Yakking with … Patrick Kennison

Posted: 3rd September 2010 by admin in Yakking with ...
Tags: , , , , , ,
0
Shout at the Devil: Kennison live onstage with Heaven Below

What Were We Thinking?: My 1991 Boyzen Heat T-shirt design.

 I met Pat Kennison some 20-plus years ago in San Antonio when the “manager” of his band, Boyzen Heat, brought me onboard to serve as the group’s “publicist,” artist and T-shirt designer. 

Being my first foray into the “business” side of rock-n-roll and considering Boyzen Heat was a fairly popular local band (especially with chicks who were hot for White Lion and Poison), I was excited to be part of the team. The band was short-lived, but the friendship remains to this day and Patrick and I still get a laugh out of the hindsight absurdity of the name Boyzen Heat.

When Boyzen Heat flamed out (sorry), Pat did me proud by perfecting his Nikki Sixx hairstyle and forming the more metallic, gothy, industrial band, The Union Underground (along with Boyzen Heat guitarist-turned-lead singer, Bryan Scott). With U/U, Pat scored a major-label record deal and landed a coveted tour with Marilyn Manson on the strength of minor radio hits like, “Killing the Fly,” “South Texas Deathride” and “Turn Me On Mr. Deadman.” Sure beat the hell outta working!    

After Union Underground ran its course, Pat took the big plunge and moved to L.A. to continue chasing his dream (U/U bassist John Moyer landed quite nicely in Disturbed). Today, following the break-up of his previous band, 3-Faced, Pat is still shooting for the stars with his most recent band, Heaven Below.    

 OK, Pat, start yakking!    

Plug your most recent project:
Heaven Below, a half-Texan, half-Californian band. We have our own iPhone App at iTunes and it’s free! Our friends and fans tell us we’re the missing link between Avenged Sevenfold and Nickelback. As flattering as that is, my roots and influences are in killer legendary bands like Crue, Metallica, GN’R, NIN and Alice In Chains. 

Album that changed your life and why?
“Shout at the Devil.” I got kicked out of catholic school for being a bad kid and bringing the album to school.    

First concert and your memories of it?
Maiden and WASP on the “Powerslave” tour. Smelled like weed. The show was over-the-top killer. Most concerts afterward paled in comparison. My mom gave me $20 so I bought the WASP jersey and wore it ’til it fell off my body. 

Your best and worst tattoo?
Worst would be my “U” from Union Underground. No worries though, I started it, I ended it, too. All my HR Giger-type ones are my best.     

Name of your very first band and other rejected band names?
Venjentz was the first; Boyzen Heat was the second (you remember that one!!!). Rejected names include The Laughing Dead, Menage Trois, Mulan Rouge.    

Touring “horror story” or Spinal Tap moment
John Moyer (Disturbed) and I dropped 12 live chickens we bought at a farm outside of Dallas on a band called Systematic that was opening for Union Underground. It was hilarious. We shoulda filmed it. I remember our drummer Josh shitting in a prostitute’s purse once. She was being a bitch and left the room for awhile. Wasn’t she pleased when she opened that later?   

Musical accomplishment you’re most proud of?
Sticking with it through thick and thin regardless of labels, members or family.    

Share a secret. What is your hidden talent? Guilty pleasure? Unexpected hobby?
My hidden talent would be my Jerky Boys style phone calls where I emulate a drunk, degenerate, elderly black man. I have the recordings, which are an underground hit with many bands, famous and fledgling. Unexpected hobby? Hmmm … none really. Is there more than music?    

Hero or villain? Best (or worst) “rock star” run-in:
Hero would be Howard Stern’s Fartman. Worst rock star run-in would be Lars Ulrich. I met him in Manson’s dressing room in 2001 when U/U was opening the Guns, God, Govt. Tour. He doesn’t play drums well enough to act like a self-righteous douche. I don’t care how big ‘Tallica is. Best rock-star run-in has to be Nikki Sixx. I hung out a lot with him when U/U rehearsed at the same L.A. complex as Brides of Destruction. He’s real cool and a real rock star at the same time. The guy is everything you’d want a rock star to be. Genuine and ass kickin.’     

    

Pictured Life: Psycho Mike-O Gets Infectious

Posted: 2nd September 2010 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
Tags: , , , , ,
1

2Fast2Die says: All I Wanted Was a Pepsi!

