Brand New Hate: Rising from the Ruin

Posted: 24th January 2012 by admin in Quotes and Chatter
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SOFA KING READY TO ROCK: Former Rockets to Ruin singer, Cleveland Willis, recently relocated from Atlanta to Los Angeles where he is piecing together a new, melodic hard rock band called Brand New Hate. Influences include Marvelous 3, the Black Crowes, Wolfmother and Shinedown. Cleveland and his band mates hope to share the Hate in 2012.

By Metal Dave Glessner

I met Cleveland Willis in the back of limo following a Broken Teeth gig in Austin, TX. I still have no idea who hired the car, but there was a party raging behind the tinted glass so I skipped the questions and dove right in. Wow. Nice! How ya doin,’ bro?

“Cleve” was the singer for the evening’s opening act, Rockets to Ruin, who were visiting from Atlanta. Turns out he was also tight with Broken Teeth bassist Brett McCormick. As we cracked beers and shuffled seats to squeeze some girls into the fun, it was apparent that me, Cleve and Brett were gonna uncork some Roth-worthy mischief. Everybody wants some, indeed!

Since then, Cleveland has visited Austin a few more times over the years while working on various other musical projects, including the short-lived, but oh-so-promising underground semi-supergroup, Last Chance Speed Ranch. More recently, he officially disbanded Rockets to Ruin and relocated from Atlanta to Los Angeles to start all over again with a brand new band called Brand New Hate. He wanted to tell you all about it, so he reached out to 2Fast2Die to offer an update. Say, “Hel-lo, Cleveland!”

ROCKET MAN: Ex-Rockets to Ruin guitarist Keith Horne joins Cleveland Willis in relocating to Los Angeles to form Brand New Hate.

Did BNH come together after you relocated to LA or was it something you started in Atlanta and then moved to LA for exposure?
I started talking with Nick Rozz while I was still in Atlanta. When Rockets to Ruin (RTR) played at the Whisky a couple years ago, he and I talked about maybe doing a project. At the time, he was touring a lot with a couple national bands and RTR was still busy. That same night, I also met Tuesdai. She’s now our drummer and undeniably the right choice. When RTR broke up for the second and final time last year after the Cinderella shows, Keith Horne and I from RTR became dedicated 100 percent to Nick and Tuesdai and BNH. Nick and I already had some ideas written, but now it was finally time to really put the effort into making a plan.

Drummer Tuesdai Murgia

What’s the latest BNH news?
We finished a three-song demo that we’re really excited about. We’ll see what happens next. While I was in Atlanta for the holidays, I recorded a fourth tune with Bruce Butkoviche who is such a great player and engineer. BNH has plans to play the Viper Room and maybe the Key Club in Hollywood. From there, we hope to hit Phoenix and Vegas. We haven’t played a real show yet, because we’re all still in the process of relocating from different cities and getting settled in LA, but we’ve got our sights set on a few gigs and we’re stoked about getting on stage. In the meantime, I’ve been having fun doing some acoustic stuff, so we may venture into that as well.

Guitarist Nick Rozz

What inspired the name Brand New Hate?
It’s a Backyard Babies song. Nick and I were sitting at the Coffee Bean on Melrose … Man, that sounds so cliché! Ha ha. Anyway, we knew we wanted something both in-your-face, but also modern and new. We also wanted a three-word name. After the usual bunch of silly ideas that all bands go through, Nick said Brand New Hate one day and I knew that was it.

How does living in LA compare to Atlanta? Any major culture shock?
Not really. I’ve played shows in LA and did studio stuff there last year. I recorded and sang a song that landed on MTV’s “Fantasy Factory,” which was pretty cool. I’ve been flying back and forth for a while. Nick and Tuesdai already lived there. Now, I’m there and Keith arrives in February. I do love to wear my southern Hotlanta roots like a badge, but it’s nice to be in Hollywood. Industry-wise, I think there’s more opportunity for us in Hollywood.

Bassist Kevin Anders

How does BNH differ from Rockets to Ruin in sound and/or approach to writing?
Until recently, BNH has never been in the same room together to write. Up to this point, the majority of it has all been done via email. It’s been challenging and takes a lot longer, but I think it makes us better and stronger writers. Nick has a different approach with formulas and influences, especially Marvelous 3, yet he plays a heavier style with groove and keeps the swagger. I’m really excited to get in the room with BNH and see what else we can do. Tuesdai and Keith are huge Wolfmother fans. Nick and I love the Cult, Black Crowes, Seether, Shinedown, Black Stone Cherry and Marvelous 3. We’ve had some amazing bass riffs recorded in Atlanta by Bruce Butkoviche of the James Hall Band and The Future Bold. He adds so much feel and groove and emotion. Writing is gonna be way cool and fun.

