Tag: Music

Entertainment, Interview, Music, Women Who Rock

Interview: Guitarist Nita Strauss Discusses her new Signature Model, The Ibanez Jiva
Photo by: Samuel Lathrop

Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitarist known for her shredding skills as part of the Alice Cooper band, was recently awarded her first Signature model guitar from Ibanez.

The Ibanez JIVA gets its name from the Hindu word, which means the vital energy of life and the creative essence that lives on after the body passes away.

Strauss’ JIVA is based on Ibanez’s popular S-series model and features a quilted maple top on a mahogany body. There’s also a 24-fret, ebony fingerboard with a uniquely designed “Beaten Path” EKG-Style inlay. The guitar also comes with Strauss’ signature DiMarzio pickups, which the guitarist designed herself.

The Ibanez JIVA’s unveiling at this winter’s NAMM Convention makes Strauss the company’s first female guitarist with a Signature model. Strauss has been on the Ibanez roster since 2008 and the JIVA is a well-deserved award that recognizes one of the most inspiring and hardest working guitarists in music.

Strauss is currently gearing up for a new round of touring with Alice Cooper and is deep into production on her first guitar-driven, instrumental solo album.

AXS recently spoke with Nita Strauss about her new Signature model guitar, her upcoming tour with Alice Cooper and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: Where did the idea and inspiration for your Signature model come from?

Nita Strauss: I think once you start playing guitar and learning about their components, you start figuring out what features would make it better. So, like most guitars players, I started designing my Signature guitar when I was in grade school [laughs]. I would always write down all my ideas into a notebook that I would carry around. This year is my tenth anniversary with Ibanez, and last year was when the discussion for a Signature model first started. I already had a clear picture of what I wanted from all the endless decisions I’d done in my head. So, once the final decision was made, it was a pretty straightforward process.

AXS: Why the name, “JIVA”?

NS: The word “jiva” is a Hindu word that means the part of yourself where all your creativity, ideas and life force comes from. It’s your jiva manifesting itself. Whether it’s your art, music or creativity, it’s the part of you that lives on after your body passes away. I thought, what more appropriate thing to call my guitar. On a personal note, my Dad’s band was called Jiva a long time ago. Since my dad’s the one who taught me how to play guitar, it’s also a fitting tribute as well.

AXS: What can you tell me about the guitar?

NS: It’s a mahogany body with custom maple top and ebony fretboard that weighs exactly seven pounds. That combination of wood gives it the tone I love and sets the guitar apart from others in the S-series. The Deep Space Blonde color is also unique as well.

AXS: What about the guitar’s pickups?

NS: Choosing a pickup was a trial and error process. I wanted something with a lot of body and sustain. Something that could hit top harmonics and hold them out but also not be too noisy on stage. We have a happy medium with my DiMarzio Pandemonium pickups. They’re really bright with harmonic resonance but are also really quiet.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Nita Strauss by Clicking Here!

Books, Entertainment, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Robert Knight Discusses ‘Rock Gods’ and His 50-Year Career As a Music Photographer

Legendary rock photographer Robert Knight is widely renowned for his lengthy tenure of capturing a wide cross section of highly influential artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Slash. His ability to closely connect with and generate trust among the subjects he’s photographed has led to a deep, intimate documentation of significant pop cultural moments over the past half century.

Knight is celebrating his 50th Anniversary with the release of his amazing new book, Rock Gods: Fifty Years of Rock Photography, which is available now on Insight Editions. ​

Even if you aren’t a voracious reader, Knight’s incredibly beautiful photographs and personal stories from his time spent with some of rock’s most legendary artists at the beginning and peak of their careers is worth the price of admission.

We recently spoke with Knight about Rock Gods and some of the artists he’s worked with in this new interview.

What made you decide to write a book about your life and career?

The stars all aligned and the time was right. It was the 50th anniversary of the Jeff Beck tour and my time with Led Zeppelin. We preferred to do a smaller sized book that’s very affordable and aimed at younger people. I’ve even got younger artists I’ve worked with in the book towards the end.

What was it about the music of that generation that appealed to you and made you want to become a photographer?

