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Firehouse's BILL LEVERTY chats with Conspirator A - September 13, 2006
Firehouse - Bill Leverty
A - Hey, Bill! Thanks for taking the time to do this with us. I've been a long time Firehouse fan, I've followed you guys' music for a number of years, and we get a lot of Firehouse fans visit the site, so this one's long overdue, man. To start off, tell us the Firehouse story.
A - How long was Firehouse together before it was signed?
A - Did the band get along or was there that nasty internal fighting that ripped so many other bands apart?
A - One of the things I always admired about Firehouse is that Firehouse never really broke up after the influx of Grunge. You guys have managed to consistantly crank out new albums to promote on a nearly year-to-year basis, you've emerged from the fall of Metal with your credability intact, while still staying true to your trademark sound. That can't be easy to do! How do you do it???
A - When I was doing my usual pre-interview research, I happened upon some vitage reviews for the Firehouse self-titled album and the follow-up release, Hold Your Fire! I was surprised to see the amount of NEGATIVE press they drew in. They weren't just bad reviews, I mean they were slaughtered! Ironically, though, it was these same albums that garnered such mega-hits as Don't Treat Me Bad, Love of A Lifetime, All She Wrote, and Reach for The Sky. Why do you think they were recieved so badly?
A - I've been itching to ask this one! How did it feel when Firehouse was presented the award for Favorite New Heavy Metal Artist at the 1991 American Music Awards??? That must've been some moment!
A - As of 2003, Firehouse released the critically acclaimed Prime Time. Unlike some of the earlier studio outings, this one got tremendous press. In fact, I read in one article that it was considered to be the best Firehouse material EVER. How does the success of this album compare to the success of your early work?
A - This is the part where I ask you the same questions I ask everyone else. What was the biggest crowd you played for?
A - What was it like for you when you played your first major crowd?
A - This is my favorite question to ask! What's the craziest thing a fan has done to meet you?
A - Can you regale us with any cool stories from the road?
A - The late 90's saw a reformation of many of the bands from the Era. Would you say that Hair Metal is making a comeback, and do you think it will ever get back into the mainstream?
A - Normally, this is where I would ask how you feel about file sharing, but it's already known that you're quite outspoken against it, so for the benefit of those reading this, would you care to elaborate?
A - Any side projects to speak of?
A - Where can fans find merch and how can they contact you?
A - Anything you want to say to the fans reading this?
BL - Thanks so much for your many years of support, and I hope we get to see you on tour soon.
Kick Axe's LARRY GILLSTROM chats with Conspirator A - February 21, 2006
Kick Axe - Larry Gillstrom
A - How important was the look back in the day? Do you feel embarrassment when you look at the old pictures?
A - Did the band get along or was there that nasty internal friction that ripped so many other bands apart?
LG - One night we were playing at a packed club in Winnipeg. Brian was playing his drum solo and George and I were watching from the side of the stage. Brian kept losing and breaking sticks and for the first time ever he actually ran out of sticks. When he was left with only one stick in one hand, he still kept trying to do his solo and it was getting quite comical. Then that stick went flying out of his hand into the audience and he was left standing there with no sticks. There was a low grill of painted 2x4's above the drum riser and George ran over, jumped onto the riser, jumped up in the air and grabbed on to one of the 2x4s. He started swinging wildly like a monkey until the board broke loose. He handed the broken board to Brian and said "here's a stick, try and lose this one!" Brian took the long 2x4 and cleared his entire kit off the drum riser. The stunned crowd watched as we all left the stage laughing while the road crew came out to clean up the mess.
A - Anything you want to say to the fans reading this?
Black N' Blue & Warrant's JAIME ST. JAMES chats with Conspirator A - Februray 1, 2006
Black N' Blue & Warrant - Jaime St. James
A - Thanks so much for letting us do this with you; we really appreciate it. So, to get things going, tell us the Black N Blue story.
