Rock Eyez

April 2007

Interview with entire band

the Rock Queen: Good afternoon, and welcome to Orlando, FL!
Chris: Thanks, glad to be here.
the Rock Queen: First, I'd like to ask you about the exciting news. You were recently signed to Alabama Records out of Sweden, right?
Chris: Yes.
the Rock Queen: How did you come to know those guys?
Chris: Andreas, who is the owner of the label, saw us open for Paul Stanley at the Hard Rock in Orlando and talked to Rob .
Rob: It was kind of weird. It was about halfway thru Paul's set: I was standing in the backstage area somewhere. He (Andreas) just came over and introduced himself. We exchanged information, went back and forth on the internet a couple times, and then to be honest with you I forgot about him ( laughing ). We just kind of corresponded, and then like through December and January we didn't really communicate much. Then things kind of picked up.
Cleveland: We tend not to take people seriously the first time, you know? We hear that all the time: people say, "Oh, we are going to do so much for you," you know, and then whatever.
Mike: Sometimes you just can't believe everything these people say until they actually follow through.
the Rock Queen: So, how long of a time frame was that?
Chris: It was pretty short. We played with Paul Stanley in Orlando in October, and we just signed the deal last month.
the Rock Queen: Can you tell us the details of the deal?
Chris: It is basically just a distribution deal in Scandinavia. That's about it.
Mike: He is going to promote the record over there and sell it in some retail outlets.
Cleveland: It was just like, you know, we didn't take him seriously, honestly, and then all of a sudden he ended up calling Rob and things fell into place. It is a distribution deal, and that is great and we are very glad to have it.
the Rock Queen: So, does this mean you are open to other deals of the same kind from smaller labels around the globe?
Chris: Yes, definitely.
the Rock Queen: Are there plans to tour Scandinavia?
Chris: If the label wants to bring us over, you know, that depends on finances and stuff, but we would be open to the idea.
the Rock Queen: All right, you've announced some dates with BROKEN TEETH, Jason McMaster's band, for the early summer. How did you get hooked up with those guys?
Cleveland: We played with them in Atlanta.
Chris: We did play with them in Atlanta. We met them through a band called IRONHEAD based in NY now. Basically they were good friends with the guys in BROKEN TEETH, and they set up a show with us in Atlanta about a year ago. We've just kept in touch with them ever since. They've played in Atlanta a couple times and we went to the shows, and basically kept in touch and said we'd love to do more shows together.
the Rock Queen: I've noticed on this set of dates that you guys are playing more of the smaller venues. How does that compare for you to, say, playing in front of a huge audience with a huge stage, like you did with the Paul Stanley tour? How do you make that transition from large stage to small and back again?
Cleveland: I can answer this, actually. It's pretty simple: we are so used to playing the small places that we are very comfortable doing them. Wherever we play we feed off the energy of the crowd: whether it's a small crowd or a big one, the energy for us comes from there. Regardless of the size of the place, it's the people in it who give us our energy, and that's what gives us the reputation for being the live band that we are.
Mike: It is pretty much the norm for us to play smaller places, so when we get to play a bigger venue it's a real treat.
Rob: Ultimately the experience is different in that, you know, you get used to playing eight feet away from someone, and one day you look up and they are 30 feet away, and you think "Wow." I like to go into each show and take in everything about it: its part of what makes the experience for me.
the Rock Queen: Do you think you guys would ever feel comfortable in a venue as big as, say Madison Square Garden?
Cleveland: Oh, definitely. I think that's where we belong! We want to pay our dues in a respectful way, but we definitely want the treats as well.
the Rock Queen: I see you guys are scheduled to play the Florida Music Festival in May. Do you have details about that yet?
Chris: We really don't yet. We got the show through our BMI agent, and all we know is we did what we were supposed to do on our end and we should have the show. But as far as what day and where, we don't know that yet. We will post that information as soon as it's available, though, probably in April.
Cleveland: From what we know that festival is pretty good, and since we're probably on the BMI stage we think that's a good place to be, we're just waiting for the details.
the Rock Queen: When you guys visit a new city to play in, what kinds of things do you guys look for?
Cleveland: Starbucks (laughing)
the Rock Queen: Well, those are everywhere (laughing). What I mean is, what kind of mentality brings you to a show in a place where you are fairly new to the area?
Rob: With respect to the show, for me, it's kind of like this: I don't know anything about the place. Tonight, for example-we don't know anything about the club, or what kind of turnout we will or won't have, and that. Any band on any level will tell you that there are going to be good gigs and bad gigs. You always hope people will come at least and give you a shot.
Cleveland: For example, we recently played a gig where we pretty much had our humble pie handed to us. But there are times when that happens to us, and then there are times where we play and the places are packed. We just hope for the best. We always end up having a fun night, even if there aren't a lot of people.
Mike: What we really hope is just that people show up. If they come, at least we know they gave us a shot. That's all you can ask for.
the Rock Queen: Ok, I have a hot topic now. Recently there has been an uprising about the future of internet radio. According to the new fee schedule set by the Copyright Board, it is going to cost internet webcasters more money to play songs for bands, due to an increase in performance rights. For some major stations, this could result in extinction. How do you guys feel about that, and how do you feel internet radio is as a value to unsigned bands such as yourself?
Rob: If the only stations that are viable options for playing your music go out of business where does that leave you?
Chris: For us, at this stage of the game, I would rather have airplay than the few pennies a spin we might get on our royalty statement.
Rob: I agree, if hearing us on the internet brings you to our show, we really could care less about the royalty end of things. If donating a hundred spins of my song means twenty people come out to my show when we come to your town, it's worth it to me to donate that royalty. We're more interested in people coming out to see us. The name of the game in this business is getting your name out there: if a hundred people listen to us on the internet, and just one of them goes over to iTunes or to our website and buys a disc, I have already made more progress with that than I would ever get on my BMI statement or from royalties. Reaching that fan is more important. You have to look at it that way that reaching the fans is the most important thing, and internet radio is a help in accomplishing that.
the Rock Queen: All right, Cleveland, Chris, Mike and Rob, any last words?
RTR: Yeah come and check out our website and MySpace www.myspace.com/rocketstoruin and thanks to all our fans new and old!
the Rock Queen: It has been a pleasure interviewing you, and good luck!

