Thanks again, Dave.
As I said on our home page, I'm very excited to be featuring Big Cock. They're an awesome rock 'n' roll band, and a lot of fun to listen to. The musicans in this band are super talented and you can't beat Robert Mason's vocals. I want to correct something I neglected to do when speaking with Dave. Dave, congratulations on being named "Rock Composer of the Year" at the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Awards in Los Angeles back in 2007! That's quite an accomplishment and an honor.
Alright, now on with the interview.
TK (Tawny Khat): Okay, so this actually isn't one of the questions I was planning to ask, but does the name Big Cock actually fit the group....do you know what I mean? (laughing)
AN (Anita Numan): I'll be the judge of that! (laugh)
DH (Dave Henzerling): (laugh) Well, as I always say, I hope we're not sued for false advertising.
TK: (laughing) Okay....
AN: (laughing)
DH: I think maybe if you combined all of us together, maybe it would be considered big.
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) Okay, so how did you guys come together to begin with, and come up with the concept of putting together a dirty, raunchy rock band with kinda nasty lyrics?
DH: Well first of all, that's exactly what rock 'n' roll is and always has been, and what people have forgotten over the years. But, I always said, since I was 17, that I always wanted to be in a rock band that was called Big Cock, 'cause it's kinda like sticking the middle finger up and saying, "If you don't like it, screw you!" But, thankfully some people get it and they like it. And, as far as the concept, the theme and the material, once you call yourself Big Cock it just writes itself.
TK: (laugh)
AN: (laugh)
DH: So, I can't even take credit for that, because it's all divine inspiration.
TK: Okay, so "MotherLoad", your third CD, was released over a year ago. Are you guys in the process of recording a new album right now?
DH: Yeah, we have a whole bunch of new material, but have not put in down yet. We're all juggling our schedules right now. Fortunately, or unfortunately, everybody in the group is extremely busy, so when we can get together and have some fun playing Big Cock, we do that. So, yes, there is an album in the works.
TK: Great! Any idea, maybe, when that might happen?
DH: We've been trying to put something out every year, so that being said, we'd like to get something out before the fall.
TK: Okay, that would be good.
DH: I'm hoping.
TK: Well, speaking of new recordings, can you fill me in about the band's songwriting process?
DH: Well, like I said, once you decide that your band's call Big Cock and your songs are sleazy and dirty, the material just kinda writes itself. But, the inspiration can come from anything. It can be a guitar riff, a drum beat, some dirty joke. It can even be a title. You never know where it's gonna come from.
TK: So, all the members participate in the songwriting process, pretty much?
DH: No, I mostly write most of the stuff, and Robert chimes in, and the other two guys put in their two cents. But, I'm kinda the party planner, so to speak. I steer the boat.
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) That's a good way to put it. So, how long have you guys been together?
DH: Since 2005, so three and a half years.
TK: Oh, okay. I was thinking it was longer for some reason.
DH: It seems like we've been around forever. It seems like I've been around forever.
AN: (laugh)
TK: (laugh) I know the feeling.
DH: I think I have been around forever. (laugh)
TK: (laughing)
AN: (laughing)
DH: Well, we've all, um....it's an interesting situation, because I know that you say you're doing sort of an 80s themed type of thing, and although guys like me and Robert, and Colby the bass player and John Covington the drummer, have been around and been in bands in the 80s and since, Big Cock is still a NEW band. So, it's interesting when we play some of these festivals, like Rocklahoma and stuff like that, where you're playing with groups that have established 20 year careers, and we're actually a new group. I like that. I think it's good.
TK: It is, it is.
DH: And, it kind of puts us in a weird position, because we really can't be booked as a nostalgia act either, because we're newer than most alternative and metal bands.
TK: Right. So, what is the chemistry like within the band? It seems like you guys all get along really, really well.
DH: Well, we wouldn't do this if it wasn't fun. That's the first order of business, is it has to be fun. So, when we get together I think it shows in the music, too. It sounds like we're having a good time because we actually are. We don't spend too much time overanalyzing things. We get a gut feeling and run with it. We do things quick and on the cheap. That's why we've been able to put out three albums in three years, when most groups put out one album in three years.
TK: That's....yeah, I feel like rock is supposed to be fun.
DH: Yeah, and you're supposed to get stuff periodically from the groups that you like. You shouldn't have to wait two or three years until you've already moved on.
TK: Yeah, people forget about you then. (laugh)
DH: Yeah, well we wanna make sure nobody forgets about Big Cock.
AN: (laughing)
TK: Oh, I don't think anyone's gonna forget. (laughing)
DH: (laugh)
TK: We were kind of touching on this before. You guys did Rocklahoma in 2008 and are going there again this year, and I think it's so cool that there are two Arizona bands, you guys and ICON, and like you said, you perform in that band, as well. What was the experience like last year?
DH: Well, we played early. We played at like 11 in the morning, so we were tired.
