Widely recognized as one of the greatest blues guitarists of our time, Robert Cray has pretty much done it all in his four decades of making music. Cray has written songs or shared the stage with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Copeland and Eric Clapton.
For Cray’s 17th studio album, In My Soul (released April 1), the five-time Grammy winner once again reasserts himself as one of the great musical storytellers with an inspired collection of original blues/soul material as well as takes on songs by Otis Redding, Mable John and Bobby “Blue” Bland.
I recently spoke with Cray about his new album as well as some of the highlights from his 40 years in music.
GUITAR WORLD: How would you describe the new album, In My Soul?
Everybody knows we’ve been dabbling in the soul vein for the longest time, but I think this record has more soul on it than any record we’ve ever done. It’s got a lot of different flavors of soul on it.
Tell me about a few of the recent personnel changes to the band.
In addition to our longtime bass player Richard Cousins, we recently added Dover Weinberg back to the lineup playing organ and piano. He used to be in the band in the late Seventies, and he rejoined us in late November just before we went into the studio. We also added Les Falconer on drums. He’s been in the band for about a year.
What was it like working with producer Steve Jordan?
Fantastic. This was my third time working with Steve, and he’s such a great organizer and gets everyone totally involved in the project. He treats every song as an individual and puts 100 percent-plus into every tune.
When you start a new album project, do you ever go in with an idea of what you want it to sound like ahead of time?
We never do. With this record, no one in the band even knew what the others were going to bring in until a week before we went into the studio. When we presented our material to each other as a band, everyone was pretty much on the same page: We had a lot of soul tunes. Steve also offered a few suggestions for songs — Otis Redding’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” and the Mable John song, “Your Good Thing Is About to End,” the one Lou Rawls made famous. We also decided to do a tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Deep in My Soul,” because we just lost him last year.
It’s been nearly nine years since the String Cheese Incident released their last album, One Step Closer.
While the jam band may not have “technically” released any new material during that time, they’ve continued to write and perform new music for fans who’ve been following them since their formation in the Colorado ski towns of Crested Butte and Telluride in 1993.
The title of the band’s new album, Song in My Head (produced by former Talking Head Jerry Harrison), could be taken quite literally, as the material found on it is sure to spark the imagination of new and longtime fans. Songs such as the title track and “Colorado Bluebird Sky” showcase the talents of all six members of the band, while “Struggling Angel” pays homage to a fallen fan.
While it might be a long-overdue album in terms of timing, Song in My Head proves the wait was well worth it.
The String Cheese Incident features Bill Nershi (guitar), Jason Hann (percussion), Kyle Hollingsworth (keyboards), Michael Kang (mandolin, guitar), Keith Moseley (bass) and Michael Travis (drums).
I recently spoke to Nershi about Song in My Head.
GUITAR WORLD: What spawned this new record?
I’ve actually been trying to get the band to make an album for a few years. There’s always an argument to be made against putting out a CD because it’s not the same market as it used to be. But we’ve been accumulating a backlog of great songs and felt the time was right to record.
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Interview with Bill Nershi by Clicking Here!
Drake Bell certainly wasn’t made for these times. The actor/musician best known for his work as teenage rocker Drake Parker on the Nickelodeon TV show Drake & Josh actually grew up listening to the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beatles and Stray Cats.
Bell’s new album, Ready Steady Go! pays homage to those roots with a tastefully inspired collection of classic rockabilly favorites as well as Bell’s original songs “Makes Me Happy,” “Give Me A Little More Time” and the insanely catchy “Bitchcraft”.
Bell also continues to prove that good music knows no boundaries. As evidenced by his recent collaboration with the band Caravan Palace for a tasty Electro-swing remix of Bitchcraft, part of this Go Jimmy Go exclusive!
I caught up with Bell and asked him about the remixed version of Bitchcraft and his recent trip to Washington where he advocated for funding for the arts.
How did the collaboration with Caravan Palace come about?
