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Stacey Blades - Interview
L.A. Guns |
AFTER SUCCESSFULLY ACHEIVEING THE IMPOSSIBLE BY REPLACING TRACII GUNS IN HIS OWN BAND, STACEY BLADES HELPED CRANK OUT ONE OF THE BEST HARD ROCK ALBUMS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH TALES FROM THE STRIP. NOW THERE’S A NEW DVD OUT, AND ADAM HAMILTON JUST LEFT THE BAND FOR A CAREER IN MUSIC PRODUCTION. WE SOUGHT OUT STACEY FOR SOME ANSWERS…
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May 2007
FIRST OFF – HOW ARE YOU AND WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR YOU AT THE MOMENT?
Hey J.L How are you! I’m doing great! Just on a tour break, so kicking it in L.A. until we start back up this summer and we will be heading to Europe in September for a headlining tour. It’s been 2 years since we have been there and the fans are dying to see us!
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THE NEW DVD IS JUST OUT?
Ya, the DVD just came out, even though we shot it last year. I’m glad we finally put it together cos it was a great night at the Whisky. It has a great raw untamed feel to it. The audio is of course a lot different from the LIVE ALBUM which was recorded the same night. I’m glad the DVD doesn’t sound the same as album cos it gives it more of a rough edge.
ITS UNFORTUNATE ADAM CHOSE TO LEAVE?
We weren’t that shocked when Adam told us he was leaving. I think we knew for some time that he wanted to get off the road. Adam is definitely going to be missed. We really had some great times touring and recording together. He’s definitely at home in his Studio. Adam is one of the most talented musicians I have ever worked with. |
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Adam Hamilton & Stacey
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IT KIND OF TARNISHES THE NAME AGAIN DOESN’T IT? I MEAN IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO BE A SOLID LINE-UP?
Well, I guess it was a bit of a shake-up that’s for sure. It sucks when someone who has been with the band for a long time decides to leave. The show must go on!! Maybe we can reach the record for the most member changes in a single band. ha ha ha. |
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MAYBE ADAM WILL HELP ENGINEER/PRODUCE YOUR NEXT ALBUM?
We will definitely still work with Adam, probably write with him. We have an amazing relationship with Andy Johns and I hope we get to do another record with him.
TALKING OF WHICH, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT ONE?
Well we don’t have a deal right now since we severed our ties with Shrapnel. We are hoping to have an album early next year
MANY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TOP WAKING THE DEAD, BUT IT WAS DONE?
Yes!!! We busted our asses working on Tales. We wrote almost a year straight for that record. We knew we had to step it up since it was the first original album without Tracii. I think we did a killer job on that record and it sounds amazing, courtesy of Andy.
NOW YOU HAVE AN EVEN HARDER JOB OF LIVING UP TO TALES?
Ya I guess we do! Well we will dig in just like we always do and deliver the goodS! |
Rip The Covers Off |
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SO, ARE YOU GUYS ALREADY WRITING NEW SONGS?
Yes we have written some killer stuff already, very balls out riff type stuff with great melodies.
L.A. GUNS HAVE RELEASED A FEW IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR MORE?
The great thing about the band is that in the last 5 years we have really stayed to our roots and not strayed away from the original sound so to speak. Be patient guys we will deliver another killer record in due time!
IN ONE OF MY BLOGS I ACTUALLY EXPLAINED HOW TALES CONVINCED ME TO START THE SAVIOURS OF ROCK BRAND?
That’s pretty fuckin cool!
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD TALES, I COULDN’T BELEIVE HOW GOOD IT WAS, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY HAPPY?
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Stacey, doing what he does best
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| I knew once we went into pre-production for the record in April 05’ that we were onto something really good. It wasn’t till Phil started layin down the vocals and we were like “Holy Shit this stuff sounds fuckin really good! |
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I THOUGHT VAMPIRE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST SONGS L.A. GUNS EVER DID, PLENTY OTHERS THOUGHT SO TOO?
Vampire still gives me goose bumps when I listen to it. Andy really helped us shape the song in the Studio, shit even the demo version of it is great to. So ya I agree it is a strong song.
I ACTAULLY WENT ONE STEP FURTHER AND SAID ITS L.A. GUNS’ BEST ALBUM.
Wow thanks! I think it’s up there with the first 3 albums for sure. It’s funny you don’t realize how good your album is until the fans speak. They really love it and we got critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. It really proved how good this line-up is too!
THERE'S PLENTY OF KILLER SONGS. NEON SUNSET, HOLLYWOODS BURNING, GYPSY SOUL ETC. COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THEM? HOW MUCH WRITING DID YOU GET TO PARTICIPATE?
Well we all put in our 2 cents so to speak during pre-production. Adam and I worked a lot on the structure or frame work of the riffs and guitar lines. Phil really added the extra dimension with some amazing vocal melodies and of course once Steve puts his signature drum lines on it, it sounded great! Electric Neon Sunset was a riff and melody that Adam and I wrote one afternoon, Hollywood’s Burning was Adam’s Idea which I kind of tweaked the riff a bit, Adam also came up with the riff for Gypsy Soul.
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Nothin' Better To Do |
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I ALSO THOUGHT RESURECTION WAS A KICK ARSE UNDERATED SONG?
Great melody line with the guitar on that!
MANY WERE LIKE “THIS IS GREAT, A REAL RETURN TO THE 80’S” ON TALES, BUT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT HAD A MORE CLASSIC HARD ROCK AND TIMELESS FEEL.
Well it has a little of everything on it. Definitely has a classic sound with a little newness and some 80’s flavouring.