TK: (laughing)
AN: (laughing)
DH: And, I think the audience was tired, too. But, it was amazing how many people got up from being drunk the night before and staying up all night, and coming to see us, 'cause we got booked on it really late. So, we were happy to be there, but it was an early spot on Saturday morning. But, if you see the pictures you can tell that, uh (laugh)....
TK: (laugh)
AN: (laugh)
DH: We have our sunglasses on. (laugh)
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing)
DH: So, this year we're playing on Friday night.
TK: That's good!
DH: And, it'll be a really good spot and we'll be able to play for a heck of a lot more people.
TK: Which stage are you playing?
DH: Well, there's two side stages. We're on one of the side stages. I don't remember which one it is. It's the one closest to the VIP tent. If you were there before you would know what I'm talking about.
TK: Do you have any kind of touring planned this year, or are you playing any other festivals, like Rock Gone Wild?
DH: We've been in talks with all of them, but I don't have anything confirmed right now.
TK: I've already got my ticket for Rock Gone Wild, so......
DH: Yeah, we've been on and off, and on and off with that one, so I don't know if that's coming together, but you never know.
TK: I'm bummed I can't afford to hit both of those festivals, but that's life.
DH: I think that one's closer, too. Isn't Iowa a little bit closer than Oklahoma, or is it farther?
TK: I think it's a little farther, but it'll be late August, so I don't think it'll be quite as hot and swampy as Oklahoma.
DH: Well, they [Rock Gone Wild] have a different kind of set-up. They're actually mixing the older groups with newer groups, which I think is a really good idea.
TK: Yeah.
DH: Cross pollinate.
TK: Right, right.
[We pause here for the sound of a Harley pulling up to park.]
AN: Record that for me. (laugh)
DH: [announces into recorder] We're in Arizona Bike Week, by the way, and we're at a biker bar.
[Harley shuts down.]
DH: Actually, we were.....they asked me the other day to play at Hacienda Harley, but Robert's got a gig with Warrant that night, so we can't do it because Robert's doing double duty as you know.
TK: How long has he been doing that?
DH: Robert's been singing with Warrant since....last September, and they play once or twice a month. So, that's good. That's a good gig.
TK: Yeah, that's great. Okay, we were kind of talking about this, too, how some really exciting things are happening in rock 'n' roll these last few years, with more of a traditional sound coming back. I'm happy about that.
DH: Yes, so am I.
TK: Yeah, so there's been kind of this resurgence of glam rock, sleaze rock, just straight-up rock, like old school stuff.
DH: Yeah, good to see it.
TK: It is, and especially with a new generation of young rockers. That's what's really impressing me. I know you're familiar with Vains of Jenna.
DH: Yeah, we did these shows periodically called "Club Sleaze", and the last one we had here in Arizona was us, Vains of Jenna, and this other group from Santa Cruz called Dirty Penny.
TK: Okay, I know who they are. Unfortunately, I missed that show.
DH: That was last March [2008] I think. That was a great show. It was downtown at the Brick House.
TK: Ohhh, that's closed up now.
DH: Yep. It was a really good show.
TK: Wow. Um, are there any other new, up-and-coming bands that you like?
DH: I don't know. I mean, I hear a lot of new stuff. The main thing I'm looking for in the younger generation is for them to not do it the same way, but to do it with a different twist. I don't want to see a band that's copying Motley Crue, because Motley Crue already does it better. You know what I mean? I don't want to see a band trying to be Guns N' Roses, 'cause Guns N' Roses already does it way better, even today. So, they're gonna have to put a twist on things. I don't quite know what that's gonna be.
TK: Right. To be inspired by those groups....
DH: Yes, I think it's great to be inspired.
TK: But, be modern.
DH: Yes, exactly, and I'm not so sure we're seeing that yet. But, the jury is still out as to when rock kinda becomes a little bit more mainstream. I think you'll start to see some of those acts get more polished.
TK: Right. A lot of them are still really young, so maybe they haven't matured in that way yet, to get there own......to put their own stink on it. (laugh)
DH: (laugh) That's a good way of putting it.
TK: Some are still trying to copy the sounds, instead of getting their own.
DH: And the look, too.
TK: Um, do you think Hollywood and L.A. will ever in any way resemble the heyday of the 80s?
DH: No.
TK: That was just such a special time.
DH: And, maybe it's better that it doesn't, because like I just said, whatever happens next is gonna need to be different, and fresh, and new. I was, thankfully, lucky enough to have lived there and been a part of that all during that scene. It was a great time, and throughout the years since I've moved from Los Angeles back to Arizona in 1995, I go back all the time and I still see people sorta trying to hang on, you know. But, it's gone folks. Turn the page. (laughing)
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) I know the scene has changed so much, and I was out there back then, too, several times. It was a lot of fun. Even though it won't be exactly as it was then, do you think that L.A. and Hollywood could become a big hub for good rock again, though?