Cleveland with former manager, producer and Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan (c. Noel St. John)

Why did RTR break up? Seems like you had a growing following and a good connection with Rachel Bolan of Skid Row fame
I needed a break. We all did! We took some time off and Rob went and played with Wednesday13 and Gunfire76. Then we got an offer from Lil John’s hip-hop production/label to get back together, so we did. We started recording and it was going great. We got Keith to play guitar and Rob did the drums, but then left to go play with Skid Row. We got a dude I grew up with named Brent Addison to play drums live and were off and running, playing shows with Powerman 5000 and part of the Cinderella tour etc. Then our manager lost his fucking mind and screwed a lot of things up. Fucker! The guy was legit and had a lot of platinum under his belt so we thought it was all good. Wrong! We lost the support and the expensive record that still sits in a computer somewhere. A lawsuit may ensue one day. He was a waste of talent and so much money, but onward and forward for now. Now Rachel, on the other hand, produced our first record and managed us. He was amazing. We got to tour with Skid Row and many others, including Paul Stanley, because Rachel believed in RTR. Rachel changed our lives and we are indebted  to him and Skid Row. In the end, we felt RTR had run its course and I was ready for a fresh, new start.

Tell us something just for fun. Do you have any interesting hobbies or goofy, guilty pleasures?
I’m addicted to Bikram Yoga. I’m also a huge movie person and coffee snob — just ask Adam Stevens from Southbound Saints! Oh, and I can juggle. Yep, that’s right ladies and gents — usually fruit!

Nick, Cleveland and Kevin

What’s the big-picture gameplan for BNH in 2012?
We’re shopping the demo, talking to lawyers and managers. It’s the game we have to play if we hope to get a deal. It’s hard these days, but very doable. We’re trying to be smart about the moves we make, who we play with and the songs we write. I’m enjoying the process now like never before. My lyrics are different, I’m writing more than ever and even doing those acoustic shows here and there. It’s been a blast, but I’m definitely ready to play the stage with the big, loud, groovin sounds behind my voice. I’ll always be proud of RTR and what we became, and I’m grateful to have grown because of it, but now I’m ready for this next chapter.

For more BNH info, visit Brand New Hate on facebook

Too see how NOT to conduct an interview, click below and watch Cleveland and Skid Row drummer Dave Gara get babbled to death by some drunken host. Cleve pretty much nails it at the 2:13 mark.

The Gospel According to Willie Nelson

Posted: 10th January 2012 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
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HAIR FARMERS: Going to church with Willie Nelson on Easter Sunday 1997. My Dad once half-joked that this photo captured his two favorite outlaws.

By Metal Dave Glessner

My heroes have seldom been cowboys, but Willie Nelson is a clear exception. Along with other real-deal outlaws like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, Willie was part of my childhood soundtrack thanks to Dad’s passing preference for country music.

When I moved to Austin in 1995, it was hard not to notice I was in Willie’s world. Obviously, the man is a worldwide legend, but in Austin he’s more popular than, um, John Lennon (wink, wink). To this day, the sight of his tour bus is a personal point of pride.

On Easter weekend 1997, the Red-Headed Stranger became a tad more familiar when I was invited to his land courtesy of my friend and former colleague, Christina Fajardo (who happens to be life-long best friends with Willie’s daughter, Lana). Joining me on this little adventure was my pal Marc DeHoyos from San Antonio. Besides meeting Willie, Marc had the added pleasure of phoning his friend to brag about also meeting Joe Ely.

THE CHURCH CROWD: The "Willieville" chapel in Luck, Texas draws a congregation of colorful characters (photo courtesy of willienelson.com)

The reason for this shindig? Turns out Willie has/had this tradition of inviting friends out to “Willieville” in deep southwest Austin each year for his semi-intimate Easter gospel concert.

Located in the tiny town of Luck, Texas, the land is (or was) still home to the set of Willie’s 1986 movie “The Red-Headed Stranger,” complete with Old West saloon, bank, general store and small chapel, which was packed with in-the-know folks who knew it would double as Willie’s pulpit (Marc and I jockeyed for glimpses through the chapel’s back door).

Following his gig, Willie wandered around and met his guests. When I introduced myself and told him my Dad was a fan, Willie started asking me all about my family, my upbringing, my job, etc. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing all about me, which cemented his reputation as a most hospitable host.

From Willie’s place, Marc and I followed Lana to her spacious countryside house where a pass-the-guitar party was soon in full swing. The place was filled with food, drink and a museum’s worth of Willie memorabilia. While Marc and I secretly hoped for the second coming of Willie, we were more than happy to “settle” for the gracious hospitality of Lana and a house full of her Daddy’s holy rollers. Come to think of it, going to church on Easter was never so much fun.

For more on Willie Nelson, go here.

Pure Rubbish: Too Much Too Soon?

Posted: 28th December 2011 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
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YOUNG, LOUD AND SNOTTY: I shot this photo at Flamingo Cantina in Austin on the night I met Pure Rubbish at SXSW 2001. From left, Jarrett Gardner, Mike McWilliams, Derek Dunivan and Evan Dunivan. Average age? Maybe 16.

By Metal Dave Glessner

Pure Rubbish hooked my attention at SXSW 2001 when word from the gutter had the kids pegged as the next Guns N’ Roses. I was further impressed to learn the Houston upstarts were winning favor with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, and supposedly securing producer Mike Clink who played a vital role in shaping a fairly memorable album called “Appetite for Destruction.”

[Top: Rubbish kids in LA with GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin, left, and "Punk Daddy" Dunivan, middle, 2001. Bottom: A familiar sight outside rehearsal in Houston, 2001]

Intrigued by this Dumpster-load of street cred, I walked into the Atomic Café (now Elysium) on Austin’s gritty Red River Street and … crossed my fingers! Soon enough, Pure Rubbish took the stage in all their youth-gone-wild glam-punk glory.

