Interview with James Vegas of Armada

Armada’s recent release Of An Ocean, is fitting of their band name, which is a group of ships.  With James Vegas on vocals, TeeJay Velorian and Ryan Danaley on guitars, Mike Ferrell on bass and Josh Lough on drums, this seasoned supergroup of professional musicians sailed through the music industry and popped the spinnaker of metalcore.  Band members were called to duty from previous bands, including Lennon, Modern Day Escape, I Woke Up Early For My Funeral, Lit Up and Pilot The Machine, and the culmination is this Orlando area band at the helm of the entertainment industry, having been heard on shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Real World VS. Road Rules, and Bad Girls Club to WWE “Perfection,” rewriting Dolph Ziggler Season 3 Monday Night Raw and Jimmy Kimmel Live Battle of the Bands.

Author Marisa Williams:  It has been said that this band is about rebellion, pushing back, taking chances, going against the grain, and pulling for the underdog with positive messages.  You believe in standing up against corporate greed, overcoming anxiety and problems of the past, while rebuilding better futures.  What led to you taking such a stance on life issues?

A:  To take a stance like that, I struggle with anxiety a lot.  That in itself is a battle on its own, that mixed with an industry full of shady people.  I was previously in a band that was semi-successful.  We went through a lot of rough times in the industry, due to people in the industry.  We want to bring it to a more serious level.  We want listeners to take a stance.  Don’t give up and give in.  We push the message of strength.

Marisa:  Upon listening to the latest album, I was curious if anyone in the band was into like maybe Anti-Flag or Pennywise.

A:  One guitarist, TeeJay, who is like a 7 foot 9 massive beast man, he’s really into punk rock style.  There’s lot of punk rock influenced guitar riffs and drumming.  I guess the only punk rock I was into was only Rancid, but that’s not really extreme punk, so yes and no. 

Marisa:  How did you get started in music?  Did you come from a musical family?  What were your early musical influences?

A:  No, I did not come from a musical family, but yes.  No, because nobody in my family played, besides my grandfather.  He had played trumpet for the President once.  But yes, because my mom managed bands from the 90s and 80s.  I was growing up as a kid in all the clubs, line Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode scenes.  My mom would stick me at the bar with a Shirley Temple while the bands sound checked, so that influenced me a little.

Marisa:  What instruments do you play, and how old were you when you learned to play them?

A:  I can play guitar.  I was 13, and I only picked it up because my friend was playing guitar.  We wanted to be like Counting Crows and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.  We started a two-guitar band for his dad’s friends who would drink beer.  We played on acoustic guitar.  I wasn’t as good, so I would play bass; I was terrible.  I also play harmonica, and I picked that up when I was probably like in diapers.  I still kinda play.  I dreamed of being super fat like the dude from Blues Travelers.  They’re amazing.  I always wanted to be overweight and play harmonica.

Marisa:  What was your first concert that you attended, and how did that compare to the first concert that you played?

A:  My first concert, I went to two, but I don’t remember which was first.  One of the two was Matchbox 20 at the Central Florida Fair.  I think I was 13, and then the next was later, but I always claim it.  My dad took me to see Gwar when I was 15 at the House of Blues in downtown Disney in Orlando.  I wore white to the show, which means you’re a virgin or first timer.  I have never gotten sprayed in the face with so much fake semen and blood in my life.  Compared to my first show, there’s no comparison.  I didn’t even finish half the lyrics.  I sang two and a half songs, then I calmly walked off stage and let the band finish the show.  I’d rather take a rubber dick to the face than play that show again.

Marisa:  What was the first album you purchased?

A:  First record ever owned, there’s like three.  I can’t remember, but going to say before CD’s, I’m dating myself, had cassette tape; ever see that show Blossom?  Joey Lawrence.  I had his cassette tape.  My sister and I would listen to it 24/7.  I couldn’t name a song today, but we would travel across country, and my sister would play INXS Shabooh Shoobah and Joey Lawrence.  We would sit in back seat, chug candy and sing our guts out.  Our parents hated it, but we were hella poor, and we had to share one headset, so we broke it and shared it and rocked out.

Marisa:  How do you go about writing music?  What comes first for you: drums, guitars, vocals or something else?  Has the process of writing changed for you over the years at all?

A:  Yes, the process of writing has changed drastically.  Each band has its own unique way of doing things.  In this one, TJ writes 70-80 percent of the music, and my cousin (Don) is the producer, and I do all the rest.  Usually, TJ writes music and sends it to us, and I start writing vocals, scratch track vocals, then go to Cleveland, Lava Studio in the Agora Ballroom.  I fly out and have been going there since 2008, go out every other year and do a record.  Don Debaise.  Like Ted, the Million Dollar Man, his third uncle, my fifth uncle or something like that.  We’ve got wrestling blood in the family, so we’re closely knit to WWE.  We flew out there, rewriting Dolph Ziggler’s theme song “Perfection.”  Very closely knit with that world.  I’ve been solicited by other female wrestlers and had to run away, being so heavily tattooed, looking like Ben Affleck and Jimmy Fallon had a baby in tattoos. Music process is completely different.  With previous projects, we’d sit in a room and write, but not with this one.  We don’t see each other unless doing a show or before; we are doing everything over email now.  I’d rather sit in a room and hang out and write, but I’d rather not, because we have different personalities that clash, so being together, we are very different people, leading different lives.  My bass player and guitarist got married and have a kid; whereas, the drummer and I drink, and the guitarist plays.