DH: It could be, because it is one of the homes of the record business. It is an entertainment capital, so people go there just like they go to Nashville, and like they go to New York City, and that's where the music industry is based, so if there's gonna be a new music culture it's probably gonna spawn there. Of course, as we saw in other places it can spawn out of Texas, it can spawn out of Seattle, you never know. And, that's the cool thing about it. It should be different. That's what's gonna make it fresh. Of course, there should still, hopefully, be room for old farts like us.
TK: (laughing)
AN: But, you're still fresh, though.
DH: Exactly, a fresh old fart. (laugh) That's what the world needs.
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) That's kind of an oxymoron. I like it, though.
DH: (laughing) Emphasis on moron!
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) I know I'm never giving up on rock! So, can you tell me one really good rock 'n' roll story, debauchery story, from anytime throughout your career?
DH: Well, there are so many, obviously.
TK: Yeah. (laugh)
DH: But, my favorite one is actually a clean story. I was in the group King Kobra back in the 80s, and we played a festival in Acapulco, Mexico. And, it was the weirdest bill, because it was King Kobra, the headliner was Quiet Riot and also La Toya Jackson.
AN: (laugh)
TK: (laugh)
DH: So, what happened was, we were all getting on the bus to go to the venue from the hotel, and King Kobra, we were all young bucks with long bleach blonde hair, we were all sitting on the bus, and La Toya Jackson gets on with her dad Joe, also Michael Jackson's dad of course, and they take one look at us and La Toya said, "I'm not gonna ride on the bus with these people." (laughing)
TK: (laughing)
AN: (laughing)
DH: So, I have the dubious honor of being dissed by the Jacksons. That's one of my favorite tellable stories. All true!
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) Interesting....I don't know if she should be judging anybody else.
DH: Exactly. I think she danced around to a tape. (laugh)
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) Ohhh... Wow, I can't believe we're almost done already. Well, is there anything else that maybe we haven't covered that you want to let the readers know?
DH: Well, I mean, kind of like you said, in as far as there's people out there who are still interested in rock, and one of the things that they need and should do is they should make themselves heard. I mean it's kind of a small, close rock 'n' roll family and we're happy to be part of it, but at the same time we've got to raise our voices and let people know that rock is still alive, and get out there and squash all these country and rap guys. (laughing)
AN: (laughing)
TK: (laughing) That's what I keep saying...we gotta take MTV back.
DH: Ah, MTV is another thing that's gone. It ain't coming back. So, it'll be something different. Whatever it is, we don't know, but it won't be MTV, it'll be something different. It's probably YouTube.
TK: Yeah.
DH: I mean, interestingly enough, King Kobra had a major record label on Capitol Records and did a very large budget video, and back in those days it was very competitive to get played on MTV. And, I think they played our video three or four times back then. I probably see it more now on VH1 Classic than I ever did back then. But, Big Cock has made three different videos and I've gotten almost a million plays on YouTube, so a million more people have probably seen that than saw our King Kobra videos, and they didn't cost anywhere near as much. So, that's the new world.
TK: Yeah. Technology is really changing how the music business works now. And, the magazine business, too!
DH: Right, right.
TK: Okay, well I want to thank you so much for taking the time to come down here and do this interview with us. I really appreciate it.
DH: Oh, well, thank you, too.
As I said, I really enjoyed talking with Dave. We may have spent more time chatting off the record than during the actual interview! But, I want to again thank Dave for the interview. I wish you guys a great show at Rocklahoma!
Make sure to also read my Big Cock CD reviews and check out the videos we have for you. For more Big Cock information you can visit the band's MySpace page and website.
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Interview with:
The members of Brake Vegas
Interviewed by Tawny Khat
Interview date: May 30, 2009
Transcript of live interview
I had a great time talking with the members of Brake Vegas. They are down to earth guys that rock hard and party harder. I conducted this interview with the entire band, Kyle Ainsley (lead vocals), Adam Von Schultz (lead guitar/vocals), Kells Bells (guitar/vocals), Matt Slyder (bass/vocals) and Beers (drums/percussion). Here they are in their own words.
EP (Electric Pussycat): Okay, here we go.
Matt: No worries. We're not assholes.
Kells: (pointing to Beers) Except this guy, don't talk to this guy.
(laughing)
Kells: Do not ask him any questions.
Beers: Hey, I'll answer all the questions!
EP: (laughing) OK, well, you guys haven't been together all that long, right?
Kyle: About seven or eight months.
Matt: Yeah.
EP: And, you guys already have an EP out. That's pretty cool. So, how did all you guys come together?
Matt: Shit, fate dude.
Adam: Yeah, it was some weird crazy shit. Me and this dude here (pointing to Kyle). I found him, or he found me. I don't know.
Kyle: I mean, I was looking for a band and he was looking for a band and we met up randomly.
EP: So, you guys didn't know each other before.
Adam: Pretty much, I was looking for a bass player and he was looking for a guitar player to start a band. Me and him came in, we rock 'n rolled a little bit. We played with other lineups, ended up kickin' 'em out.
Kells: We played a lot, too, with our whole lineup.
Adam: He used to play bass. (pointing to Kyle) And then, me and him used to sit in the bar and he was like, fuck dude, I'm gonna sing. Seven months later we're on the road.