Growing up as the son of a minister, I was forbidden from any of that music. Then one night at a very young age, I snuck out and saw The [Rolling] Stones when they had Brian Jones in the band, and it electrified me. Later, I found magazines with long-haired guys with weird clothes and guitars. I couldn’t figure out what it was all about, but I knew that it was music. I sent away to an English music company and got records by Hendrix, Cream, The Yardbirds and Pretty Things before they even came out in America. But once I saw the movie, Blowup and the lineup of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, that was it for me. I saw what Beck was doing and thought, this is someone I really want to work with.

I want to ask you about a few of the guitarists you’ve worked with and get your thoughts on them. Let’s start with Jimi Hendrix.

I first saw Hendrix back in 1968 at the Avalon Ballroom. I had heard his music before, but hearing it on your hi-fi was a lot different than when you were being pummeled by three Marshall stacks [laughs]. I remember my mouth dropped open and I was just mesmerized by what was going on. It was bigger than life. Then when I met him, he was this sweet, shy guy who was very humble. That’s what you came away with. He was this bombastic thing on stage and then the total opposite off of it.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Robert Knight by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Brooke Josephson premieres new video for ‘Crazy Called Normal’
Brooke Josephson – Photo by Wes and Alex

Today, AXS premieres the video for Brooke Josephson’s “Crazy Called Normal”. It’s the new single from the singer/songwriter’s upcoming EP, Sexy N’ Domesticated. An album that’s a snapshot of the songstress’ personal journey and features an eclectic mix of musical influences and genres.

With an array of visual metaphors, the video for “Crazy Called Normal” is a tongue-in-cheek look at how silly and mundane the world has become, and how things that were once considered patently absurd have suddenly become acceptable.

AXS recently spoke with Brooke Josephson about“Crazy Called Normal” and more in this new interview.

AXS: What inspired the song, “Crazy Called Normal”?

Brooke Josephson: The song came about after I had just experienced “one of those days.” I remember I had just picked up my daughter from school and she was telling me about some drama that happened at recess. Halfway through the conversation, she just stopped talking and said, “How was your day, Mommy?” Just hearing her little voice; it took everything in me not to start crying. I was able to hold it together and told her that everything was fine. I didn’t want to get emotional, and on the drive home I found myself chanting this mantra: “laugh don’t crack” over and over under my breath. That night, after the kids were in bed, I went into the studio and started writing out the events of the day, keeping that mantra in mind. There’s so much we have to do to be productive, and the things we consider crazy have suddenly become normal. That’s how the song came about.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Brooke Josephson By Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Kathy Troccoli discusses ‘KT’s Comfort Box’ touring and career highlights

There are few artists who are as multifaceted as Kathy Troccoli. Whether it’s her fierce commitment to comforting the broken-hearted with her books and public speaking engagements, or the encouragement and inspiration she brings with her voice in a career that spans more than three decades. With a musical resume that includes eighteen #1 radio hits, along with a pair of Dove awards and three Grammy nominations, Troccoli remains one of music’s most authentic and versatile artists. Her success in Christian music has even crossed over into the mainstream, which includes her #1 hit from 1991, “Everything Changes.”

Troccoli’s newest project of encouragement is “KT’s Comfort Box,” a package-collection filled with songs, sentiments and Scripture, creating a perfect gift for those who may be hurting. She’ll also be launching another series of live dates in support of the package with her “Comfort by Candlelight” events.

AXS recently spoke with Kathy Troccoli about “KT’s Comfort Box,” her new tour and more in this exclusive interview.

AXS: What inspired you to create a “KT’s Comfort Box” package?

Kathy Troccoli: I’ve done so many concerts and have met so many people over the course of my career. Whether it’s a conference room in a hotel or a large stadium where I opened for Billy Graham, the one consistent thing I hear from people is how much my music (and music in general) has touched their life. I’ve heard many stories of heartache and how my music was able to help people cope. I wanted to give people something they can either buy online or at my shows that will remind them of the experience and came up with the comfort box.

There are a lot of cool little things inside of the box, but one of the major ones is called Comfort by Candlelight. It’s a CD containing a combination of new and old songs that are all songs of comfort. I’ve also included a series of comfort cards with encouraging quotes and lyrics as well as a Comfort Scriptures CD with audio versions of me reading Bible Scripture.

AXS: What can fans expect from your upcoming “Comfort By Candlelight” Tour?

