TO LISTEN TO ANY OF THESE MP3s PLEASE PAUSE THE MUSIC PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FIRST. THANKS!
In addition to MP3 format, you can get VOJ's "Lit Up/Let Down" on CD:
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Interview with:
Jacki Stone of
Vains Of Jenna
Interviewed by Tawny Khat
Interview completed: July 1, 2009
This interview was conducted through email and I want to thank Jacki for getting his answers back to me so quickly. You rock, Jacki!! Okay, here we go.
Photo by Kevin Estrada (www.kevinestrada.com). Used by permission. Courtesy Vains Of Jenna.
EP (Electric Pussycat): Let's start off by talking about the new album. When will it be released?
JS (Jacki Stone): That is not confirmed yet. But, it will be later this year.
EP: What is the music on the new album like?
JS: It's a mix between a lot of stuff.... some rock, funk, arena rock
etc. It is very much a bigger album than "Lit Up/Let Down". This time around we were in an actual studio and had a great producer, Brent Woods, and the songs got more time and work behind them. Lizzy's lyrics are more dark than before.... I like that.... The songs just kick ass in my opinion.
EP: I remember seeing back in May that you were selling two drum kits. Have you sold them yet?
JS: The black Yamaha kit is already sold and shipped! The red, white and blue is still for sale. Rockett Drum Works handle that right now... It's an awesome kit that sounds great and look really cool!
EP: Please tell readers about your new drum kit.
JS: My new drums are way smaller that the other ones. But, I really like that. It is dark black, with a touch of green, with some stars and some sparkle.... Even though it's got that, the kit looks like a true rock n' roll kit! It plays amazing... Right away I had a good feeling about these drums, they are great! Rikki and Bobby at Rockett Drum Works have done an amazing job. Thanks guys!
EP: What is VOJ's songwriting process? In other words, who does the songwriting for the band?
JS: For this album, Nicki and Lizzy really got things rollin'! They wrote most parts of the album. All four of us in the band contribute in the songs, but Nicki usually comes up with a song, then we play it and work on it. Lizzy did most of the lyrics on this album. He did an amazing job.
EP: Since VOJ is currently playing dates in the U.S., are there any plans to play any of the large festivals here in the U.S., like Rocklahoma or Rock Gone Wild?
JS: Nothing is confirmed yet.
EP: What do you see as the biggest differences between the European rock scene and the U.S. rock scene?
JS: I feel that the U.S rock scene has got more modern rock music, which in many cases I like... European rock is going back in time with the music and looks... more 80's rock and metal. I believe that Vains of Jenna got a little bit of both sides.... and more.... We listen to everything and get inspiration from all kinds of styles. You gotta be opened minded. That helps the whole band develop as musicians and songwriters. If you are just stubborn and won't listen to anything else than your "favourite" music, your band will soon sound very boring.
EP: As a drummer, who are your biggest musical influences?
JS: Dave Grohl, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Charlie Watts, Vinnie Paul, Mitch Mitchell. There are many more than that, but I wouldn't be able to fit them all in this interview, hehe.
EP: When the members of VOJ aren't making music, what do you guys do? Any hobbies?
JS: I like to keep busy. I work out and hang out with friends... Grab some beers with the guys. But VOJ is the main priority in our lives, and 99% of our time has something to do with VOJ.
EP: I would imagine you guys have some great, and wild, road stories to tell. Please tell me one of your favorite stories from your many tours.
JS: Some stories should not be spoken about in public, hehe.
Photo by Kalis. Used with permission. Courtesy Vains Of Jenna.
EP: Who are your three favorite bands?
JS: Ohhh... Right now it would probably be... The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pink Floyd.
EP: Who are three of the worst or most overrated bands out there?
JS: I think there are some bands out there that are totally overrated and would probably have to go back to the garage instead of playing shows...but, in the end, it's not me as a musician that's got that power. It's the people out there that are buying/downloading the music that makes all bands... the fans! Without any fans, any band would be nothing... They are the ones that gives you that kick you need on stage, or make you work harder on the songs.... They promote their favourite bands etc. etc. I could go on forever.
EP: Since VOJ formed, what has been your most memorable or special moment?