I love Electro swing, which is this new thing that’s coming out of Europe. It’s mixing old Artie Shaw type swing with club remix four on the floor, and Caravan Palace has perfected it. So when the idea came up to make an Electro-swing version of “Bitchcraft”, we reached out to them and they said they’d love to do it.
As a songwriter, were you a little nervous going in?
I’m such a fan of Caravan Palace and was excited to see what they would do with it. Having them do this remix was just incredible.
>>>>>> Listen to the Bitchcraft remix by Clicking Here <<<<<<
How has reaction been to the new album, Ready Steady Go!?
It’s been phenomenal. Going in, it was a risk wondering if people were going to dig it because it was outside of the box. Especially when you consider what’s going on in the music world today. But I’ve been playing shows and doing in-stores where the record is selling so well that it has to be restocked. The thing that’s really cool is that I’ve got kids from 4 years old all the way to 54-year-old adults who are there just to hear the music. There are teenagers, boys, girls, kids who are into One Direction, System of a Down and even hip hop. It’s a universal sound and it’s exciting to be able to expose kids to this great music that they never knew existed.
What can you tell me about your recent trip to Washington, DC?
I work with the Creative Coalition. We’re advocates for funding for the National Endowment For the Arts. There’s a lot going on right now with cutting funding in schools and programs all over and we were there talking to Senators and Governors on Capitol Hill to encourage them to not cut funding for the arts. It’s pretty impossible to get them to add funds, but we’re trying our hardest to prevent them from cutting any more. We had a great group of artists and actors who came in and spoke really passionately and I think some people were moved. We made headway and it was an awesome experience.
Can you give me an update on your tour plans?
I’m going to be going to Mexico in June and then when we come back for the fall (when school comes back), I’m going to do a high school tour around the nation and bring a festival rock show to all of the kids who are dreading going back to school.
Drake Bell (Photo credit: Parker Steele)
Do you ever see yourself working again with Josh Peck and Miranda Cosgrove?
I would love to get “The Beatles” back together [laughs]. I’m always interested in working with Josh and Miranda and everyone else from the show. It was a great franchise and I’m always up for revisiting it. If everyone gets like-minded and it happens organically, that would be awesome.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since George Jones passed away. But a new tell-all biography by longtime friends Charlene and Peanutt Montgomery keeps Jones’ memory alive as well as sets the record straight on the country music icon’s life and career.
The Legend of GeorgeJones: His Life And Deathis a collection of stories that traces Jones’ early years, five marriages (including one to another legendary artist – Tammy Wynette) and a career unequaled in the world of country music. From his humble beginnings playing guitar and singing on the streets of Beaumont, Texas, to his ascension to the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Jones’ journey is told by the two people who knew him better than anyone.
George Jones was one of the most important and influential singers in music history and the voice behind many of country music’s most enduring hits, including “He Stopped Loving Her Today”, widely regarded as one of the greatest country singles of all time.
Peanutt Montgomery, co-author of the new book wrote 73 songs for George Jones and nine popular Jones / Montgomery hits are included on a CD that accompanies the book as well as two previously unreleased songs, newly recorded by some of country music’s top players.
Although Jones himself never got a chance to read the finished book, the story remains for fans young and old to enjoy. I spoke with Charlene and Peanutt about the book and their memories of George.
What made you decide to write a book about George’s life?
Charlene: I actually started writing the book about five years ago and knew even before then that I wanted to write one. In a way, I wrote it out of sympathy for George. A lot of bad publicity had come out about him over the years. People have this picture of George being a drunken musician and a bar room brawler, but that wasn’t George at all. And although I wont deny that he did do some rough stuff, there were so many good things he did during his life that people never really knew about. He had such a good heart and was so good to people.
The stories in the book really make you feel like you’re right there with George. What was the writing process like?
Charlene: I knew about George’s childhood almost as if I had lived it with him. Only because I had heard him tell me about it so many times. He would always talk about things like his mother cooking and how wonderful it smelled. Or how he really missed things like listening to the wind whistling through the tall pines in the big thickets.