Holy Hanoi Rocks! How is it possible these young turks are so well-versed in throwback glitter-trash like Aerosmith, the New York Dolls, T.Rex and Alice Cooper? How is it possible they’re more familiar with Stiv Bators than Kurt Cobain? Hey, don’t they have homework and school tomorrow?

Floored by their snot-nosed talent (especially that of lefty lead guitarist and lead vocalist Derek Dunivan who remains one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever heard and seen), I introduced myself after their set and asked if they wanted to hang out around the corner at Flamingo Cantina. Sure, dude! As I approached the bar, I turned to ask the guys what they wanted to drink. The look on the face of drummer Evan Dunivan was priceless as he nervously stammered, “Dude, I’m only 14.” Oh-key, doh-key. Howz’about I just meet you fellas upstairs, then?

As we became fast friends, I soon learned the Dunivan brothers grew up on the likes of the Glimmer/Toxic Twins thanks to their father/original Rubbish singer, Willie, (aka “Punk Daddy”) who himself was a musician with impressive underground connections. Rubbish bassist Mike McWilliams was a grubby Dee Dee Ramone disciple and guitarist Jarrett Gardner was a cross between Joe Perry and Malcolm Young with an added dash of fashion sense. To top it all off, Pure Rubbish took their name from the words Mick Jagger once used to describe Herman’s Hermits. Yeah, Pure Rubbish was my kinda band. [Above: Me and Rubbish, um, 'house-sitting' in Houston]

Bonded by our shared love of sleaze-rock, we agreed to stay in touch. Whenever I would drive to Houston to visit my then-girlfriend/now-wife, Kim (which was basically every other weekend), the Rubbish kids would call and invite us to rehearsals. Those were some scary good times! Another scary time found Pure Rubbish and me in a downtown Austin La Quinta hotel when someone set the ceiling on fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt — or arrested. Then there was the time in Houston when Pure Rubbish (minus Jarrett) was house-sitting some club owner’s crib and … well, um, I’ve probably said enough. [Left: Rare 4-song EP. If you can find it, grab it!]

When Kim shortened our long-distance commute by moving to north Austin, I arrived at her door one night to find her all excited about something she’d seen on TV. “You’re not gonna believe it!” she said. “Watch, I recorded it!” She rewound the VHS tape and there on TV was Pure Rubbish backing Ozzy’s daughter, Kelly Osbourne, as she made her singing debut covering Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” … on the freakin’ MTV Movie Awards!! Whoa!! Big-time!! How did I not know about this? Regardless, I was proud and certain the Ozzy connection would launch my friends to stardom, especially considering “The Osbournes” MTV reality show was about to go gangbusters.

[Above: Mike and Derek rock Ozzfest 2001. Below: Mike rocks L.A.M.F while opening for AC/DC in Paris]

Obviously, the Guns N’Roses-level fame never happened (blame the music biz, kids), but Pure Rubbish did manage to eek out some rare singles, an EP, a few compilations and the hard-to-find, but well-worth-owning, 2001 Clink-produced album, “Glamorous Youth.” They also toured with Motorhead, Nashville Pussy, Supersuckers and Ozzfest 2001 (a trek that found the guys followed by a Rolling Stone reporter who published a multi-page spread on the band’s under-aged shenanigans). There’s also that time they were invited to open for AC/DC. In Paris! In other words, they did plenty of cool things that you and I didn’t.

Today, Pure Rubbish is long gone (excepting a recent and rare one-off reunion gig). I still bump into glam-obsessed Jarrett from time to time and am told a now-bearded (!!!) Evan lives five minutes from me in South Austin (call me, dude). Mike is now living in New York and still playing scuzz punk in a band called the Bad Luck Charms featuring some guys from U.S. Bombs. As for Derek, I’m not sure. Last I heard, he was more of a studio geek who broadened his musical tastes and talents (along with Evan) into Radiohead territory. Whatever he’s doing, you can bet it’s brilliant.
[Left: Glamorous Youth;
Below: All grown up]

In three-plus decades of befriending rock-n-roll, I’ve come across a ton of individual talent and a handful of magical bands that could’ve easily gone the distance. Pure Rubbish was one of those bands. I’m not saying they would’ve set the world on fire or rivaled Van Halen for sales and staying power, but they certainly were deserving of greater attention. Then again, I know a lot of bands that would happily die tomorrow if they could claim they opened for Angus. In Paris! At age 16!

Thanks for the music and memories, guys.
And if you’re out there, let’s go grab a drink. You’re legal now, right?

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To view some amazing Pure Rubbish videos including an MTV interview alongside Motorhead as well as live footage and candid, behind-the-scenes stuff, go here. At the risk of having the guys punch me for digging up a lost gem that still makes me proud, click below to see Pure Rubbish backing Ozzy’s daughter, Kelly, as she makes her singing debut on the MTV Movie Awards (pay attention as Derek rips short, but stinging solos at 2:21 and 3:10). Finally, for an earful of original Rubbish, click the bottom video and then go try to find the album, “Glamorous Youth.”

Ask Michael Monroe: Your favorite album?