Kyle: Yeah, that's my little brother right there. (pointing to Kells)
Kells: Yeah, I lived in Houston and they called me up and said, "Hey come play guitar," and ever since I met him (pointing to Adam), he's my fuckin' hero. He fuckin' picked me up and....
Kyle: They pick each other up.
Kells: That's where it's at, man. I was in another band and it was, I mean, it was alright, but they just didn't have what we have right now. A dude turned me onto them, and just as soon as I talked to this mother fucker (Adam) on the phone I just knew it was gonna happen. We jammed, and after the first jam session it was just....I knew it was meant to be.
Kyle: And, I worked with his girlfriend (gesturing towards Matt) and he came in, and we were looking for a bass player at the time...
Matt: Yeah, I ran a rock venue in Oklahoma and stuff, and I basically got the contact information and I told him to come down there and play with us sometime. I had a band down there, and basically me and him talked on the phone for about three weeks and next thing you know it was, like, they needed a bass player and I'd played guitar for 14 or 15 years and I just dropped everything, sold it all, put the rest in a storage unit and fuckin' moved down to Dallas. I said, "Fuck it," you know. I wanted to get on the road, 'cause I'd get to play Seattle and Vegas and everything. I wanted that shit bad, dude.
Kyle: It's crazy, you know, you say we've only been together a short amount of time and we already got an EP. But, it's crazy, once you get all the puzzle pieces together how fast shit actually starts cookin'. I mean, you don't have to work around other peoples agendas, or school, or jobs and shit. You're lookin' at five dudes that said, "Fuck it!"
Adam: Yeah, how we ended up out here actually was I called this guy (pointing at Kyle), I think it was on a fuckin' Tuesday, and he said, "What are you doin', Bro?" I said, "I just booked a show in Seattle. We're goin' on tour." He went, "Let's mother fuckin' do it!" No one said, "Oh, I gotta work," or anything.
Kells: We didn't even get together and talk about should we go on tour. The date was booked in Seattle and we'd fill in the gaps.
Beers: You just gotta say, "Fuck it."
Kyle: Yeah, we're talkin' old school style. We're not talking about booking agents, managers, or anything.
Matt: Eatin' Ramen for four fuckin' weeks. Fuck it!
Adam: It's us emailing masses. I'm talkin' like to these people, The Blooze Bar, and the other places we played. That's not our first emails that we sent. We're talking like 30-50 email to every city, to every band. Any band that plays "rock 'n roll" in a town that we went through, we emailed 'em.
Kyle: 29 nos and one yes.
Adam: Yeah, I would say a lot of fuckin' nos, and not because....
Kyle: I mean, outside bands....
Adam: No promotion, no management, no nothing. We got a six song EP and that's what pushed us.
Kyle: And, you figure, on a tour you gotta play on the Mondays and the Tuesdays and the Wednesdays, and it's like, there's a lot of venues that are badass venues, but it's only like Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights that there's live music, so you have to do a lot of hustling. I would say we're the hardest working band right now, and I'll put that up against anybody, for sure.
EP: So, I guess you pretty much already answered my next question, which was did you come together with a specific vision in mind, and it sounds like you did.
Kyle: Of course.
Matt: Yeah, it was never, like, said, but we all had that in our fuckin' hearts, and when we came together it was like, these are my fuckin' brothers and nobody's ever gonna talk shit to 'em or fuck with 'em, you know what I mean. And, nothing's ever gonna go down without all five of us sayin' something about it.
Kells: All for one and one for all. We're all in this together no matter what.
Matt: If we write a new song, everybody has to be shit eatin' grins about it or it's not gonna be a new song. We went through probably 10 or 15 songs, but all of them got ditched because there might be something about it, you know what I mean. You're gonna put good shit out, or else. That's it, you know.
EP: Right.
Kyle: I mean, like what we talked about earlier. You're not happy with where music is at right now. Who is?
Matt: All of us were in that band. We were the ones that wanted it so bad, we're so hungry. We're fuckin' starving, and we're gonna go all over the world. Each one of us was in another band, and that band wasn't doing a thing.
Beers: Yeah, and that goes back to workin' hard.
Kells: We were doing all the business for all our previous bands, managing, booking, all the internet sites, all the merchandise, fuckin' writin' all the songs, promoting, and everything.
Adam: And, all five of us were doing that in other bands, and we found each other, and it was like, yeah.
Beers: That goes back to workin' hard. Everybody works hard, man, and it's like, every band or everybody that we've played with is just like, "Oh, hey man, I don't feel like practicing." It's like, what's that, dude? Fuck that! Shit!
(laughing)
Beers: I hate that shit!
Kells: Yeah, when we play people are always like, "Man, you guys are tight." That goes hand in hand with bustin' your ass, and really feeling each other out. I'd say from the first show we ever played together to tonight, the last night of the fucking tour, I mean you're talking about five dudes that are on stage that if something goes wrong, if a string busts, everyone's so locked in that everyone knows exactly what's going on at all...at any given time.
