I wanted to start a fun fact feature so people can get to know the faces behind the guitar/mic/instrument. I'd like to start with my band in particular but who knows where this will evolve to. I'm lucky enough to know a bunch of incredible musicians whether they're in my band or not!
Q: 1. Favorite venue you’ve ever played?
A: The Ritz / NYC
Q: Dream band to tour with? A: The Who
Q: Favorite cover song to perform?
A: “If it’s Love” - Train / with Frankenstein’s Baby “5:15” - The Who / with Monster
“You Oughta Know” - Alanis Morrisette - with Sierra Ashley
Q: What do you love most about the music industry?
A: Creating new music, playing gigs
Q: What's the hardest part about the industry?
A: There’s a million things that are hard!- but as the live venues are getting smaller lately having to do sound for whatever band I’m playing with - while I’m supposed to be playing! - is a bummer - extra stressful - but worthwhile when it works out!!
Q: Describe your drum style. Describe your guitar style.
A: I play guitar - like a drummer. When I play drums - I play like a guitarist.
Q: How old were you when you started playing your instruments?
A: Drums - 10 years old. Guitar - 15 years old.
Q: What was the name of you first band?
A: Wind Up / Whistler - Westlake H.S. 1974??
Q: Most memorable gig?
A: Giants Stadium - with Restless at the Super Bowl celebration parade in 1988.
Q: Who inspires your music?
A: Wow! Music is a whole big “thing” so it’s impossible to narrow it down but there are literally dozens of musicians - or more! - that inspire me to play and create. It would be hard to even say without getting into a 100-page term paper. The main theme about the ones that inspire would be that they have to be unique; have that swing, that funk, that power, that control, that inspirational lift, that “what the hell?, I never saw that before”, that “what am I seeing / hearing here”?
It needs to make you feel something, needs to make you laugh, because it’s so good - They obviously would have an enormous amount of talent but also a unique quality about them. There are just tons of musicians that literally make me laugh, they’re that good. Those are the most inspiring ones. James Brown to John Bonham - and that’s just the first two guys in the chapter - “Last names that begin with B.” It’s a lot!!
It’s the same thing with the singer-songwriters or songwriters- Don Henley, Stevie Wonder, Brandi Carlisle, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor, Pete Townsend, Lennon / McCartney, Jagger / Richards, Lieber / Krebs, Carole King, Motown songwriters- Holland / Holland / Dozier -, etc...
Interviewee: Doug Brown, guitar