 

Before the Hurl: Al Kelly gets dizzy

The 1991 photo above was taken behind the Cameo Theater in downtown San Antonio by my lifelong buddy Al Kelly (right) who had just thrown up a few moments earlier. Nice shot, Al!

The tough guy in the bandana is Suicidal Tendencies singer Mike Muir. The not-so-tough guy on the left is 2Fast2Die. The parrot on my shoulder is that typical clown who always appears when a camera takes aim.

On this night, “Psycho Mike-O” was taking a break from Suicidal and singing in his side band, Infectious Grooves. The Groovy bass player this evening was crab-walking Robert Trujillo who you may remember from his previous stints in Suicidal, Ozzy and now Metallica.

Al and I were joined at the hip during this time and saw countless gigs together, including his own as the bass player in San Antonio metal upstarts, 4th Ryke and Scythe (2Fast2Die was a “roadie”). 

The details related to the top photo are sketchy (see first paragraph), but at least the picture is in focus. Not bad for a guy who just hurled his (liquid) dinner! Thanks, Al.

Rewind: Metallica’s Memories Remain

Posted: 31st August 2010 by admin in Rewind
Tags: , , ,
3

 

Not to be confused with 'Frampton Comes Alive!'

Until I heard Metallica, I thought thrashing was something sharks did (how fitting that I also discovered Accept around this time). Meaner, faster and uglier than everything that came before, Metallica took the hierarchy of heaviness to impossible new extremes. I mean, the band debuted with an album/mission statement called “Kill ‘Em All!” Any questions?    

Obviously, it’s been a pleasure to interview the Metallicats over the years. It also was a thrill to see the band live during a three-night stand at the Cameo Theater in San Antonio on the “Ride the Lightning” tour (Armored Saint opened). Following are excerpts from a 1997 conversation I had with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who like myself and a lot of other guys, credits KISS for his lifelong love of metal.     

On the album that changed his life:
“‘KISS Alive!’ was a really cool album. I couldn’t believe guys could look like that and be that loud and crazy and energetic. I thought everyone was as theatrical as KISS and then I saw Peter Frampton on TV and said, ‘Nope! I was wrong!’”      

On the tragic 1986 death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton who was killed in a tour bus accident:
“We had a really hard time coping with out grief and it put a dark cloud over us for a year. We had to pick up the pieces, put it back together and move on. To this day, I speculate endlessly about what things would be like if Cliff was still around.”     

On leaving Exodus to replace Dave Mustaine in Metallica:
“Metallica just took the musicianship and songwriting to a higher lever (than Exodus). It just felt complete from Day One. Also (Metallica) were getting ready to sign to a record label, and everyone wants to sign to a label — especially when you’re 20 years old.”     

On the band’s blasphemous haircuts and image makeover, circa the “Load/Reload” era
“People don’t like that we cut our hair and don’t play at 800 miles an hour, but you can’t please everyone all the time. As you progress as a person, you progress in the way you express yourself musically. You instantly limit your possibilities if you try to appeal to a certain segment of people. It’s all about growth.”     

       

Review: Chris Gates ‘Welcome to Gatesville’

Posted: 30th August 2010 by admin in Reviews
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

Simple Man: Chris Gates finds his way home to Gatesville (Photo by Jay West)

New album ‘Welcome to Gatesville’ drops Sept. 16

The simple joys of domestic sobriety fit Chris Gates like a trucker cap. A former punk-rocker and recovering blues-metal hellion (in the Big Boys and Junkyard, respectively), the Austin singer/songwriter/guitarist now resides in Gatesville where family, glory days and backyard barbecues are all the talk of the town. 

“Welcome to Gatesville,” the second album from the big guy’s namesake band (due Sept. 16 with bonus tracks available to advance purchasers), follows in the footprints of Gatesville’s debut, “Ain’t it Grand,” meaning it would be right at home alongside fellow porch-strummers like Skynyrd, Steve Earle, the Outlaws, ZZ Top, Marshall Tucker and the Allmans (with maybe Mellencamp sitting in for a spell). It’s roadhouse music so dusty and weathered, you can practically hear the dance floor creak. 

In guitar ace Tony Redman — a deadly dexterous chicken picker whose volume-knob nuances and slippery slide could raise every eyebrow in Nashville — Gates has a surefire shootin’ partner who can make a guitar twang or weep like nobody’s business (check out the Allmans-meets-Thin Lizzy guitar duel on “Broken Hearts & Faded Pictures”). 

