LATEST INTERVIEW with
RHINO BUCKET!
When two fans drive over 1700 miles to see a concert, well you know they are pretty dedicated fans. Actually my Dad drove us, and the Montalian and myself rode along for the glory. You see if it hadn't been for Rhino Bucket offering us Tickets to Sundays show, we prob would have wound up at Ozzfest. We gave those tickets to a good friend's wife and she was able to put those to good use. The chance to meet one of my fav bands was definately the deciding factor here. Not to mention getting to see all the band I grew up Lovin. Now I prob wont be the first to say this, but not all of the band sounded good at Rocklahoma this year. Most of it had to do with the sound crew being unfamiliar with this venue I'm sure. But I heard Rhino Bucket and was floored at the clarity and the sound! They were one of the best sounding bands at the venue! If you are not familar with this band. Well they are an upbeat, Whiskey groovin', blues band with a rock attitude. They have focus , they have talent and they plain kick your ass at a show! Music first here for sure! The band consists of...
Georg Dolivo- lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Reeve Downes- Bass and vocals
Brian Forsythe-lead guitar and vocals
Simon wright- drummer at Rocklahom
Tiny Biuso- drums
Dusty watson-drums
Metal Mike: Georg and Reeve... as you guys lost focus on Rhino Bucket between '94-'01 , you had several bands going at this time. My question is why the lapse of interest in Bucket? and what were your goals during this period?
Georg: For me it really wasn't a lapse of interest, it was more that no one else was around. As the band came into 1994, Greg was really determined to end it without anyone else going on and using the name. I never got what that was all about. So, I kept on playing music, first in NYC and then back in LA. But, despite playing in some rather weird bands (Buzzard Kills 7), my heart was always into Rhino Bucket. So, when the Cathouse asked me if I could get the band together, I said yes. And then called them. LOL Greg was unable to do it but we found Brian. That's it all.
Reeve: The band was actually quite active in 94, but at the end of that year, Greg Fields was seriously burnt out and had health problems. He did not want to continue or us to continue using the Bucket name. So out of respect for our friend, we didn't. We took some time to do some other things with our lives... some things musical and some not. After about a year Georg and I got together with Brian and formed a band and called it "Deep 6 holiday." However Brian had some legal issues and was unavailable for awhile. We then worked with another guitarist under the name "Buzzard Kills 7." When Brian was available again we grabbed him and our old name and Bucket was back. As far as goals go, I would have to be honest and say we are not very goal oriented.
Unlike many bands, we do not love the music business... just music... and the two really don't have much to do with each other. Our only goal is to write and play great songs and we did that among other things during this period.
Metal Mike: My next question would be how did you rekindle the desire to begin this journey again? and what are your present objectives?
Georg: I never lost the desire. I don't have objectives per se. I just want this band to keep playing music worldwide.
Reeve: As I kind of explained before, the desire to play never went away. What did go away was the desire to deal with the music industry. I was and am still am involved in many bands and types of music. I play in a couple of other bands with Brian, and do lots of pick up gigs, and the occasional session, so my musical plate is always full. My only objective is to do what I love and was put on this earth to do, PLAY MUSIC! If this brings me any kind of notoriety or financial gain, I'll take it as it comes. These things are not always good, Music IS.
Metal Mike: Brian... you are a part of 5 bands Wow! how do you stay focused with so many Irons in the fire?
George: Now that right there is the million dollar question!! LOL
Brian: Focused? What was the question? Ha! Yes it is hard sometimes, but not all the projects are doing something all the time. I consider Rhino Bucket to be my main focus, and the Kix thing is once a year for fun and money.
Metal Mike: Brian, I love Kix, they are one of my favorite bands as well. How did you get started in Bucket and what is going on with Kix Outside of a Few East coast dates? any west coast plans or any new cds in the future?