Marisa:  What is your favorite musical technique?

A:  For being a vocalist, I’d say falsetto to head voice.  It’s a really cool technique.  I’ve worked on it since I was a kid.  It’s not the easiest thing to do, going from singing voice to head voice.  The singer from Def Leppard does mostly falsetto, and the guy from Maroon Five, he does it a lot.  When he sings all high, that’s not his actual voice; it’s a really cool technique.  In recording, we’re doing a post production, which is really cool.  I think that’s post or over production; I listen to my cousin add ‘er on.  “Oh, that’s awesome,” all the layering and backtracking, creating a big hammy sandwich for the ears to take a bite out of.

Marisa:  What's the coolest musical technique in your latest project, or what is something people might not expect?

A:  I don’t know if anyone is actually expecting anything.  There was a lot of anticipation prior, because my last band was well known.  It’s us trying to tell people to listen rather than just listening.  As for technique, I do enjoy that we throw in that punk rock aspect Djent.  It’s like metal Djent and punk rock mix, so many influences, and the band makes that stand out musically. Vocally, I just go with it.

Marisa:  What is the scariest thing about being on the road?

A:  Neptune’s Lounge, Sarasota Sept. 17^th. Hitting deer.  I hit a deer going 80 in Texas.  We were on the side of a mountain, and we almost wrecked.  Muggers or people who try to rob you.  I had to run full force from two guys trying to rob me in St. Louis, almost got stabbed.  Blowing a tire in the middle of the night, wild life… blowing a tire, muggers and heroin needles on the side of the road.  I stepped out of the van barefoot, and I went and opened the doors, but something in my mind said put flip flops on.  Ok small voice, I will listen to you this time.  I stepped on heroin needle that was bent, and it stuck in my flipflop.  Bovine or deer animals, or truck drivers that fall asleep.  Had friends on tour get vehicles wrecked.  Weather, ice, heavy rains, rock slides.  We had rocks hit the van, and it dented door completely in.  Everything is dangerous on the road; it’s a scary place, rough life.  Go to Walmart to wash.  If you’ve gone gold and are on the radio, sold more than 100,000 records, life gets easier, but until then, being on a tour bus is like a filthy pirate.  You contract diseases that are not in the handbook, clothes smell, there’s fermentation downstairs, bad news.  It takes a special person to be a filthy rat running around, wake up in a dumpster and not caring anymore.

Marisa:  Best or worst tour moment?

A:  I literally lived Motley Crue’s heroin diaries without the drugs or the sex, just excitement.  One time, playing with Modern Day Escape, we played with DR. Acula, from the Bronx, a hardcore metal band, but half were in some kind of gang.  We were playing a legendary venue, but playing the basement.  Trivium would play like the middle floor, and Blake Shelton would play up top.  We always sell out, because we play the basement.  Anyhow, a rival gang of this band showed up, and it’s a sold out show in 2012 on the  Under the Gun tour.  The rival gang breaks out in mosh pit fight.  Kids are getting power bombed through merch table, there’s people stealing merch, getting hit with glass bottles, security dragging people upstairs.  We stopped playing, because shit’s flying at us; the merch table hit the guitarist or something.  We’re trying to figure out what’s going down, as it’s a riot, bricks are flying at people, and the police come in on horses, trying to break it up.  My decision is just great, break high life, so I sit on top of trailer and watched whole thing.  Prime target for brick, but nobody paid any mind to me, so I just sat drinking, watching people get tazzed and kicked by horses.  One of the greatest moments.  Lowest, most depressing, was the first tour, in Four Points, where four states connected, like where Indians are still a thing.  They’re making baskets, and when they see buffalos, they’re throwing spears.  We had an ‘84 Winnebago that took a shit, and we had no cell phones at this time.  Only one of us had one, but there was no signal.  We had to walk 15 miles to get a signal, and we had to get a semi truck to get the Winnebago to Liberal, KS, where the story Wizard of Oz is based from.  This is the only thing the town has to offer, a small museum to Wizard of Oz.  So, we got towed there, and it was $800 to fix it, but we only  had $40 to our name.  We basically moved there for a week, and it just so happened that one of the band members dated a former lesbian who dated a lesbian stripper, that was basically the main stripper in town.  We stayed with her for seven days, only to throw a show at the end of the seven days.  The entire town population is like 500, and about 350 people came out to the show, with the proceeds going to pay for the only towing service, so we could leave and go home.  Drive with our tails tucked between legs back to FL.  I smoked cigarettes at the time, and our drummer was bisexual, so his boyfriend gave us cigarettes or some shit.  I just remember smoking and staring at tumbleweeds and dirt.  That was the lowest part of life as a touring musician.  I have some of the most insane stories.  Have about 30 more wild stories.  People ask how I’m still alive.  I may have died and am just living in the residual image of what my mind perceived.  I tell people, and they say, “are you fucking with me?” There was a stripper shoving a snake down a band member’s pants that she pulled from her ottoman; he jumped out of the window, because he said the bushes looked soft and broke shoulder.  Lots of alcohol: live fast, drink young.  I don’t get to tell them too often.  People might like me more.