KT: It’s an evening where I’ll be speaking and singing. My accompanist, Michelle Margiotta, and I will be doing a lot of tunes and songs that people will know. I’ll also share stories of my life and how I’ve been able to overcome things by incorporating God’s stories. What’s wonderful about these shows is that I get to see three or four generations of people.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Kathy Troccoli by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Horror, Interview, Movies and TV, Music

Interview: Thomas Ian Nicholas Discusses New Film, ‘Living Among Us’ and Upcoming Tour

Perhaps best known for his role as Kevin Myers in the “American Pie” films, multi-talented actor/producer and singer/songwriter Thomas Ian Nicholas continues to entertain audiences with his clever filmmaking and passion-driven acumen. Nicholas’ new horror film, “Living Among Us” continues this trend by also applying a new twist on the methodical vampire genre.

The film, written and directed by Brian A. Metcalf, is a fictional found-footage documentary where Mike, (played by Nicholas), and two members of his team are invited to film a group of vampires in an attempt to prove or disprove claims of the undead mythos. The documentary crew soon finds themselves in extreme danger after uncovering a deadly secret, and a fight for survival ensues.

Like many found-footage films, “Living Among Us” shines by delivering seemingly helpless characters in a visually appealing environment as well its use of extended takes. One scene in particular, which takes place in the dining room, will have audiences talking long after the credits have rolled.

“Living Among Us” also stars Andrew Keegan, Esmé Bianco, William Sadler and John Heard (in one of his final film roles).

An acclaimed musician, Nicholas and his band are also gearing up for a new tour this year in celebration of the 10th anniversary of his album, Without Warning.

AXS recently spoke with Nicholas about “Living Among Us”, his music and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How did your involvement in “Living Among Us” come about?

Thomas Ian Nicholas: I have a production company called Red Compass Media, where my business partner, Brian A. Metcalf (writer/director), and I have a slate of projects we’re doing. The first one was “The Lost Tree”, which recently came out on DVD and Blu-Ray and stars Michael Madsen and Lacey Chabert. “Living Among Us” is the second of three that we’re doing. It’s very exciting.

AXS: What was it about this particular story that piqued your interest?

TIN: When we were finishing up “The Lost Tree”, we had the opportunity to do another project. What they wanted was a found-footage film, but one that included an all-star cast. Brian is a film buff and told them that you can’t really do a found-footage film with well-known actors because it would be too difficult for viewers to believe. He suggested that we do a documentary-style American New Wave film. A movie within a movie. One where you’re fully aware of the filmmaking process but are still drawn into the story.

The other thing I really dig about this film is that it’s a new twist on the subject of vampires.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Thomas Nicholas by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Singer/Songwriter Brooke Josephson Discusses Her New EP, ‘Sexy N’ Domesticated’
Brooke Josephson – Photo by Wes and Alex

Actress/singer/songwriter Brooke Josephson is set to release her infectious new EP, Sexy N’ Domesticated in April. It’s a female-empowered, five-song album that showcases the beautiful songstress’ knack for combing catchy grooves with hook-laden melodies and introspective storytelling.

Fueled by the release of the first single, “Mr. Fix It,” Josephson takes the listener on a journey of brazen independence. Filling her songs with sultry vocals and tongue in cheek takes on topics that include relationships, marriage and motherhood.

Produced by Tony Berg (Edie Brickell, Aimee Mann) and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, John Legend), Josephson has tastefully succeeded with Sexy N’ Domesticated. Writing songs that legitimize her own personal and professional experiences while at the same time offering the same validation to women everywhere.

AXS recently spoke with Josephson about her new EP and more in this exclusive interview.

AXS: How would you describe Sexy N’ Domesticated in terms of its sound?

Brooke Josephson: For me, it’s a sonic snapshot of how my life has been going these last few years. It’s a blend of all the different worlds and musical influences that have inspired me. Not just from my experience in musical theater, but also in pop and rock. I took a path very similar to Beck’s Odelay album where I wasn’t going to settle and just pick one lane or genre. I wanted to use whatever style worked for what I had to say.

AXS: What’s your songwriting process like?

