Electronic Gypsy Issue 15 pt. 1
BeeJ
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This week's editor: Gideon Culman
<GideonCulman....@t-online.de>
June 14 1997
Thanks to BJ Prosper for distribution and indirectly
recruiting new Electronic Gypsies! Thanks (in alphabetical order) to
Pauly Alvarez, Chris Van Dahl, Bobby Holder, Adam Kury Kelly Nickels
and Brian Valadez for interviews! Thanks (in alphabetical order) to
Pauly Alvarez, Tony Correnti, Johnny Crypt, Kristen Heimo, Chris
Hughes, Kawika Kelly, Adam Kury and Damon Vergilio for information.
Noteworthy L.A. Guns websites:
Official website: http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/9059/index.html
Tracii's website: http://members.aol.com/tguns1369/index.html
Mari's website: http://www.columbia.edu/~mari/laguns/main.html
Bret's website: http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~quande
Brenda's website: http://members.aol.com/BrendaSue1/LAGALLACCESS.html
Nick's website: http://www.netby.nerdscan.dk/Nord/Appelsingade/LAGUNS
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++Contents
+Welcome and editors' notes
+CHASING THE DRAGONS <"What they're doing now">
+GIVE A LITTLE <Reader forum>
+GYPSY'S WAGON <Buy-sell-trade>
+Disclaimer
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- Welcome and Editor's Notes -
_________________________________
Hello my friends and vampires!
Before proceeding to read this issue, I'd like you to relax. Just loosen
up, take everything with a grain of salt and give it some thought before
you do anything else.
During the preparation of what I thought was going to be the funnest
issue of Electronic Gypsy ever things kept on getting better and better.
I had interviews with The Vow and Kelly Nickels and news on Phil Lewis,
all ready for you to devour in bliss. I started advertising all over the
80s metal list that I had the best issue ever. Just when I thought
things couldn't get better...that very thought proved true.
It's hard to say what you'll get out of life. We all spend lots of our
time, possibly too much of it, hoping and worrying about what will come
to pass. It's very difficult to comprehend and grasp how unpredictable
life is. How often do we think about what the very next day will bring
us in the way of major, life changing developments? I almost never do!
Now I realize that I have to rethink my philosophy. Two incidents this
week have led me to believe that it's impossible to go on living as
blindly as I have till now. The first was the world exclusive interview
with "The Vow" on Tuesday, the reformed Boneyard in the form of Chris
Van Dahl, Paul Alvarez, Brian Valadez, Adam Kury, and Bobby Holder. It
was a great interview and everyone was very optimistic about this side
project that was not going to interfere with other musical activities.
The second incident was Chris Van Dahl's dismissal from the ranks of The
L.A. Guns the VERY next day.
Note: Unlike the foolish, juvenile April Fool's issue that we did, this
is NOT a joke.
This is the biggest news story I've had the privilege or duty, depending
on whether this can be viewed as a privilege or not, to inform you about
since the beginning of Electronic Gypsy. Ever since I found out about
this event on Thursday night I've given a lot of thought to how I could
present this to you, the reader, in the most humane way. I under no
circumstances wanted to pass it on to you the way I was informed about
it. It was literally dropped on me like a bomb! When I was about to go
to bed on Thursday I checked my email for one last time and among other
things I got two messages from Paul Alvarez. I didn't think they were
greatly important, probably just follow-ups to the interview. The first
one was a one-liner that simply read "Chris is kicked out of LAG! It
happened yesterday!" I didn't even pay attention to it and went to the
next one. Slowly the content of that message dawned on me and I went
into total shock. Sitting there, shaking, I didn't know what to do or
think. I quickly wrote to two people to share my anxiety. It was like a
reflex action. Then I realized that since I run this newsletter I was
responsible to get all of you the full, objective story by Saturday, so
I started writing to everybody I could think of who might possibly know
more.
I would expressly like to thank Johnny Crypt and Damon Vergilio for
promptly answering my call for help and not making me worry or wonder
any longer than necessary. I owe you guys one! :)
Before I get into details, I'd like to let you know that before the
"Chris fiasco" I wanted to make this the issue in which I prove to you
that I'm not partial to the American Hardcore lineup of L.A. Guns. I
liked this band before anybody had heard of Chris Van Dahl or Johnny
Crypt and I had no intention of running this e-zine as a hypocrite
denying that people like Phil Lewis, Kelly Nickels, Mick Cripps or even
the members before they joined that ever existed or played in this band.