Marisa:  What's your favorite way to travel and why?

A:  By tour bus.  To be honest with you, I love getting in the bus, hearing the engine growl and rumble.  The bus sways just a little bit.  I always think I don’t sleep, but I sleep like a baby.  I hate airplanes, never traveled by boat, lived in Las Vegas and CA, then FL.  I’ve been on one jet ski, maybe two boats, subway once, and the tram at Disney.  I’ve surrounded myself with a lot of poor people.  All my friends are scumbags, nobody can afford boats.  I’d probably want to launch it into a bunch of people, so I’m ready for it. 

Marisa:  What's your favorite place to travel to, and is there anywhere you have not been to that you would like to go to?

A:  I’ve only traveled, traversed Canada, Mexico, and US.  I’ve lived in CA for a few years, loved the weather, beautiful ladies, love Seattle grunge.  You can tell grunge is still a thing there.  Magic is real, as are witches, trolls, and all.  My favorite is the tour bus.

Marisa:  What's your biggest musical fantasy?

A:  The F word is a strange word; it doesn’t get thrown out very often.  I would like to hang out in a room with David Bowie, Bert McCracken from the Used, Freddie Mercury, Michael Hutchence from INXS, maybe Adam Lazzara from Taking Back Sunday, hang out in a small green room, eat a deli tray, cookies.  In my fantasy, I smoke cigarettes while talking to all of them, see where they’re all coming from, see what they think of the universe and love and life, pick their brains.  That’d be cool.  Then have a nice hot bath after and let it all sink in.  Get up in that hotel, that clean tub, get bubble bath on, get my feetsies, turn lights low and think about everything.  I’m not talking no little feetsies, as I wear size 12 shoe.  I want French fries so bad right now.  All I want is eat pizza, French fries, children foods are my comfort food; I’m down for hamburgers and French fries and pizza. 

Marisa:  I have three personality questions that I ask everyone.  They might sound like hogwash, but I promise, there is a psychological basis to the answers ;-)  First, if you were an unicorn, and you could be any color but white, what color would you be and would you have any special powers?

A:  Wouldn’t be a unicorn.  I’d be like a wolf.  Like the nothing from the Never Ending Story, except I wouldn’t be stabbed by a little white boy or Indian child, whatever it was.  My powers would be the ability to sass mouth people really well, pretend bully people, sassy.  In my mind, I’m Biff from Back to the Future.  I wouldn’t be a unicorn, I’d be a wolf and sarcastically harass everyone, play tricks and disappear. 

Marisa:  If you were yogurt, what flavor would you be (feel free to be creative, as this does not have to be a traditional flavor) and how would you be served?

A:  Sassingly, jokingly answer, orange chicken flavor yogurt; I’d be served gently, in a bowl, gently served to you. 

Marisa:  Describe yourself as either a dog, a cat or a cartoon.

A:  Definitely not a dog, nor a cat.  I don’t want pets.  I have them, but I don’t want them.  A cartoon character, and I’m trying to think, as there’s so many racing.  Amazing Spiderman cartoon for personality: he knows he’s better than everyone but has to be a team player, mocks everyone.  Physically, trying to think, I’m not a small guy, but not big, like a medium guy.  Stan Smith from American Dad.  If Stan Smith and the Amazing Spiderman had a baby, mixed with the Jeice from Dragonball Z.  At times, I do come across as an elitest.  Bad trait quality.

Marisa:  Do you collect anything?

A:  Yes, I like to collect mugs, coffee mugs, like goofy or nerdy or movie memorabilia, Harry Potter, Back to the Future, random troll shaped, skeleton, cups and mugs I really have a thing for.

Marisa:  What's your biggest guilty pleasure?

A:  I don’t feel bad about 90 percent of what I do.  I like to watch Netflix and Animae.  I like to drink beer and watch wrestling like WWE; that might be a guilty pleasure.  My cousin, every year we do Royal Rumble parties.  Wrestling is soap operas for guys.  Never imagined feuds for universal belts, like Seth Owens feuding, would be as good as it is.  I have a tattoo of the Ultimate Warrior on my thigh. 

Marisa:  Do you have any hidden talents or special skills?

A:  They’re all twisted.  I can tuck all my junk inside myself and make it look like there’s nothing there at all; it’s kinda messed up.  The only other talent than that, wouldn’t really consider a talent, but I can take my weiner, and push into my bunghole.

Marisa:  What's the most important thing to remember?

A:  Who you are and what you’re about. 

Marisa:  What was your most influential moment?

A:  There’s never really been a direct moment, but a trickle of living life that influences me.  Every other year, adapt and change who I am to be a better me, so it’s an ever flowing process.  There’s never really been one defining moment.  I’ve had epiphanies, but it’s realizing that I’m a dumbass and need to stop being a dumbass, then pushing to a new level.

Marisa:  If you were not doing music, what would you be doing?

A:  Probably gaining weight, living in parent’s spare bedroom, playing World of Warcraft for days on end.  Music is my excuse to not work a fulltime job, so I’m going to keep riding this train as long as I can.

Marisa:  What are three things you must have with you when you are on the road?

