Name: mike james
Age: 25
Birthdate: 10/30/1976
Hometown: rochester,new york
Parents: jim and lynn
Brothers / Sisters: kati and kandice
How long have you been playing with Longwave and what is your role in the
band?
7 months. drummer. i write now in the band and am singing backups.
Did any of you do anything before Longwave?
i write alot of songs. before this i sang and fronted my own project, and had a band. but when we split i
was back to playing everything all by myself, then steve called on me.
How long have you been playing drums and what made you want to play that
instrument?
i've played drums since i was 3. in fact, i do not remember
learning how to play, i've just always known how. my father started me
early. first played a club when i was 6. i didn't really have a choice to
want to choose an instrument, i was chosen.
Can you play any other instruments?
i play guitar and sing. already said. i can write on piano and will dig more into that. writing songs though is the
main thing i'll be concerned about, and obviously keeping my good chaps
thrilled with the drumming future for the band and such.
What equipment do you use?
hand me downs and brake drums.
What was your childhood dream?
i'm doing it. though i have a plethora of
things i would have done but that's for the book when i'm 177. shh.
What did you listen to growing up?
my father had me into everything, so influences are wide, but i got into bowie, kiss, clash, ramones, doors, duran
duran, some disco, some gospel hymns, inxs, t.rex, cheap trick, i could go on and on.
If you weren't in Longwave what do you think you'd be doing?
same thing only fronting.
Where do you see the band in 5 years?
bigger than laundry detergent, but not confined to that kiddie pop expectant, or too experimentally rash for
the senior lot. hopefully just right on time, always.........
If you could go on tour with one band, who would it be and why?
i can't decide if i'd wan't it to be with new bands i like or the legends like u2
or the flaming lips or such........i'm not sure. strokes? radiohead? burping elk?
Can you recall the moment when you realized that you wanted to play music
for the rest of your life?
right after high school steve and i were in a band together with some good friends and i was in a community college, and we
played one gig at a place with a real p.a. and our own songs.......i quit the next day and never looked back.
What's your favorite song to play live? Why?
"I Know It's Coming Someday". it's the first song we built up together with me. probably the first time
we knew it might really work out between us.?
How do you feel about the mainstream music industry?
it's getting better than it has been. it will always be the same though in that certain way
people don't like. it may get worse, i wouldn't be surprised.
Whats in your cd player right now?
new flaming lips, mahalia jackson, new bob
dylan, joy divison, the fall, beatles, jackson 5, neu!, new bowie, biz markie, beasties, blind willie johnson, sonic
youth, cure, r.e.m...........etc....all day...new wilco, lee"scratch"perry, low,new oasis, new cornershop..........
Are there any bands you think people should know about that are up and
coming?
i don't know exactly, but i'll tell you what i wan't to buy but
haven't had the chance yet. ....danielson famile, new anniversary, black eyed
snakes, takagi masakatsu, nobukazu takemura, hood, royksopp, fourtet, radar brothers, natalia m.king, ill ease.
What are some of your favorite movies?
i'll tell you what i've recently
seen and liked......the jerk, new star wars,the sure thing, but anything
bill murray and early chevy chase i love. weekend at bernie's? rusty
blade? bun's the hefty doughnut chic?
If there was a movie made about longwave, which band member (besides
yourself) would you want to play you? Why?
steve, becuz he knows this bete well and has slept in my dungeon with the state park sanctuary at no
hunting, no trapping, new york.
Everybody has an interesting story as to how they got into a band and why
they play music.. what's your story?
haven't i told it?
Anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
where are you? and much grace to all of course. i hope.