JS: I have so many fun and great memories with this band. It's hard to just pick one special moment... but of course the Poison tour was amazing.
EP: Now a question for all of our female readers, do any of you guys have girlfriends?
JS: Yes, Lizzy does.
EP: Which country has the best groupies?
JS: I haven't been all over the world yet... so.
EP: I'm going to name several bands and I'd like you to give me your
thoughts about them:
a) Guns N' Roses (back then) - Amazing.
b) Guns N' Roses (now) - Great new album.
c) L.A. Guns (Phil Lewis version) - Not so much, but OK.
d) L.A. Guns (Tracii Guns version) - I Don't know.
e) Black Robot - Haven't listened to them.
f) Innocent Rosie - Great guys... cool music, I wish them all
the best.
g) Faster Pussycat - Back then yes... Now, no.
h) The Last Vegas - Good stuff... cool guys.
i) Buckcherry - Would be great to do some shows with.
j) Hardcore Superstar - Very good Swedish rock band.
k) Johnny Burning - Played with them in Italy at Glam Attakk.
l) Bai Bang - Never really listened to them.
m) Charm City Devils - Haven't heard so much, but what I've
heard so far was OK.
EP: Other than California and Arizona, where else in the U.S. will VOJ be playing this year?
JS: We will be playing all over the country... just keep an eye on our MySpace and check out the latest news every week.
EP: Where in Europe will VOJ be touring this year in support of the new album?
JS: That we don't know....
EP: Is there anything we haven't covered that you'd like to tell our readers?
JS: Thanks everyone for all your support. Remember, Vains of Jenna's new single, "GET IT ON", will be released on Itunes in July and you can pre-order it from our Myspace page, www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna. Also, be ready for some VOJ in a city near you... keep your eyes and ears open for more news about our shows!!! Thanks rockers!!!
Photo by Kalis. Used with permission. Courtesy Vains Of Jenna.
Thanks again, Jacki, and I'll see you and the rest of the band at your show this Friday, July 3rd, at Club Red in Tempe, Arizona. The last I knew there were less than 20 tickets remaining for this show!
For more info, go to the Vains Of Jenna MySpace page. Also, check out my Vains Of Jenna concert review.
Interview with:
Vic Wayne N
The Rock-A-holics members
Vic Wayne and Vee Lee
Transcript of interview conducted by Tawny Khat on December 12, 2008
All photos used with permission courtesy of Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics
Our spotlight band during this week were those dirty boys from Detroit, Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics! Members are vocalist Vic Wayne, guitarist Vee Lee, bassist Rick Baig, and drummer Tim-Zee Krash. These guys produce sleazy, down and dirty, gutter rock, and I mean that in a good way. When I think of sleaze, this is the kind of music I think of. They themselves describe their style as "sleazy panty wetting rock n roll", and I have to say that's an apt description.
The group is currently in the studio working on a new CD and I'm anxious to hear it! They've got a lot going on, but I'm going to let Vic and Vee tell you all about it in this interview I conducted with them recently. I want to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to do this interview, and a special shout out to Vic who was fighting off the flu bug, but cool dude that he is, did the interview anyway. Thanks!
EP (Electric Pussycat): OK, let's get started. First, tell me a little about how and when the band formed.Vic: Um, about a year ago. Me and Vee were also in another band together. So, uh, we've known each other for a while. And, at one point I had all different members in the band, and then that kind of fell apart. And, I got Vee back in, and then it just kind of went from there.
Vee: You rescued me from a crazy girlfriend. (laughing)
Vic: (laughing) Yeah.
EP: (laughing) OK, um, what are the members' backgrounds, previous bands, that kind of thing?
Vic: Uh, well as far as I go, I'm not even mentioning my last band, because they ripped off my band name. But, we did a tour with LA Guns with them down in Florida. Vee (ha ha), he's got a million of 'em.
Vee: As far as who I've played with? I've played with Sebastian Bach, Kid Wicked years ago, and uh The Jesters in Detroit. I don't know I could go on and on. I don't know how many you want.
EP: That's probably OK. What about the rest of the guys?Vee: Oh, and the singer for Shock Therapy died just a couple of weeks ago, so I should probably mention them.
EP: Oh, wow. OK.
Vee: I've been in a band with them, too. Shock Therapy.