Hair Metal Mayhem

April 2007

Interview with Chris

Asylum

December 2006

Interview with Chris

For anyone who doesn't know the band, tell us a little about Rockets to Ruin.

We’re a 4 piece hard rock band based in Atlanta GA.  Band members are Cleve Willis – Vocal, Mike Grimmett – Guitar, Rob Hammersmith – Drums and I play Bass…  We’re influenced by bands like old Kiss, The Cult, Crue, Warrior Soul, Monster Magnet, etc…

You all have generated quite a buzz in the southeastern U.S.  What do you attribute that to?

Promoting and playing our asses off.  We’ve had the opportunity to play with some really cool bands….anyone from Dark New Day to Paul Stanley.  Sometimes you go on in front of a band like Dark New Day who you think may not have “your type of crowd,” but there are a lot of young kinds there that may not have that much exposure to this type of music, and they get excited to hear something that’s different than what radio or TV is giving them.

Is it your intention to bring this style back to the forefront of rock and roll?

Yes and no.  Our main intention is to write and play what we love and have fun.  This is what we do.  The mainstream usually wants some kind of watered down/polished version of what we do.  As long as the music is real I would love to see straight up rock come back to the forefront.  Back in the day you had bands like GnR and Circus of Power, and then you had Winger and White Lion…..I don’t want to see Rock get back to bands like Winger and White Lion.  If that’s what it’s going to turn into then no.

The rock scene right now is in a good place.  The people that are into it, are into it because that’s who there are and what they like.  The bands that are doing it, do it because they believe in it.  There are some really cool bands out there right now, and I’d hate to see them worrying about trying to write their next “radio single” for people who are only going to blow them off for the next thing that comes along.

You've recently released the full length "Love*Drugs*Rebellion", which was produced by Rachel Bolan of Skid Row.  How did you guys end up working with him?

A couple of the guys in the band have known the new Skid Row drummer Dave Gara from around town for a few years.  Dave and Rachel came to a show we were doing with King’s X one night.  Dave introduced Rachel to us…Rachel had liked what he heard and ended up coming to a bunch of other shows.  When it came time to record a full length CD, Rachel was the 1 and only person we asked to produce it.    

Was he easy to work with on the project?