I've seen way too many examples of that kind of censorship and it
sickens me. I wanted to make this a fun and entertaining forum for
everybody who has ever liked any Guns album, whether sleaze, glam or
hardcore thrash. Unfortunately, until very recently I only had sources
who could get me information on the AH lineup. And for that reason I
lost a lot of subscribers. I always felt like I had lost a battle
whenever I got an unsubscription message because there wasn't enough
coverage of Phil Lewis. I wanted to make this something for everyone and
I looked like a clown who was acting like a fucking marionette for the
new lineup. The interview with Kelly Nickels in this issue was supposed
to be evidence that I wanted EVERYONE to be able to enjoy this e-zine. I
don't want to exclude any Guns fans! Never have, never will.
Now that Chris is gone from this great band I don't want to forget that
he played a major part in it. Neither should you. As long as I run
Electronic Gypsy I won't let anybody tell me which subjects I can and
cannot cover. Chris was a part of this band and that automatically makes
him a lifetime subject of Electronic Gypsy. There are a few very popular
bands out there that actually tell their fans what to believe and what
their version of the truth is. That official truth changes whenever they
need it to change and these fans are expected to follow suit and
subscribe to whatever this week's official belief is. You probably all
know exactly who I'm talking about. I like this "mystery group"'s music,
but that part of them is insane. Electronic Gypsy should set an example
against that kind of behaviour, behaviour that I deem unacceptable for
Electronic Gypsy. I hereby promise to cover anything that remotely has
to do with L.A. Guns, whether it be Tracii's band (The L.A. Guns),
Filthy Lucre, The Vow, etc.... Anybody who plays in any of these bands
is welcome to express their opinons, their side of the story, and their
truth (because there is no such thing as THE truth in case we haven't
established that yet) in Electronic Gypsy. I refuse to forget Chris just
because he is no longer a member of the band and I will not stomp all
over him just because he got fired. Chris, I salute you! I salute you
but in no way is this a goodbye. This may be the closing of a chapter in
L.A. Guns' history, but Chris is alive as ever and he has no intention
of disappearing. He is here and is about to record an album with The
Vow. This is a new beginning in a different direction with FULL support
and coverage from Electronic Gypsy.
OK, now that I have made it perfectly clear that I'm not going to turn
on Chris I can get down to the actual story. From what I have been told
by Johnny it became increasingly difficult for Chris to fulfill the role
of being L.A. Guns' singer on stage, in the way the other members
expected it from him without sacrificing his own innate form of
expression . If this is true, although I think it's regrettable that
Chris is no longer a member of the band, I guess I'm glad for him that
he no longer has to deal with the pressure of having to be something
other than what he wanted to be. (I've tried founding a couple of bands
that turned out so bad that if I stayed with them the other members
eventually would have ended up with sharp Jackson headstocks in their
torsoes.) So I understand what kind of pressure he must have been under
and even if he doesn't see it like that right now, I hope he will
eventually. Johnny wants me to reassure everybody that the split was
amicable and that there are absolutely no hard feelings from his side.
Chris is still his best friend and this shouldn't change that in any
way.
The current L.A. Guns singer is Ralph Saenez who is/was (I'm not sure
about his status right now) the singer of the Van Halen cover band
Atomic Punks. From what I've been able to find out in these few hours he
can sing and perform exactly like David Lee Roth. The L.A. Guns tour
with RATT is STILL on, so buy your tickets now. If you were undecided
because you have been disappointed by L.A. Guns shows in the past, you
most probably won't be disappointed this time around. It looks like
they've finally faced the truth about who they are and are going to
stand to the name L.A. Guns and start playing a lot more of the older
material. I've even heard that songs like Over The Edge and The Ballad
Of Jayne (as the ballad, not the punk version) are going to be included
in the set.
Not only that, there are also VERY strong rumors of a live album in the
works. I'll keep you posted!
I heard that CMC International has decided to stop pressing American
Hardcore. If you haven't bought a copy yet, this is probably your last
chance, so get it while you can! If you would like them to continue
pressing it, buy copies for all your friends and buy enough to make wall
paper out of the cover. A drastic boost in sales might change their
minds. ;)
The tour dates I have are:
06/27/97 Los Angeles, CA - Billboard Live
07/13/97 Detroit, MI - State Theater (opening for RATT)
07/17/97 Chicago, IL - The Vic Theater (opening for RATT)
07/18/97 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave Ballroom (opening for RATT)
The Billboard Live date *may* have been cancelled. I'm not sure at this
point, maybe Tracii can fill me in. Tracii? What about other tour dates,
Tracii?
