Lust 4 Life

Kidd Havok isn't necessarily a new band. In fact, they've been pounding the pavement since the glam glory days of the 1980s. Time passed and a record deal eluded the talented Floridians. Now, the band finally has a proper release in Roll The Dice on the Suncity Records inprint. Bring Back Glam! recently spoke with guitarist Scot Marcs about the band, their future and the problem with downloading music. Transcription follows.

Bring Back Glam!: Tell me all about your band Kidd Havok.

Scot Marcs: We started as a band called Scrooge in the mid 80s and we replaced the singer, and since he had the band name (Scrooge) tattooed on his arm, we changed our name to Kidd Havok. We picked up Johnny B. (vocals) at that point who had actually done a ton of video work for us, and was in another local band that was doing pretty well. We thought he’d be a perfect fit, so we grabbed him and it worked out really well. Songwriting came in right away and everything kind of fell into place. We did what every band did back then: up and down the east coast. One nighters. Any club that would let us play. We did the ten song cassette that we sold a little over 7,000 copies out of the back of a van. Then we took a break. It was 1994, everyone was done, burnt out. Everyone wanted to kind of find a life I guess. Johnny B. and I stayed together, still wrote stuff. Everyone else joined cover bands but me. I just couldn’t join the ranks of the cover band – couldn’t bring myself to it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. David Morris (of Suncity Records) bought our cassette off eBay, paid a stupid amount of money for it, and it still had a phone number on it. One of the guys still had the same phone number, so he (Morris) called us and it kind of got us back rolling again. It was weird because we’d gotten some invitations locally (West Palm Beach) to play again, and we were always like “maybe.” So we got together with Tommy (Pinello) who was the original bass player before Shawn (St. Pierre) and Robbie (Barone, drums) who’s been with us pretty much since the jump. We did a great reunion show: 500 people packed inside a little club. Things started mounting up. Rob is a fireman and paramedic and he can’t travel and do those sorts of things with his job. So we picked up Jim McCourt, who’s been playing with me in my solo guitar thing and we sort of rolled from there. We just wrapped up the Poison dates in West Palm Beach and Tampa. West Palm was crazy. Right now we’re trying to book a tour.

BBG: Tell me more about playing with Poison.

SM: The Tampa gig we ended up getting last second, so it was sort of chaotic. The West Palm show – that’s our hometown. We got to play second on the big stage and we got to headline the second stage. It was cool. There were about 2,000 people. Tampa was tough because of crazy rain. When we went on there we played to about three people and those three turned into maybe 300 just because it was pouring. In West Palm we had great weather. It was cool because we saw a couple guys from RATT and Vains of Jenna check out our show. It was fun playing in our own town and we got to pass out like 2,000 tickets, so we called up anyone we ever owed a favor to and gave them free tickets. We had good local press…just to see everyone again was great. RATT played amazing, Vains of Jenna are really cool and Poison is Poison. I saw them when they were still playing in clubs, I don’t think they’ve ever had a bad night.

BBG: You say you couldn’t bring yourself to play in cover bands. Did you leave music or have you always played professionally?

SM: I went into the other side of the business for awhile, the retail side. I’ve always played. I taught and I’ve had a home studio. I’ve done solo stuff and I’ve done a couple guitar competitions. I played in some other bands, but I wasn’t into it as much. A lot of guys get sucked into whatever is popular and what has to be done – whatever the current trend. You know, I’ve been playing this type of music since I was a kid and I’ll be playing it until I’m done. If it’s popular, great. If it’s not, then it won’t be. It’s funny, back in 1993 a very big management company put an offer on the table for us: change this, change that. They were going to take away everything we did and who we were…it felt wrong, so we passed. It was the right thing for us at the time.

BBG: Are the songs on Roll The Dice all classic material?

SM: The only thing that is new on that release is a live guitar solo. We were actually setting sound up in the studio, and I did a solo thing we’ve been doing live forever. We recorded it. David from Suncity wanted a bunch of stuff to put the disc together. They (the label) had the entire original cassette remastered and wanted to add some bonus material. What we decided is that instead of adding bonus material, is we’ll give them another CD. So Roll The Dice is the original 10 songs with a live studio two-track solo. The rest of the new stuff…will be on the next CD.

BBG: So this means you’ll be with Suncity for your second album?

SM: Well, we owe them the second CD. That’s definitely going to happen. We had a lot of management people coming to the two Poison shows. They’re (the label) doing a good job in the sense they are getting us a lot of press. We’re in iTunes, Sony, Napster…every major download site and let’s face it: nobody in America is buying CDs anyway. People download music. I think me and maybe three of my friends still want the physical CD.