A lot has been said over the years about George and Tammy Wynette’s marriage and their fights. Most of it tabloid fodder. Was a lot of their disputes over domestic issues?
Peanutt: Many of their fights had nothing to do with domestic issues. Sometimes, if Tammy would get a bigger royalty check or one of her songs went higher in the charts than George’s it would aggravate him [laughs]. Even though they were both making money together, he often didn’t look at it that way.
At what point do you remember seeing George at his lowest?
Charlene: The time he shot at Peanutt was probably the lowest I had ever seen him. At the time, he was terribly addicted to cocaine. All the years that we had spent with him, he suddenly became a man that we did not know. He got paranoid and didn’t know who to trust. He didn’t even trust himself.
Can you tell me about the time George first told you about “He Stopped Loving Her Today”?
Peanutt: One day George came by and asked me if I could help write on this song he had. Then he played me a demo tape of “He Stopped Loving Her Today”. I told him that I couldn’t write on that song without getting permission. Then he said, “Well, to me it doesn’t sound like it’s finished.” So the two of us went out to eat to talk about it some more and at the time he was so messed up that he was dropping food on the table and would even lap his food off the table like a dog. That’s when I knew I had to do something.
A few days later, I went down to the judge and told him that George was in danger of hurting someone or himself. The judge eventually had George committed for thirty days and I think that was the beginning of really helping him come out of his problems. But I’ll never forget those days when he would try to get me to help him write on that song. Looking back now, I probably should have called up Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman [“He Stopped Loving Her Today” songwriters] and asked to help them with it! [laughs].
Do you have a good story about what it was like writing a song with George Jones?
Peanutt: I remember one time George was up in New York for a week or so and when he came back he said to me, “Peanutt? Old George is gonna be a hard act to follow!” I said, “George, that’s a good title for a song!” At the time, George had a little concert piano in his living room. We both went in and started banging on it and wrote “A Hard Act To Follow”. That was the song on the b-side of “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.
What would you like people to remember most about George Jones?
Charlene: The thing that usually stands out is that George was a drinker, but he was also a common man who could relate to common people. I would like people to remember that George had a good heart.
Peanutt: I always put the spiritual world in with our lives. I claimed George Jones years ago and told him that he was going to be a Christian and was going to go to Heaven to be with God and all the rest of us one day. George would often question God, wondering how God could permit little children to be born crippled or people to grow old and be mistreated. I told him, “George, we don’t know the answers to all of that, but just believe in the Lord.”
There’s an old saying in psychology that says there’s something called a self-fulfilling prophecy. That if you say something over and over and believe it enough, it can come true. Be positive and look at the good side of life, even in the bad. I really believe that because I heard that on his death-bed, George accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Charlene: If there’s one thing that George Jones taught me that was of great value, it happened back in the 1960’s. He was mad at Jimmy Peppers, who was a songwriter he was working with. I remember he said, “I don’t ever want to speak to that boy again!! Our friendship’s over!!” Then a few weeks later I saw George laughing and cutting it up again with Jimmy Peppers. I took him off to the side and said “Hey, I thought you said you didn’t want to have nothing to do with Jimmy Peppers?” He said, “Well Charlene…you can’t ever hold a grudge!” So whenever I get into a situation like that, I always go back to the advice he gave me that day. It was way back when I first met George Jones, and I’ve never forgotten it.
For more information on The Legend of George Jones: His Life and DeathClick Here!
At only 18, drummer Kevin Smart has accomplished the unthinkable – sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in music including Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Fall Out Boy. Most recently, Kevin returned from his second national tour with Warner Bros recording artist Jake Miller. All while continuing to attend high school!
Kevin’s musical success story is one of how inspiration, networking and perseverance pays off. I had the chance to speak to him about his music and how he hooked up with Jake Miller. He also gives a good piece of advice to anyone wanting to make their own dreams come true.
Did you always know that was going to be your calling? What sparked your interest?