Rachel was very easy to work with.  He gets us and didn’t try to change us as a band.  We all had the understanding going into the studio that if someone threw out an idea and the other person didn’t like it, or thought something else would sound better, we were open to that.

No egos or any of that bullshit.  We just wanted to go in and make a great rock record. 

A couple of tracks on the album are dedicated to someone's memory.   "Helpless" is dedicated to Rick Conley and "Take a Ride With Me (Straight to Hell)" to Douglas Stroh.  What are the stories behind these songs and the dedications?

Both of those songs are about people who od’d on Heroin.  Rick was Cleve’s old roommate, and he was the one who found him dead.

Doug was a childhood friend of my wife’s.  I had never met him or anything, but one night we were out watching a friend’s band play and his sister called and told her he had od’d.  I wrote the lyrics on the way to his funeral in El Paso, Texas as she was telling me stories about his drug problem over the years and shit they used to do together.

The band seems to work well together.  Does everyone have an equal part in the songwriting process?

Yeah, everyone has equal say in the songwriting process.  Sometimes, we’ll just jam on something in rehearsal or me or Mike will bring in a riff and we’ll all work on it together.   To me, songs sound way better when you have everyone’s input instead of 1 person just walking in and saying “ok this is what you’re gonna play.”

What are your biggest sources of inspiration when you sit down to write?

Lyrically they come from so many places.  Anything from people I see on TV to people I’ve met in real life to things I hate….different shit.  “Devil Girl” was inspired by someone I saw on a reality show and “Helpless” and “Take a Ride” were inspired by deaths of friends, “We are the Drugs” was inspired by a trip I made to LA one time and this guy I met at the Rainbow.

You've performed with both Paul Stanley (KISS) and Skid Row, both of which are obvious influences on your music.  What was it like to play on the same stage as these guys?

It was amazing to play with both of those bands.  Both are bands we grew up on and influenced us so much.  To be able to go on the road with both of them was so much fun.

You all have such high energy and positive attitudes, both onstage and in the studio.  How do you manage it?

We just genuinely enjoy what we do and love making music together.  When you have that and are good at it, other things will fall into place.

 Making it in the music business today is tough, and many new bands get discouraged quickly.  What drives you to keep going?

Like I just said, we enjoy what we do.  I couldn’t imagine not making music.  Yes we want to be rich rock stars and all that shit, but at the end of the day it’s about doing what makes you happy.

 Your music is getting airplay on several stations already.  How long do you think it will be before the rest of the country catches on to Rockets to Ruin?

Soon I hope. HA HA  We have some good things going on right now and have some good people interested in helping us, so we’ll see.