The newest neighbors in Gatesville are no slouches either. On drums is Gentlemen’s Social Club stickman Paul Soliz (who is best appreciated live). On bass is one-time Juggernaut headbanger Scott Womack, who steps in for Bobby Daniel, recently departed for Alejandro Escovedo’s band. Guesting on piano and organ is former Santana and Journey singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie, whose son Sean recorded “Welcome to Gatesville” in his Dripping Springs (TX) studio. 

For all of Gatesville’s musical precision, the group’s most distinctive feature is Gates’ gravel voice. It sounds like it’s been ravaged by decades of nicotine (a vice long gone) and when paired with the band’s deft ability to emote through music, Gates’ grizzly bear wheeze is a thing of battered beauty. 

If the song is a swaggering boogie (“Lowdown and Dirty”) or a cautionary tale from yesteryear’s dark side (“Devil’s on My Trail”), Gates barks and huffs like a biker prowling for trouble. When he wants to bring the pain (“Forever Came Today”), Gates’ gruff gargle twists like a balladeer’s blade through your bleeding, broken heart. Somewhere in the middle, Gates’ aw-shucks personality whoops like a good-hearted howdy (“Those Were the Days”). Upbeat or beaten down, the moods hit like gut punches. 

For a guy who’s been around the block, Chris Gates settles nicely right back where he started. Home. Austin. Texas. “Welcome to Gatesville,” indeed. Ya’ll come back, now! 

The song below is actually ‘Devil’s on My Trail’ despite being labelled “Broken Hearts & Faded Pictures.” Below that you can see Gatesville doing the Junkyard classic, “Simple Man.” Enjoy! 

 

 

Yakking with … Colby ‘The Bastard Son’ Veil

Posted: 27th August 2010 by admin in Yakking with ...
Tags: , , , , , ,
0
The Bastard Son of Axl Tyler

Colby Veil grew up in Rockwall, Texas but hauled ass to Los Angeles so he could start livin’ out his fantasy of sleepin’ late and smokin’ tea.

Actually, Colby moved to L.A. so he could marinate in the birthplace of Guns N’Roses. Once there, he drank up the Hollywood nightlife, formed a band called Dopesnake (now THAT’s a friggin’ band name!!!) and became quick friends with some of his Sunset Strip heroes. 

Dubbing himself “The Bastard Son of the Sunset Strip,” Colby became the mirror-shade image of Axl Rose and formed the GN’R tribute band, Hollywood Roses. What would appear to be a tough sell in snooty L.A. was actually welcomed with open arms (and legs, we presume) as Hollywood Roses became a respectable draw on the cutthroat Sunset scene (hey, if Axl and Slash won’t satisfsy their fans, Colby is happy to oblige).

Things were rocking right along for Colby, but his nightrain would soon hit the fast track when he got a call from original GN’R drummer, Steven Adler, who wanted “The Bastard” to be his new singer in Adler’s Appetite. Things went as things go when you work with Adler, which means it ultimately came to an end (at least this breakup was friendly and the guys remain great friends).

Today, Colby continues to gig as Hollywood Roses. “As for playing live, we don’t just knock out the Guns N’ Roses tunes,” he said. “We’ve also had the opportunity to add some new tunes and make the shows a lot of fun. Along with the regular GN’R hits, we’ve added “November Rain,” “Live & Let Die,” “Yesterdays,” “Patience,” “Used to Love Her” and some others.”

OK, Colby, keep yakking!

Plug your most recent project
The main project is the brand new Hollywood Roses record to be released on Deadline Records in early 2011. This is going to be completely different from anything I have done so far. I’ve been so lucky to be able to work with the brand new lineup of Robo (Ladyjack), Matty Dee, NikiRott and Justin Sandler. This new record is going to be something totally new. It’s all about going for the throat and leaving a mark! That’s rock-n-roll. It’s not always nice, but it leaves a beautiful corpse.

Album that changed your life and why?
I have a list of albums that have truly changed my life and helped transform me into “The Bastard Son of the Sunset Strip.” Everything you ever need to know about rock-n-roll lies somewhere between The Ramones and Aerosmith.

First concert and your memories of it?
Nelson with House of Lords. All I can say is that my parents said I was too young to see Motley Crue and Warrant. Look how I turned out!