EP: Wow, sorry about that. Uh, what are the main influences? The bands you guys are most influenced by?
Vee: Uh, we've got a lot of stuff really, anything from Aerosmith to Sex Pistols basically. We're pretty well rounded with influences. I don't know. Vic, what do you got?
Vic: Oh God, I mean you can go on my page and check out my project play list. I like everything from, uh, Jerry Lee Lewis to, I don't know (laughing), to Oasis, you know. I mean, I like a little bit of everything, pretty much.
EP: OK
Vee: I like classical music. You know, concertos and stuff like that.
EP: Yeah, I love Mozart myself. Now, are all you guys taken? I've got to ask one for the girls out there.
Vic: I'm free. (laughing) I can't necessarily speak for everybody else. But, we're a rock n' roll band...
Vee: Yeah.
Vic: What do you expect?
EP: Yeah (laughing). OK, what was the coolest show or venue that you've ever played?
Vic: Uh, up until now I think... Do you mean with this band or previous bands?
EP: Well, with this band.
Vic: With this band. Definitely, we did a couple gigs with Wednesday 13 last year at the I-Rock here in Detroit, and it was just awesome. It was great. Uh, we got, like, a couple big gigs coming up now. We're opening for Faster Pussycat here on New Year's Eve. That's gonna be a great one.
EP: Cool, yeah.
Vee: At a place called Blondie's that's started up again. A place downtown. They're pretty famous for a lot of famous acts here and stuff.
Vic: And, then we have LA Guns April 11th. Same venue. And, I think were gonna, like, make that sort of our CD release, too.
EP: Oh, great!
Vic: So, that should be pretty cool, too.
EP: Yeah! So, what was the worst show or venue that you've played?
Vee: Oh, I don't know. Let me think. Uh, worst venue and show. Got to have both those together.
EP: Well, either/or, actually.
Vee: Ah, I don't know. There was one where... Oh yeah! We should mention the....we shouldn't mention names...
Vic: (laughing) Yeah! And, probably not a good idea....Vee: (laughing) The place that starts with an "R".
Vic: (laughing) Yeah, yeah! That's the one, yeah.
Vee: (laughing) They put us on first.
Vic: Yeah, and really treated us like shit!
Vee: Yeah, all our people came like later, and we'd already played.
Vic: Yeah, tell her the story about the money.
Vee: (ha ha) You tell it.
Vic: Oh, this was great. This was classic. They didn't want to pay us, and finally the lady walks up to Vee and, uh, Vee's known this lady for like years, you know. She's this promoter. I don't think she's doing anything for the club anymore after all this went down. And, she handed him 15 bucks. So, and he was like, "What the fuck is this?" and he turned around and shoved it down the waitress' tits, and the waitress was like, "Thanks!" (laughing) You know, it was just an insult! What the fuck....
Vee: And the promoter; she looked at me and just shook her head and walked away.
Vic: Yeah, what the fuck are we supposed to do with 15 dollars, you know?
EP: Right. We used to have a club here that was known for that kind of thing, actually. (laughing)
Vic: You know? I...to even get a water I had to go behind the bar and make my own water for chrissakes.
EP: Oh, jeez.
Vic: And, the water tasted like shit to top it off!
EP: (laughing) Do you have any interesting road trip stories?
Vic: Ah, not really, 'cause we're new.
EP: Yeah. Haven't done any road trips yet.
Vee: (laughing) What about...
Vic: We haven't been out there. I mean, we got old ones.
EP: OK, give me one of those.
Vic: From the former band? Oh God, the LA Guns tour. There's just, oh God, there's tons of 'em. Uh, there was these two promoter chicks running the whole thing, and I...I'm trying to get laid, you know. And, these chicks kept throwing a monkey wrench every time, man. One time they kidnapped me....
EP: (laughing)
Vic: Pulled me in the car and took off with me, man.
Vee: They tried to kidnap me, too, and fly me back on the plane. They were like, "No, you're not going back with the band. You won't have no gigs for, you know, another couple of weeks, so you're staying with us and we'll fly you back." And, I was like, "Hey man. What the shit's going on, man?" (laughing) I was like, "I'm just gonna go talk to these guys," and I jumped in the car with 'em and took off. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Um, so which band....who would you like most to do a show with or go on tour with?