A:  Cell phone, my backpack, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.  Backpack has everything else in it.  Toothpaste and toothbrush is usually inside my backpack, so clean underwear.  Baby wipes are a big one. 

Marisa:  How did you acquire your sponsors, and what do you look for when searching for new sponsors?

A:  Schecter Guitars, Black Craft Cult, In-Tune Guitar Picks for Armada.  We look for quality when it comes to any kind of music equipment, things in the tone level of what we like, quality of symbols.  There are some former sponsors we will go back after.  It’s hard getting sponsors unless you’re playing half the month out consistently.  Usually, we will send out our EPK, a highlight sheet of what’s going on, ask what their endorsement stuff is, write an email, and they will send you back a response.  A lot of sponsors will help bands.  We’ll get there.  I’m not worried about it.  We’re all adults with jobs, not looking for a free ride just yet, just acknowledge we exist and enjoy us.

Marisa:  Any advice for musicians starting out?

A:  Yes, don’t trust anybody.  If someone can’t put it in writing, then they’re probably full of shit, beware, you’re stepping into an oversaturated industry, always wear a condom, keep your friends close and keep your backpack closer, and if you’re not going to put everything into it, don’t bother putting anything into it at all.

Marisa:  Where can people find your music?

A:  www.facebook.com/hailarmada, www.armadaofficialmerch.bigcartel.com, https://itun.es/us/YAbgeb, www.instagram.com/officialarmada  

Marisa:  Closing thoughts and additional comments?

A:  Next month, we are shooting an official music video, we have an animated video coming out in October. 

The author of more than 100 books, Marisa Williams earned her Master's in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University; for more on Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz and www.twitter.com/booksnbling.  

Florida International Airshow: Flying with the Golden Knights

Being the only girl on the Army plane, soaring up to 12,500 feet, I was privileged to watch the Golden Knights prepare to descend towards the crowd of the Florida International Airshow in  Punta Gorda.  Pulling on their suits, strapping smoke cartridges to their ankles, the guys explained how they use their digital altitude meter on their wrists, and another meter with a needle, which shows when they are in the white, yellow or red when falling towards the earth.  They alternated from joking to almost somber, and showed me how to do their handshake, which is more of a sliding hand slap, followed by a fist bump.

“The first trick we do is a baton pass, which is unique to the Golden Knights,” said sergeant first class Justin Little, 35, from Texas. The display of parachutists culminates with a diamond pattern jump comprised of four jumpers simultaneously free falling.

Dan Buchanan, a paraplegic hang glider that was featured in the air show, said “I’ve done a few tandem jumps with the team, and it gets cold up there that high in the air. Not only do they have the doors of the plane open for the jumpers, but the temperature gets cooler the higher you go up.”

75-year-old pilot Gary "Psycho" Ward poses with Rebecca and her daughter, Alex Oates and his stepfather, and paraplegic hang glider Dan Buchanan

I was lucky enough to talk with Buchanan at Hurricane Charley’s in Punta Gorda the night before I was able to fly along with the Golden Knights, as he advised me to bring a sweatshirt or something with long sleeves.  Even with a my heavy hoodie, my toes got cold through my shoes and socks, and my hands were freezing.  The Golden Knights were generous enough to offer me some gloves when they noticed me rubbing my hands together to try to keep them warm.

On Friday night, the first day of the airshow, Buchanan had fireworks blazing from his hang glider, illuminating the sky. Saturday and Sunday, he had a trail of smoke following behind him, complete with balloons raising up. The smoke trails are very similar to the smoke use by the Golden Knights, as they also had a trail of sparkler-like fireworks as they fell towards the earth.  The difference is that the parachutists strap the pyrotechnics smoke, which is comprised of two canisters, to their ankles, and Buchanan had the smoke affixed to his hang glider.

In order to become part of the Arm’s elite Golden Knights team, there is a vigorous assessment selection process that is two months long.  “You earn a spot on the team,” explained Sergeant first class Cory Rush from Indiana, who recently joined this team of elite jumpers.

“After my first skydive, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life, and I found out about the Army’s Golden Knights,” said Rush, who has been in the military for 13 years and was previously stationed in Germany.

The daredevil activity does cause injury, as Rush well knows after tearing a tendon in his ankle in February. “Stress can cause issues, so relax and do the best that you can.”

Doing tandem stunts as well as free falling from 12,600 feet, the jumpers learn to communicate without talking, as they cannot hear each other when falling from the sky.  Even on the plane, it is easier to use hand signals, especially since most have earplugs in to drown out the loud sounds of the plane and the rush of air from the open doors of the plane.  Rush said the best part, “is camaraderie with the team. It’s a difficult selection process for the team, and it’s a very tight-knit family.”         

“It’s neat to see the transition of their thought process of jumping. One minute, they will be jovial and joking, and in a flash, they will be very serious with no talking,” said Buchanan on Saturday.  On Sunday, I was able to see for myself what he had described.  Before take off, the guys are inspected for safety, making sure they are okay to jump, then they gather in a huddle, heads down in somber seriousness, then they explode in a cheer.

It’s business first, as they ensure things are where they need to be, that everyone who is riding along, such as myself, is strapped in according to their satisfaction.  Cameras and cell phones are also strapped in, to ensure equipment does not go flying out of the open doors of the plane.  As they are taking off, the guys turn and each make sure each other’s pack is strapped up safely, then they explode into a quick chant and cheer as the plane leaves the ground.