Brian: Reeve and I had been playing together since about '95 in our blues band The Purple Gang - Then some how we hooked up with Bryson Jones in an early version of what would become the Snakehandlers. About that time Georg came into the picture with Deep 6 Holiday, which was Rhino Bucket as it is today with a different drummer. I kind of killed that project getting arrested and going off to jail and rehab for about 16 months just about the time things got rolling. One day after getting out of rehab Georg called me and asked me if I would do this Cathouse gig as part of Rhino Bucket. I learned all the songs , and was only planing on doing this one gig, but one thing lead to another. We did a soundtrack for a movie, which involved writing a new Rhino song. Then I guess we did more gigs and wrote more songs. Before I knew it I was in way to deep so I decided to stay. As far as Kix goes... Like I said, we only did this for fun and money, Oh and the fans of course! Therefore there will be no new record, especially without Donnie in the band. We have however been talking of taking a couple of months next summer and hitting some festivals.
Metal Mike: Simon, do all the drummers seem to get along with the schedules they juggle?
Georg: Because drummers are a cagey lot. Never trust them with your woman or your tobacco! haha..
Simon: Without question.
Metal Mike: I personally appreciate your music and all that goes into making it possible. However, there are those that say you walk in AC/DC's shoes or they call you rip off artists. How do you handle these uncalled for accusations and do you think this has hurt the band in anyway?
Georg: Listen, I love AC/DC. I also love the Angels (Angel City), Rose Tattoo, etc. I don't care what people think or what they say, that's why I'm in a rock band. (one of the coolest anwsers I have recorded to date)...
Reeve: You have to have thick skin in the music business, and there are many haters out there. You can't listen to them anymore than you can someone who says you are better than the Beatles. It is important to be true to yourself, and what you do. If you can do this, you will be happy with what you are doing. I mean its only rock n roll not world peace we are working on here.
Metal Mike: Simon you have played in some very impressive bands, UFO in 95, AC/DC and Dio along with Rhino Bucket. What have you learned playing in these great bands?
Simon: I've learned it pays the Bills. LOL!
Metal Mike: Simon, are you just filling in for Rocklahoma? and what are your current obligations?
Simon: Yes, Georg asked me to do the show, and my current obligations are with Dio.
Metal Mike: Georg, have you accomplished your goals as a musician? or do you have some unfullfilled dreams left to take care of?
Georg: I think that the fact that I've kept this band going, in one form or another, for over 20 years is about all I can ask for.
Metal Mike: Any Tour plans For Bucket outside California area? and how are sales on the new Cd?
Georg: We're always doing shows in the strangest places. Ohio, Texas, Maryland, etc. The sales are going quite well, thank you!
Reeve: The new cd is doing well so we are working on the next one for an early 08' release. We will tour alot after that. Untill then its the Southern Cali thing and the occasional Fly out.
Metal Mike: Reeve, as the only other original member besides Georg, what do you think the band's impact has been in the footprint of music history?
Reeve: Music History? As much as I love Rock n Roll, and I have dedicated my whole life to it,
Rock music itself will only be a footprint in music history. Like I said, Ok the Stones said it first... "It's only Rock n Roll."
Metal Mike: Georg, who were some of the bands you listen too growin up? and who are some you listen to now?
Georg: I listened to everything and I mean everything. I just love anything new. It's like a drug. So if it's ABBA or Slayer, as long as it's new material, I'm cool.
Metal Mike: As life takes its twists and turns... Brian, how crazy was it before your sobriety? and what brought this into focus?
Brian: I kept it together while I was in Kix all those years. But after I left 'em and moved to L.A., that's when things started to fall apart. Most of the mid to late 90's were a blur! I got strung out on heroin and crack, started pawning all my stuff, lost my house back east, lost my job with my brother painting billboards, my car fell apart piece by piece, yet I contiued to drive it downtown to cop drugs, started getting pulled over and searched on a regular basis, got evicted from my apartment and had to move out on my 40th birthday,.. the list goes on and on. What brought my sobriety into focus was going to jail. Which sucked at the time but ended up being the best thing that happened to me.Interview by Metal Mike |