Touring “horror story” or Spinal Tap moment
Getting stranded in Georgia with Adler’s Appetite on our way to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There was an announcement that said, “Will the remaining members of the band Adler’s Appetite please exit the plane.” It was myself, Michael Thomas, Kristy “Krash” Majors, Chip Z’Nuff, Steven Adler and Steve Lobel. We watched as the plane flew away with our luggage. Why? Let’s just say, Ambien, Hennessey, vodka, tequila, and insulting the flight crew in Atlanta was not a good plan.

Your best and worst tattoo?
They all have a story attached to them and like any story in life, some are good and some are bad. But that’s not the question is it? I have no regrets, that’s just all part of the game. Entertainment or Death!

Name of your very first band and other rejected band names
This is a great question! My first official band was called Akrimia, whose namesake was based on an alien queen that appeared in a recurring dream that my drummer Todd frequently had. Some others include Fatal Desire, Bonedust, The Kneed, Bad Influence, Millenium, Lost Empire, Wicked Desire and 6&7.

Musical accomplishment you’re most proud of
The entire process, start to finish, of writing, demoing, rehearsing, tracking and recording the Dopesnake record. It was pure magic. I got together with Danny Nordahl (The Throbs, Faster Pussycat, MotoChrist) and we just started gelling. He came up with the riff for “Hell Yeah!” which is the first song on the record and we just kept on going. The motto on that album was, “What Would Iggy Do?”

Share a secret. What is your hidden talent? Guilty pleasure? Unexpected hobby?
I will divulge three: My favorite movie is “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure;” my favorite cartoon is “Rugrats;” and I have an extensive “Beanie Babies” Collection

Hero or villain? Best (or worst) “rock star” run-in
I’ve been lucky to not only become comrades, but to have also toured, written, recorded and performed with the very people that inspired me to be the man and musician I am today. And then there’s my curse regarding Nikki Sixx, which is always working diligently against us meeting. This I have come to accept! So, with ironic candor I now quote a song by Nikki Sixx’s band 58 by saying “All My Heroes Are Dead.” Mostly, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses are two heroes of mine that are equally amazing as human beings as they are gifted, legendary songwriters and musicians.

Most embarrassing on-stage moment?
I was singing in a band called Wicked Desire at The Mason Jar in Phoenix, Arizona back in 1994. Sometime during the first of two sold-out shows opening for The Scream, my amazing brown leather pants split in the crotch. Needless to say, I was exposed and didn’t realize it until our guitar tech literally yanked me to the side of the stage and yelled into my ear, “Dude, your dick’s hanging out!” Never missing a beat, I quickly ducked into the dressing room, grabbed a bandana and carefully stuffed it into the appropriate place. By the end of the song, the front row, which pretty much consisted entirely of girls, was throwing dollar bills onstage. That was pretty damn funny. What was even more funny was when our tech came into the dressing room after the show and handed me 30 one-dollar bills. Jager shots were on me! By the way, I was 17 years old!

Pictured Life: Bret Michaels Calls Me Onstage For One Helluva Rockin’ Good Time

Posted: 25th August 2010 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
Tags: , , ,
5

Nothin' But a Good Time: 2Fast2Die encores with Poison

The photo to the right is one of my life’s jackpots. Snapped backstage in 1999 at San Antonio’s Sunken Garden Theater, the image captures Poison singer Bret Michaels and me exiting the stage just seconds after we sang the KISS anthem “Rock N Roll All Nite” in front of a few thousand of my fellow hometown rockers.

This all went down because I did a phone interview with Bret a year earlier and was told by his publicist that he loved the resulting article. When Poison returned the following year, Bret’s publicist called again to arrange for a repeat interview and article. Not a problem.

As that interview wrapped up, Bret said he would invite me onstage in San Antonio to experience the rock-n-roll thrill ride he enjoyed every night. “You’re a KISS fan, right?” he asked over the phone. Sure, I said. “We close the show every night with ‘Rock N Roll All Nite,’” he continued. “I’ll leave passes for you and call you up on stage.” Um, yeah. Whatever, dude!

The night of the gig, drummer Rikki Rockett starts pounding out the familiar intro to the KISS classic. As promised, I had the passes Bret left for me, but figured they were just a nice gesture to get me into the aftershow meet-n-greet. Plus, I was on empty and needed another beer so I wasn’t gonna press my luck.

As the drums brewed to a boil, Bret called my name from the stage. The jolt was like sticking a knife in a toaster. Then he yelled my name a second, third and a fourth time as the crowd’s whooping swelled to a roar.