The view from the open door is much like looking out the window of any other plane taking off, but what is different is that these daredevils stick their heads and other body parts out of the open door.  They encourage us to stick out a hand to see what it is like, ensuring that we are strapped in tightly, even though they walk around the plane like it is on land, not fearing the open door or the tiny specks of land below – probably because they are wearing parachutes.  The houses get smaller, and the Gulf of Mexico looks like a pretty blue splash from that high.

As the plane rises higher, and the temperature gets colder, the Golden Knights stick their heads out the open door and scout their mark to land.  To test the winds, they drop a series of gold and black ribbons out the door, watching to see where they land, so they know how to compensate for any wind speeds.  SSG Kevin Severin, 33, of Arizona, makes notes of the locations, and he spots for each of the jumpers, calling out, “hot target,” before they jump.

When he pops up from kneeling, the parachutists know that it is time.  “Ready” is called out.  In the blink of an eye, the Golden Knights are sucked out of the open door of the plane.

It happens so fast; it is hard to get a good picture.  Any hesitation from the camera will cause a photographer to miss the shot, as there is literally only a second of one of the Golden Knights leaning out and getting sucked down towards the earth by gravity.  One second they are standing there, and the next thing you know, the plane is getting emptied, as they’re gone.

There is a slight suction sound that can be heard as the winds grab hold of their bodies and suck them out the plane.  Some salute as they jump.  Others have this wicked daredevil smile.    

Next after the airshow, the Golden Knights traveled to Winston-Salem, NC, for the Wake Forest versus Army football game.  They travel around the country to different events, but they don’t often jump in the snow and ice, due to the potential for injuries, so there is a season for them to perform.  In the off season, they can often be found in Homestead, FL, practicing their jumps.

As a former resident of Homestead, living only three miles from the Airforce base, I often saw parachutists falling from the sky.  One time, my mother and I saw more than a dozen jumpers, and as we watched in awe at their gracefulness, we became horrified when we saw one’s parachute twist, and the skydiver began plummeting towards the earth.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, this is actually a trick that the Golden Knights perform, as they imitate a chute that has not opened, and they recover with another cute, packing a total of three parachutes for this stunt that they regularly perform.

While the Golden Knights learn to communicate without words, relying on hand gestures and becoming as close knit as a family, other acts in the Florida International Airshow are more of an actual family affair. Bill and Scott “Scooter” Yoak, as well as Joe and Jim Tobul are two pairs of father and son pilots.

“Dad and I bought our plane in 1981, along with a trunk load of parts. It took us 10 years to build, and our first flight was December 7, 1991. It’s been a labor of love,” said Jim.

His father taught him how to fly when he was 9-years-old, sparking his interest in warbirds. Jim joined the Air National Guard in South Carolina, and he is set to retire this week, as he moved to Wyoming. He recently opened a hydraulic cylinder business in Wausau, WI, selling  telescoping cylinders. 

The pilot of Dracula also learned to fly from his father. “I’m the third generation of flyers. This year marks 50 years of my family flying, and it marks 20 years of me flying is a pilot,” said Kyle Franklin of Franklin’s Flying Circus.

 So many of the pilots make flying look easy, but the sport is quite dangerous. Herbert Mairzedt from Austria is a survivor of a plane that crashed in 2015, by Orlando, just south of Leesburg, landing in a forest.  He said he was nervous to try to land in the water, not knowing if there were alligators lurking in Florida, so he aimed for the trees when the gas line of the plane malfunctioned.  Lucky to survive with only minor scratches, he was back up the air only a few days later, and he said he felt a kinship when he met the pilot who had landed the plane in the Hudson River.     

“There's not many people can land a plane with mechanical malfunctions and live to tell about it,” he explained.  For more on Mairzedt, and some amazing photos of his mangled plane, visit www.mairzedt.net. 

For more on the Florida International Airshow, visit www.floridairshow.com.  For more by Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz and www.twitter.com/booksnbling.

Interview with Kirk Windstein of Crowbar

Crowbar just released their latest album The Serpent Only Lies.  As they recently came through the area with a strong tour, putting on a killer show, I caught up with Kirk Windstein to discuss the latest album.  He shatters some of the myths of traditional metal musicians with his close ties to home.

Author Marisa Williams:  You have been in a number of side projects over the years, from Valume Knob to Down, teaming up with amazing musicians.  What is your writing process like, and how does it change when going from project to project?

Photo by Marisa Williams

Kirk Windstein of Crowbar: I guess you kinda get into a certain frame of mind, when you’re working in a project with different people.  The normal is process the same, but in a group like Down, every member plays the guitar, so we all write riffs; we all bounce off each other.  Off Crowbar, there’s mad riffs.  We work together, piece it together.  I’m lucky enough to work with a bunch of great guys.

Marisa:  It has been said that you were trying to get back to your mindset from 20 years ago when creating your latest album.  Do you think you were successful in capturing that earlier sound of Crowbar, and how do you think you have matured as a band from when you first started?