Glitzine

by Spice D. Warlock
November 2006

Interview with Chris
 

Q1. Introduction time… who are you and what bands have you previously been involved with/are involved with and who are your influences?
My name is Chris Taylor and I'm the bass player. Some of my previous bands are Supermatic, Revolution Hazy, Love Star 69, Liquid Love Tribe, and a bunch of other shit you've never heard of. As far as influences it would be guys like Nikki Sixx, Duff McKagen, Rachel Bolan, Pete McClanahan, Dee Dee & CJ Ramone, and Twiggy Ramirez. To me it's not about how "technical" someone can play… it's about attitude / style and vibe.
Q2. For all those 'Rockets To Ruin' virgins, describe and sell your music.
We're a 4 piece Hard Rock band from Atlanta, GA. Our sound is very raw, sleazy, and loud. I hate comparing us to other bands, but people into Buckcherry, early GnR, Circus of Power, and other bands in that vein would be into us.
Q3. How do you see RTR's sound developing and where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
We've already been together for a couple of years, and in that time we have become better songwriters together and I see that continuing. I'd love to be touring full time and have another CD out.
Q4. It took you a weekend to record 4 songs from your 6-track EP (2 having been previously recorded), how long did it take to produce 'Love*Drugs*Rebellion' and would you work with Rachel Bolan again?
With that EP we went in and knocked out 4 songs in 2 days with us producing it. We basically recorded it the way we played the songs live with minimal overdubs. The song Revolution had just written before we went in the studio and we had never even played it live, so what's on that EP is a song that was only about a week old.
Love Drugs Rebellion took us a few months to record. We spent a couple of weeks in pre-production with Rachel and recorded it off and on between his shows with Skid Row.
Rachel gets us, and our sound, and didn't try to change that and make us into something we're not, so yes; we'd work with him again.
Q5. What was it like working with Rachel Bolan and Jaret on the new album? Any amusing stories to tell?
Not sure who Jaret is ha ha but it was cool working with Rachel. I think you mean JJ though… JJ is someone we've all known for a while. Rob and I have been in bands with him over the years. He owns Koda Studio….
Rachel is very easy to work with. Like I said before, he didn't try to change who we are as a band. He just wanted to capture "us" in the studio. He told me from the beginning, I'm gonna throw out a lot of ideas and if you don't like them, just say so and vice versa.
When we all get together it's like sitting in a room with a bunch of 15 year old boys with all of the shit and sex stories. I'll just leave it at that.
Q6. What made you decide to use KODA Studios again?
RTR had only used Koda once before to record 2 songs on the EP. Me or Rob weren't even in the band at the time. Rob played in the studio, but was in another band at the time. I hadn't even met them yet at that point.
When Rachel moved to Atlanta he had a bunch of studio equipment and went in as a partner with JJ at Koda. They remodelled it and everything, so it was natural for us to just go in there to record the CD.
Q7. You play a big part in writing the lyrical content for RTR. Is this something that comes quite naturally or do you find you have to work quite hard at it?
No, it comes naturally for me to write lyrics. Anyone that knows me knows that I always have something to say. Ha ha… It may sound cliché, but in a way it's like therapy. If someone or something pisses me off, I can just write about them in a song. Some singers are really weird about someone else writing lyrics for them, but Cleve is really open to it and we bounce ideas off of each other all the time.
Q8. What makes a good song?
It's a good hook, cool guitar riff, and someone singing it like they mean it and aren't just going through the motions.
Q9. Do you think musicians should make a conscious effort to sound contemporary?
I think musicians should just be themselves. That is the problem with what's on the radio and MTV. People try too hard to sound "current and trendy" that they don't even know who the fuck THEY are. I've seen so many bands and musicians on the local scene, that over years went from teasing their hair, to sounding like Pearl Jam, to trying to rap, now trying to sound like Nickelback or some shit. People need to grow and change as musicians, but they shouldn't forget who they are and shouldn't try to be something they're not.
It's nice having people tell you they love what you do, but at the end of the day, I do this for myself. If people like it cool, if not, that's cool too. I had this guy tell me one time that it was soooo cool for a band like us to be out there now, and he wishes there were more bands out there like us blah blah blah. I wanted to tell him to quit his shitty college rock band and go form a real rock band then and stop bitching.