Now that Chris is no longer a member of The L.A. Guns coverage of The
Vow and any future band Chris will be a part of will be found in the
Chasing The Dragons section of Electronic Gypsy from now on. But this
week, since I did the interview with them while Chris was still a member
of The L.A. Guns I'll have it in this section. A little information for
new subscribers: The Vow is a band consisting of Chris Van Dahl
(vocals), Paul Alvarez (guitars), Brian Valadez (guitars), Adam Kury
(bass) and Bobby Holder (drums). This is the first interview they've
EVER given as a band. Although it may appear that the interview was done
as a group effort, it wasn't. Pauly, Chris and Brian answered questions
from Pauly's house, while Bobby and Adam each did their's alone. I have
just thrown them all together like this so you wouldn't have to jump
back and forth to compare things. As for discrepancies in the content,
like the answer to the question about why they chose Red Zone studios of
all places to record their forthcoming album, that is because we did a
couple of questions afterwards, which meant that Chris was out of The
L.A. Guns by then. Some answers don't have initials. That means that it
was either Pauly, Chris or Brian. Sometimes they didn't indicate who was
saying what. If you have any more questions about this interview, feel
free to ask. Thanks to Sheryl Pelto and Ryan Trush for helping me come
up with some interesting questions on extremely short notice.
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Q: What's the story behind the original Boneyard? Give us a little
autobiographical background info.
PA: In 1987 I called Franklin Rosell and wanted to put a group
together. We placed an ad in the recycler and got drummer
Corey Silver. Then came singer Charlie Morgan. Did shows
around L.A. and Orange county. Then came Jeff Bone on guitar.
That lasted until 1990. Charlie left the band. We looked for
another singer and found nobody. For personal reasons I left
the band. In comes Chris Van Dahl from Cherry Street. They did
shows and some recording then Chris went back to Cherry Street
bringing Franklin on bass into the band. Eventually Cherry
Street broke up once again. In 1992 I was jamming with Bobby
trying to get a band together. I called Chris and asked him if
he wanted to write material and possibly form a group. We
wrote material and decided it was great and to take it to the
next level. In comes Bobby on drums, Frankling on bass, Chris
on vocals, Paul on guitar to reform Boneyard. In 1993 Johnny
comes in. A few months later Adam Kury replaces Franklin. We
played many shows, met Tracii, and Chris and Johnny joined L.A.
Guns on July 4th, 1995.
Q: After Johnny and Chris left to join Tracii, Kelly and Steve in
what was going to be a post-L.A. Guns band, what did you, Pauly,
Bobby and Adam make of the whole situation?
PA: I was disappointed. It took a long time to get over it but,
I understood why they did what they did.
BH: it sucked but i also felt it was something that they couldn't
pass up it would have been selfish of us.
AK: I was pretty bummed as I believed in what we were doing. The
working environment was not the best at the time, and I think
that was a factor in their decision to leave. But I understood
that it was a career move and wished them well. I would have
gone too.
Q: Was it hard to watch the band you had all put so much effort
into literally crumble over night?
AK: Yes.
PA: Yes. Sniffle, Sniffle.
BH: it was definetly a shock especially the way it went down
Q: Did you, Chris, have any regrets about leaving Boneyard?
CVD: Leaving a band is like breaking up a marriage. Your songs are like
children so there are always regrets. For obvious reasons, we've
come full circle and are in the process of getting ready to record
and release a lot of that material. If not for the fact that we
are finally doing this and doing it right, I may have spent more
time wondering what could have been.
Q: The Boneyard material was very strong and displayed excellent
songwriting. How did you guys feel after it looked like the world
would never see any of that material?
I never felt bad about it. I always knew the world would hear it
eventually.
BH: i knew they would someday! and it's right around the corner
because were back and better then we were and were gonna kick
ass and take names later!
Q: Exactly what led to the quasi-reunion of Boneyard in the form of
The Vow?
CVD: In a nut shell, we collectively felt, we had something to offer
and we just started talking. One thing led to another and here
we are.
BH: it was time we felt it in our bones (no pun intended)
Q: What goals do you plan to achieve with this band?
To cut the best EP we can and take it one day at a time.
AK: First things first, we just want to record some material and
see how it comes out.
BH: to be as big or bigger than the bay city rollers
Q: Is this only a one-off studio project or will you guys keep this
band going indefinitely?
We all have other things going and as long as this doesn't interfere
there's no telling.
BH: forever we've taken the VOW
AK: That depends on how we feel the product is. I think that we are
moving one small step at a time and letting the results determine
how far we will take it. I have cautious optimism.
Q: You picked Red Zone as the studio to record your album. Is there
any particular reason you chose that studio?
PA: Chris chose that studio because he had recorded there when he
was in LAG. Dennis Degher will record, engineer and produce the cd.
Q: Why didn't Johnny wish to take part in The Vow?