Kirk:  I think we succeeded in doing what we set out to do.  It’s not going to sound like it did 20 years ago.  I went back and listened to them, and I was pleasantly surprised.  We had a lot of great stuff going on back then, but I wanted a more mature version of what we were doing back then.  As far as a band itself maturing when playing an instrument so long, it’s only natural to get better.  Where we are at this point, with the group of guys we got, it’s musically the best we’ve been.

Marisa:  You’ve had some lineup changes in the band.  After replacing Pat Bruders with Jeff Golden, now Todd Strange your original bassist has returned.  How does this lineup compare with previous band lineups, did it help with attempting to capture that earlier Crowbar sound, and how did this particular version come about?

Kirk:  The situation wasn’t working out with Jeff.  We saw it coming for a while.  Really, Todd coming back in, the album was written before he joined, so he didn’t write much with this album.  But Tommy has been in band 12 years, Matt 10 years, I’ve been in since the beginning, and this is the strongest lineup we’ve had.  With founding members, camaraderie wise and as far as us clicking while playing, we’re playing in the pocket; it’s the best lineup we’ve ever had.

Marisa:  You are now releasing your 11^th album, The Serpent Only Lies.  When you started, did you foresee the band lasting this long, and to what do you credit the longevity?

Kirk:  I credit longevity to never giving up.  Persevere.  Never taking no for an answer.  There were times when I was the only member, and thoughts of breaking it up never did exist.  In a way, I hoped.  I always wanted Crowbar to be what it is, a band that puts out killer music.  I never dreamed of being a rock star or anything like that.

Marisa:  The Serpent Only Lies almost seems to have a religious connotation in the name, yet it is being released for Halloween.  How did you decide on the name?

Kirk:  There is a Biblical type meaning.  I’m a real spiritual person, not so much with organized religion.  It started as a song title a while back, and we all loved it.  It became the title for the record.  It is more spiritual.  Obviously, the serpent is Satan, but it can be a metaphor for anything evil or bad in life.

Marisa:  People trace the origins of Crowbar back to Shell Shock, which is a band you did with Jimmy Bowers as your drummer.  Since that beginning, you have continued to play with Jimmy in other projects, but do you think he will ever return to the Crowbar stage, or any other, with you?

Kirk:  Personally, I’m married with children, so I don’t see the time.  We always joked about it when younger, then we got old.  I never say never.  I just don’t see any time in the foreseeable future, but we have been jamming since 1987 together.

Marisa:  I believe it was at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans that I had a conversation with you and Jimmy regarding the image of metal and how most people would assume musicians in metal worship the devil, but this is in sharp contrast to some people’s beliefs.  Can you comment of how images are not always what they appear in entertainment?

Kirk:  I think it is just one of those things.  Images are interlocked with the devil stuff.  As a spiritual person myself, I believe in God.  All the stuff does look cool, like the fire, blood, and fangs.  It all fits itself to the sound of metal, but with Crowbar, it’s just us.  We don’t go for that.  It doesn’t apply for Crowbar, but some goes hand in hand - the imagery with the music - but we don’t.

Marisa:  How do you balance your stage persona with your personal life?

Kirk:  It’s really the same.  I’m really the same person on stage.  I might be a little aggressive on stage, but for me, I’m being the guy on tour, on stage, and the same guy at home.  Normally, I hang out with the guys and my wife take pictures.  I don’t want to be one of those guys who hides on the bus, and just goes on stage.  I like to meet the fans, see what they have to say, be accessible to them, so to speak.  The guy on stage is the same as I always am, not a character.  I just love jamming Crowbar music.

Photo by Marisa Williams

Marisa:  Shortly after Rex Brown left Down, replaced by Pat, you also left Down.  Was that to focus more on Crowbar?

Kirk:  Big picture, yes.  Down started to work less, because Phil had so many things going on.  I had recently gotten married, so my life changed.  In Crowbar and with projects, I wanted to focus to work with me.  It’s hard on relationships being on the road.

Marisa:  Do you have any other projects that you are currently working on or plan to be involved with?

Kirk:  No, I think right now, I’m plenty busy enough, and as a father, stepfather, I hang out with my friends…  There’s plenty enough keeping me busy.  My time at home is family time, which is extremely important to me.

Marisa:  Your latest single is an oxymoron, Falling While Rising.  Was that an intentional play on words, and can you walk us through anything unexpected that happened while creating the album?

Kirk:  Yea, was intentional play on words.  I like doing that a lot.  There was nothing out of the ordinary.  It went very nicely.  I’m very blessed.

Marisa:  What was your first concert that you attended, and how did that compare to the first concert that you played?

Kirk:  I will start with first concert I played, which was at a school fair, on the back of a flatbed truck. First concert I attended would have to be Van Halen.

Marisa:  What is something that people might not expect about you?

Kirk:  People might not expect to see me when I am at home cuddled up with my granddaughter, watching Disney or My Little Pony, but my family is important to me, and that is part of my reality.

“Probably the most special to me was Down and Metallica ending the leg of the tour in New Orleans, a hometown show for us, playing in front of friends and family.” Windstein recalled playing the New Orleans arena, where he used work. “Here I am on stage, playing next to my idol in front of friends and family. That was a very special moment.”          

When playing with Down, the song “Bury Me In Smoke” was the last song every show. “We have had all kinds of guests, from Mike Gordon to Ozzy playing on drums, to Jason Newsted on bass and James Hetfield,” Windstein said.