Matt: It's complete pandemonium on stage, but at the same time it's locked down, controlled.
Adam: We maintain, you know, we maintain.
EP: Yep. So, tell me a little bit about your EP that you've released.
Kells: It's rock 'n' roll!
Beers: Six songs that kick your fuckin' ass.
Matt: We recorded and we spent every dime that we had in our own fuckin' pockets. We spent almost six grand on it, and we're not making any money back. It's just promotion. It's just to get our fuckin' name out there.
Beers: Yeah, we only spent like, what, six days, two weekends, on it?
Matt: Yeah.
Adam: It's pretty much the soundtrack of our previous lives. Every song has to do with a point in time where we all were. I mean, sometimes you get so fed up with things, sometimes it's with chicks tellin' you you're not going anywhere, so we said fuck 'em all.
Kells: That's the soundtrack for all of us coming together.
Matt: And, we've already got another four or five songs ready to go, too, and we're gonna get another two, and that way in maybe like three or four months time we can get back in the studio and fuckin' do it again.
Kyle: And, get a full length going.
Matt: Yeah, and that's basically the next stepping stone.
Kyle: By 2010.
EP: That was going to be my next question, about an album. So, by 2010.
Matt: Yeah, we're not stopping. That's basically the answer to it. We're not fuckin' stopping.
Kells: We're not stopping until this shit comes back.
Matt: I don't care if I'm sleeping out beside a building, you know what I mean, with a fuckin' cardboard box. Come pick me up, it's time to play the show, you know what I mean.
Kells: We're not stopping till we're in the dirt.
Adam: We're at the point of no return.
Kells: Like we sold our souls a long time ago. We're here, what are we gonna do now?
Kyle: There's no stoppin, no turnin' back, no lookin' over your shoulders. It's done.
EP: That's what it takes, 100% commitment.
Adam: Yeah, and when you stick your neck out on the line, if you don't want to want to fuckin' die for it, if you don't want to put it number one, and give everything else up, you don't need to be doin' it.
Kyle: This band works on sacrifice.
Kells: We ain't gonna wait around for some fuckin' dude in a suit and a tie to tell us he's gonna record our album. We're recordin' a fuckin' album in 2010, regardless. We'll fuckin' work our asses off and pay for that mother fucker.
EP: Well, those guys in the suits and ties are the ones that have all the crap that's out right now. What do they know?
Matt: Right, right. That's the problem. Nobody wants to put any dirt on there, you know what I mean.
EP: Yeah. So, tonight's your last night of the tour, right?
Matt: Yeah. Thirteen states, 7000 miles, over 30 days.
Beers: Number one tour!
Kells: First tour!
Beers: Fuck yeah!
Kells: We got seven buck left, we're livin' on Ramen noodles.
Kyle: Let me tell you a cool thing. Where we come from, in Dallas, there's a lot of bands that fall into the, like, black hole of the local music scene, where it's just like, before you know it you're seven years into it, you've been playing the same venues for seven years, and it's the fucking worlds first place for that shit.
Adam: And, they don't want to get out.
Kyle: We played, what, how many months on the scene in Dallas, like three, four months, five months?
Adam: About 25 shows.
Kyle: About 25 shows and we just said, dudes we're out. Let's get out.
Beers: It's horrible, though. I mean, they were great shows, I'm not saying they were horrible, but I'm just saying, like, the scene.
Adam: Nobody wants to get out and grind for it, nobody wants to sweat for it, nobody wants to suffer, nobody wants to sacrifice. They want somebody to come around and say, "You know, you guys are good. Let me sign you right the fuck here in Dallas since you haven't left." And, you know, it just don't work like that.
EP: I think it's like that in every city, though. That goes on everywhere.
Kyle: Yeah, it's easy to get a name for yourself in your hometown when your grindin' the same pavement, but the true grit is goin' to Phoenix, Arizona where nobody knows who the fuck you are, walkin' on the stage, turning the amps on, broke as fuck, stinkin' like shit, and kickin' out a fuckin' rock show.
Beers: Just fuckin' killin' it out there, man.
Kells: That's what we do everytime, everytime we play, every night we play, we kill. We play to kill.
EP: And, you had a pretty good crowd in here.
Beers: Yeah, we did, and it pumped us up.
Kyle: Yeah, it was a good show.
EP: So, has the rest of the tour been pretty good?
Adam: It's hit or miss. I mean, Monday night in fucking Salt Lake City, no actually it was Mother's Day, Sunday night in Salt Lake City, we played for the bartender.
Beers: Most of them have been hits, though.
Adam: Yeah. I'll tell you one thing. We walked into this place, it was a biker bar, and I walked in and I said, "Hey, I just came to check this place out," and he said, "Well, this is it," and he kept buying us beer and shots, and he closed the doors and just partied with us all night.
