August, 2000 Rudy: Hello, C Ex. C Ex: Hi. Rudy: This is Rudy. C Ex: I figured as much. Rudy: So what's up? C Ex: The sky. Rudy: Really? C Ex: Yep, and some clouds and birds and stuff. Rudy: What kind of guitar do you play? C Ex: Electric and acoustic, mostly electric. Rudy: What brand? C Ex: It's made by a break off of Gibson. Rudy: A Gibdaughter? C Ex: Kinda. Rudy: How long have you been playing? C Ex: 1 year 4 months. Rudy: Did you have a teacher? C Ex: Nope, all self taught. Rudy: Who are you major influences in guitar? C Ex: Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Dave Murry, Randy Rhoads... those kinda guys. Rudy: What genre of music do you listen to mostly? C Ex: Old School Heavy Metal Rudy: What was the first album you bought? C Ex: Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden, along with Fear of the Dark Rudy: How long ago was it when you bought those? C Ex: When I was about 11 or 12. Rudy: Do you still like those albums? C Ex: Fear of the Dark doesn't appeal to me much anymore. I like the 80's style heavy metal. But my favorite bands are Old Metallica, Megadeth, Misfits. Rudy: In your opinion, what makes a great heavy metal band? C Ex: A good image, a good sound, and a band that isn't a trendy band. In other words...bands that do their own thing and don't follow the trends of their time. Rudy: Would you describe the band you're in that way? C Ex: Yes, definitely...especially me. Rudy: So you have a "look"....could you describe your sound? C Ex: I like to mix the Thrash and old metal, mixed with some Sabbath style. Rudy: (laughs) C Ex: Sometimes I come up with some OZZY style stuff...but not to often. Rudy: Are you a play-the-notes-as-fast-as-you-can guitarist? Do you play rhythm guitar? C Ex: Me and Myke switch off. Rudy: Do you tune your strings differently or just the standard way? C Ex: Standard. I believe that music is style of playing more than speed. Rudy: Do you use a slide sometime? C Ex: No. Rudy: Effects? C Ex: Just distortion usually. Rudy: Do you write? C Ex: Yes. Rudy: By yourself or in collaboration? C Ex: A little of both. Me and Abrym are currently working on a couple of songs. Rudy: Do you write lyrics? C Ex: Not usually. Rudy: When you write, can you hear in your mind what the other parts of band should be playing or are they mainly guitar oriented? C Ex: Mainly guitar. Sometimes I think of the bass or drums. Rudy: If you heard something in the band you didn't think fit with your song, would you tell them? C Ex: Definitely. Rudy: You're not afraid to say what you think then? C Ex: Not afraid at all. Rudy: You feel comfortable with his band? C Ex: Hell, yes! Rudy: Are they comfortable with you? C Ex: I believe so. No one has told me otherwise. Rudy: Do you do any singing? C Ex: Sometimes. I can do weird shit with my voice. Rudy: Oh, like what? C Ex: I can do some really freaky screeches. Rudy: Well, with a mike, you kinda get crazy. C Ex: They usually turn my mike off though cause I do it so much. Rudy: (laughs) C Ex: (laughs) Rudy: Ever ripped your vocal cords? C Ex: No. Rudy: Or made yourself hoarse? C Ex: Only at a KISS concert. Rudy: In the time you've been playing, have you ever had definite thrilling or moving experience(s)...either by yourself or with the band? C Ex: Yes Rudy: What was it? C Ex: During the making of Streets of Adventure...I had a riff that I showed Abrym and we put it in the song. When he showed me the bass line by itself, I didn't think much of it. Then... when we put the bass, drums, and guitar playing together, it sounded so fucking good. It blew my fucking head off. Rudy: Has this been recorded yet? C Ex: No Rudy: Could you tell me something about the song? C Ex: We are going to put it on our first non-midi demo CD/ Rudy: How many songs have you done for this CD? Or will do? C Ex: Well, I had this riff that I thought was a total piece of shit to everyone else... when Abe heard it, he started head banging like crazy. We built it from there. We plan to put about 4 - 6 songs on it. I actually thought that he would say that the riff sucked when i thought it was awesome... but he loved it Rudy: I know the feeling...when you come up with something...a simple idea, and someone else comes in and adds their part, the song comes alive. Does the band jam a lot? C Ex: Not really. We are working on setting compatible times and dates. But we try Rudy: Scheduling rehearsals is a pain! Do you have a full-time job? C Ex: No, I currently work with a landscaping company with an iffy schedule.. Rudy: You've known Abe for a while? C Ex: Yes, since i was about 5. Rudy: He said you're from "the old neighborhood." C Ex: yes, a crazy one at that. Rudy: Good memories? C Ex: 50/50 Rudy: Did you have any musical aspirations in your early days? C Ex: no Rudy: Anyone musical in your family? C Ex: Not at all. I'm the first, except for a couple uninspired piano players. Rudy: Why now? What made you want to get involved with a band? C Ex: Ever since I was 13 I wanted to join a band Rudy: How old are you now? C Ex: 15. Rudy: What was it at 13 that made you want to be in a band? C Ex: A driving force in my mind made me crave a band life. Watching other bands perform spurred my quest. Rudy: Have you ever performed in front of an audience? C Ex: No, not yet. Rudy: Were you ever self-conscious when you first played guitar in front of someone? C Ex: Definitely. Rudy: What did you realize or think? C Ex: I was so nervous, even though I was playing in front of my friend. I fucked up so bad. Rudy: What was it like when you first played with the band? C Ex: It was a great feeling. Rudy: A feeling of belonging? C Ex: I felt like the world was mine (which it will be). Rudy: How long have you been playing with the band and working with Abe now? C Ex: Only a couple weeks. Rudy: Did you just move into this area? Recently? C Ex: No, actually I live about 10 miles away from Abe. Rudy: What have you learned from your couple of weeks of experience with the band and with Abe? C Ex: That we are a good combination. Rudy: What are some differences between you and the other members? What makes you unique? C Ex: For one...my name, [then] my image and [finally] my style plus my determination. Rudy: How would describe yourself, personally, that is? C Ex: A total hard-ass. I take shit from no one without making plans to kill them. Rudy: What's one of the craziest thing you've done? C Ex: Ohhh, this is a hard one. [long pause] Rudy: Well, just a regular crazy thing. Doesn't have to be THE craziest. C Ex: I ran down the street saying stupid things to complete strangers. Rudy: What would you say? C Ex: i would act drunk or stoneded and say things that made no sense...like: ²Do you like to eat grass?² ³I'll sell you this valuable piece of grass for $500.² ³Are you male or a girl?² Stuff like that. Rudy: What would be their reaction? C Ex: They would usually walk away or laugh. Sometimes they stay and talk cause they think I'm funny. Rudy: Have you ever done stand-up comedy? C Ex: No. what's the craziest thing you've done? Rudy: Let me think... C Ex: I don't do too much of that... i mean thinking... it hurts too much. Rudy: (laughs) C Ex: (laughs) Rudy: Sometimes, that can be a good thing. C Ex: Actually...I am very smart. Rudy: Well, this wasn't exactly crazy, but it's funny.... Rudy: Before I get to my story, why do you say you're smart...in what respects? C Ex: well average I.Q. is 90 to 110. I have an I.Q. of 132 Rudy: Wow! You beat me for sure. C Ex: Thanx. Rudy: I'm a fucking idiot. C Ex: (laughs) Rudy: Anyway...the band that I play with was driving to our gig. C Ex: Yeah? Rudy: I was in my own car with my keyboard. C Ex: I see. Rudy: The other guys were behind me in the van. C Ex: Uh huh. Rudy: There was this truck in front of me and I needed to pass him. C Ex: Yup. Rudy: I started to pass it, then the truck slowed down. It looked to me it was going to turn right. So I went a ahead to pass it. But the truck started turning LEFT! I dodged the truck and ran off the road and turned my car upside down. C Ex: Holy shit!!! Rudy: I didn't get hurt but it wrecked my car. C Ex: Sweet!!! Rudy: The funny part was .... I had a passenger with me. Of course, you don't remember what you say during this time since it all happens so fast. He said that when the car started spinning... C Ex: Yeah. Rudy: I said, "Oh, MY!" (laughs) Yes, that's truly me. C Ex: Oh, my?! (laughs) Rudy: I'm truly laid back. C Ex: That's great Rudy: Actually, it was a weird feeling...I felt like I was in a roller coaster. C Ex: Sweet Rudy: I laugh though thinking about. Of course, it could have been worst. C Ex: I guess. Any more questions? Rudy: Uh... C Ex: This is going great. Rudy: Let's see...do you want to say anything special? C Ex: Well...not really. Rudy: (laughs) C Ex: Actually....no. I guess i could say...never mind...well.... Rudy: OKAY OKAY! C Ex: Til the next interview. Rudy: Think of something next time. C Ex: I have to go masturbate... Rudy: (laughs) C Ex: I MEAN PRACTICE MY GUITAR!!!! Shit, I fucked that one up. Rudy: Well, masturbate....practice...same thing. I enjoyed talking to you C EX.