Back in 2000, Windstein had toured with Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society (BLS), and in 2002, the bands played Ozzfest together when Robert Trujillo was playing bass for BLS. “I knew Robert before he played with Metallica, a great dude.”

When Windstein was going through a divorce, he stayed with Stephen Gibb in Miami. When Windstein remarried, he took a break from Down to focus on Crowbar. Revisiting albums he had created 20 years prior, he aimed to create a more mature sound inspired by his earlier music for Crowbar’s latest release “The Serpent Only Lies.”

Starting his musical skills at age 8, Windstein learned piano, hoping to be like Elton John. “KISS Alive made me want to play guitar. There was no more piano, and I started guitar lessons.”

While some may find it ironic that this metal guru’s first album was Elton John’s Greatest Hits, and may not picture the metal icon doing typical things like curling up with his granddaughter watching Disney, Windstein has a vast appreciation of music. “I have diverse tastes in music,” he said, “I don’t just listen to metal. Most well rounded musicians do listen to different genres.”

As an internationally acclaimed musician who has played 43 countries, he said the scariest part of being on the road is taking a wrong turn in a foreign country and getting lost, especially in countries that are not very Westernized.

“Some countries are not really as developed. There’s third world country stuff. It's scary, but in a good way, we like bringing music, because they appreciate it. There's the positive side of it,” he explained.                    

     

As much success as Windstein has seen throughout his career, he claims he never set out to be a rock star, tries to not have a rockstar attitude, be accessible to his fans, and he rembers a key piece of advice. “My mother told me when I was young, those who are humble are exalted; those who exalt themselves are humbled.”

For those interested in becoming a musician, Windstein advises to not give up. “Don't take no for an answer, and treat people right.”

For more on Crowbar, visit www.facebook.com/crowbarmusic, www.crowbarnola.com, www.myspace.com/crowbar and www.twitter.com/crowbarmusic.  The author of more than 100 books, Marisa Williams earned her Master's in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University; for more on Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz and www.twitter.com/booksnbling.  

Interview with Kirk Windstein of Crowbar

Crowbar just released their latest album The Serpent Only Lies.  As they recently came through the area with a strong tour, putting on a killer show, I caught up with Kirk Windstein to discuss the latest album.  He shatters some of the myths of traditional metal musicians with his close ties to home.

Author Marisa Williams:  You have been in a number of side projects over the years, from Valume Knob to Down, teaming up with amazing musicians.  What is your writing process like, and how does it change when going from project to project?

Photo by Marisa Williams

Kirk Windstein of Crowbar: I guess you kinda get into a certain frame of mind, when you’re working in a project with different people.  The normal is process the same, but in a group like Down, every member plays the guitar, so we all write riffs; we all bounce off each other.  Off Crowbar, there’s mad riffs.  We work together, piece it together.  I’m lucky enough to work with a bunch of great guys.

Marisa:  It has been said that you were trying to get back to your mindset from 20 years ago when creating your latest album.  Do you think you were successful in capturing that earlier sound of Crowbar, and how do you think you have matured as a band from when you first started?

Kirk:  I think we succeeded in doing what we set out to do.  It’s not going to sound like it did 20 years ago.  I went back and listened to them, and I was pleasantly surprised.  We had a lot of great stuff going on back then, but I wanted a more mature version of what we were doing back then.  As far as a band itself maturing when playing an instrument so long, it’s only natural to get better.  Where we are at this point, with the group of guys we got, it’s musically the best we’ve been.

Marisa:  You’ve had some lineup changes in the band.  After replacing Pat Bruders with Jeff Golden, now Todd Strange your original bassist has returned.  How does this lineup compare with previous band lineups, did it help with attempting to capture that earlier Crowbar sound, and how did this particular version come about?

Kirk:  The situation wasn’t working out with Jeff.  We saw it coming for a while.  Really, Todd coming back in, the album was written before he joined, so he didn’t write much with this album.  But Tommy has been in band 12 years, Matt 10 years, I’ve been in since the beginning, and this is the strongest lineup we’ve had.  With founding members, camaraderie wise and as far as us clicking while playing, we’re playing in the pocket; it’s the best lineup we’ve ever had.

Marisa:  You are now releasing your 11^th album, The Serpent Only Lies.  When you started, did you foresee the band lasting this long, and to what do you credit the longevity?

Kirk:  I credit longevity to never giving up.  Persevere.  Never taking no for an answer.  There were times when I was the only member, and thoughts of breaking it up never did exist.  In a way, I hoped.  I always wanted Crowbar to be what it is, a band that puts out killer music.  I never dreamed of being a rock star or anything like that.

Marisa:  The Serpent Only Lies almost seems to have a religious connotation in the name, yet it is being released for Halloween.  How did you decide on the name?

Kirk:  There is a Biblical type meaning.  I’m a real spiritual person, not so much with organized religion.  It started as a song title a while back, and we all loved it.  It became the title for the record.  It is more spiritual.  Obviously, the serpent is Satan, but it can be a metaphor for anything evil or bad in life.

Marisa:  People trace the origins of Crowbar back to Shell Shock, which is a band you did with Jimmy Bowers as your drummer.  Since that beginning, you have continued to play with Jimmy in other projects, but do you think he will ever return to the Crowbar stage, or any other, with you?