Q10. Which musician/band do you feel are or were underestimated on the music scene and deserve(d) that extra push (excl. RTR…. of course ;oP)?
One of the most underrated bands was Warrior Soul. I absolutely loved them. Musically they had everything I love. Everything from trippy songs to straight up rock to punk. They were able to roll everything up into one and pull it off. Not many bands can do that.
Q11. You have played some great venues over the years, if you could choose any venue, anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? Any sign of a British/European tour on the horizon?
There are sooooo many places I would love to play. When I started playing music, I lived in northern California and most of the concerts I would go to were at Arco Arena in Sacramento. To be able to play there where all of the bands that inspired me played would be a dream come true.
Not sure when we will go over there to play. We really want to, but we'll see. Then I would get to meet you Spice! ;) ha ha
Q12. You've recently been to London with your wife. What were the highlights and lowlights of your visit and how does London compare (in your opinion) to Atlanta?
London and Atlanta are like night and day. Nothing similar at all. I fell in love with London and can't wait to go back. The only thing I didn't like was how expensive it is, and it was a little too cold. Next time we'll go when it's warmer. Going to places like Decadence and hanging out in Soho and Camden I was like WOW, people fuckin get it here. In Atlanta it's all Hip Hop, "indie" rock and rednecks. We met a bunch of really cool people over there that we still chat with.
Q13. Besides bass guitar; do you dabble with any other instruments, or is there anything particular you would love to play?
I play a little guitar and that's how I write everything, but that's about it. I wish I could sing a little better, but other than that, I've never really been interested in playing another instrument.
Q14. I know you're a big Warrior Soul fan and you're influenced quite extensively by Pete McClanahan, however, what's your opinion was of Kory's new band 'Dirty Rig'?
I really like the New Dirty Rig CD. I thought it was cool that they re-did "Cities Scenes and Thieves" by Space Age Playboys (that's another band that should have been bigger).
Q15. Is there anyone you'd love to be able to work with on a one-off project?
I'd love to somehow do something with Nikki Sixx or Manson. Lyrically I think Manson is brilliant. Especially on "The Golden Age of Grotesque." Nikki, well because he's Nikki Sixx and the reason I became a musician in the 1st place.
Q16. What made the band decide to incorporate 'Rocket Girls' to the website, and why not the addition of your male audience?
Guys have asked that question too. Ha ha… We may change it… We did it because part of our logo has a Rocket Girl in it and we thought it would be a cool little play on that. Plus we like getting pix of girls in our shirts.
Q17. Are you sick to death of TV shows like Pop Idol? Would you rather see the music industry stick their necks on the line and rig up a full blown worldwide, publicised battle of the bands?
Yes I am sick to death of those shows. They ALL fuckin suck… all of them. "Reality" shows in general irritate me. What I'd rather see is the music industry actually take a chance on something and stop pumping out the same bullshit over and over again. Some of the lyrics to our song "Devil Girl" were actually inspired by my hatred for all these so-called reality shows made up of fake people.
Q18. If you had the opportunity to have 'An Audience With…..' say 20 major record labels, how would you convince them?
All we could do is play for them and see if they get it. What they don't seem to get it that the biggest / best bands in history came out during a time when what they were doing wasn't popular. Look at the time periods when bands like Nirvana, Crue, Ramones, Sex Pistols, KISS, etc. etc. came out. They were all going against the grain and someone actually had the balls to take a chance on them.
Q19. What should everyone shut up about, and what's your opinion on the joint venture between the US and the UK in Iraq?
I would love for people to shut the fuck up about Britney spears and "K Fed." Who cares.
I don't really discuss my political beliefs. I don't think many people really give a shit about what I think about that.
Q20. If you were asked to name one unique thing either about yourself or RTR that your mother doesn't know, what would it be?
My mom pretty much knows everything there is to know about me and the stuff she doesn't, she isn't going to find out in this interview. Ha ha…
Q21. If you 'personally' were going to be remembered for only one thing, what would it be?
I guess I would like to be remembered as someone who lived life to the fullest and wasn't afraid to take chances.
Q22. Any final Words… Insults… and/or Loving Messages?
Thanks to everyone that has supported and believed in us, and now go buy our cd's and t-shirts. We need the money!
Chris... It was a pleasure... as always!