BBG: I want the physical CD.

SM: Then you’re number four.

BBG: I like to have something tangible to look at while the music is playing.

SM: Absolutely! Plus, I like all the extras like the DVDs and the artwork. It’s kind of a sad trend. At our merchandise table at the Poison show, everybody just wanted to know where they could download the songs.

BBG: Well, people really want to know where to steal music.

SM: Our lawyer told us we had 26,000 downloads over one weekend from some torrent site.

BBG: Are your torn over this?

SM: At first I was pissed. I mean, I was woken up first thing in the morning and told “Good news and bad news.” Good news is that you have 26,000 downloads and the bad news is that they were all stolen. So, in one sense it means people like the music and they’re going after it. In another, it costs musicians money. Small bands have to have day jobs and go into their own pocket to tour and do these things. It sucks…if people really want to see live music continue, on any scale, fans are going to have to buy some stuff.

BBG: Do you have any more details on your second CD?

SM: Tentatively, it’s going to be called Dirty Money. It’s going to have a whole drug-gambling theme to it.

BBG: When will that be released?

SM: I don’t know. If it was up to Suncity, it would be out by January but I don’t think they’ll get it in time. The songs are written and we’re ready to record. The biggest thing we’re wrestling with is that my studio is set up to do instrumental stuff. We’re trying to save as much money as possible. There’s a couple things…we might go to a different studio to do the drums, then record the rest back at my house. I produced and engineered the last disc and I’ll do that again. Not because of ego: it’s just cheaper and easier. We’re kind of quick. We know what we want, we do it and we go home. We’re also not going to ProTools it to death. What you’ll hear is what we’re really playing.

BBG: A lot of young people are into 80s rock right now. What do you think about that?

SM: As long as they’re into it to be into and not to take the piss out of it, I’m cool. There’s one band – I can’t think of their name right now – they’re always making fun of it. They don’t realize in the next 15 years that their music will be made fun of by their kids too. The thing we wrestle with is image. You don’t want to be older and look stupid. I look at the guys from Vains of Jenna. They’re cool and they’re living it but I’ve already done that once. Which way we go with it…we’re experimenting. I loved talking to the kids (at the Poison shows). They knew about Guns n’ Roses, Faster Pussycat the other bands. They went back and got into it. I was telling kids, “Don’t forget, there’s Hanoi Rocks and all sorts of amazing bands that you’ve got to look at.” Hopefully, as you say, we’ll bring it back. Make it strong again.

Brother Firetribe - False Metal

One of the best parts of writing this online magazine everyday is making friends and learning of new music from all over the world. A few weeks ago, a Spinefarm Records executive dropped me an email about Brother Firetribe. The Finnish band is currently working on a new album, and they are not ashamed of their love for 80s glam metal.

Brother Firetribe lists Van Halen, Skid Row and Journey as influences and you can hear all these bands on the album False Metal. Brother Firetribe got together around 2002 and they started out as the band False Metal. Time passed and they became Brother Firetribe, but kept their original name as the title for their debut release.

False Metal was released in 2006 and features this track listing:

Break Out
Valerie
I'm On Fire
Love Goes Down
Devil's Daughter
Midnite Queen
One Single Breath
Lover Tonite
Spanish Eyes
Kill City Kid

While Brother Firetribe like some of the heavier glam bands, they describe their sound as "easy going." I would agree with this assessment. The tunes are too heavy for adult contemporary radio (thank goodness) but not quite heavy enough for Metal Mania. It's a tightrope walk, but Brother Firetribe seem to be making their own rules about music and the metal industry.

My favorite songs on False Metal are "Love Goes Down" and "Midnite Queen." The latter really does sound like a Van Halen-Journey hybrid with the dueling keyboard and guitar.

Brother Firetribe are:

Pekka Ansio Heino - vocals
Empuu Vuorinen - guitar
Jason Flinck - bass
Tompaa Nikulainen - keyboards

You can listen to some clips from False Metal on www.myspace.com/brotherfiretribe. The band also has "I Am Rock" posted on their page. I believe this tune will be on their next release.

Lynam is Back!

New music alert! My favorite southern rockers Lynam have just posted new music from their upcoming release Tragic City Symphony.

You can hear hear "Lyndsay Says," "Disappointment," and "Just Say Anything" by clicking www.myspace.com/lynam.

Here's a live video of my boys performing "Better" from their album Slave to the Machine.

***Suggested reading: "It's All In Your Head" (September 6, 2007).

Mandatory Metallica

It was dark and rainy when I finally decided to leave bed this morning. Yes, I have a day job but sometimes you just have to let yourself linger. Sleep is important!