JSJ - What can I say. We formed in early 1981, moved to LA from Portland Or. (timing is everything) and within a year we had a deal on Geffen Records. We released 4 great records had a few cool tours (KISS, Aerosmith) and did some killer music that still sounds good today.
A - How long was Black N Blue together before it was signed?
JSJ - About two years.
A - Did the band get along, or was there that nasty internal friction that ripped so many other bands apart?
JSJ - We all got along very well. In fact we loved each other like brothers. I am still very close to all of them.
A - I know I’m not the first person to ask, and I apologize ahead of time, but where the freakin-crap is Hell Yeah??? I’ve been on tenterhooks since it was announced! You can’t let me down now, man! Hehehe!
JSJ - I don't know when it will be released. It is about 60% finished but Jef "woop" Warner has the masters and he's hard to tie down to say the least, and the record company is hard to deal with. Some day I think it will be released, but who knows. I'm so tired of beating my head against that wall.
A - I was listening to your latest interview on the Hairball John radio show, they’re some good friends of ours with a website that I can only envy, and I gotta tell you, man, I laughed my @$$ off. You’re a very funny guy! Anyway, you mentioned Tommy Thayer. I’ve been hearing rumors flying around that Tommy hooked up with KISS. When I first heard that, I didn’t know what to believe. Absolutely nothing against him, cuz I love him to death, and MAN, can he play, but it’s awfully hard to imagine him along side Gene Simmons. So tell us here and now once and for all, is Tommy actually with KISS?
JSJ - He has been in KISS for about 3 years now. Yes, he wears the Ace make up. He plays the hell out of the songs. Kiss sounds great with Tommy and Eric Singer. I have seen them live and it rocks. Go get the "ROCK THE NATION" DVD and you'll see what I mean.
A - I’m dying to hear this one! How on earth did you get to be fronting Warrant??? Talk about a streak of luck! (Although, to be honest, I think you do a far better job than Jani Lane ever did. I never really cared much for his particular way of singing.)
JSJ - I got a call from Jerry Dixon and he asked me if I was interested. I sang a few songs at a rehersal with them and thought it worked very well. They did too! We took it from there. It has become a real f*ckin' band, with new CD coming out and a very bright Rock'N roll future. Keepin' it alive mother f@ckers!!!!!!!!
A - Now we’ve officially reached that portion of the interview where I ask you the same questions I’ve asked everybody else. What was the biggest crowd you played for?
JSJ - 45,000 foxfest with Warrant summer 2004
A - How did it feel up there on stage when you played your first major crowd?
JSJ - That was Pheonix with Aerosmith and I loved it. I had been waiting all my life for that moment and I loved it.
A - I love asking this one! What’s the craziest thing a fan has done to meet you?
JSJ - Offer me his wife
A - Can you regale us with any cool stories from the road?
JSJ - The best thing about the old days is that I actually got home!
A - Favorite/least favorite track you ever recorded?
JSJ - I don't know how to answer that. Some great tunes were recorded bad you know?. Without love album sounded great, and I loved that record. Also we should have put Violent Kid on the first record. Great answer, Jaime!
A - The late 90’s saw a reformation of many of the bands from the Era. Would you say that Hair Metal is making a comeback and do you think it will ever get back into the Mainstream?
JSJ - Hair metal is not the term I use to describe what I do. I play Kick @$$ rock n roll influenced by 70s rock, and that will never die!!!!!!!!!!!
A - What’s your stance on mp3 downloading/file sharing?
JSJ - It's killing music. Big labels will no longer sign rock bands because they will never make thier money back due to this downloading. I have to live with it but the downloaders are killing future bands that will never have a chance. Oh well you've always got Led Zeppelin.
A - Any side projects to speak of?
JSJ - Yes, Warrant is working on a full length DVD for the new CD "BORN AGAIN" Studio and live footage.
A - What can we expect to see from you in the future?
JSJ - ROCK'N F*CKIN ROLL
A - Where can fans find merch and how can they contact you?