You'd have to ask Johnny. We're not comfortable speaking in his
behalf although, there isn't any negativity there.
BH: i don't know ask johnny that one
Q: What made you pick Brian to replace Johnny instead of another
guitarist like Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai or
Eric Johnson?
Chemistry.
Q: Brian, let us know what you think about The Vow!
BV: I feel pretty lucky to being doing an EP with these guys. I
like the material, it's right up my alley. The chemistry is
great and I feel pretty comfortable already. We'll see what
happens in the future.
Q: Do you plan on touring in support of the album after it's
released?
There are no plans to tour at this time............
BH: hell yes!
AK: See above [This is in reference to the answer if The Vow will
be a one-off studio project or not - Gideon]
Q: Will you release a music video?
Only if someone's willing to pay for it.
AK: Ditto
Q: Who are your musical influences?
BH: kiss,aerosmith,cheap trick for old stuff i like alice in
chains and stp alot now
AK: You name it. Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, AC/DC, Ping
Floyd (David Gilmour is the best!), etc, etc. Mostly rock
players at first. Top five : Bob Daisly, Geezer Butler, Steve
Harris, Geddy Lee, Eddie Jackson. Hard to pick, but over
the years each had a place in my development.
Q: What projects have you guys been involved in between the
Boneyard breakup and the beginning of The Vow? Did you
release any albums?
BV: I had a band going in San Jose with Paul and Fralking called
Sick Addiction.
PA: Sick Addiction and currently Voodoo. Never stopped jamming
with Bobby in between projects.
BH: i mostly played around with some buds and tryed my hand at
a cover band
AK: Everything and anything. A couple of things were released
independantly. The only major release was a project that
got a couple of songs in the movie "Gone Fishing' as well
as on the soundtrack (Hollywood Records)
Q: Gear time! The companies endorsing you are going to love
these next questions!!! What kinds of guitars/amps/effects/other
gear do you play/use, Pauly and Brian?
PA: Various old Gibson Les Pauls, Fender custom shop guitars.
Gibson V, B.C. Rich Firebird and Gunslinger. Seymour Duncan
pickups. Dean Markley strings 9-46 gauge. 1970 Marshall
Super Bass 100 watt. Rocktron Chameleon, Carvin Tube 100
power amps. Various Marshall 4-12 cabinets. For effects I
use, a Boss Blues driver overdrive, a Univibe, Digitech Whammy
pedal, Original Thomas Organ Wah pedal.
BV: I also use a Rocktron Chameleon and a Carvin Tube 100 power amp
as well as a Mesa/ Boogie Dual Rectifier head and Marshall cabs.
I also use Fender and Gibson guitars. For effects I use a
Crybaby Wah. Effects are for fags. ha ha ha.
Q: What kind of basses/amps/effects/other gear do you play,
Adam?
AK: SWR & GK Amps. My main bass used to be an Ibanez Blazer that
I reshaped and added EMG pickups to.
Q: What kind of drums do you play, Bobby?
BH: i play LUDWIG SUPER CLASSICS exclusively
Q: What kinds of mics do you use, Chris?
CVD: Shure exclusively.
Q: How far away from your face do you detonate the hand grenade
to attain the effect you have in your eyebrows? I dig that
shrapnel!
CVD: N/A I've removed the rings as they inhibited my sleep cycle.
Q: When did each of you start playing music, what was your first
instrument?
BH: 1980 i started on guitar but i soon found out that drummers
get all the babes so i switched
AK: When I was about 13. I think I got into bass and guitar
around the same time.
Q: Can you play any other instrument than your main ones? If so,
which ones?
BH: i can barely play drums, i just look cool when i play
AK: I am a hobbyist on guitar and keys, for my pleasure and
songwriting only.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
CVD: Well I'm on my way to the store to buy a pack of smokes.
After that who knows.
PA: To wake up tomorrow.
BH: to have a long future, and have many wifes
Q: If you could play in a dream band with musicians of your
choice, who would pick?
PA: I got 'em now.
BH: i already play with them
BV: Bobby fucking rocks.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to become rock musicians?
AK: It's just about everything I love in life in one package.
BH: CHICKS
Q: Where and when were each of you born?
BH: i was born in middletown ohio on april 23 1965
AK: July 7th, Montrose, Scotland
Q: What is your favorite album of all times?
BH: kiss alive 1
Q: What kind of music are you listening to these days? What's in
your CD player right now?
BH: chaep tricks new one, and the new tool
AK: Sting, UFO, Dishwalla, Stone Temple Pilots, Jellyfish,
Soundgarden, Was not Was, John Hiatt, AC/DC, Bjork. I really
dig on songwriters and people who are truly creating something
unique these days.