BJ: Most of the time, I start off with writing lyrics, like I did with the song, “Crazy Called Normal”. That song came about when I picked up my daughter at school one day. She had asked me how my day went, and it was just one of those days where so much was happening all at once. I was caught up in the moment and was trying to hold it together in front of her, and just started a mantra as I was driving home. Then after everyone was in bed, I went into my studio and started writing lyrics. The next day, I went back and came up with a fast-paced sequence on my OP-1 to be the spine of the song. It’s a story about how crazy life can be.

AXS: Let’s talk about a few more tracks from the EP, beginning with “Mr. Fix It”.

BJ: My brother was over one night and the two of us were talking about things that were going on. As women, we always like to flesh our thoughts out by talking about them. We all have things we need solved, but we’ll find a way to get there. But I remember my brother seemed to have an answer for everything, and then my husband came home and started chiming in. It was an avalanche [laughs]. I like to write in a notebook and started jotting down about Mr. Fix It and about how guys are wired a certain way. The song is really about embracing the differences of the sexes. Celebrating them while at the same time getting my point across and having fun with it. It’s not about dissing guys but more about, “Hey, I like the advice, but right now I don’t need it.”

Read the rest of my
Interview with Brooke Josephson by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Movies and TV, Music

‘The Top Ten Revealed’: Katie Daryl Discusses New AXS-TV Countdown Series

It’s a program that’s sure to fuel intense debate among music aficionados. AXS TV’s all-new original series, “The Top Ten Revealed” [which premiers on Sunday, Feb 11] is a countdown show unlike any other. One where fans choose the best of the best.

In each episode, host and executive producer Katie Daryl (“The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands”) counts down a list of genre-defining songs and orchestrates discussion with a rotating panel of icons and music industry experts. Each of them examining the musicians and music that have left indelible marks on the rock n’ roll scene.

Episode one opens by counting down the top ten “Guitar Rock Intros” and includes discussion by special guests like Guns N’ Roses legend, Steven Adler, former Pantera percussionist, Vinnie Paul, and the Queen of Metal herself, Lita Ford. Future episodes in the new series include the top “Songs Named After Women”, “80s Rock Ballads”, “Vietnam Era Rock”, “‘70s Hard Rock Hits” and “Hits That Were Covers”.

In the end, “The Top Ten Revealed” is an infectious series where the world was invited to vote and viewers may have to agree to disagree. But if you’re patient and understanding you’ll find that these lists are only a whole lot of fun, but ones that will keep your toes tapping long after the show is over.

I recently spoke with Katie Daryl about “The Top Ten Revealed” and more in this exclusive new interview.

How did the idea for “The Top Ten Revealed” originate?

I’ve worked for Mark Cuban’s TV network since it was created, and being a music-driven network, we’re always picking our brains about what our viewers might like to see. We frequently have water cooler chats about our favorite artists and what everyone is listening to, and a lot of these conversations end up in debate. So, we might be talking about AC/DC vs Led Zeppelin and who does better at X,Y and Z. That’s when we realized that we didn’t have any shows on the network that allowed people to rank and argue classic rock. The idea was spawned. We knew that if our viewers liked to argue and debate music as much as our editors and writers did, then this was going to be a hit.

Katie Daryl – Photo by Stewart Volland

How much research was done in compiling the list of Guitar Rock Intros for Episode One?

Doing the initial ranking was a long process. Before we even began, we made sure that we set some parameters. In this case, it was guitar intros from bands that originated in the 60’s, 70’s and 80s. That’s why songs like “Johnny B. Goode” wouldn’t make the list, because that song initiated in the 50’s. The first thing to do was to create a list of about twenty-five intros that you can think of off the top of your head. Next, we did research to see what other people were talking about. Finally, we put the question out to social media, and people started responding. Just from us asking the question, it fueled debate, which helped us formulate a final list of ten.

What criteria was used in ranking the final ten intros?

The final listing was shaped by social media and from logging on to AXS-TV. It was fun to open it up, cast a wide net and get other people’s opinions.

Were the artists invited to participate in the show aware of the final rankings?

Everyone knew going in what the topic was about, but we didn’t tell any of them how the intros were ranked. Some of the artists were only given a few songs to talk about, and it was fun to see if their reactions coincided with how our social media vote came in.

What else can you tell me about this season of “The Top Ten Revealed”?

There are six episodes this season with topics ranging from “Guitar Rock Intros” and “Songs Named After Women” to “80’s Rock Ballads” and “Vietnam Era Songs”. What’s great about this show is that these songs are going to get stuck in your head. They’re all songs we love and that’s what makes them so classic.