So, as I threw on my clothes in a haste after lingering a little too long, I jumped in the car and decided I needed some Metallica.

Mandatory Metallica: ...And Justice for All.

Yes, there are some days when the glam mistress feels more thrash than whammy.

Today is one of those days.

...And Justice for All is a great album. "One" is my all-time favorite Metallica song, and you can hear the direction the band was taking with several songs like "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" and the album's title track.

Many people complain the production on ...And Justice for All is complete crap, but I disagree. It's that raw quality that earned Metallica a legion of true fans before the glossy "Black" album. After Bob Rock and Metallica, fans screamed "sell-out!"

It seems the boys in Metallica can't win for losing.

I wonder if I like ...And Justice for All so much because it produces a complete story, albeit a dark one. In many ways, Metallica created a dense work of art: complicated, with literate themes approachable enough that even a angst-filled teen could (would!) relate.

If you don't own ...And Justice for All, click the link and buy the disc - now. Make atonement for your sins. Go ahead, I'll wait. This is a must own album for every Metal fan.

Dare you disagree?

Countdown to Eruption

It's time to start my official countdown to Van Halen live. I see the band on their reunion tour in just 17 days.

Tomorrow, the tour of the year begins. If I had more money I would fly to Charlotte, North Carolina to be among the first to experience this monumental event. Unfortunately, I work in television so that means no cash. Still, I'm pretty optimistic that my stop at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is going to be great.

Final practice video just surfaced -- to me the band sounds pretty great. Are you planning on going to the tour of the year?

Taime Downe: The Bring Back Glam! Interview

Taime Downe is done with the past: he doesn't want to talk about lawsuits or former band members. Instead, it's all about the music. Bring Back Glam! recently spoke with the Faster Pussycat frontman about the band's first album in 14 years, the trouble with touring and the cure for the common hangover. Transcription follows.

Bring Back Glam!: Your new album is Power and the Glory Hole. It hasn't been out too long. Are you already working on new stuff?

Taime Downe: We're working on new stuff. Maybe just an EP. We've got a few other tracks we were working on for the record, they didn't make because they just weren't done. We didn't have time to get them done before we went into the mix and we're working on a couple new ones as well.

BBG: It took a long time to record and release Power and the Glory Hole.

TD: I just put out stuff when it's cool. That's the first studio record for Pussycat in fucking fourteen years. I've been doing different shit, like the Newlydeads stuff and when we decided to put together Pussycat again, we'd end up on tour. So every time we'd get working on it (the album) we go on tour for four or five months. Then we'd have to stop, regroup, figure out what the fuck we had recorded last. Every time you go back you think "This is shit" and you tear it apart. We work on new stuff…and it kept happening.

BBG: So you're a perfectionist?

TD: Well, when you have the access to do it. It's not like we're banging shit around in a rehearsal room, then running into someone's studio to record. We have our own studio. Me and Danny (Nordahl, bassist) just do everything.

BBG: Do you still like touring?

TD: As long as it's a fucking fun tour…if it's miserable. Shit, we had a fucked up bus last time and it was just miserable. When it comes to show time, it's fun. Then you have to get back on this bus with no AC -- it was the summer with no fucking AC, it kept going out every other day.

BBG: This summer?

TD: No, last. It was fucking miserable. Everywhere we went was 105 degrees. One time, the temperature on the bus was 119. From an hour outside of L.A. on tour, it broke down on the way to Vegas. It was shitty the whole fucking tour. That stuff about touring I hate. Like I said, when it comes show time…you have to block that shit out and have a good time.

BBG: Do you still prefer performing in the U.S. over Europe?

TD: Yeah. I like playing overseas, but dealing with all that different shit. It's fun to be able to travel and play. The States are just easier because you know the money, you know the food…just everything. The home comforts.

BBG: I want to know more about the new CD. Did you produce the entire disc?

TD: Yes.

BBG: And you wrote all the songs, too?

TD: Yes, me and Danny.

BBG: Do you want to move more into producing?

TD: Yeah, because I don't plan on prancing around the stage forever! I ain't no spring chicken.

BBG: You feel like you hit a certain age, and you should hang it up?

TD: I want to do it when it's fun. I don't want to go out and tour just to tour. As long as it's a fun tour, and it's good…I don't want to beat it to death. There's other things to do that are just as fun. I like to produce bands, I like new music. Who knows? I like to do different shit.

BBG: What do you think of the 80s bands - like Poison - who tour every summer?