Matt: Yeah, partied all night. Everybody thinks we're coming in here being like hotshots. We're really humble guys, we're really nice, really respectful, and we're always gonna be fuckin' doing anything to prove that, you know what I mean. But, when it comes down to it, if you push us against a wall we're just like anybody else, we're gonna show teeth, but I mean, we're....the music speaks louder than we could ever speak, you know what I mean.
Kells: The music speaks louder than words, man.
Kyle: I'll tell you one thing, man. For this tour, I mean, for being together for a month we never really had any fuckin', like, little bitch issues, either, like where you have little attitudes and little fuckin' tussles and shit. We leave all that shit....like, if there's a problem we go up and fuckin' figure out what the deal is. I mean, if......
Matt: Yeah, if I got an attitude problem, all four of them are gonna come to me and be like, "Hey, dude, are you alright? Is there anything you need to talk about?" If I do, then they'll get it out. The sun's gonna shine the next morning.
Kyle: There was one time we were stopping for gas on our way back down to Orange County from Portland, and everyone was really tense, right, and all of a sudden, fuckin', we spilt curdled milk in the front of the van. It was the worst smell.
(laughing)
Beers: Oh, man, it was the worst!!
Kyle: And, all of us stopped and just laughed and was like, "I love you motherfuckers," and high fived.
Kells: There was maybe a goddamn in there and that was it, man.
Beers: Curdled milk, throw up, man. Right now we have curdled milk, two things of puke, one in the very back, one in the middle. There's porno from Vegas. We collected all the little porno cards and put 'em up all over the van.
Kyle: On the side of the van it say "Youth World" and we've even had calls on that shit, dude. Like, the person that we got the van from has gotten calls from out of state with people saying, "Yeah, I saw your van. They were driving erratically on the freeway. I hope they stop before they tarnish the name."
(laughing)
EP: You guys do straight-up rock 'n roll. Who are some of your influences?
Kyle: I'm telling you right now, it's all over the place.
Adam: There's blues, rock 'n roll to.....
Kyle: Yeah, from the 50s all the way up to....well, I wouldn't say now, now kind of sucks.
Kells: If it's good music, it's good music, no matter what genre it is. If it's good music and has soul, it's good music.
Matt: All the way from Robert Johnson in the 20s and 30s to fuckin' to the 90s fuckin' grunge ass Alice in Chains shit, you know what I mean.
Adam: What makes a really good band is creativity.
Kells: Yeah, I mean, if you can shred and shit, but...if you don't have soul....you have to have soul.
Matt: Not only that, but you can have a badass band and one person can be the star and the rest of the band's gonna look like shit. All of us work so well together, we ain't gotta worry about genres or fuckin' what we're doing, we just do it.
Kyle: See, the thing is, too, you can put on any fuckin' song in the van, any song, and every one of these dudes will dig.
Adam: We fuckin' rocked Snoop Dog on the way to one show.
Kyle: Yeah, everything from fuckin' Howlin' Wolf to Snoop Dog, we'll jam it. Guns N' Roses, Motorhead, Alice In Chains, we even like some punk. We put on some Rancid, fuckin' just dirty ass punk, The Ramones, Dead Kennedy's, Sex Pistols. We could go on and on, run out your tape.
EP: Well, I was gonna ask this next question, but we've kind of been going over this since we started, about the state of rock n' roll today, so.....
Kyle: It's terrible, it's bad.
Adam: It's coming back.
EP: It is coming back. Where do you see it going?
Adam: There's some good bands, Pistolero, Yayo...
Kells: Plus, you got Motorhead, Motley Crue, all these big timers coming back.
Kyle: I think the state of rock is this, the big bands that did it in the 80s are coming back to say, "Hey, this is what good music is. You say you're a fuckin' rock 'n roll band, you better fuckin' watch what we did, watch some videos, pick out a vinyl, go jam it."
Beers: AC/DC's got a new album, and they're goin' on tour....
Matt: Those guys can't do it forever, they're getting old. They need some motherfuckers to come up to pass the torch to. So, we're right there with, give it to me, baby.
Kyle: And, Lemmy is god, Lemmy is fuckin' god.
Matt: Yeah, AC/DC is about marketing right now, but Motorhead is still doing the same fuckin' thing, you know what I mean. Lemmy still lives in a goddamn apartment in L.A., in a one bedroom apartment not giving a fuck. It's a fuckin' shanty, but when it comes down to it all that fucker cares about is fuckin' being real and being rock 'n roll, dude.
Kyle: Are we going to be able to get one of our songs on the radio right now? No. Will we? Yes. One of these days. We're on a mission right now to bring back real rock 'n roll. We've had two radio interviews on this tour alone, our first tour, one in Seattle and one in Orange County. The one in Orange County, the whole interview was about bringing back rock 'n roll. It wasn't about the glammy glitzy bullshit, it was about fuckin' blood, sweat and tears and gettin' on the road and bringin' it back. If you've got the juice then step up. Send us some shit, let's go on tour. Walking into a radio station and seeing that, like, whatever you listen to at 5pm is what your gonna listen to at 5am, it's all on a rotation, I mean, it really just kind of irks you a little, you know. But, then we went and did a radio thing in Orange County and it was fuckin' raw and gritty, and it was online....