Cathouse

October 2006
Interview with Chris
 

Hi Chris, how are you?
I'm good. Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.
First of all i'd like tell you how much i appreciate your love*drugs*rebellion just released album, listened and reviewed few weeks ago. It has damn contagious songs! I was really impressed by music, hard and "modern". Rock 'n' roll just brought to 2006…what do you think about it?
We are all very happy with the new CD. The production is way better than the EP we released a year or so ago. We rewrote and rerecorded a couple of the songs from that original EP.
We grew up on the old school bands like Crue, Kiss, The Cult and even stuff like D Generation to Monster Magnet. There are elements of all of that in there… We wanted to keep that old school sound without sounding dated, and at the same time we don't want to sound like some of the other "modern rock / indie / alternative" bands out there now.
Let's talk about Rockets to Ruin for our readers: what are the turning points of your career, starting from your beginning?
I think the 1st turning point for this band was when Rob joined it. He brought the playing style, attitude, drive and look that we needed. Once he joined we became so much more solid as a band.
The 2nd one was when Rachel became involved with us. We had several people come and go that said they were going to do this or that, and people saying how much they liked us, and how refreshing it was to hear a band like us blah blah blah. Rachel was the 1st person to put his money where his mouth is and step up and actually do something.
You've been produced by Rachel Bolan: how was working with him and how much Rachel Bolan is in this cd?
It was great working with him in the studio. In the beginning for me it was a little weird because he was such a huge influence on me when I first started playing bass, and here I was sitting in a studio with him. Once you get to know him, he's just as childish as the rest of us. Ha ha
He wasn't one of those producers with the attitude that we HAD to do things his way. He was very open to everyone's ideas. He told us in the beginning, "hey if you don't like something I suggest, just tell me." So he was very easy to get along with and we were all upfront on what we liked and didn't like.
As far as how much of him is on the CD, we had already written the songs before going in to the studio and had already developed our sound. He changed a few things lyrically and helped out with some of the arrangements to make the music and melodies flow a little better. There were 2 songs where we completely rewrote the lyrics to a verse and added a different chorus to 1. Ya know, the stuff you pay a producer to do. HA HA
How long had you been working on this album, from the writing to the recording? Who did the songwriting care about?
We'll it's been a year or so since we released the EP. Right after we got out of the studio and released that, we started writing again. I guess we spent a few weeks or so in preproduction and it took a few months to record it.
Artwork is really amazing and focused, how did you get that idea and who did it?
The original idea for the cover came from Exile on Main Street by the Stones. We wanted some type of collage. I came up with the rest of the design and my wife actually put it together since I'm not that great with the computer. All of the imagery comes from the lyrics in the songs.
Typical question: satisfied of the final product or would you change anything if you could go back?
I'm really satisfied with how everything turned out. As a musician, there are always things you would like to go back and change. They are minor things, but overall I'm really happy with it.
Do you like any bands around and why? I love Devil girls
We all love the song Devil Girl too. That is actually the 1st single off of the CD. There are a few bands out that I really like right now. The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies, Chelsea Smiles, Turbonegro…stuff like that. I love music with energy and attitude. Pretty much everything out there now played on the radio is so bland and boring.
What do you think about clubs? Do you have live shows and you like them?
Well this stage of the game, clubs are about all we play. They are a lot of fun. It's cool having everyone so close and you can feed off of their energy.
We have a few shows coming up and everyone can see the dates at rocketstoruin.com or our myspace page at myspace.com/rocketstoruin.
If you could choose, which band would you like to make a tour with?
There are so many we'd love to play with. We have a few shows coming up with Skid Row in early Nov around the South East, so we're all really looking forward to that. I'd also love to play with Motley Crue or Monster Magnet. I love both of those bands.
I'll tell some words I found in your album: gimme a definition…

SEX :
DRUGS:
ALCOHOL:
STAGE:
LOOK:
Most of the words you're throwing out come from the song Devil Girl. The original idea of the song came from a girl I saw on a reality show one day. It's basically about people wanting and doing things in their life for the wrong reasons, and wanting instant fame and not really having a purpose for being famous. Like the Paris Hiltons of the world. People fucking other people to get what they want, people getting involved in drugs to get accepted in certain crowds or numb problems in their lives, and how everyone seems to look alike. When I watch TV, everybody looks the same…most people are like sheep….they just follow the herd. No balls to do something different. If so-and-so isn't wearing this or didn't say it was cool, then I can't do it. If this style of music isn't popular, then I can't listen to it or be in a band and play it. It's about people who aren't real.
What makes Rockets to Ruin special in 2006?
I think we're special because we do what's in our heart and not what's trendy. We don't sound like every other band you hear on the radio. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel and do something that's never been done, but we aren't followers and we do what we want.
What do you do in your spare time? You got any hobbies?
In my spare I do as little as possible. I don't seem to have much of it though. When I do, I usually go to the gym….last year I learned how to scuba dive so I'm hoping to do that again really soon.
Which band you listen the most?
Motley Crue.
Whats your biggest further challenge?
With any band, one of the challenges is getting your music out to more and more people. Right now we're being shopped so we'll see what happens.
Who was your idol and which artist had a key rule in your musical growth?
The reason I became a musician was because of Nikki Sixx and Motley Crue. They were my 1st concert and everything about it was cool….the girls at the show…the pyro…everything was so over the top, and I remember saying…that's what I want to do one day.
My writing style is influenced by anything from D Generation to Monster Magnet and Warrior Soul to Manson. If you listen to a song like 1 More Fix, it has kind of a Monster Magnet vibe to it or a song like Devil Girl was really influenced by Manson. To me it's just a stripped down "rock" version of something he'd do or say.
What do you think about internet?
I love the internet. There is no better way to promote and network with fans and other bands. That's how I find out about pretty much everything I listen to since you don't really hear rock on TV and radio.
How many dreams you made them real and which ones you wanna realize?
I've had dreams come true in the sense of I've gotten to travel and meet cool people all because of music.
The dream I've had since I was a kid was to play arenas….
I do hope to see you in Milan, is there any chance to have a european tour?
We'd love to go over there to play. We'll see.
Here we are. Thanks for this interview Chris, I leave you the chance to say whatever you wanna…
Thanks again for taking the time to do this. I'd just like to say thanks to everyone that has supported us….and buy our new CD.
Stay Rock!