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S PARTY ANTHEMS AND 80’S POWER BALLADS?
L.A. Guns was never really a party anthem or ballad band were they? So yeah I see where you say it’s got more of a classic feel to it.
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The new line-up |
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I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD PLAY MORE OF THESE SONGS ON TOUR! IM SURE YOU’D PROBABLY FELL THAT WAY A BIT TOO.
Well it’s hard to squeeze all the favourites into an hour and 20 minutes. But we definitely try to play 2 or 3 songs off Tales.
THATS COOL. I'D BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THREE (LAUGHS)
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COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR GUITAR GEAR AND SETUP?
Sure, I have a Crate Amp endorsement, so I run A Blue Voodoo 120 head with a VTX 350 Head and run them stereo through 3-4x12 cabinets. However when we do fly-ins it’s always rented gear so it’s usually Marshalls. I have a pedal board that I always use which contains a Boss Stereo Chorus, DD-3 Digital Delay, Boss Overdrive(which I only use with the Marshall’s) Chromatic Tuner and a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah. As far as my guitars go it’s strictly Les Paul’s and I just got a killer Fender Strat. I have a B.C. Rich endorsement but I don’t play my Mockingbird that much.
YOU HAVE A REALLY GREAT MELODIC STYLE?
Thanks, I always try and play for the song ya know, instead of just wanking up and down the freeboard. I tried to do that a few times on Tales and Andy would just give me this look and say “dear boy” play with feeling!
DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH THE TRACII DIE HARDS WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED UP?
No not really! Every one pretty much knew that Trace had left for Brides. My style is very close to his as well so it was a really easy transition for me. Hell some people think I’m him half the time anyways. There are of course some people out there that wish Tracii was up there instead of me, but for the most part the fans have really accepted me with open arms.
HOW DID YOU GUYS HOOK UP ANYWAY?
Well I was in a band at the time called S.M.A.C.K. with Pat Muzingo from Junkyard. We were just about to breakup and a buddy of mine who is friends with Phil called and asked me if I was interested in playing with L.A.GUNS. I was like hell ya! I met with Phil and Steve and |
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| we really connected. There was huge chemistry right from the first rehearsal. |
Phil & Stacey |
PEOPLE STILL CALL YOU THE NEW GUY, WHEN REALLY YOU’VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR WHAT? 4 YEARS?
Ya, I’m really not that new anymore am I! It’s been a crazy 4 years and it’s gone by soooo quick. Most things do when you’re having a blast.
IT REMINDS ME OF BRUCE KULICK IN KISS, HE WAS AROUND FOR SO LONG, AND BETTER IN MANY WAYS, BUT WAS ALWAYS THE NEW GUY?
I’ve been around for many years and had a long career before L.A. Guns. Not that many people know that.
SO NOW I GUESS ITS SCOTT’S TURN, HOW IS HE FITTING IN?
Scotty is doing fuckin great! He plays his ass off and fits the band great. Him and I look like book ends!
ROXX GANG WAS OVER FOR A FEW YEARS BY THE TIME YOU JOINED UP WITH THE L.A. GUNS, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED THERE?
I was in that band for almost 9 years! I left in 2000 due to a lot of reasons. They just didn’t want to rock anymore. Kevin slowly started turning the band into this Muddy Waters thing and all we were doing is learning all these old blues songs. That got real old after a while. I got tired of being told how to dress, “turn down you’re playing too loud” This funny, I actually remember Kevin telling me during a rehearsal”this is mojo gurus not L.A. Guns!” I told them see ya and I moved out to L.A.
VOODOO WAS A COOL ALBUM THOUGH; IT HAD A REAL FASTER PUSSYCAT FEEL?
Yes that was a great album and follow up to Things You’ve Never Done Before. That was a great time for the band
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Electric Neon Sunset
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WELL, I FOR ONE AM STOKED YOU’RE IN THE BAND, AND I DON’T REALLY WANT TO SEE IT CHANGE AT ALL. BUT THE SINGLE GUITARIST THING MAKES ME THINK 1 THING…PHIL’S LEAVING ROOM FOR ONE MORE, AND NO GUESSING WHO WE’RE THINKING OF?.
Well Phil has been playing a lot more guitar lately and he actually plays on 7 or 8 songs now so it helps fill out the sound.
ONE THING THAT IS UNBELEIVABLY IRONIC IS BOTH YOUR NAMES...I MEAN STACEY BLADES…TRACII GUNS, C'MON?
Kind of Ironic indeed. It’s just a coincidence, I’ve been going by that name since I was 17 before I knew a Tracii Guns existed. Around 87 I guess. So no I was not named that by anybody but myself! Blades is actually my nickname. I refused to use scissors in grade school for some bizarre reason so they started calling me Blades.
JUST A PERSONAL QUESTION. IM ACTUALLY BACK HOME IN AUSTRALIA AT THE MOMENT, AND EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW – WILL YOU GUYS EVER TOUR HERE!?
I would go to Australia in a heartbeat. We would love to tour there; it’s just hard to find a promoter who is going to flip a very expensive bill to bring us over. So if you know any please let us know!!
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WELL IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE; YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS, AND WE’RE BIG SUPPORTERS OF YOU STACEY, GOODLUCK IN THE FUTURE.
Thankyou sooo much! It was a pleasure talking with you J.L!
THANKS TO STACEY FOR TALKING WITH SAVIOURS OF ROCK. HE'S A GREAT GUY AND WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE. GO CHECK HIM AND THE BOYS OUT AT:
:http://www.laguns.net/
or his fan site : myspace.com/purexstacey
- Interview by Jarrah Loh |
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