Were there any guitar intros that didn’t make the list that you thought should have been included?

There’s a few Nirvana intros I would have put on the list, but those didn’t make it because of the parameters we set. We also had another parameter where each band could only be included on the list once. Thank goodness, because we could easily have had an all AC/DC list [laughs]. They’re a guitar intro machine!

Did you always know that you wanted to have a career in entertainment?

I did, although I have to admit I thought I’d always stay in radio. I was lucky enough to have a few early opportunities to be on television and make a career out of it. Presenting information in an entertaining or news format has always been something that gets me excited.

What excites you the most about this season of “The Top Ten Revealed”?

I cannot wait to see the social media reaction and the agreeing and disagreeing that will come out of these episodes. People are passionate about their opinions, and especially when they can hide behind the Internet [laughs]. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out and to see if everyone can play nice in the sand box.

“The Top Ten Revealed” hosted by Katie Daryl debuts Sunday, Feb. 11th at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT on AXS-TV.

Entertainment, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Moon Taxi’s Trevor Terndrup, Spencer Thomson and Tommy Putnam Discuss New Album, the Success of “Two High”
Moon Taxi – Photo by Harper Smith

Nashville’s alt-rock quintet Moon Taxi’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, Let The Record Play, marks the band’s first album for a major label. It’s an infectious, ten-track LP that includes their monster single, “Two High,” which to date has garnered more than 64 million streams on Spotify.

Produced and mixed by Spencer Thomson (who also happens to be the band’s guitarist), Let The Record Play lends itself as easily to home speakers as it does to the band’s dynamic live show.

We recently spoke with frontman Trevor Terndrup, Thomson and bassist Tommy Putnam about the band’s new album, and the incredible success of “Two High.”

To someone who may not be familiar with Moon Taxi, how would you describe Let The Record Play?

Terndrup: It’s a continuation of our story. For people discovering the band for the first time, it’s a great introduction, and hopefully, they’ll go through and check our back catalog. For fans who’ve been with us for more than a decade, they’ll appreciate that it’s a continuation of our songwriting and production skills. We’re always striving to become better songwriters, and we’re getting a more worldwide look with this record.

What was the songwriting process for this record like?

Thomson: One thing we tried to do a little more of on this album was to have a lyrical concept up front. So often, you end up having music that you like, but then you have the task of trying to put lyrics to it. It can slow down the process. What we’ve learned is that if you have an idea, lyrics or a title on the front end, it really helps the song move along and it makes it more of a cohesive concept to work with.

Terndrup: Spencer writes a lot of the lyrics, but everyone generally puts a stamp of approval on it. It’s all collaborative, so it has a pretty thick filter. Usually, it’s one person who comes in with the creative spark, and then the rest of us help push it to the finish line.

Let’s discuss a few tracks from Let The Record Play, starting with “Two High.”

Terndrup: The music and the lyrics both happened within a two-week time frame. The idea came from our keys player, Wes, who sent a text that was an auto-correct fail. He had meant to say, “too high” and it came across as “two high”. He told me about it and I immediately thought about the iconic peace symbol from the sixties. It was right around the same time the Women’s March happened and there was a lot of protesting going on. That’s really when the chorus started to shape up.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Moon Taxi by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Kristian Bush Discusses His New ‘Geeking Out’ Podcast and Sugarland Reunion

Kristian Bush, Wheelhouse Records’ recording artist and one half of the Grammy-winning duo, Sugarland with Jennifer Nettles, is celebrating the geek in all of us with his new 12-episode podcast appropriately called, “Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush”.

In each episode, Bush sits down with a guest to talk about something they’re obsessed about that has nothing to do with their job. Along the way, Bush also shares an artist, song, or album that’s got him “geeking out.”

The first episode features Bush’s friend and label-mate, Granger Smith, discussing his new favorite hobby: beekeeping. Future guests include Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Nashville creator Callie Khouri; actress, producer and songwriter Rita Wilson; “Jean-Claude Van Johnson” star Kat Foster and country music journalist, Hunter Kelly.

“Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush” is available for download on all podcast platforms.

AXS recently spoke with Kristian Bush about “Geeking Out”, the upcoming Sugarland reunion tour, new music and more in this exclusive interview.