Q: Are there any new bands you like? Which ones?
AK: Dishwalla, Wallflowers, Ednaswap, Supergrass, Jamiroquai,
Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sugartooth My friend Dusty plays
drums with them. They are very cool, the bass player just
tracked with the Stones. Dusty and I played together in a
band called Legs Diamond a few years back.
BH: i like brother cane alot
Q: Is there any band you just hate? Please tell us why!!!
BH: i don't hate any band
Q: What is your favorite food?
BH: italian
Q: What is your favorite non alcoholic drink?
BH: iced tea
Q: What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
BH: beer any kind i don't care
Q: Name your fav movie, cartoon and TV show!
BH: fast times at ridgemont high, marvin the martian (i accept all
gifts!) and cops
Q: What is the one thing that people don't know about you?
BH: that i'm a lesbian trapped in a males body
Q: Who were your heroes and idols while growing up?
BH: has to be KISS
Q: If you could be anybody, who would you pick to be?
BH: TOMMY LEE CAUSE HE GETS ALL THE CHICKS
Q: What is your favorite color?
BH: BLACK
Q: Is there anything you just love?
BH: WOMEN AND MUSIC MAYBE NOT IN THAT ORDER DEPENDS ON WHAT DAY
YOU ASK
Q: Is there anything you just hate?
BH: PEOPLE WITH HUGE EGOS
Q: Give us your views on the state of the European Monetary Union.
BH: HUH?
AK: I don't know enough to say, but this I have found to be true:
1) Money is the root of all evil
2) Money can't buy you love, but it can lease.
Q: Would you be willing to purchase and consume genetically
engineered tomatoes if they were specifically enginineered
to sing like Chris? Would you change your mind if these very
same tomatoes could also sing like Michael Jackson? Please
answer this one honestly as it means a lot to the readers of
Electronic Gypsy.
BH: I'D EAT ANYTHING IF IT WOULD MAKE ME SING BETTER
PA: I already sing like Chris. But Michael Jackson cant sing!
[I think there was a semantical misunderstanding here! - Gideon]
Q: If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
BH: I ALREADY AM ONE
Q: If you could go back and do it all again, what would you do
differently?
PA: Kept my mouth shut!
AK: Get wise quicker.
Q: Pauly, tell us what you'd be willing to do to get my white
Jackson Firebird!
PA: I would be willing to pay for the shipping!
Q: Of ALL the places you've played, which would you consider to
be the BEST and WORST and why?
BV: Boomerangs in San Francisco, California. I couldnt take a
shit there. The bathrooms were so bad.
Q: Is there anything you'd like to say to aspiring musicians?
PA: I cant answer that since I am still an aspiring musician.
Ask Bobby, he is the rock star!
AK: Just play for fun because you will never make a career of it.
(If that's enough to make them give up than I have done them
a favor. Only the truly damaged continue.)
Chris Van Dahl
Paul Alvarez
Brian Valadez
Bobby Holder
Adam Kury
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-*
That was the interview with The Vow. I can't wait till the album is
out!!! There are some great songs that you HAVE to hear there!
Oh yeah, everybody who has a website dedicated to L.A. Guns, I'd like to
ask you to update them NOW. I know that your schedules may conflict with
this, but it would be highly advisable to change the content of your
pages to let the world know what has just happened in L.A. Guns.
Nicholas Wichmann from Denmark has just created a Danish L.A. Guns
website. Have a look at it and let him know what you think of it. It's a
pretty good site! If you have any pictures that you'd like him to have
on his page contact him at Wich...@vip.cybercity.dk . The URL for his
page is http://www.netby.nerdscan.dk/Nord/Appelsingade/LAGUNS .
I know all this has been pretty hard to swallow all at once!
Fortunately, the rest of this issue is pretty much jam-packed with fun
news. There's a great interview with the one and only Kelly Nickels that
you'll all enjoy. I got Megadeth's album, Cryptic Writings, which in
case you're wondering, WAS NOT named for Johnny, this week and they've
been able to put their previous albums to shame once again! "Almost
Honest" is the best song I've heard in a long time!!! This is a
brilliant album that I'll probably review for you next week! My secret
tip of the week is Angel Heart's album, "Welcome...". You most probably
won't be able to find this album in stores unless you live in Brazil, so
in order to get it you'll have to write to their singer Gus at
mons...@compuland.com.br . If you're into 80s metal, you'll love this
gem!!!
Please send in your comments. I'd like to have everybody's views on
this. Some of you are distraught and some of you couldn't be happier.
Why not share you views with the rest of us?
To be continued...