TD: I think it's cool! They have a lot of fans. There were a lot of people that didn't get to seem them back in the day, it's good. A lot of fans were too young to see them back then. As long as they put on a good show - and Poison does that. Poison does a good job every year. We had fun when we went out with them a few years ago. 2002, 2003 whenever it was, we had a fucking blast.

BBG: They're a good party band.

TD: They put on a great party show.

BBG: I think Faster Pussycat is a party band.

TD: We're more of a party band, with the party show. The evil band!

BBG: Did you always want to be the evil band?

TD: Laughs. No, we never made it a point. We do what we do.

BBG: So you didn't think, way back when, "Let's turn the Strip upside down."

TD: We just wanted to have a good time. We wanted to play rock n' roll, go on the road. Drink a lot of booze and get fucked up and have a good time - and get paid to do it! That's all we wanted to do.

BBG: Faster Pussycat has a very evolved sound. I know you don't like it when people say you're goth or industrial…do you still like to be called sleaze or glam?

TD: To me it doesn't matter. To me, it's like…when I probably said that I was getting bombarded with it all the time. It's, uh…I had the word for it. I can't think of it. I haven't had enough coffee. I got wrecked last night… with friends from Toronto. Two hangover days in a row! Like I said, I ain't no spring chicken.

BBG: I'm sure you can hold your liquor.

TD: Those damn Jager shots…they kept giving them to me!

BBG: I can't drink that stuff. It tastes like cough syrup -

TD: I can't either! I had a hangover before I went to bed. I was like "Goddamnit, this better be over before I wake up."

BBG: Well, was it?

TD: No headache…just sort of sluggish. Lazy.

BBG: Do you have a favorite hangover cure?

TD: Usually, just the hair (of the dog, that is!). I'm like, no, not today. I saw some stuff on the counter and decided I would have coffee.

BBG: Well, at some point you have to just say enough is enough.

TD: Yeah, two days. Yesterday was the hair. Today is coffee.

BBG: Are you going out again tonight?

TD: I hope not! My friends are here until Thursday.

BBG: Your birthday is Saturday. Do you have any plans?

TD: I'm not sure. I might go to Arizona and visit one of my best friends from Seattle. He has a place down there. Plus, I'm supposed to go to Seattle to see my mom. I gotta find some stuff I have stored up there, and see my mom. I want to kill two birds. But I might go to Arizona with my car to bring some of my stuff back, I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I can load some stuff, boxes and crap. That's this weekend…and maybe go with my friend back to Seattle. He might do the drive with me.

BBG: Does you mom follow your career?

TD: Oh yeah. I'm the boy.

BBG: But you're not an only child.

TD: No, I have sisters. They are younger than me. We all get along really good.

BBG: Tell me how your name became Taime?

TD: From my grandmother. She's Italian, she was in fashion and stuff. She was importing clothing from Italy and Europe to stores in Seattle. The floor of her business is where Sub Pop was. It's funny because my friend Dana who works for Sub Pop back when they were kicking ass and shit. I went home for Christmas, and he took me to a Sonics game. After the game, we went to his office and I was like "No way! This is where I used to come when I was little!" My grandmother's assistant was French, and Taime comes from . She couldn't talk French and it came out "Taime." My dad's name is Gustav and I didn't want to go by that. My grandmother hated my dad - this was my mom's mom. My parents split when I was four.

BBG: Do you have any contact with your dad?

TD: No, I haven't spoken with him in years.

BBG: Does he know you're famous?

TD: Yeah. It's been about 10 years since we spoke. He's in Cleveland, and it's weird because I record a lot in Detroit now. The next time I'm up there, I'm going to go see him. I don't want him to die on me without…you just never know.

BBG: You sound like you're becoming an adult.

TD: Why would I do that now! I'm 42. It hasn't kicked in yet. I can't. It's too late. I can't go to college now.

BBG: Can you imagine having a day job and wearing a suit?

TD: More like working at McDonalds. I want to go through the management training program. (Laughs).

BBG: Actually, I want to know how you had money to get the Cathouse going.

TD: I was a promoter…me and Rikki (Rachtman). I mean, I worked at Retail Slut, but that was a just a clothing store. I did lighting at the Troubador, but as soon as we started rehearsing, I quit the Troubador job. I was working there at night. Once I put the guys together (Faster Pussycat) that's when I quit the Troubador because we rehearsed at night and I worked at Slut during the day. I worked at Retail Slut and I would pimp the shit out of our band. We were brand new, before our record deal and we wanted people at our shows. I would pass out flyers at work…our early shows were packed. That's promotion. When you do a party, and you pack people in…do it at a club. You make money. Rikki had done clubs…like dance clubs, so we got together and did a rock club. We mixed rock with dance and that was Cathouse. It took off and kept growing and growing as we went. When we got signed, and our friends Guns n' Roses got signed, they played the club. All the bands pretty much played. It was fun.