JSJ - www.warrantweb.net www.stjamesofficial.com
A - Anything you want to say to the fans reading this?
JSJ - New Warrant CD "BORN AGAIN" out march 31st for Europe and Internet sales. America and Australia end of May or early June. I thank you all, and hope to see you on tour. If you havn't seen us with this version of the band, you should! Thanks...................Jaime St James
Roughhouse's DAVE WEAKLY and LUIS RIVERA chat with Conspirator A - January 11, 2006
Roughhouse - Dave Weakly and Luis Rivera
A - How big of a part did you think you played in the Roughhouse saga?
DW - I am in the band. We all contribute to everything. Even arguing.
LR - I came from a big family. We all did our part to make things work. With the band it was the same. I was young and hungry, I did my best to make it work. I was a big part of Teeze /Roughhouse.
A - How long were you together before you got signed?
DW- I was in for 8 years. Lou and Gregg for 10. Mike and Rex about 2
A - How important was the look back in the day? Do you feel embarassment when you look at the old pictures?
DW - What? Embarassment? Are you kidding? Look at the f*cked up look today. At least the sh*t we wore fit. Its all the same just a different time.
LR - We needed something to set us apart and we hope it would work. There's so many bands that still do crazy things today that is even more wilder than what we did. We did have a lot of fun with it, but we all go though changes.
A - Did the band get along or was there that nasty internal friction that ripped so many other bands apart?
DW - There are so many versions of this band but 3 guys stayed the same. When you are with someone all of the time it will eventually drive you nuts. We still hang out and play together though. We almost killed each other several times but we all had a common goal.
LR - The band went through different members till we got it right. Like five drummers/three bass players/nine guitar players and one singer.
we mostly got along and we never came to blows.
A - What was the biggest crowd you guys played for?
DW - There were a few I remember and some I forget.
Trenton War Memorial. sold out w/Stryper
Hartford Civic Center Sold out w/EddieMoney
Pike Drive in w/ Stephen wolf. (a billion bikers)
A - How did it feel up there when you first came on stage?
DW - We still play & it is still a great feeling. I was usually on something so my feeling was consistant. But it always feels good.
We did a few shows w/Funny Money, Skid Row and Firehouse a while back and it still feels great.
ten or 10,000. we just love to play.
LR - Sometimes I felt on top of the world and then there were times I was very nervous, hoping everything would go right.
A - What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet you?
DW - A girl took off all of her clothes and knocked on our RV at an outdoor show.
Another girl found my house and harrassed me for a long time.
I wasn't very easy going and not always approachable. I had a chip on my shoulder. You know young and pissed off at the world. I was always picky about who I hung with.
LR - Some girls sent letters to my house. Some were cool and some were very hot. One girl followed me home and begged me to make love to her. I took her out for breakfast and we dating for about a year.
A - Can you regale us with any cool stories from the road?
DW - We did so much stuff we can sit around for hours and talk and laugh about things.
We pretty much did what every other band did and it was all fun most of the time.
We got into some fights and had some run-ins with the law here and there. We weren't really that bad though. Hard partying all of the time. Our bus and our van was our sanctuary. We had alot of girls and alot of everything else really. It was memorable but not unique for the time. Well, some of those girls were unique thats for sure.
LR - Inviting fans back to rooms at hotels for party's that went all nite from room to room. We did everything you could think of and more. We screwed girls 1, 2, 3, 4 at a time! It was awesome.
A - Favorite/least track you recorded?
DW - Ah good Question. My favorite track didn't make it to the RH album. Its called "Beat without a heart". Louie and myself put it together late at night and got some help from Max Norman of Ozzy fame. What a wonderful song. there you go...there was a conflict we had about that song. But hindsight is 20/20. Someday we'll put it out I guess.
My favorite song we have or had released is "When the Moon is Full" off of the Teeze album. Brian Stover wrote that one. He's a good writer. Great lyrics and a creepy. Now when we do it I tune down and chunk it up a bit more and its even creepier.