Vic: Um, LA Guns is great. The Phil version, not the Tracii version. Uh, I don't know. What about you, who would you like?
Vee: Faster Pussycat's cool. We had an offer to do that, but they basically wanted us to drive 'em around.
Vic: No, it was Bang Tango.
Vee: Bang Tango, yeah.
Vic: Yeah, this bunk promoter down in Ohio. We hired this guy, and he wanted us to pretty much provide Bang Tango with a ride, and no money in it for us.
EP: (ha ha) Ohhh.....kay.
Vic: You know? It's like, what?
Vee: And, gas prices were skyrocketing.
Vic: It's like, so we're supposed to drive Bang Tango around the country, drop them off at their hotel rooms, while we're starving and sleeping in the van. OK.
Vee: Yeah, and play for free.
Vic: Oh yeah, and play for free. You know, where do I sign up for that one?
Vee: And, he said, "You know what? We'll get you a case of beer."
EP: (laughing)
Vic: Yeah! Whatever, man, you know. Please!
EP: (laughing) That sucks.
Vic: So, we got rid of that guy.
EP: (laughing) Yeah, I don't blame you.
Vic: Yeah, (ha ha) you know. I mean, God, who wants to do that, you know? I mean, nothing against Bang Tango. It's just, come on, you know. What kind of fool is gonna do that?
EP: Yeah..... You mentioned a CD release. Are you guys recording right now? What's going on with you right now?
Vee: Yeah, we're supposed to go in again tomorrow and do some more work on it. It's gonna take probably a few weeks getting the tracks down and stuff, and a long time of mixing it. So.....
EP: How many tracks do you expect to have on the CD?
Vee: Well, we're thinking at least 7 or 8, you know. Maybe more.
Vic: If things go well, we'll make it a full album.
EP: OK.
Vic: We just got to see how it goes. What you're hearing on the (MySpace) page right now is just homemade demos. That's not even the full band. That's just me and Vee sitting around doing this stuff...
Vee: With a drum machine.
Vic: Yeah.
Vee: That plays bass. I had to program the drum machine.
EP: OK.
Vee: I do all the strings and instruments, and Vic, well, he just drinks and sings. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Sounds pretty good then. I didn't know that. That's pretty cool.
Vic: Yeah, it's not the band. Wait until the CD is done. The band is so much better. Like, oh my God! We're probably gonna regret that we threw those demos up when we get, you know, the finished product. You know?
EP: Yeah. Well, you have to be sure and get a copy of that to me so I can review it.
Vic: Well, yeah. For sure, definitely.
EP: OK, um, so what are your plans then going into the future? You mentioned the two shows coming up with Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, releasing the CD. Anything else?
Vee: We want to do, like, a major promotion of the record. Try to see how good we can get that going, and then try to plan a tour from there.
Vic: Yeah, we're thinking about just, after New Year's, not doing any shows up until the LA Guns gig, and just kind of sit on the CD. And, then BANG, come back out. You know? It means we need to get hooked up on a tour or something. But, you know, we'll see. We're just kind of, you know, just taking it as it comes.
EP: Right.
Vic: We'd really like to get in Chicago. I've been trying forever to get in there, but it's like, it's just hard as hell. And, there's a ton of people there that want to see us.
Vee: There's too much corruption going on. (laughing)
EP: (laughing) Yeah. I know you guys have some fans all around the world.
Vic: Yeah, thanks to MySpace, you know.
EP: Yeah, yeah. MySpace makes it really great to get heard all over the place. Do you have any last words for fans?
Vic: Just, thanks for the support. And, thanks for checking out the interview. And, we hope you dig the CD when it's done. And, also, thank you, too.
EP: Oh, you're welcome. I really appreciate you guys doing the interview. Like I said, be sure to get me a copy of your CD when it's done.
Vee: Yeah, maybe we can do another interview when it comes out.
EP: Absolutely! I'd love to do that.
Vic: Good talking to ya!
EP: You, too. Thanks a lot, and I hope you feel better.
Vic: Thank you.
EP: Bye bye.
For more info regarding shows and the CD release date, be sure to check out Vic Wayne N The Rock-A-holics' MySpace page!
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