I was always more into sports (baseball, basketball, football), but then my dad bought me a drum kit when I was 8 and kept telling me to practice. I eventually discovered that the more I did, the more I liked it. I’ve been taking lessons since I was in 6th grade and once I got into high school started seriously getting into it more.
You also play bass guitar for The Stolen. How did that come about?
My friend had a band who needed a bassist. They knew that I was a drummer and that the bass was somewhat similar because it’s a rhythm instrument. They asked me to be in the band and I said “Sure!” I’ve been playing with them ever since.
Tell me how you got hooked up with Jake Miller.
I was actually friends with Jake’s tour manager. I remember Jake was playing shows around my local area and I said to my friend, “Hey man, I really want to play drums for Jake!” He told me that if I posted a video of me playing a drum cover on YouTube, he’d show it to Jake. So, around February of last year I put out the drum cover.
What happened next?
Jake came through town to play another show I attended and while I was there, he surprised me by asking me to come up on stage and play the song with him. I remember being a bit nervous because I hadn’t played the song in a while, but Jake really liked the sound of it live. A few months later, I got a text asking me if I’d like to go on tour. That’s how it all started.
How did you work out touring with going to school?
I got the invite in mid-April and went to my guidance counselor to tell him about the opportunity. He talked to the principals and superintendent and worked out a deal where I’d be able to go on tour as long as I did my school work and submitted it via email.
What was the reality like of being on tour for the first time?
It was insane at first. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to tour from the very first time I started my own band. Traveling around in a small van hauling a trailer and playing to smaller crowds. But going out on tour with Jake was a whole different level! He has a tour bus and performs sold out shows across the country. It was pretty surreal.
What was it like getting to share the stage with Ariana Grande?
It was incredible. I’ve always had a crush on Ariana, but when I met her it was pretty crazy. Never mind the fact that I was performing with her. It was very cool!
Kevin Smart (Photo by: Edgar Esteves)
What’s school like for you now?
I’m in my senior year now and things are starting to slow down with graduation coming up. I’m trying to gain all the knowledge that I can and plan to go to online college and manage that along with touring with Jake.
Do you have a bit of advice for others who want to follow their dream?
Hard work is the ultimate determining factor. Make as many friends as you can, don’t be closed-minded and just have fun. It’s a mix of everything but I’d say hard work is probably the biggest thing in determining whether or not you’re going to be successful, in whatever you decide to do.
For more on Kevin Smart check out his official website by Clicking Here! Follow Kevin Smart on Twitter: @PopPunkBro
Classic rock giants Foreigner may be responsible for some of rock’s most enduring anthems, with an arsenal of hits that include songs like “Cold As Ice” and “Juke Box Hero.” But on May 6th, the band will join forces with another legendary group, Styx to release the ultimate seasonal package— appropriately called “The Soundtrack of Summer”.
This new album collection features sixteen classic songs by both Foreigner and Styx as well as a brand new interpretation of one of classic rock’s most successful songs ever, “Hotel California”. Original songwriter and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder teams up with Foreigner and Styx for this very special collaboration as well as for a stunning new version of Foreigner’s massive hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is” (which will only be available as a limited edition vinyl disc and on iTunes).
The Soundtrack of Summer album will also coincide with a highly anticipated tour of the same name – featuring Foreigner and Styx with special guest Felder as the opening act!
I spoke with Foreigner guitarist and mult-instrumentalist Tom Gimbel about the Soundtrack of Summer, his early years touring with Aerosmith and how he got hooked up with Mick Jones and Foreigner!
What started this tour project idea and album?
Sometimes, management teams brainstorm about which combination of bands would work best during the summer. This one makes perfect sense – Foreigner, Styx and The Eagles [Don Felder] all go together so well. It’s something we like to call “traditional” rock music. Once we all decided that we were going to tour we thought, why not do a little bit of recording together to have something that would set the tone.
Tom Gimbel (Photo: Patrick Hughes)
Tell me a little about the new version of Hotel California and the recording process.
