MUEN: OK I have to ask you - Are you called Mass because you're from Boston Massachusetts?

Louis: No, not really! We thought of the name to mean Big! Like �Mass� - ive! That was the sound we felt the band had and still has to this day! A MASS-IVE SOUND!

MUEN: Mass has been around a long time, when exactly did you form?

Louis: I started the band in high school in the late seventies early eighties we officially became known as MASS in 1983.

MUEN: You've really stuck with it - why do you want to perform and record music?

Louis: That�s very simple it�s because we still love it! We still have a tremendous amount of passion and drive for what we do. The business side of it really can be a downer at times but when we are performing live or creating a new album that�s when we are at our best!

MUEN: How many albums have you released and what producers have you worked with?

Louis: From 1982 to 2007 we have recorded six albums not including a �Best Ones� that was released in 2000 or the many compilations we have appeared on. We have been very fortunate to have worked with some great producers like, Tom Allom (Judas Priest) Tony Platt (Cheap Trick) John Rollo (Joe Crocker) Michael Sweet (Stryper), Martin Kronlund, etc.

MUEN: What was it like working with Michael Sweet from Stryper?

Louis: It was a pleasure working with Michael. We did not have a big budget for the �Voices in the Night� album so he invited us out to LA to live with him and his family for three months while we recorded in various studios around LA.

MUEN: There was 18 years in between "Voices In The Night" and "Crack Of Dawn," what have you guys been up to during this time?

Louis: We continued to perform locally and continued to write and record songs. We appeared on various compilations and then released a Best Ones CD in 2000. The nineties were a hard time for MASS with the grunge style of music taking over and then rap music came in. Melodic rock was being pushed aside but we managed to persevere and survive LOL!

MUEN: Do you do a lot of live performances? What's your favorite city to play in?

Louis: Now we just do a handful of select shows per year but the band would love to jump on a tour to support and promote the new �Crack Of Dawn� album if the situation arises! Favorite city is Boston, MA of course!

MUEN: You've played with Cheap Trick! How was that? And what other big name bands have you performed with on stage?

Louis: Playing with Cheap trick was an honor! Growing up I was a big fan and loved Robin Zander�s voice so to meet and play with those guys was a dream come true! Although they thought we sounded like Van Halen lol! Other bands besides Cheap Trick we opened for were Winger, Stryper, Hanoi Rocks, The Ramones, Steven Stills, Grim Reaper, Girlschool, Kix, Talas, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, and many, many more ..

MUEN: What was your most memorable show and why?

Louis: The Most memorable show for me was the Stryper, Hurricane and MASS show at the LA Amphitheater in California. The show was sold out to over 15,000 fans and the stage was very electrifying that night! But what really made it special for me, was knowing that �The Who�, one of my all time favorite bands in the world, was there the night before performing on the very same stage that I was on!

MUEN: Your new album, Crack Of Dawn definitely has that 80's rock feel still, but there's also a modern edge to it. Are there any current bands or artists that have influenced you in the song writing process?

Louis: I love all types of music and listen to just about everything to get ideas! So I think we may take a few ideas here and there and kind of incorporate into the MASS style of writing! I don�t think there is one band in particular though. On the new �Crack of Dawn� album we wanted to stay true to our melodic rock roots and continue to write songs that felt right and comfortable to us and really not try to change our style to sound like a lot of today�s bands. We just wanted to sound like MASS! We�d always hoped that when one of our songs came on the radio people would say �Hey that�s MASS�!

MUEN: I love the bluesy sound of "Magic Train." What song on the album are you most proud of and why?

Louis: I also love "Magic Train" as well! But speaking for myself because I am sure each band member has their own favorite track of the new CD I would have to say? This is tough because I do like most of them, but today I guess I would have to choose the rock ballad �Someday� I really like my vocal performance on it and the melody is great.

MUEN: I know your new album has only been out for a few months, but are you working on any new material?

Louis: Yes, we are always coming up with new idea�s and would like to get back into the studio in 2008 and start putting tracks down for a follow up to �Crack of Dawn� a lot sooner than we thought!

MUEN: Do you have any tours planned? If so, where and when?

Louis: We have just been so busy riding the promotional tour right now for the �Crack of Dawn� release, with magazines, interviews, live radio performances and online internet interviews. We will continue to do so until the end of the year. We are also doing live concert performances throughout the New England area now. No major tours are planned right now but if the right offer comes along we may just jump on it! We also look forward for the opportunity to go overseas next year to promote our European release to other countries as well! So stay tuned!

MUEN: Alright thanks for taking the time to do the interview, and we wish you all the best!

Louis: You�re very welcome and thank you Lissy and MUEN Magazine for helping me spread the word about MASS and about our newest release �Crack of Dawn�!

Interview by Lissy MacMillan