Posted: 16th December 2011 by admin in Quotes and Chatter
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By Metal Dave Glessner

Few rock singers can hold eyeballs hostage like glitter grenade Michael Monroe. Electric as a lightning bolt and flashier than a Christmas tree, the ex-Hanoi Rocks, glam-metal mantis is the personification of sensory overdrive. Of course, the spiraling swagger and kangaroo bounce would fall flat on its black-leather ass if not for the infectiously punchy songs … and last I checked Monroe is three decades deep into his feisty, glitzkrieg bop. Recently awarded Classic Rock Magazine’s prestigious and well-deserved Album of the Year for his aptly titled 2011 release “Sensory Overdrive” – a vote that was proudly preceded by 2Fast2Die (albeit without the impressive guest list) – Michael Monroe remains both sonically steadfast and stubbornly ageless. So, who influenced the man who had his identity stolen by Guns N’ Roses, Poison and infinite other gypsy rogues? I recently punted that question all the way to Finland and was more than a little giddy when Michael kindly replied while putting the finishing touches on his much-anticipated book.

2Fast2Die: First of all, thanks for being in touch. Tell me, what album changed your life and why?

MICHAEL MONROE: When I was about 8-years-old, my mind had already been blown by the “Led Zeppelin II” album, which my dad had gotten my older brother for his birthday. After seeing Black Sabbath “Live in Paris” on TV, I had decided to become a rock singer. But when the Alice Cooper “Love It To Death” album arrived in our home, I saw the coolest looking band ever with a killer attitude, who had some fantastic songs with great lyrics. They were like a street gang and the singer had such a cool and husky, wasted-sounding voice. He was THE guy who parents would love to hate and were disturbed and threatened by. He was skinny and “sick” looking, wearing eye make-up and even had a girl’s name — the total opposite of the regular macho, kinda “manly” man that most guys would aspire to be. He immediately became my hero and a huge inspiration. To this day, I’ve never stopped loving the way that album sounds and how Alice and the band come across in the music. It really brought something special and essential to rock’n’roll, which I’m truly thankful for. God bless Alice Cooper — the rock world wouldn’t be nearly as cool without him and his band, and “Love It To Death.” Not to mention all the other fantastic records that followed in years to come.

Rock, Love & Respect,
*Michael Monroe*

2Fast2Die Says: “Love It To Death” is also my favorite Alice Cooper album. To this day, it’s hard to find a band brazenly flaunting that much hair, razor-blade attitude and balls big enough to dress like cadaverous hookers. To the band’s credit, all the ghoulish imagery is just black icing for the skin-crawling songs and wicked wordplay (a lesson often lost on the Cooper band’s countless copycats). Besides the twisted self-discovery of breakthrough anthem, “I’m Eighteen,” the album also features the head-spinning, hallucinogenic “Caught in a Dream;” the spitting, quasi-religious defiance of “Hallowed Be My Name;” the serpentine sleaze of “Is It My Body;” and my all-time favorite Alice Cooper song, “Ballad of Dwight Fry” (which is creepier than anything Marilyn Manson can claim). Keep in mind that all of the above was unleashed in 1971 — a time when the band was more likely to find truck-stop beatings and commercial suicide than anything close to stardom. For its guts and psychotic genius, “Love It To Death” is unquestionably a deviant and bold, must-have album.

For more on Michael Monroe, go here. Oh, and if you can find his one-off Demolition 23 album, wrestle it to the ground and never let go. It’s a freakin’ powder keg disguised as an album.

 

 

Me, Coe & Vinnie: Rebel Meets Rebels in 2006

Posted: 6th December 2011 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
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By Metal Dave Glessner

I’d like to say I wasn’t looking for trouble when I found myself next to David Allan Coe, but my defense would be pretty flimsy considering we shared a booth at a Dallas-area strip club owned by former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul.

I know this sounds like it’s going from bad to worse, but I managed to leave at the end of the evening without hiring an attorney, so something must have gone miraculously right. [Right: Me and Coe, Cowboys from Hell]

The truth is, I was invited to Vinnie’s club for the 2006 CD release party of “Rebel Meets Rebel.” The album, of course, was a collaborative project between Vinnie, his brother Dimebag Darrell, Pantera bassist Rex Brown and that notorious redneck outlaw, Coe. It also sadly served as the last recording we would hear of Dimebag following his shooting death in 2004.

As a journalist and a fan of Dime, Vinnie, Rex and Coe, I pitched a “Rebel Meets Rebel” story idea to a regional music magazine. Considering the Texas pedigree running through the album, the magazine agreed it was a story worth publishing so I made a few phone calls and sent a few emails and was soon conducting phone interviews with Vinnie and Coe.
[Below: F**king Hospitable! Me and Vinnie]             
I was warned Vinnie would be in not-so-rare form after a night of raising hell. He was — and I couldn’t have been happier with the raw exchange — some of which had to be handled with discretionary respect and care considering the loss of his dear brother was still painfully fresh. Coe, on the other hand, was gracious, but scary. I felt like I was talking to a killer. Maybe I was.

The invite to the release party couldn’t have come at a better time. The date corresponded with my good friend Johnny Venom’s birthday, so I took him along for the ride. Birthday boy in a strip club? You figure it out. A full-makeup KISS tribute band also played and even my wife tagged along and had a good time as we all enjoyed the hospitality of Vinnie’s VIP balcony (where I was mistaken for a Dallas Stars hockey player despite having all my teeth and a toothpick physique).

Yes, I’m guilty of hanging out with some sketchy dudes in my time, but few if any have exuded more danger than David Allan Coe. Which is to say I had a great time. Must be the Texan in me.