The idea was to have each band involved on the song give their own little segment and then have everyone harmonize together. It’s all one big musical family. We were able to recreate so much by using a lot of the modern techniques of recording. Not having to wait for the tape to rewind was a really cool advantage! [laughs].
What are some of your own best summer memories?
When I was growing up I was a big fan of The Who. I remember listening to Quadrophenia and albums like that and just thinking “Wow! This is the kind of rock music that I want to get involved with!” Hearing it now really take me back to memories of being a kid. It was such a cool era of music.
Tell me a little about your days at Berklee College of Music.
When I went to Berklee it was primarily a jazz school. So it was a little too late for me to start learning jazz guitar. But I was more than happy to stay a rock guitarist while I was there and instead played the flute and saxophone. One of the things I learned while I was there was that if you wanted to get really good on your instrument, you had to spend a lot of hours practicing.
How did you get hooked up with Aerosmith?
While I was in Boston going to Berklee I was also performing in bands and hooked up with a guy named John Butcher. We made a few records on Capitol together and a lot of the people we worked with knew the guys in Aerosmith. That’s how I was recommended. It was a completely different world back in those days because someone had to actually give you their phone number. There was no Facebook or Internet back then.
Tell me how you got the gig with Foreigner.
That was another situation where someone recommended me. Kevin Williamson was a guy who worked at Atlantic Records and he was playing golf with Ricky Phillips, the bassist for Styx. Ricky’s a friend of mine and while the two of them were playing Kevin mentioned that Foreigner had an odd situation. They were in need of a guitar player who also played sax. That’s when Ricky said, “Hey, I know a guy who does that!” and he gave him my number. A few days later, Mick’s brother Kevin called me up and said “Let’s talk about Foreigner”; and I said “Yeah, let’s talk!” [laughs]! Playing guitar and sax was my dream come true.
Tom Gimbel & Mick Jones (Foreigner)
Has there been any thought given on another new Foreigner album?
We did an album of all new material back in 2010 called “Can’t Slow Down”. Mick continues to write and is always collaborating with different people. I’m sure at some point there will be some new material. I’m not sure if it will be a whole album though. Maybe a two or three song package. We’ll have to wait and see but there will definitely be some new music.
You’ve been with the band for more than twenty years. What’s the experience like?
It’s been marvelous every step of the way. It’s a real pleasure to work with every one of these guys. This is one of those bands where everyone really respects and admires each others musicianship. We have monsters on every instrument. Mick sets a great example as our leader. He sets the tone. I look forward to playing with these guys every night.
Since bursting onto the scene with his debut smash ‘Ledbetter Heights’, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd has sold millions of records, received five Grammy nominations and scored six #1 blues albums, including his acclaimed CD/documentary project ‘10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads’. In 2010, Shepherd even had the rare opportunity of playing the same Fender Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix most notably made famous during his performance at the Woodstock Festival in August of 1969.
For Shepherd’s new album, “Goin’ Home” (Release date: May 20th) we find the blues wizard returning to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to revisit a dozen vintage blues classics. Songs that first ignited Shepherd’s passion for guitar as well as his desire to make music his life. Shepherd’s guitar prowess brilliantly shines through on songs originally popularized by such Blues icons as B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.
In addition to contributions by Shepherd’s electrifying band, which consists of singer Noah Hunt, ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton, former Firm bassist Tony Franklin and keyboardist Riley Osbourn; Goin’ Home also features performances by Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes as well as Shepherd’s longtime friend, Ringo Starr.
I spoke with Shepherd about the new album and what he loved most about goin’ home.
What made you decide to do a record like this?
Over the course of my career I’ve always tried to give a special nod to my Blues roots. Projects like ‘Ten Days Out’ and even my ‘Live! in Chicago’ record where we had Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eye” Smith playing on them were all about me showing my love and appreciation for the Blues. The whole point of ‘Goin’ Home’ was me returning to my musical roots. Listening to and playing the music by the artists that inspired me and made me want to play guitar. Literally going back to my hometown where I first heard all of this music and making a record there. It was a musical homecoming for me and one of the most enjoyable studio experiences I’ve ever had.