BBG: Do you still want to release a CD and DVD from the Cathouse reunion?

TD: We're trying. We got a lot of footage that was fucked up. That's the main thing. The video footage. The live recording, there was some technical shit that went down on stage. Some songs you can't really hear. We go back to listen to something you want to put out …some of the tracks need completely recreated, so I don't even know. There might be…we might put a few of the songs out. Some are fixable, audio wise. Like one of the guitars went out, or the background: we can fix that. We figure we might do that, for maybe an EP. If we can get some of the footage working, we'll do an enhanced CD with some videos.

BBG: Was Full Effect Records created for Faster Pussycat?

TD: Well, it's Tony's (Scrock) label. He started it. I was going to do one (a label) for our shit. Doing it with a major label, you get nothing. Nowadays, we can promote just as well as they can. It's just getting exposure to people. We run our own ads. Plus, we'll make way more money on our CDs. With a major label you make nothing. I don't want to start a new deal. I want to be in charge.

BBG: Did you get screwed in your first deal?

TD: No. Elektra treated us really good.

BBG: Do you own your masters?

TD: No, Elektra does. We own our songs. I can rerecord them if I wanted to. That's part of why I need to go to Seattle. I need to go through some old contracts. Try to see what they're going to do with them. If the CDs are going out of print, then we'd like to figure out a way to remaster the shit. It's been 20 years. I'd like to do a remaster and a release.

BBG: Perhaps a boxset?

TD: Definitely. I just have to see what the dealio is with the original contract. I can go and rerecord the shit, but it's not what I want to do. I really want to remaster. We don't remix. We can bring up the bass, change it sonically. Make it sound a lot better. The technology today makes songs sound clearer.

BBG: You were supposed to be on tour this month. What happened there?

TD: I don't know. We're checking out different agencies. Until it's something worthwhile, I'm not doing. It's for everyone in the band: we want to go out and play, but we don't want to do it half assed. Then we had the whole Brent (Muscat, original guitarist) issue. We got that taken care of, but now we need to let that shit die down.

BBG: The lawsuit didn't stop you from touring. We're you afraid of confusing people?

TD: I'm sick of dealing with promoters. Give it a little bit of space and time. Just do it right. I don't want to go out half assed. It has to be done right.

BBG: Well, tell me how to "do it right."

TD: Booking it well in advance. Plenty of time for promotion. Picking the right bands that are available. Routing it right…just everything. If it takes us doing it ourselves…we're very capable.

BBG: Do you write for other bands?

TD: I don't necessarily intend to. When you have a lot of unfinished stuff around and people need help... They can take it, and put a whole new twist on it. I'm doing that with some people now.

BBG: Will you tell me who you are working with?

TD: Roxy Saint is one and Paulie Perrette from NCIS, that CBS show.

BBG: Last question: will you make any videos to support Power and the Glory Hole?

TD: Yes! We're working on ideas right now. Roxy Saint is really good at that. We might be swapping out some stuff. We might swap songs for her video work.

BBG: Which songs do you want to make clips for?

TD: I don't know yet. We actually might do a couple. Maybe with the same theme…maybe tie them in to each other. It would probably come out in January.

New Tickets and Journalism 101

I finally received a call from Pryor Creek Music Festivals this morning. If you're not familiar, this is the company that hosts Rocklahoma.

I renewed my seat license four days after Rocklahoma 2007. Fans who renewed by September 17 had a chance to get better seats. I pulled out the credit card and crossed my fingers. My seats at this year's festival were not bad...but they were not great either. I originally purchased my three tickets on Easter, and by that time all the really great seats were sold. I was on an aisle, relatively far back from the stage. The aisle meant a good view of the stage, plus there was plenty of room to dance or just sit and relax.

My old seats were not center -- they were side section. It was my dream to make it to the center, but I refused to give up rows. So, in July 2008 I will be in the same side section as last year...just four rows closer and on the direct aisle. I'm both happy and sad. I'm grateful for the seats I landed, but really wanted the coveted center. Still, my section is closest to the beer tent...and isn't that all that really matters?

It's 290 days until the festival for those that are keeping count. Tickets to the general public go on sale next Monday, October 1st.

Here's a report on the economic impact of Rocklahoma 2007. The first person to tell me what's wrong with this clip will win bragging rights for the week. Seriously, leave me a comment and tell me what is journalistically wrong with this piece.