 

Yakking with Dangerous Toys’ Scott Dalhover

Posted: 26th November 2011 by admin in Yakking with ...
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LINE ‘EM UP: Austin hard rock heroes Dangerous Toys reunite for their annual gig at Red Eyed Fly, Saturday Dec. 3. This 1990 photo features, from left to right, drummer Mark Geary, guitarist Danny Aaron, singer Jason McMaster, guitarist Scott Dalhover and bassist Mike Watson. Danny left the band in 1992 following the Toys’ sophomore album, “Hellacious Acres,” and has been replaced ever since by former Dirty Looks guitarist Paul Lidel.

By Metal Dave Glessner

Scott Dalhover has come a long way since his days of terrorizing Denny’s restaurants. In fact, even he can’t count the miles between then and now.

Best known as the longtime lead guitarist for Austin-based hard rockers Dangerous Toys, Dalhover is now a ridiculously fit cycling enthusiast who probably has less body fat than a 10-foot stalk of celery.

As Dangerous Toys gears up for their annual reunion gig Saturday, Dec.3 at Red Eyed Fly in Austin with special guests Shotgun Rebels, I asked Dalhover to hit the brakes long enough to talk about playing with Toys, pumping the pedals and making his own guitars. Oh yeah, there’s also that little Denny’s confession.

Start Yakking, Scotty ….

First of all, how’d you get the nickname “Turbo”?
“Turbo” started out as kind of an inside, pre-Dangerous Toys band joke. We were just sitting around making up names and “Scotty Turbo” just seemed to stick from that point on. It’s probably because I used to — and probably still do! — drive everyone crazy because I find it hard to just sit still for any period of time. [ABOVE: Turbo-charged shredder. Photo by Christopher Joles]

Plug your most recent project
I’m starting a new project with some of my buddies from the Iron Maiden tribute band, Drifter, and the Judas Priest tribute band, Sad Wings. You probably know Joseph Martinez, Stony Grantham and Marc Ruiz. It’s heavy, groove-oriented metal/hard rock. We’ve got no band name yet since we’re still writing the new material.

Name the album that changed your life and tell us why
Man! That’s a tough one. It would be more of a combination of albums. I’d have to say the first two Van Halen albums, “Blizzard of Ozz,” Alcatrazz “No Parole From Rock’n’ Roll” and Loudness “Thunder from the East” were all big influences on me, as well as early Rush and Police.

Name your first concert and share your memories of it
Kiss, “Dynasty” tour. I was 15 and rode a bus with my friend from Killeen, Texas to Abilene, Texas. It was awesome and amazing! Especially since I had never been to a concert. I was just blown away by the spectacle.

Share a touring “horror story” or Spinal Tap moment
We had a steel gray tour bus and we used to put “Prison Bus” in the marquee that lit up in the front. You’ve never seen establishments run up and lock their doors so fast the minute we pulled up! Denny’s … I’m looking at you! We did get lost in the bowels of a few venues ala Spinal Tap, too. The older theaters were especially good for that.

Your best and worst tattoo?
I don’t have any tattoos, but I’ve seen some really good Dangerous Toys clown tats on our fans. That’s always cool. [RIGHT: A fan's tattoo etched in the flesh]

What was the name of your very first band? Share some other band names that were ultimately rejected
(Toys bassist) Mike (Watson) and I had a band named Scratch before we came to Austin. I can’t remember any rejected band names, so they must have really sucked!

List your three proudest Dangerous Toys moments
1) Opening for the Cult on the “Sonic Temple” tour 2) Being part of the Operation Rock ‘N’ Roll tour which featured my heroes Judas Priest, Alice Cooper and Motorhead, and 3) Not dying in a bizarre gardening accident.

How did you get started making your own guitars?
I’ve actually been making my own guitars since before Dangerous Toys was signed. Back then, I would slap different necks and bodies and pickups together to get what I wanted. Or I would re-fret my guitars myself because I could do it in one day versus waiting a week for someone else to do it. My buddies Ross Jennings and Jeff Thompson built me a few guitars in the ’90s and I used to go to their shop every day. I asked Ross a bazillion questions and learned a lot. I got into building from scratch when I couldn’t find a Flying V with the features I wanted. My initial attempts were pretty awful, but I learned from my mistakes. Making a set neck guitar versus just slapping a neck on a body is a more difficult. I got it right on my third attempt and from there I just built what I wanted. Some friends saw my guitars and asked if I could build them something, so it just went from there.
[ABOVE: Scott with one of his self-made, custom-crafted Flying V guitars. Photo by Jay West]

How did you get into cycling? Is it safe to say you ride at a competitive level?
I got into cycling to keep in shape and drop some unwanted weight around 2001-2002. Soon after, I started hanging out and riding with more hardcore enthusiasts and from there I got into racing. Now I’m a cycling/racing junkie! I ride 5-7 days a week and depending on the time of year, I put in 350–425 miles a week. I mainly race the Masters Open series. I plan to fly out and do some of the Tour de France and Giro de Italia routes in the next year or so. I’ve been racing for about four or five years now and I’ve always wanted to hit some of the more infamous climbs and some of the really long and insane descents.