Tell me a little bit about the way you recorded the album.
For this album, I really wanted to do it old school. We didn’t have anyone sit isolated in booths. Everyone sat in a big room in the studio and we did it together. There were even times when the guitar amp would bleed over into the drum mics and the drums would come through on the vocal mic, but that’s the way they did it back in the day. We did everything the old-fashioned way in order to maintain a level of authenticity to the music.
What was your criteria for choosing songs?
I wanted to be sure that we didn’t make an album full of songs that have already been recorded a million times. In fact, the most mainstream song on the entire record is the Albert King song “Born Under A Bad Sign”. From a lyrical perspective, I also wanted the lyrics to sound relevant and current. The grooves and musical structure was important as well. I really wanted to choose songs where you would have to dig deeper into these artist’s catalogs in order to find. Hopefully, that will inspire the people who listen to the album to do a little digging of their own.
Did you try to stay true to the original versions of the songs when you recorded them?
We wanted to keep the spirit and intention of the original versions but also took a few creative liberties to add a little bit of our own personality. The sounds in the song ‘Palace Of The King’ are very similar to the original whereas Muddy Waters’ song ‘Still a Fool’ is the one we ventured the furthest from the original on. We really electrified it and took it in more of a Blues Rock direction.
There’s no shortage of special guests on this album (Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes).What was it like working with them on this project?
It worked out really well. Everyone who played on this record is a friend of mine. They’re all huge fans of the Blues and each one of them really contributed something significant. They took the songs to a whole other level.
What inspired you to pick up the guitar?
I’ve always been drawn to the guitar from as far back as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I met Stevie Rae Vaughan for the first time that everything changed. I remember he sat me up on an amp case and I got to watch him play his entire show from the side of the stage. Watching him perform is what really motivated me. I saw him and it made me want to play with that same passion and intensity.
(Photo by: Mark Seliger)
A few years ago you had the opportunity to play Jimi Hendrix’s “Woodstock Strat”. What was that experience like?
It was amazing. Every guitar player on the planet would die to get their hands on that guitar even for just a minute. It’s one of the most iconic guitars ever made and it was an honor and a pleasure getting to have that opportunity. The guitar itself had tons of vibe. It was just incredible.
What advice would you give to up and coming guitarists?
Ultimately, practice is the best thing but in my opinion the best practice you can get is by playing on a stage with other human beings. Sitting around your house playing along to records is great but it can only take you so far. It’s a whole different story when you can get on a stage and interact with other musicians. Even if you don’t have a band, just put yourself out there. Go find a local open mic night or a blues jam and play with other people. It will really take your playing to a whole new level.
What makes the blues so special?
To me, it’s the honesty and self-expression of the music. It comes from a very organic place and is something that everyone can relate to. It’s not always about how flashy you can be or how fast you can play or how odd or unexpected the arrangements are. It’s really all about playing the right notes at the right time and trying to touch someone’s soul. It’s real salt of the Earth music that crosses all boundaries. That’s what makes it so special.
Framing Hanley’s new album, The Sum of Who We Are, is an inspired collection of modern alternative rock infused with inescapable pop hooks.
Funded entirely by the band’s loyal fan base via a Kickstarter campaign, the new album also is the band’s boldest artistic statement to date. From the anthemic “Criminal” (Hear it below) to songs like “Twisted Halos,” “Crooked Smiles” and “Crash & Burn,” the album takes the listener on a journey of struggle and triumph, weaving those feelings into every track.
Framing Hanley consists of Kenneth Nixon (vocals), Brandon Wootten (guitar), Ryan Belcher (guitar) and Chris Vest (drums).
I recently spoke to guitarists Wootten and Belcher about the new album and more.
GUITAR WORLD: It’s been four years since Framing Hanley released a new album. Why the long wait?