AXS: Where did the idea to do a podcast originate?

Kristian Bush: My friend, Bobby Bones, was the one who originally asked me about doing it. He’s been passionate about podcasts and the things he was discovering with them. When Bobby approached me about doing one, I initially thought it would be about music, but he I could talk about whatever I wanted. So, I brought him back a few ideas and this was the one we both agreed was the most interesting and sustainable. What’s fun about “Geeking Out” is that it’s based on creating a good boundary, and that boundary is, tell me one thing that you’re obsessed with that has nothing to do with your job. It’s amazing to listen to people talk about the things they’re passionate about.

AXS: How much time goes into putting an episode together?

KB: It sounds like someone just hits record and we’re off [laughs], but there’s actually a lot of time and production that goes into it. The idea is to collect as much material as you can and then shrink it down, but always respecting your listener and making it the best story it can be.

AXS: What can fans expect from future episodes of “Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush”?

KB: One episode ended up being about rotating restaurants at the top of Hyatt Regency’s around America. Another is about Brazilian Jujitsu. A third ended up being about a person who’s obsessed with Billy Joel and becoming the biggest Billy Joel fan on the planet. It’s going to be exciting for people to discover what some of these guests are geeking out about.

AXS: Let’s switch gears and talk a little about Sugarland. What prompted the band’s recent reunion, new single and upcoming tour?

KB: The hiatus was always based on a question of timing and the things Jennifer wanted to do. She wanted to start a family, have a child and a solo career. When I got a call, the first thing for us to do was get back in the ring and see what we could do. We wound up walking into the room together and thirty-five minutes later, we wrote the song, “Still The Same”.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Kristian Bush by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons Discusses 40th Anniversary of the band’s ‘What’s Happening!!” Appearance & New Tour With Steely Dan
The Doobie Brothers (photo by Andrew Macpherson)

If you ask The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons the one thing the band will most be remembered for, he won’t hesitate to tell you that it will probably be the time the band was featured on the black situation comedy, “What’s Happening!!” on January 28th, 1978.

Forty years ago, Simmons, along with the rest of his bandmates at the time, appeared as themselves in a two-part episode called, “Doobie or Not Doobie,” where they returned triumphantly to their former high school only to discover that one of the students, Rerun (played by Fred Berry), had been conned by a two-bit thug into tape recording the band’s concert.

It was an unusual situation and a bit of a risk for the band; whose hits include “Black Water,” & “Takin’ it to The Streets”, to appear on a television series. But in the end, it exposed The Doobies music to an entirely new demographic, and has since become one of televisions most beloved episodes.

AXS recently spoke with Simmons about the 40th anniversary of The Doobie Brothers appearance on “What’s Happening!!”,  their new tour with Steely Dan and much more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How did the band’s appearance on “What’s Happening!!” come about?

PS: We had done the albums Takin’ It to the Streets and Livin’ on the Fault Line, and had just hired a new publicist named David Gest (who would later leave PR and go on to marry Liza Minelli). A few months into working with us, David came in and told us there was an opportunity to do this situation comedy.

I was already familiar with “What’s Happening!!”, because I’d watched the show a few times. I thought it was hilarious and really liked the character of Rerun (Fred Berry). I had actually met Fred one summer at a show we’d done where he was dancing with The Lockers. Because it was a black situation comedy, I thought it would be an adventurous thing for us to do because our music had always been laced with R&B and soul. Not only would our fans tune in, but it would also expose us to a new audience of people who watched the show regularly, and would begin to listen to our music. I had no idea how we would fit into the show but thought it was something fun and different to do. David had great ideas, and that was certainly one of them.

AXS: The storyline dealt with the subject of bootlegging concerts. Was that something the band was concerned about at the time?

PS: For sure. We had been ripped off more than once, so we were certainly aware of it. I remember at the time, there was a lot of stealing of intellectual property going on. People would record shows and then sell them to some label in some other country. Then the label would produce it and ship it back to America. It was a difficult process trying to get in and record a show without being seen, but there was a certain amount of money to be made. It’s silly looking back on it now because everyone is recording shows on their phones and giving it away on YouTube, but it was a different world in those days.

Read there rest of my
Interview with Pat Simmons by Clicking Here!