What was the beginning pint for your music career? How did it all start?
Chip :It started when i was 13 i played a drum kit that was sitting in a corner and ended up playing a gongshow with some friends
Brian: At a young age my mother taught me how to play piano. I really didn’t get into music until I was in my teens. When I was 13 my uncle gave me an acoustic guitar and some instruction books. I spent some time reading and slowly taught myself how to play. My musical journey didn’t really start till after I graduated from high school. The first band that I was in “Deathstroke” came about as a surprise for me. A friend of mine had come over to hang with me for the day and was telling me about a band that he was asked to play bass for. He confessed to me that he didn’t know how to play and asked me if I could teach him how to play several songs. The songs in question just happened to be songs that I was familiar with and could help him out with, so I asked him to take me down to the band’s rehearsal area. Once we were there he got his gear hooked up. As I was teaching him how to play the songs, the other members of the band came in. They were so impressed with my teaching ability and knowledge of the songs that they ended up asking if I would play bass for them instead of spending the time to train my friend how to play. Although my friend ended up not playing in the band, he did end up learning how to do sound and worked our sound system and lights.
Bill: LOVED MUSIC AS A YOUNG KID. PLAYED PIANO AS A KID. REALIZED GUITAR IS WHERE THE POPULARITY IS AT. LOL. SO I STARTED PLAYING GUITAR WHEN I TURNED 25. LOL. I DIDNT START PLAYING BASS TILL I GOT WITH DARK RAIN. LOL. I PICKED IT UP QUICK.
Dudley: started playing guitar at age 9 gave up started again at 11 and immediately started writing my own songs, and playing shows starting with a local pizzeria Gueseppes, then moved onto organizing and promoting my own shows all through high school at local American legions.
Kelleigh
MY ROLE STARTED WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE BAND PLAY..THE SINGER AT THE TIME SANG THE SAME VERSE 3 TIMES SO I BELTED OUT THE CORRECT LYRICS…. THATS HOW IT ALL STARTED!!!
Was there any bumps on the road?
Chip: Yes plenty of bumps
Bill: NOT REALLY. MY BAND MATES WORKED WITH ME.
Dudley: All kinds, we’ve had to overcome everything from pregnancies , to death, to Fleetwood Mac level interpersonal relationship issues
What kind of challenges did you have to deal with?
Chip: i had learning and addictions challenges
Brian: The biggest challenge back then was being able to find shows to play.
Bill: LEARNING THE BANDS OLDER SONGS IN A SHORT TIME.
Dudley: dealt with jealous significant others, people who tried pigeon holing us as too metal or too rock
Kelleigh: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE FACED IS SIGNIFICANT OTHERS BEING JEALOUS OF THE TIME AND EFFORT I GAVE TO MY BANDMATES AND TO THE BAND
What was the most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far?
Chip: Playing bigger stages
Brian: The most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far would probably be getting to meet and perform with national artists, and having the opportunity to observe and learn from them.
Bill: MAKING A FEW BUCKS FOR WHAT I LOVE DOING.
Dudley: Opening for National acts, not some tour buy on but being offered the opening slot because a venue or promoter saw our worth and invited us to open for such bands as Saving Abel, Zakk Wylde, White Lion, Sponge, Firehouse, Fuel, Ted Nugent and many more
Kelleigh: MY FAVORITE MOMENT IS ACTUALLY OUR 8 SHOWS IN 7 DAY TOUR
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Chip: Rock and roll music
Brian: I would describe our music as a melodic blend of rock and blues. .
Bill: Intense
Dudley: very personal, as I write a majority of the lyrical contact
Kelleigh: WE CREATE MUSIC MOST PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO… TRUE STORIES OF BREAKUPS..VIOLENCE…AND RISING UP AFTER THOSE EVENTS…
What is your creative process like?
Chip: I go with the flow of whats being written
Brian: Usually when we are just jamming or messing around either before practice or during breaks, one of us will start playing a random riff and sometimes it will spark ideas in the rest of us. If we find an ideas that speaks to us then we will work with it until we have somewhat of a demo. Lyrics then follow shortly thereafter.
Bill: JUST COMING UP WITH RIFFS AND IDEAS.
Dudley: Historically I would write lyrics then start working chords under them and once basic song structure was in place I d bring to band, or if I have a musical idea, sometimes Ill bring to Kelleigh to write lyrical ideas. Sometimes I come up with a riff and the band jams it out till I can get whats in my head out to my hands.
Kelleigh: USUALLY ONE OF THE GUYS PLAYS A RIFF THEY CAME UP WITH.. OVER AND OVER TILL ONE OF US COMES UP SOME LYRICS
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Chip: I dont really know
Brian: I would like to see more venues that are more live music friendly and less DJ or jukebox/computer playlist.
Bill: ID HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE. LOL.
Dudley: The industry has changed so much in my time, I wish there was a better model than streaming for bands to monetize their music. There are so many more ways to get out there but you also have to be in more places at once, and as an aspiring musician you wear many more hats as an independent musician.
Kelleigh: WOULD CHANGE THE FACT THAT BARS AND VENUES WOULD RATHER PLAY A PLAYLIST OFF A COMPUTER THEN HIRE A LIVE BAND
If you were asked to give a piece of advice to upcoming bands, what would that be?
Chip: Have plenty of fun you arent taking it with you
Brian: Stay true to your vision for what you want to do with your music, and listen to your fans, they are your best indicator for what works and doesn’t work in your performance.
Bill: GET YOUR CHOPS UP CAUSE THERES A LOT IF TALENTED PEOPLE OUT THERE.
Dudley: Stay true to your sound , don’t try and be someone else, learn from others, and work hard
Kelleigh: MY ADVICE IS…PAY ATTENTION TO WHICH SONG OR TYPES OF SONGS CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE… BE TRUE TO THE INNER ARTIST…
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
Chip: Dont think i have had that yet
Brian: I think one of our best performances was opening for Crazy Town. We were breaking in a new drummer and had really put a lot of extra time and effort into that nights set.
Bill: THE BUNGALOW IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Dudley: Best performance we had some crazy solid nights at the old Club Texas but definitely Asylum opening for Firehouse or Aura during All night Thing
Kelleigh: I THINK MY BEST PERFORMANCE WAS WHEN WE OPENED FOR FIREHOUSE… IT WENT PERFECTLY AND CROWD RESPONSE WAS GREAT
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing now?
Chip: I am only a musician for fun i have a full time job
Bill: I THINK MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN EMPTY WITH MUSIC.
Brian: I would probably be managing a restaurant somewhere.
Dudley: Making pizza for the masses
Kelleigh: ROCKIN THE GAS STATION I WORK AT
What is new with the band at the moment?
Chip: Im new and there are a few new songs
Bill: FINALIZING OUR NEW ALBUM.
Dudley: putting finishing touches on new music, and booking lots of shows
What are you currently working on and would like to share with the world?
Chip: We try to share it with everyone. We are working on a new album
Brian: We are currently working on our next album which should be available sometime this summer
Bill: NEW SONGS AND YOULL HAVE TO WAIT. LOL.
Dudley: As the crazy mastermind I always have a lot going on, new cd, breaking in new drummer, video projects, acoustic cd and much more.
Kelleigh: WE ARE CURRENTLY MASTERING OUR 4TH CD AND HAVE A STORY BOARD FOR A VIDEO FOR “NEVERMORE