Dangerous Toys ran with some pretty good company back in the day. Which rock stars left a favorable impression and which ones were jackasses?
I’ve been lucky enough to meet quite a few of my heroes — Rob Halford, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Dimebag, Vivian Campbell — all of them were very kind. I’ve also met a few guys whose playing I idolized that turned out to be complete A-holes. Maybe they were having a bad day or maybe they really are jerks. No biggie either way, but those experiences really shaped how I interact with people who just want to say hello, shake my hand or get an autograph.
************************
For Dangerous Toys/Red Eyed Fly ticket info, go here.

For my review of the Toys 2008 reunion concert, go here.

For Dangerous Toys hit songs and MTV videos, go here.
[ABOVE: 'Scared' silly with Alice Cooper. Scott is second from left]

Rewind: Armored Saint Delivers A Memorable Back Room Gig With McMaster, Dio, ‘The Pole’

Posted: 16th November 2011 by admin in Every Picture Tells a Story
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By Metal Dave Glessner

As the singer for Watchtower, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth and a million others, Jason McMaster has made more connections than Tiger Woods during his decades in the heavy metal trenches. As his friend and part-time publicist for many of the past 16 years, I’ve often been along for the ride when Jason re-connects with his buddies in Motorhead, Slayer and Anthrax, among others. Hey, somebody has to ride shotgun!

Such was the case one day in 2001, when Jason and I drove to Austin’s now-defunct Back Room to see his longtime pals, Armored Saint, open for the mighty Ronnie James Dio. As we pulled into the venue parking lot that afternoon, Armored Saint guitarist Phil Sandoval came running up to Jason’s car, stuck a video camera in the window and started screaming the lyrics to the Dangerous Toys song, “Scared.” Clearly, Phil was happy to see us (or at least Jason).
[ABOVE: Jason, "The Pole" and Bush at the Back Room during Armored Saint's 2001 reunion]

A few minutes later, we’re onboard the Armored Saint tour bus. As everyone got reacquainted and started sharing rock-n-roll “war stories,” I found myself deep in conversation with Armored Saint bassist Joey Vera as we discussed the many virtues of Chuck Taylor tennis shoes. I also scored a few points by telling the guys I saw Armored Saint open for Metallica at San Antonio’s Cameo Theatre in 1985 (“Ride the Lightning,” baby!). At some point, Saint singer John Bush, who was on break from his Anthrax gig, asked Jason if he was up for singing that night. Does Slayer piss off the Pope?

[ABOVE: Me, Bush, McMaster on the Armored Saint bus]

A few hours later, the reunited Armored Saint had things heated to a boil in front of a capacity crowd when Bush introduced hometown hero, “Jason McMaster!” In front of a wave of rowdy applause Jason arrived on stage next to Bush and the duo let it rip on the agreed-upon encores, “March of the Saint” and “Can U Deliver.” Somehow, I elbowed my way into position to snap the photo you see above (top).

Of course, it was always difficult to take a Back Room stage shot without capturing that infamous, center-stage blemish known far and wide as “The Pole.” Ask anyone about the Back Room and “The Pole” gets as many mentions as the bands and countless crazy nights.

So there you have it. Another adventure with Jason McMaster complete with tour bus shenanigans, a special guest appearance, “The Pole” and Ronnie James Dio headlining a club as I watched alongside Armored Saint. I’ve had worse nights.

Saxon: An exclusive interview with Biff Byford

Posted: 8th November 2011 by admin in Quotes and Chatter
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AND THE BAND PLAYS ON: Four decades since forming, Saxon not only continues to soldier on, but also recently released the new album, “Call to Arms,” which harkens back to the band’s mid-1980s sound. Left to right are guitarist Paul Quinn, guitarist Doug Scarratt, singer Biff Byford, drummer Nigel Glockler and bassist Nibbs Carter

By Metal Dave Glessner

By the time my high school pal Danny Hoekstra loaned me Saxon’s “The Eagle Has Landed,” I was already a fan of the British band’s music thanks to legendary San Antonio deejay, Joe “The Godfather” Anthony (look him up).

As much as I loved Saxon’s heavy brand of motorcycle metal, it was the sleeve of “The Eagle Has Landed” that added the TKO. There on the back cover was an indelible photo of singer Biff Byford caught on stage in all his explosive, hair-flailing glory. Sporting skintight white/silver pants, a leather biker jacket and raising a defiant upper-cut fist, Biff — in that one single photo — perfectly embodied all things heavy metal. Hell, just looking at that photo still makes my ears ring!

With the recent release of Saxon’s well-worth-owning umpteenth album, “Call to Arms,” I had the opportunity to interview Biff and also see the band live again during a recent return to San Antonio. As always, Saxon delivered the kind of high-energy performance that should be impossible for a group whose diehard frontman is now 60 years old.

Judas Priest may get all the acclaim for being Defenders of the Faith, but Saxon has been in the game nearly as long and has been equally unwavering in flying the flag of metal. That said, I give you a typically awesome interview with one of metal’s most enduring crusaders, the great Peter “Biff” Byford.

The new album, “Call to Arms,” sounds like a return to the classic Saxon sound after a decade of albums that were almost borderline thrash-metal
We wanted a change on this album, a slight shift with the production techniques. We went back to the zone of the ’80s a little bit with some of the lyrics on songs like “Ballad of the Working Man” or “Surviving Against the Odds” or “Back in ’79,” so we did go back to that sort of era to get the working class lyrics in there. It’s a bit back to our roots. I think you’re right. It’s still got the modern edge, but I think it’s also back to our roots.