Dumbstruck with adrenaline, I bolted through the audience and up the side-stage stairs. Yelling “It’s me! It’s me!” as I flashed my pass and dodged security, I finally skidded onto the stage and landed nose-to-nose with Bret  just in time to share his mic as the vocals kicked in. Bret was wild-eyed and grinning. I was dancing like a monkey. Meanwhile, my best friend was being escorted from the venue for “watering the trees” and missed the entire spectacle. Great!

Back on stage, I played air guitar alongside C.C. DeVille. I climbed the drum riser. I shared backup vocals with Bobby Dall. I was the king of the nighttime world … at a time when cell phone videos were painfully scarce. Damn! 

This fans-on-stage thing became part of Poison’s show in subsequent years, but to be singled out as a solo guest, was extremely uncommon and special at the time. It was an electric moment from the other side of the microphone and is still one of my favorite stories.

Over the next 10 years, Bret left open invitations for me at every Texas Poison gig so we could reunite for backstage beers and rowdy tour bus parties. Say what you will about his music, bandana and reality shows, but Bret has always treated me like a king and I’ll never forget the hospitality. He is definitely one of the most appreciative rock stars on the planet and there’s no denying he loves his fans.
Cheers, Bret!

Metal Gods of Thunder Celebrate Bdays

Posted: 24th August 2010 by admin in News Bites, Uncategorized
Tags: , ,
0

Happy 61st birthday to my childhood hero, Gene Simmons, above, and also a screaming Happy 59th to Judas Priest singer, Rob Halford, left. Metal does not exist without you both!

Rewind: Rush Interview ‘Echoes’ From 1996

Posted: 24th August 2010 by admin in Rewind
Tags: , , ,
1

Got Drums? Neil Peart and his mighty kit

The recent (and excellent) Rush documentary, “Beyond the Lighted Stage,” sent me digging through the archives to find my interview with Rush drummer/lyricist extraordinaire, Neil Peart. Calling from San Diego during the 1996 “Test for Echo” tour (tickets for the San Antonio gig ranged from $23.50-$37.50 plus convenience charge), the man who is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers in history was every bit as intellectual and articulate as you’d expect from the person who penned the classic lyrics to “Trees” and so many others.

On the stereotype of drummers being slobbering meatheads:
“Yeah, there used to be this joke; ‘How many musicians are in your band?’ and the answer was, ‘Oh, we have four musicians and a drummer.’” Most of the bands working today, the drummers have a serious involvement in the music, whether it’s arranging, playing or even composing. I think that (wildman) stereotype is lost now.”

On his opinion of Rush’s catalog:
“If I said I was doing my best work 10 years ago, you’d be entitled to ask me why I’m still bothering. Obviously I’m much more proud of and much closer to the newer material.”

On embracing technology and redefining Rush’s sound during the 1980s:
“Every time we came up against the limitations of (being a trio), it was technology that came along and made it possible to have foot-operated synthesizers and drum triggers and sequencers. We used those things more when they were new because they were novel and could take us in new directions. On the new album, the keyboards are used more in a supportive role that’s thought of afterwards.”

On the mind-blowing revelation that Peart is not above taking drum lessons:
“If you consider the analogy of a pro tennis player, they always have coaches, and those coaches don’t teach them how to play the game. They’re there to watch you move and offer suggestions. It’s a more physical approach and a fundamental restructuring. It’s not like he was teaching me beats or paradiddles.”

The Sword Gets Medieval on Your Ass!

Posted: 22nd August 2010 by admin in News Bites
Tags: , , , ,
0

Bladerunners: The Sword cracks the sky with new album ‘Warp Riders.’ (Photo by Brian Tamborello)

A grinding storm of heavy axes rolls forth from Austin, Texas this evening when sludge-metal thunderlords, The Sword, get medieval on your ass. Besides being Lars Ulrich’s favorite band (he’s asked The Sword to tour with Metallica three times now), The Sword celebrates tomorrow’s official release of its third album, “Warp Riders,” at 7 p.m. CST tonight (Monday) with a free gig in the parking lot of Austin’s famed Waterloo Records. Helmets are strongly advised and chants for a Thin Lizzy cover are highly encouraged.

“Warp Riders” (again on Kemado Records), follows The Sword’s previously acclaimed albums, “The Age of Winters” and “Gods of The Earth.” The latest opus stands apart as being the first time The Sword has worked with an outside producer, namely Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Mastodon, Isis). Billed as a “psychedelic space opera that explores temporal themes of death and rebirth,” “Warp Riders” finds The Sword expanding its sound from Sabbath-style stoner metal to flare-bottomed, Zig-Zag boogie. Check out “Warp Riders” and the rest of The Sword’s catalog to hear why these Austin gladiators have won opening slots with such heavyweights as Metallica, Motorhead and Ozzy.