Kirk:  Personally, I’m married with children, so I don’t see the time.  We always joked about it when younger, then we got old.  I never say never.  I just don’t see any time in the foreseeable future, but we have been jamming since 1987 together.

Marisa:  I believe it was at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans that I had a conversation with you and Jimmy regarding the image of metal and how most people would assume musicians in metal worship the devil, but this is in sharp contrast to some people’s beliefs.  Can you comment of how images are not always what they appear in entertainment?

Kirk:  I think it is just one of those things.  Images are interlocked with the devil stuff.  As a spiritual person myself, I believe in God.  All the stuff does look cool, like the fire, blood, and fangs.  It all fits itself to the sound of metal, but with Crowbar, it’s just us.  We don’t go for that.  It doesn’t apply for Crowbar, but some goes hand in hand - the imagery with the music - but we don’t.

Marisa:  How do you balance your stage persona with your personal life?

Kirk:  It’s really the same.  I’m really the same person on stage.  I might be a little aggressive on stage, but for me, I’m being the guy on tour, on stage, and the same guy at home.  Normally, I hang out with the guys and my wife take pictures.  I don’t want to be one of those guys who hides on the bus, and just goes on stage.  I like to meet the fans, see what they have to say, be accessible to them, so to speak.  The guy on stage is the same as I always am, not a character.  I just love jamming Crowbar music.

Photo by Marisa Williams

Marisa:  Shortly after Rex Brown left Down, replaced by Pat, you also left Down.  Was that to focus more on Crowbar?

Kirk:  Big picture, yes.  Down started to work less, because Phil had so many things going on.  I had recently gotten married, so my life changed.  In Crowbar and with projects, I wanted to focus to work with me.  It’s hard on relationships being on the road.

Marisa:  Do you have any other projects that you are currently working on or plan to be involved with?

Kirk:  No, I think right now, I’m plenty busy enough, and as a father, stepfather, I hang out with my friends…  There’s plenty enough keeping me busy.  My time at home is family time, which is extremely important to me.

Marisa:  Your latest single is an oxymoron, Falling While Rising.  Was that an intentional play on words, and can you walk us through anything unexpected that happened while creating the album?

Kirk:  Yea, was intentional play on words.  I like doing that a lot.  There was nothing out of the ordinary.  It went very nicely.  I’m very blessed.

Marisa:  What was your first concert that you attended, and how did that compare to the first concert that you played?

Kirk:  I will start with first concert I played, which was at a school fair, on the back of a flatbed truck. First concert I attended would have to be Van Halen.

Marisa:  What is something that people might not expect about you?

Kirk:  People might not expect to see me when I am at home cuddled up with my granddaughter, watching Disney or My Little Pony, but my family is important to me, and that is part of my reality.

“Probably the most special to me was Down and Metallica ending the leg of the tour in New Orleans, a hometown show for us, playing in front of friends and family.” Windstein recalled playing the New Orleans arena, where he used work. “Here I am on stage, playing next to my idol in front of friends and family. That was a very special moment.”          

When playing with Down, the song “Bury Me In Smoke” was the last song every show. “We have had all kinds of guests, from Mike Gordon to Ozzy playing on drums, to Jason Newsted on bass and James Hetfield,” Windstein said.

Back in 2000, Windstein had toured with Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society (BLS), and in 2002, the bands played Ozzfest together when Robert Trujillo was playing bass for BLS. “I knew Robert before he played with Metallica, a great dude.”

When Windstein was going through a divorce, he stayed with Stephen Gibb in Miami. When Windstein remarried, he took a break from Down to focus on Crowbar. Revisiting albums he had created 20 years prior, he aimed to create a more mature sound inspired by his earlier music for Crowbar’s latest release “The Serpent Only Lies.”

Starting his musical skills at age 8, Windstein learned piano, hoping to be like Elton John. “KISS Alive made me want to play guitar. There was no more piano, and I started guitar lessons.”

While some may find it ironic that this metal guru’s first album was Elton John’s Greatest Hits, and may not picture the metal icon doing typical things like curling up with his granddaughter watching Disney, Windstein has a vast appreciation of music. “I have diverse tastes in music,” he said, “I don’t just listen to metal. Most well rounded musicians do listen to different genres.”

As an internationally acclaimed musician who has played 43 countries, he said the scariest part of being on the road is taking a wrong turn in a foreign country and getting lost, especially in countries that are not very Westernized.

“Some countries are not really as developed. There’s third world country stuff. It's scary, but in a good way, we like bringing music, because they appreciate it. There's the positive side of it,” he explained.                    

     

As much success as Windstein has seen throughout his career, he claims he never set out to be a rock star, tries to not have a rockstar attitude, be accessible to his fans, and he rembers a key piece of advice. “My mother told me when I was young, those who are humble are exalted; those who exalt themselves are humbled.”

For those interested in becoming a musician, Windstein advises to not give up. “Don't take no for an answer, and treat people right.”

For more on Crowbar, visit www.facebook.com/crowbarmusic, www.crowbarnola.com, www.myspace.com/crowbar and www.twitter.com/crowbarmusic.  The author of more than 100 books, Marisa Williams earned her Master's in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University; for more on Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz and www.twitter.com/booksnbling.