Don Airey of Ozzy and Rainbow fame plays keyboards on a couple tracks. How did that come about?
Yeah, we’ve known him from way back, but the actual meeting of the minds happened in the queue at the American Embassy in London. We were all queueing for our visas in the morning, which is when they have this special time for musicians and actors to queue up. So, he was in the queue and we got to talking. I told him we were writing a new album and asked him if he fancied playing on a couple tracks. He said yes. It happened really by accident

MOTORCYCLE MEN: Saxon circa 1980 was, left to right, guitarist Graham Oliver, bassist Steve Dawson, singer Biff Byford, guitarist Paul Quinn and drummer Pete Gill. Today, only Biff and Quinn remain.

The Digipack version of “Call to Arms” contains a bonus disc of a live performance recorded in 1980 at Donington. Was that material recently rediscovered or have you been hanging on to it for 30 years?
We got an email from an old manager from the ’80s and he said he’s got these tapes in his attic and would we like to buy them (laughs). We said yeah so off we went to buy them from him. We had to have them specially treated to stop them from deteriorating. One of them was the Donington live tracks that had been missing for 30 years. We mixed it and it sounded fantastic. There are some bootleg versions of it out, but this is the original tape from the Rolling Stone Mobile that recorded it on the day. It’s a snapshot of the ‘80s when we really started happening. We were like the new kids on the block at that festival. Everybody else was fairly established. I think that festival really cemented our future in the UK if not the world. It was a great moment in the history of ‘80s rock, really

Why did Saxon have such a tough time breaking big in America while bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest were able to connect and find success?
I don’t really know, actually. We were really close to breaking on “The Power & the Glory.” I think we did about half a million albums in America and it wouldn’t have been too hard to take that to platinum, but I just think the choices that management and the record company were making at that time were probably more geared toward Europe. I just think we weren’t here (in the U.S.) enough, really. It’s a bit said, really, ’cause we were this close to breaking and then we were sort of pulled off and sent back to Europe to do some more albums. I suppose greed had a lot to do with it (laughs). You know? That word that keeps cropping up in this business? Greedy record companies and greedy managers probably thought we were making money in Europe and probably losing it in America so … It’s sad, really, that people were near-sighted rather than looking at the full picture.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is a big Saxon fan and James Hetfield has even said Metallica’s second gig EVER was opening for Saxon. Was there ever any talk of you guys touring with them in America? That would’ve been huge exposure.
I don’t think there was any talk, but it surely would have been a great thing. They’re able to do huge tours without anybody supporting them. It would be great if that would happen and it would’ve been great if it would have happened in the past. But I think the fact that they’re saying we were one of their man influences in the early years is really cool. [Click below for Biff with Metallica covering Saxon's "Motorcycle Man."]

What was your first impression of America when you landed here in 1979 or 1980?
American audiences love to be entertained and I think if you put a lot of work into your live show, American audiences really appreciate that. I’ve seen some bands work really hard on European audiences and sometimes the audience isn’t sold. I think the first gig we ever played in America was in Baton Rouge or maybe Jacksonville with Rush in 1980 on their “Moving Pictures” tour. I remember walking out onstage in front of 20,000 people and it was a bit awe-inspiring, especially when we did ballads and all the lighters came out and all that. That was something we’d never seen before. It was a great experience

The first time I saw Saxon you were touring with Iron Maiden and Fastway
Yeah, a lot of people saw us for the first time on that tour. It was a great tour, but unfortunately we only did about four or five weeks of it. That was one of the first big mistakes. We should have done the whole tour. I think we could have broke big on that tour. Maiden broke big on that tour. I think we did half a million albums on that tour. It was a bad decision to be taken off that tour. A lot of people think we were kicked off that tour, but we weren’t.


Not long afterward Saxon was headlining with Motley Crue as support. That seems like an odd pairing. What was it like for you?
It was just 24-hour debauchery, really (laughing). It was fantastic to be on that tour from a sexual point of view, if you want to say. They were great to tour with, actually. They were touring the “Shout at the Devil” album and they were real big Saxon fans, especially Nikki Sixx. He was a bit like Lars (Ulrich), I suppose. He was into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. I’ll always have fond memories of that tour (laughing). In fact, we wrote a song about it called “Rock-n-Roll Gypsies,” which is about the girls and the groupies and everything that carried on in them days. It was real good fun (laughs).

How the hell did you manage to get Elton John to play on Saxon’s 1986 “Rock the Nations” album?
We were in the studio at the same time and our producer knew him. We thought it would be cool if he would play on “Party ‘Til You Puke.,” ‘cause that’s not really his style of music (laughs). We thought it would be cool if he would play on something that wasn’t naturally his type of style. He was cool, actually. He came and played, and we were hanging out with his band, really. I think he was helicoptering in and out of the studio every couple of days on his way to royal weddings or whatever. We got to know the band more than him, really, but he was a nice enough guy, ya know?