Belcher: It wasn’t something we expected. After our last album came out in 2010, we went through a lineup change and a few other things. But we’ve always been writing, recording and going out on the road. It’s an incredible feeling to now be able to put out an album we’re all proud of after all of this time.
Wootten: The long wait wasn’t the plan. We had a change of label and management, and with that came a little down period. We actually started recording the record in August 2012, but being the perfectionists we are, we kept writing and demoing tracks until we had the best record we could release.
Read The Rest of my Guitar World Interview
With Brandon Wootten & Ryan Belcher by Clicking Here!
In his new autobiography, Honestly: My Life And Stryper Revealed, guitarist Michael Sweet bares his soul. Within its pages, the Stryper frontman details everything from his humble upbringing and troubles with the law to the rise, fall and rebirth of Stryper.
From the creation of the signature Stryper guitar sound to his stint touring with Boston and the tragic loss of his beloved wife Kyle, Sweet spares no expense when looking back on his life as husband, father, bandmate and Christian.
Honestly is more than just a biography or reflection of old road stories. It’s a spiritual journey and heartfelt look into the mind of one of the most recognizable voices in rock and a true guitar great.
Sweet also is about to release a new solo album, I’m Not Your Suicide, which gives him the opportunity to showcase a different side of his musical persona. The impressive disc combines hard rock and metal messages (“Taking On The World Tonight,” “I’m Not Your Suicide”), elements of classic rock (a cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”) and country (“Coming Home”).
I recently spoke to Sweet about his autobiography and album, both of which will be released May 6, and his other upcoming projects.
GUITAR WORLD: What made you decide to write a book at this stage of your life?
I had a lot to say and also felt the need to do it in terms of it being therapeutic and healing for me. People have also had lots of question marks over the years and wanted to know things. I thought the best thing to do would be to deal with all of it in a book and tell everyone the story.
Check out the rest of my Guitar World Interview
With Michael Sweet by Clicking Here!
It’s been more than twenty years since the four original members of Madam X performed on stage together and thirty years since their debut album, “We Reserve The Right” was released. That’s a literal lifetime for metal head fans like me.
And even though they’ve individually gone on to other successful projects over the years; guitarist Maxine Petrucci, drummer Roxy Petrucci, vocalist Bret Kaiser and bassist Chris Doliber still occasionally entertained the idea of doing something new for diehard Madam X fans. But for whatever the reason, the timing just wasn’t right and the stars never seemed to align.
Until now.
Madam X will soon release a brand new single: “Another 80’s Rock Song (The Party Never Ends)”. Recorded at Metro 37 Studios and co-produced by Kevin Sharp the new single (written by Chris “Godzilla” Doliber and Greg Stryker) is an anthemic stadium rocker and marks the first time the classic line-up of Madam X has reunited since 1992!
In addition to the new song, Madam X has planned a full-fledged reunion show which will take place on May 4th at The Diesel Concert Lounge in Chesterfield, MI. From there, they’ll embark on a trip overseas to perform at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival!
While they haven’t committed to anything long term beyond Sweden, the band does acknowledge it has a few more surprises in store, but fans will just have to wait and see. In the meantime, it doesn’t get much better than experiencing new music from one of the best bands to come out of the 80’s. Welcome back Madam X!
I spoke to the band about their new single, reunion shows and what excites them the most about the return of Madam X.
I suppose the first question to ask is what sparked the Madam X reunion?
Roxy Petrucci: I was performing at Firefest in England last year and during a meet and greet session I noticed a lot of Madam X stuff coming across the table: records, pictures, things from European magazines. It was a nice surprise to see that the Madam X fans were still there. So when I came back home, I asked Max about the possibility of releasing a new single for the fans. We called up the guys and discovered that they were both on board with it too!
Maxine Petrucci: Our original intention was to release something new just for the fans. We never had any intention of playing live. But once we posted about our plans for a new single, it started leading to more things – including an invitation to perform at the Sweden Rock Festival!