Adam: And, they had the biggest listening spike they ever had on that show, the most people that've ever listened to that show ever. I mean, people are starting a buzz going around. Rock 'n roll's comin' back.
Kells: Yeah, it was KZOK with Rockfish in Seattle, and KOCI with Antone in Orange County.
EP: So, you guys are seeing the change coming about, too?
Beers: It's very, like....it's there. You can't grab it yet, but you can see it.
Adam: During this tour, it was like, no matter what city you go to, there was always someone there like us. Someone there is hungry, like the same situation we were back in Dallas.
Matt: Yeah, you might have 40 people there, but two people are gonna say, "Damn, dude, you need to check this band out."
Adam: But, band wise, too. There's band's just as fuckin' hungry as we are, and now that we've met we have alliances around now. We're gonna get it together now. So, we have two of us now, next we're gonna go tour with four bands. Seattle bands, Orange County bands, next time we're gonna hit it harder.
Kells: You know, we take pride in walkin' on that stage and doin' the best show we've ever done and just rockin' the fuck out. We also take pride in meeting bands and creating alliances, because you ain't gonna bring back a revolution by yourself. You gotta have an army, dude.
Adam: There's some good bands out there.
EP: Oh, yeah there are. I run across them all the time.
Kells: But, a lot of times what they need is a band to come in and kick people in the fuckin' nuts.
EP: So, we already talked about a new album in 2010....
Matt: Yeah, I mean, we'd get in there this year if we had enough money and enough time, but we're talkin' about goin' half way up to Chicago in July, and we're talkin' about doin' this tour again in August and September, and instead of doin' one month we're gonna do two months this time, manage it better, and who knows from there, man.
Adam: Hopefully this year....
Matt: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Maybe when we get back from all that bullshit, you know what I mean, then we'll get in there and do another one, a full length one. But, you never know, somebody might be sittin' in the fuckin' audience that's like, "Hey, let me pay for your fuckin' album."
Adam: We're not gonna rush an album. It's gotta be a ten for us. We gotta all say, yeah, this is the best record.
Matt: When we write shit, everybody's gotta be a shit eatin' grin or it's not gonna happen.
Adam: We're gonna put out the best possible record we can.
Matt: We don't give a fuck what Joe Schmo thinks about it. These five dudes are gonna dig it before he digs it.
Kells: Yeah, if you want us to write five more songs, then we'll fuckin' write five more songs, and then you can pick, but at least we're all gonna be stoked on every fuckin' song on that album.
EP: Cool. Well, do you have any final thoughts you'd like to share with readers?
Matt: Rock 'n roll, dude.
Adam: Stay true. Don't fall into the fuckin' vortex.
Kells: Be yourself.
Beers: Whether it's one person or fuckin' 10,000, play your heart out.
Kyle: Listen to your dad's album collection and learn something. And, any rock 'n roll band out there, hit us up and we'll go on tour.
Matt: Yeah, we'll play anywhere, anytime, anyplace, with anybody. No money, whatever, dude.
Kyle: We love Electric Pussycat. Yowww!
Everybody: Yeah, Electric Pussycaaaat!!
EP: Thanks so much, guys!
I want to thank the members of Brake Vegas for taking time to do this interview. It was a lot of fun. I'll see you guys when you return!
If you haven't done so already, make sure you read my review of Brake Vegas's EP, "Strap Up", then grab yourself a copy of it.