Yakking with … Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Posted: 20th August 2010 by admin in Yakking with ...
Tags: , , , , , ,
1

Tuff Luck?: Stevie Rachelle, second from left, and his American hair band, Tuff, in 1991 (Photo by William Hames)

Stevie circa 2001 minus the hairspray and leather
The going was rough for TUFF during Hollywood’s 1980′s hair-metal heyday. Admittedly obsessed with Motley Crue, the band did the whole big-hair/skintight/bandanna thing, but never gained the nationwide audience of second-tier peers like L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat and Dangerous Toys.

Best-known for the novelty song, “American Hair Band,” in which singer Stevie Rachelle name-checks everyone from Skid Row to Sleeze Beez, TUFF nonetheless never managed to muscle into the mainstream.

That said, Stevie, has gained my respect over the years for his tenacious drive in the name of rock-n-roll. Not only is he the mastermind/chief instigator behind the ballsy and sometimes reviled Metal Sludge website, Stevie also is the manager of upcomers, Vains of Jenna. You have to admire a guy who finds new and different avenues to keep pushing his rock-n-roll passion beyond its supposed expiration date (hmmm, sounds familiar).
Plug your most recent project:
Touring Aug-Sept as TUFF/Shameless in Europe. Very excited to hit France, Belgium and Sweden for the first time ever. More info is available at myspace.com/stevierachelle. Also looking forward to the return of Vains of Jenna and their U.S. tour in the fall of 2010.

Album that changed your life and why?
“Shout At The Devil” by Motley Crue. I saw the tour, came home and said “Mom I want my hair white.” She said: “Steven, your hair is already blond.” I said: “No, Mom. White, like this!” as I held up a picture of Vince Neil. That night in March of 1984 changed my life instantly. I was obsessed with Motley Crue for about five years.

First concert and your memories of it:
Saw some country/blue grass concerts in the late ’70s and early ’80s. First cool club show was Kidd Courage, a local band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jackie Ramos, the drummer from Bangalore Choir, definitely made an impression on me. He played great and sang, too. He was nearly killed in an accident that night on the way home. We’re still friends today. A month later, I saw KISS, Vandenberg and Heaven in Green Bay. I caught a Gene Simmons towel. A few weeks after that was Ozzy and Motley Crue, and that changed everything.

Touring “horror story” or Spinal Tap moment:
TUFF has a library of these. But the worst memory was our truck getting stolen in Memphis, Tennessee 1991. Brutal. We lost $80,000 in gear, personal stuff, etc..Three weeks later, we were back on the road. Hard lesson learned.

Your best and worst tattoo?
No tattoos. Never been my thing.

Name of your very first band and other rejected band names:
X-iter was my first real band in Wisconsin. The band had a few lineups. Mike Schneider on bass, Dan “Goober” Lautenschlaeger on drums and Mike Stowe (RIP) on guitars. Second lineup was Jason Giordano on guitar, who co-wrote the TUFF song “I Hate Kissing You Goodbye” with me, Sean Sanders (RIP) on bass and Jim Gypp on drums.

Musical accomplishment you’re most proud of:
Getting a real record deal, being on Dial MTV, and still having the fans care enough that I will be doing 15 shows in Europe in Aug-Sept 2010. Who would have thought 25 years later?

Share a secret. What is your hidden talent? Guilty pleasure? Unexpected hobby?
I can juggle, ride a unicycle and was a near-pro vert skateboarder. I love junk food.

Hero or villain? Best or worst “rock star” run-in:
I have met everyone in the industry, some good, some bad, some became friends. I will say, even though I was never the biggest KISS fan, I admit Gene Simmons is all business. I called and left a message on his office number in the late ’90s to ask about a demo tape he gave me years earlier. TUFF worked with him a bit in our heyday. It was almost 10 years later. He returned the call the next day and said: “This is Gene Simmons of KISS. You left a message, how can I help you Stevie?” We chatted, he answered my questions, gave me a contact number to help and asked: “Anything else?” I said: “Yes great show – I saw the reunion gig with the original band.” He replied: “Thank you, have a great day.” He is the consummate pro. I respect that.

Older Entries