Bret Kaiser: Everyone thought the idea for a new single was a great one, so we started putting our heads together. That’s when Chris came up with this song that’s going to be a huge!
Madam X (l to r): Chris Doliber, Maxine Petrucci, Bret Kaiser, Roxy Petrucci
What can you tell me about the new single, “Another 80’s Rock Song (The Party Never Ends)”?
Chris Doliber: I‘ve always been writing and have years of music stuck in my head and my heart I knew I had a purpose for. It’s a song about loving the 80’s and about not going out without kicking and screaming. It’s definitely a Madam X style song. Bret recorded his vocals at The Salt Mine studio in Mesa, AZ and we got Ted Jenson from Sterling Sound in New York to do the mastering. It’s a great big stadium anthem and a song that the audience can chant back. I feel it’s the best thing I’ve ever written.
2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the band’s ‘We Reserve The Right’ album. Looking back now, what thoughts come to mind?
Bret Kaiser: We were ahead of the curve. We all had it in our minds that we were going to go to LA and get a record deal. And after all of the hard work we did traveling back and forth from the east coast to the west, playing six nights a week and sometimes as many as four sets a night – we did it!
Maxine Petrucci: I think we were rushed when we recorded that album. At the time, our record label [Jet Records] had so much control over us that we often felt we were hurried along just to get it done. We didn’t really have closure with it.
What’s the origin of the song, “We Reserve The Right”?
Chris Doliber: Back when we were recording the album, we used to go to this little Asian restaurant. There was a sign hanging in the window that said “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” One day I went in and there was this little oriental lady who refused to serve me just because of the kind of shirt I was wearing. When I asked her why, she said “We reserve the right to refuse!” I remember going back to rehearsal and in my frustration just started playing and singing the line that eventually turned into the song.
Why do you believe there’s been such a resurgence of great bands from the 80’s?
Maxine Petrucci: I think people are a little tired of the dark sounding, fabricated music that’s out now. They want the fun time from the 80’s back, which was more about partying and having fun. People can relate to that and that’s what those bands recapture.
Roxy Petrucci: The shows and the music stand the test of time. For many years the question was always, “Where’s the rock and roll?” or “Where’s the entertainment factor?” People really missed that. So whether the radio wants to play it or not, rock and roll will never die. There will always be a demand. People want to go to a show and hear great music and that’s really what it’s all about.
Chris Doliber: Everything comes full circle. Our demographic may have evolved and grown up but now they’re able to take advantage of being an adult to satisfy their quest of reliving their youth.
Brett Kaiser: The music is like a time machine that brings you back to a time when you didn’t have to worry about things like paying bills or picking up the kids from school. People naturally feel at ease with that. You never forget that feeling. It may lay dormant for a while but once you get hit with the rock and roll disease, you never lose it!
What are you most looking forward to about this Madam X reunion?
Chris Doliber: For the last decade, we would occasionally get calls asking us to play, but in every case we weren’t all on the same page. For whatever reason, all of the stars are now aligned. I’m very excited about playing with my friends again. This show is not only for the fans, it’s just as much for us.
Roxy Petrucci: I love playing with Maxine. We’ve been playing together for so many years and have a natural bond. Whenever we get in a room, there’s just a feel that we both have together.
Maxine Petrucci: The passion that everyone has for this project is incredible so we’re going to go along for the ride and see where it goes. No matter what happens, it’s going to be awesome closure.
Bret Kaiser: This whole experience has been uplifting for me and given me a whole new outlook. Even though we took an extended hibernation, we’ve never lost our stride. We just click together so well. Of course, it won’t be the same hair reaching up to the sky but who knows, maybe it will! It’s like I’ve always said: The higher the hair, the closer to God!
Will there be more Madam X stories to tell when you return from Sweden?
Roxy Petrucci: There will always be Madam X stories. Some of the good ones though are saved in the vault and we still have more to write. Right now, we’re just going to enjoy being on stage together and taking things a day at a time. “X” marks the spot!
For more on Madam X be sure to check out their Facebook page by Clicking Here!
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