Silver Metal

September 2006
Interview with Chris
 

So were you formed in Atlanta? How did that come about?
Cleve and Mike originally put the band together and I met them through a mutual friend. In the beginning we had a different drummer for a few months and did a few shows with him and we were just on a different page than him. He was a cool guy, but not right for this band. Cleve and Mike had known Rob from around town and so we asked him to join the band.
Who writes the song? Are they by the band or studio picked?
We all contribute to the song writing. Either Mike or myself will bring in a riff or a complete song and we'll all work on it and tweak things as a band. Cleve and I split writing lyrics….it just depends….
As far as what's on the CD, we as a band sat down and decided what was going to go on it.
So you're touring I see--What cities have you done? What city would you most like to do? What was your favorite city to do?
We mainly play around the South East….Atlanta, Birmingham, Columbus, Nashville, etc… have some shows in Florida coming up. We also played a conference up in Indianapolis last year.
There are so many cities we'd love to play….LA, NY, London…
We always have fun in Atlanta since it's our home town, but one of our favorite shows was in Indianapolis.
You've shared the stage with some impressive bands--Any bands you have't toured with but would like to?
There are a ton of cool bands we would love to play with. Backyard Babies, Hardcore Superstar, Crue, Velvet Revolver, Chelsea Smiles…the list goes on.
Have there been any obstacles the band has had to overcome? How did it make you stronger as a band?
There are always obstacles when you're in a band. The frustrating part for me is Atlanta is so "clicky" (like most cities) and the Rock scene here isn't very cool to begin with. In the beginning, a lot of the so called "industry people" here didn't take us very serious because of the type of music we play. We had to bust our asses to promote and prove to them that just because we don't sound like Nickleback or Coldplay , there is an audience for this type of Rock. We've eventually become one of the bigger drawing bands around town and bring in more people than most of the bands they are so ga ga over so it's kinda a "fuck you" to them now….
How much of your music is influenced by critics?
Our music isn't influenced by critics at all. We really don't care what other people think of what we do. We like it, we have fun, it's our vision, and that's all that matters.
Speaking of critics, no good band is without them--how are they reacting to your style of music?
For the most part our reviews have been good. I think we've only had a couple of bad ones.
So far, what has been the ultimate high point of your career?
For me personally, I grew up listening to Skid Row and used to play some of their songs in cover bands as a teenager, so getting to work with Rachel and having him believe so much in what we do means a lot.
Which of the songs on the cd is your favorite to do live?
I like playing Helpless and Devil Girl the most live. Both have a ton of energy and the crowd loves them.
The myspace fans can be either the greatest or the worst, any strange experiences?
Fans in general can be like that. We love and appreciate all of them, but there are the ones that like to get a little clingy with you and feel like they know you personally because you e-mailed back and forth with them a couple of times or talk to them at shows. We're all pretty easy to get along with, and will shoot the shit with people at shows, but girls need to realize that 3 of the 4 of us are married and we're not going to fuck them. I've seen girls stop coming to the shows because they don't feel like they get enough "attention" from us. I think it's kinda lame, you're either a fan of the music or not.
Any parting words or comments to your fans and future fans?
Thanks to everyone who has supported us, whether it's coming to the shows, buying the merch, or just helping spread the word on us.
As far as future plans, we're shopping the CD and are hoping to get a deal soon. We're talking to booking agents right now, so hopefully the show schedule will get even busier.