My least favorite was "Fantasy" I hated that song. Then after we recorded it I liked how it turned out. For the most part, I Iike everything. We had about 40 tunes to pick from for Roughhouse and I think we had even more for the Teeze abum. We voted on them and picked the ones we liked the best to put on the record or to record for later.
LR - Fav track- It never made it on the Roughhouse CD. Some band-mates felt it didn't fit. The song was called "Beat without a heart". Least was midnite madness. I wish we could have done better.
A - The late 90's saw a reformation of many of the bands from the Era. Would you say that Hair Metal is making a comeback and do you think it will ever get back into the Mainstream?
DW - Of course. right now though we are in the 70's. Check out the hair on the "The Vines" and the Hives, the Red stripes and all of those 70's retro bands. I remember Ozzy saying in the 70's...there is always a corner for our type of music. He said it comes and goes in cycles. It was dead in 1978. Van Halen brought it back and the rest of it fell into place. It died again in the 90's and it looks like it may fight its way back again. Would be nice to hear a guitar solo on the radio again.
LR - Yes hair metal is making a comeback but it will never be like before. Due to the fact that the world has changed.
A - What's your stance on mp3 downloading/file sharing?
DW - I could care less. Its a new world man. We have to embrace it. There is no control.
LR - MP3s are a new way for bands to get out there without label help.
A - Any side projects to speak of?
DW - I play in American sugar bitch. www.americansugarbitch.com
We play straight punk, hard rock stuff that we enjoy. We aren't kicking down walls, we are doing our own thing. We play Pa, NY, MJ MD and DE. we are writing now for the next CD. Our stuff is real good.
A - What can we expect to see from you in the future?
DW - Good question again. I am playing and enjoying it. ASB should be recording this summer. Check out the samples on the site or on our myspace site too.
LR - To write new music and play new clubs.
A - Where can fans find merch and how can they contact you?
DW - Everything is on the Roughhouse site. www.roughhouse-teeze.com
Our shows are posted up there and you can read a good history on the band. We also sell the merch at our shows.
A - Anything you want to say to the fans reading this?
DW - I appreciate the fans that read down this far! Feel free to e-mail us at the site and we'll get back to you. Its good to play and see new people as well as the faithful.
LR - Give us your ideas we love hear from you.
A - Which big-haired website still rocks?
DW - Well this one of course. Its the only one my mom lets me go to. Thanks for the interview!
LR - Besides yours?? Roughhouse-teeze.com. See you at the shows. Luv ya.
Lillian Axe's DERRICK LEFEVRE chats with Conspirator A - January 4, 2006
Lillian Axe - Derrick LeFevre
A - How did you come to be with Lillian Axe?
A - What was the first show you did?
A - What was the biggest crowd you played for?
A - How did it feel up there when you first came on stage?
A - What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet you?
A - Can you regale us with any cool stories from the road?
A - Favorite/least track you recorded?
A - The late 90's saw a reformation of many of the bands from the Era. Would you say that Hair Metal is making a comeback and do you think it will ever get back into the Mainstream?
A - What's your stance on mp3 downloading/file sharing?
A - Any plans for 2006?
A - What can we expect to see from Lillian in the future?
A - Where can fans find merch and how can they contact you?
A - Anything you want to say to the fans reading this?
Helix's BRIAN VOLLMER chats with Conspirator A - January 4, 2006
Helix - Brian Vollmer
A - How long were you together before you got signed?
A - How important was the look back in the day? Do you feel embarassment when you look at the old pictures?
A - Did the band get along or was there that nasty internal friction that ripped so many other bands apart?
A - What was the biggest crowd you guys played for?
A - How did it feel up there when you first came on stage?
A - What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet you?
A - How goes the book?
A - The late 90's saw a reformation of many of the bands from the Era. Would you say that Hair Metal is making a comeback and do you think it will ever get back into the Mainstream?
A - What's your stance on mp3 downloading/file sharing?
A - Any plans for 2006?
A - What can we expect to see from Helix in the future?