What’s the story behind my favorite Saxon song, “747 (Strangers in the Night)”? I’ve Googled it looking for a news story about a near-miss, mid-air collision, but can’t find anything
There’s two stories, really, running parallel. One is about the big power cut (outage) in New York when this plane was about to land and the runway lights went off. So the plane was diverted somewhere else to another airport in America. That’s the 747 side of the story. The chorus is about how nine months after the power cut the birth rate tripled (laughs). So I was just thinking about two people maybe meeting in the lift (elevator) or something, or in the dark, and becoming intimate. So, it’s two stories running together, really. It’s one of our signature tunes, I suppose.

What do you do for fun when you’re not on stage?
I spend time with my family, really. I have a second family now that’s quite young. I spend time with my boys, really. When I get back, they’ve got me building a skateboard half-pipe (laughs). That’ll keep me busy.

Thanks for your time and your music, Biff. Saxon has been a favorite of mine for decades and you never let me down
Thanks for talking to us and keep playing the new album. You know what they say, “Never Surrender!”

2Fast2Die would like to add: In 20 years of interviewing “rock stars,” Biff has always been consistently down to earth, humorously insightful and more than willing to discuss a number of topics that may or may not be related to promoting his new album. Always fun and very much appreciated. Biff, I salute you and thank you for giving 2Fast2Die an extensive and exclusive interview!!

For more on Saxon, go here.

Click below to see a live video of Saxon’s new song “Hammer of the Gods.”

Ask Josh Todd: What’s Your Favorite Album?

Posted: 1st November 2011 by admin in Quotes and Chatter
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By Metal Dave Glessner

It doesn’t take a smack in the head to see why Buckcherry singer Josh Todd draws comparisons to Axl, Iggy and Tyler, but look past the obvious and you’ll also find he’s a HUGE fan of Slipknot, Prince and a long list of hip-hop artists.

As Buckcherry gets ready to open for Guns N’ Roses in Houston this Friday, Nov. 4 (ticket info here), I caught up with one of my favorite singers and asked him to narrow his diverse musical influences down to a single, all-time favorite album.

ASK: If you could only pick one album, what would it be and why?

JOSH TODD: Minor Threat, “Out of Step.” I remember taking this record home and there was a lyric page inside. I sat there in my room and listened to the record from top to bottom and read the lyrics.

I was a defiant, aggressive kid who was always questioning authority and never went with the majority if it didn’t feel right. This record made me feel a part of something and that was the turning point for me.

2Fast2Die Says: Anyone still questioning Buckcherry’s punk cred? Didn’t think so. As for me, I must confess I know more about Minor Threat’s importance than I do about the band’s music (I was always more of a Ramones guy). Still, anyone who picks this shave-your-head, lace-up-your-steel-toes album as being THE must-have record on the face of the planet gets points for attitude and originality. Thanks for shaking things up, Josh.

[Josh Todd photo credit to Sharon and Buckcherry website]

NOTE: Buckcherry also plays Galveston, TX. this Saturday, Nov. 5 as headliners of the Lone Star Biker Rally. For ticket info, go here.

Ask Anthrax: What’s Your Favorite Album?

Posted: 25th October 2011 by admin in Quotes and Chatter
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THE DEVILS YOU KNOW: Anthrax from left to right: Frank Bello, Scott Ian, Rob Caggiano, Charlie Benante and Joey Belladonna. How much does Charlie love the Beatles? Read his album pick and then pay attention to his shirt.

By Metal Dave Glessner

2Fast2Die is still stark raving euphoric over the new Anthrax album, “Worship Music.” It’s so good that reviewing it earlier this year became an exercise in superlatives. To sum it up in Anthrax-speak, “Worship Music” is one Mublanikcufecin! Get it?

As Anthrax tours through Texas this month (with a stop at Emo’s East in Austin) to support this mighty album, 2Fast2Die asked the New York mosh squad to name the albums that stole their souls.

ASK: What’s your favorite album of all time and why?

ROB CAGGIANO (lead guitar)
Iron Maiden: “The Number of The Beast”
This record blew my mind, hypnotized me and scared the shit out of me all at the same time when I first heard it! Everything about it … the music, the imagery, the production, the artwork … I was literally obsessed with this thing as a kid. Iron Maiden has a pretty long list of amazing albums they put out over the years, but for me, “The Number of The Beast” is their finest achievement. It’s also the epitome of what heavy metal is all about: head-banging grooves, killer guitar riffs/solos, inventive drumming, dark lyrics and imagery that literally spit in the face of society. This record has it all … and let’s not forget … Satan!!! I love it! ;-)

FRANK BELLO (bass)
Kiss: “Alive!”
The first time I listened to the amazing songs on this record and then opened the album (yes, I said “album”) to see this amazing image this band had — that was it. I was hooked!

CHARLIE BENANTE (drums)
The Beatles: “White Album”
My Mom took me to Woolworth’s and I used my birthday money to buy it. I remember staring at the four pictures that came with it while the songs played. This was the introduction to my musical career. I would continue to buy music and play along to the songs on my drums. My path was set. I knew I wanted to be a full-time musician and I wanted to be famous. The Beatles were the ones!

2FAST2DIE says: Let’s see. Between these three albums we’ve got references to Satan, blazing hellfire, scary artwork, Gene Simmons’ vampire wings and demonic tongue, plus a “Warm Gun” and “Helter Skelter.” I’d say that’s a pretty scary mix of rock-n-roll. Nicely done, dudes!

For more on Anthrax, including Texas tour dates with Testament and Death Angel, go here.

To read 2Fast2Die’s review of “Worship Music,” go here.

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