You can visit the band's MySpace page or website for more info.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview with:
Billy Childs of Britny Fox
Interviewed by Tawny Khat
Interview completed: June 5, 2009
Photos by Tawny Khat, copyright 2009, all rights reserved. BC (Billy Childs): Well, we're not really "working on one" at this point, but are writing and sorting through a couple different offers. We do tour a good deal and that is still our main priority, but we have recorded two songs in NYC, but since the summer is here the touring end of things is the priority. Late '09 is a good possibility though, but it could be longer depending on how the schedule fits. BC: We just finished a run across the states, from Vegas to NY, and are now looking at doing the same thing only in reverse. This time we'll start in West Virginia and work our way to L.A., with a few things like Rocklahoma included. Europe is also being discussed for after that. As you can see, we're having trouble carving out the time to do the album we would like to do, but won't rush it. No point in that, I don't think. BC: Rocklahoma is on, but not sure about RGW. There's also a couple other things, one in upstate NY, but if the routing doesn't work for us it's kinda tough. We don't really plan around festivals like the bigger bands can do, but like I say, if it fits that's great. BC: Good for you as an independent, everybody should be one. I think people need to wake up a bit to what's going on, not only here in the U.S., but all over the world. As far as it goes here, people have to realize that these elections are basically theatre. In the last election, for example, these guys are like sock puppets both being controlled by the same body. Been like that for years to anyone paying attention, and it's not gonna change if people keep buying the bullshit. Left, right, conservative, liberal, they're just labels to give the masses something they think they can relate to and have the illusion they can affect change, when in reality it's all just bullshit. This country is run by gangsters, I should say banksters, that piss on the constitution so much it barely exists anymore. The real power is the one behind the throne, so to speak, and these guys, Obama, McCain, Clinton, etc., are just frontmen for the bankers. With Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich, who I also dig, I think that would be a huge step in the right direction. The proper direction to me is to get back to the constitution instead of destroying it, and have these pricks actually work for the interest of the American people, as per their oath of office, and not for the elite who rob BC: Getting the first Columbia deal was one. An odd one was a gig in Philly in '92 when the era was basically over, and Tommy just had no voice that night, but the place was packed and people we're singing the songs for him. That gave me fucking chills, almost like they were thanking us or something as that's our hometown. Actually, it was all pretty cool, as you could imagine. Also, seeing "Long Way To Love" going to #1 on MTV was great. NEVER ex BC: Dean quitting when we were on top really sucked, and seeing it all end when grunge happened in '92, though I really dig the music from the 90's, wasn't real good for my career, as you can imagine. BC: Somewhat, more in Europe than here. Much more actually, two different worlds really. But, still some here, just not as much. BC: It's all good with me, just wherever people dig it is great. Doesn't really matter where, hotels and clubs are all pretty much the same. Kansas or Tokyo, it's all cool to me. BC: Poison was great, Bon Jovi in Japan were also great guys. Alice Cooper was very good to us in Europe as well. Ratt were nice guys, too. These were all big arena tours and those guys were at the top of their game, so a good time was had by all. BC: I'm not gonna name names, but if they read this they'll know who they are. Basically, the most annoying guys are the ones who came along too late, or just plain sucked ass. They never really had much success of any kind really. But, in their own minds they have some kind of revisionist history going on and act like they were a Bon Jovi or something. These kinds of assholes are usually found still hanging out in L.A. See, when we were big, going gold and platinum was expected, that's just how big the scene was. The guys I'm talking about sold maybe 25-50 thousand albums, in whatever band it happened to be, and act like they made "Physical Graffiti". Go figure. There's way too many of these guys around, and the funny thing is, they're the ones with the biggest attitudes. I have such a personal dislike for these kinds of guys because it gives the rest of us (the nice guys) a bad name. BC: Probably really great weed for the most part, and took some nice vacations. BC: Thanks for all the support through the years, you'll never know how much it means to me, and many other guys like me. Fuck, the fans actually gave me a life, can't really thank them enough. As always, feel free to contact me at www.myspace.com/billychildsbritnyfox or www.myspace.com/britnyfoxband or my email is billychildsbritnyfox@yahoo.com. Any questions I'll answer as truthful as possible. Oh, also I'm in a Troma films release called Incest Death Squad, gotta love it, that should be out in Oct '09, I believe. Small part but what the fuck, I'm not an actor! Thanks everybody.
As most of you know, we featured Britny Fox as our "Band of the Week" a couple of weeks ago, although we didn't yet have this interview. Billy and the band have been extremely busy with shows, so it took some time to get this interview done. I appreciate Billy taking time out of his busy schedule to do this interview, however.
He and the rest of the band were great when we met them after their show in Las Vegas on April 18th, 2009. It's a pleasure to meet musicians who don't have the ego trips some others do. Not only do Britny Fox put on a great show, but they treat their fans with respect, and are actually very down to earth guys! So now, on with the interview.
EP (Electric Pussycat): I heard Britny Fox is working on a new album. When do you expect it to be released?
BC: It's going back more towards "Bite Down Hard" as far as style, updated a bit obviously, and most people seem to think that was our best work, myself included. Just good straight ahead riff rock without the cheese of some of our other stuff.
EP: I know you're also currently on tour. I wish you all the best with the tour. Where will the band be performing?
EP: On the band's MySpace page there is a banner that reads, "Don't blame me, I voted for Ron Paul." I think he's great, too, but since I'm registered as an independent I couldn't vote in the primaries in Arizona. At any rate, can you tell me a little about why you've put that banner on your page?
this country's taxpayers every day at this point. Does anybody wanna still be spending billions on these fake ass "wars" when we're broke here? Or, give "bailouts" to trillionaires? Or, give away more jobs? Fuck, I don't know where they make these approval ratings up at, but I doubt very seriously more than 8-10% of Americans actually agree with the actions of this government. Don't mean to ramble, but I have some pretty strong opinions and am fairly passionate these days. And, that's just the short answer, lol.
EP: What are two or three of the best moments you've experienced with Britny Fox?
pected that. Don't think anyone else did either, lol.
EP: And, what are two or three of the worst moments?
EP: In all the world, where are your favorite places to perform?
EP: Whenever you got your biggest check as a member of Britny Fox, what was the craziest thing you blew a lot of money on?
Thank you, Billy, for the great interview and the great music through the years. Looking forward to hearing more in the years to come! Readers, please also read my review of the Britny Fox show in Vegas if you haven't already.
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