GOTHIC BLUES: Blog

Below is a copy of an interview that was will only see light of day here.

Unless the interviewer, who no longer resides on this plane of existence, posts
it on whatever website that it was originally to go on... An since I don't see that
happening...
Here it is.

OI = Original Interviewer
GB = Gothic Blues
(Interview was done after the release of the third cd... NYX)

OI: The name of the band is GOTHIC BLUES, what's the origin of that name?
GB: We picked the name because it describes what we and some other people
thought the music sounded like, dark and bluesy.

OI: Has that always been the name of the band?
GB: Originally, it was gonna be called "RuneLords", it had two guitarist and a
female singer, but, The bass player was flaky and a big time drinker, the
drummer was already in another band and his loyalty was questionable, the
singer was addicted to pills with a very jealous husband and the other guitarist
was subpar with bad tone, I had to down-write the music because he had
trouble with the time changes and he wanted to be a lead guitarist that never
played rhythm. I told them "the band was gonna be on "Behind the Music"
before we even get our first cd out." and then I broke it up.

Then to prove that I could do it, even though they were telling me that I
couldn't do it all alone and to prove that the music was good I was gonna put
the cd out under the name "Crazed." Because by that time that's how I felt.

Right now we are GOTHIC BLUES, Spooky an I  do it all, and will only work
with others as long as they do what we want the way we want. We keep total
control.

OI : What genre do you consider your work to be?
GB: See I hate the whole genre thing. But, I think Progressive Rock is pretty
close. The whole thing is just too constrictive.

OI: Who or what are your major influences?
GB: Black Sabbath, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd, W.A.S.P., Ozzy, Rob
Zombie, Bob Kulick, Satriani, ancient times, horror movies and art. Oh yeh,
Lovecraft and Poe. Not in that order.

OI: Are you on an indie label?
GB: We are on our own label called Sanitarium Studio, distributed by CD
Baby.

OI: What can you tell me about your guitars? Are you subject to brand loyalty
or will you play with whatever's available?
GB: I will play what ever is available! (laughs) Umm, The acoustic is
Spooky's Dad's Guitar, pre WW II, The resonator is a Samic and the electric is
a B.C. Rich Warlock.
 
OI: What made you choose these instruments? Cost /style /model /brand
/color?
GB: The acoustic has history and plays and sounds great. The resonator has a
classic bluesy sound and the Warlock, well, it's a Warlock! Not only does it
play and sound great but it has major attitude. I love the way it looks, it's all in
the angles. I've wanted one forever and Spooky got it for me. Before that I was
playing a Strat-style knockoff.

OI: Do you plan to ever record any covers?
GB: I have recorded one cover but never put it on any cd. It was "Spooky" by
the Classic IV, made special just for Spooky.

OI: Who writes your songs?
GB: I do for the most part but, Spooky is "Creative Consultant" she might say
add this take out that, turn this up, turn that down, put this here and repeat this
twice. She comes up with great song titles and ideas, so she is very important
to the process.

OI: What are the main themes or topics for your songs?
GB: How beautiful and wonderful life is. (laughs) Occult, Madness, Love
and other interesting concepts. Mostly it's about feel, I want people to feel and
think. I have heard it's very soothing. I know one guy who works out to it an
other people do artistic things while listening to it. One woman finds
"Temptress" so relaxing she listens to it when she has trouble sleeping.

OI: Will these themes change over time?
GB: I don't think so, I'm not gonna start making songs about partying or losing
my dog and my truck to a drought.

OI: Would you briefly describe the music-making process?
GB: I come up with this riff or idea, work it out on the acoustic and play it for
weeks or months. Spooky puts up with this the whole time, even while
watching tv. The same song or parts of it over an over (laughs) poor Spooky!
Then I hit the studio, record the base guitar track on an old analog multitrack
recorder and work on it until I'm done. I love the way analog sounds and the
ease of operation. Old style!

OI: What parts of making music do you enjoy the most?
GB: I like it when it all comes together and I go "wow, I did that" or "wow, did
I really do that?"

OI: What parts do you dislike the most?
GB: Listening to it from start to finish, by the end, I cant listen to the song for
weeks afterwards.

OI: Has your music evolved since you first began playing?
GB: Sure, it would have to. Experience and confidence.

OI: What are you up to right now, music-wise?
GB: We are now working on our fourth cd.

OI: What was the last song you wrote?
GB: "No Longer the Same"

OI: What can you tell us about it?
GB: It's an instrumental. It's starts out with the sounds you would hear when
an individual is performing a ritual, ringing a bell 4 times, but, during the song
you get the idea something has went wrong and at the end the bell has
changed it's sound and is rung only 3 times. The ritual closing is incomplete,
something has went wrong and will remain that way.

OI: Whats more important music or lyrics?
GB: Feel and sound is most important. Definitely music.

OI: What musical styles do you find yourself listening to? Old or new music?
Music like yours or different from yours?
GB: I listen to everything from Orchestra to Heavy Metal, Country to Rap.
Good music is good no matter what.

OI: Are you seeking fame and fortune?
GB: Sure, do you know where it is? Seriously, without the backing of a Major
Label, the chances of fame an fortune is less likely. So I make some cash an
enjoy what I do. In the end as long as I'm enjoying myself an others enjoy
what they hear, then it's a success!

OI: What advice do you have for people about forming their own bands?
GB: Take control an never let go. Don't compromise anything for anything.

OI: How can people gain access to your music? Do you have a website?
GB: Yeh, www.gothicblues.com. We also have a myspace page. We can be
found on CD Baby and most of the digital download sites.

OI: What's the saddest song you've ever heard?
GB: Surprise question huh? Good one, uhh, "Forever Autumn" off of Jeff
Wayne's War of the Worlds.

OI: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or
emotional support?
GB: Spooky, for financial, emotional and creative support and for being
Spooky

OI: Any last words?
GB: What, is this an execution?