Flash Magazine

September 2006
Interview with Chris

ROCK N ROLL
Dreaming superband! Which are the musicians would you like to share the stage with?
There are so many musicians in so many different types of music that would be cool to play with. If I could put together a dream super group of musicians I admire I guess it would be either Phil Varone or Tommy Lee on Drums, Kory Clarke on Vocals, Dave Navarro and Ed Mundell on Guitar, and of course me on Bass.
Which are 10 albums that you could kill for?
Motley Crue: Too Fast For Love
D Generation: ST
Warrior Soul: Space Age Playboys
Slayer: Hell Awaits
Marilyn Manson: Portrait Of An American Family
Faster Pussycat: ST
Monster Magnet: Dopes To Infinity
Anything by the Ramones
Janes Addiction: Ritual De Lo Habitual
GnR: Appetite For Destruction
Which song could you compare to an orgasm?
3 Days by Jane's Addiction. What's better than a song about a 3 some for 3 days? Ultimate sex song because of the dynamics in it.
What was the most "rock 'n' roll moment" during which did you conceive a song?
This wasn't a glorious or fun moment, but I guess you could consider it a RnR moment since these questions are about Sex, Drugs and RnR. We have a song on our new CD called Take a Ride With Me (Straight To Hell) that I wrote most of while driving to a funeral for a friend of my wife's. They were friends for 23 years and he OD'd on Heroin. We drove from Atlanta to El Paso Texas for the funeral a few days each way and half of it through the desert - and she was telling me stories about things they used to do when they were younger and just her thoughts and feelings on how and why he died. So I started writing some of it down and when I got back home I put it into a song we had already been working on.
There's also a song called Helpless on the CD about Cleve (singer) finding his roommate dead from a Heroin overdose. These songs are part of the reason the title of the CD is Love Drugs Rebellion.
Which was the most "rock 'n' roll thing" did you ever?
There have been a few. I guess one would be last year when we played the Midwest Music Summit conference in Indianapolis. The night before we played we decided to go to a strip club. Before all of us even got through the door going in, the manager came up to us and was wondering who we were. We told him and he bought us a bunch of drinks on the house. Within 15 minutes of us being there, we had given the DJ a copy of our CD and he was playing it in the club. Nothing cooler than seeing a bunch of beautiful naked women dancing to your music. By the time we left, we were so fucking drunk except Cleve. He's the only one in the band that doesn't drink. When we got back to the hotel, Rob decided to climb up a billboard that was in the parking lot, and evidently I was standing on the ground yelling at him and daring him to jump or something. Ha ha The next day we were all so hung over, all I wanted to do that night while we were on stage was throw up. Never mix Jager Bombs, Beer and Vodka together. Ugh
Which is the most "rock 'n' roll thing" to do on stage?
Just play loud and get sweaty. Sometimes girls like to jump on stage with us and dance and start undressing and showing us certain body parts that's always fun.
Could you swap your fave instrument for...
Nah, the only thing I could swap it for would be enough money to go buy another one. haha
How much money do you wanna to leave your group and play in a boyband?
Since I cant sing or dance, I would be pretty useless in a boyband.

SEX
Who' s the best playboy in your band?
That would be Cleve. He is the only single guy in the band so he's the only one getting laid at shows.
Long preliminaries or straight-to-the-point sex?
Most of the time I like a lot of foreplay. I like to make it last. Nothing hotter than getting a woman all worked up and teasing her and listening to her beg for it. But, sometimes you just have to throw her down and take it and skip any foreplay. haha
What do you wear in bed?
Usually just my underwear.
Is it better sober sex or drunk one?
Sober sex. If you are too drunk, guys can tend to have a little problem sometimes...if you know what I mean. ha ha
Which was the craziest thing did you make in bed?
HA HA I can't tell details. My wife and I have our little box of tricks in the closet. She's pretty open about things and we like to have fun. That's all Ill say. haha
How many times do you come in a night? And with how many people?
That depends on my mood. I think the most was 8 times in one day. You should never kiss and tell.
Do you like porn movies? If you do, which are your fave actress/actors?
Yeah, my wife and I watch them together. Probably my newest favorite is Crystal Ray. We just saw her in a movie called "Gobble the Goop" where she blew 5 or 6 guys and they all came in her mouth... and yes, she swallowed it all! Gotta love a woman that will do that on film. haha
 

DRUGS
"Getting high": before and after a concert?
The only thing I do is smoke pot from time to time, but never before a show. I would be a wreck if I went on stage high. I've been up there drunk a few times but never high.
"Getting high": in a common day without concerts?
Sometimes. Some days you just need something to take the edge off.
Which was the last time did you get finish in jail?
Last time I was arrested I was about 19/20 I guess. I was hanging out in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, and told a cop I though he was a fuckin asshole. He didn't find it very funny and threw me in jail. I have a hard time biting my lip sometimes!
Which was the crime you did you commit and that you repent after?
The only other time I was arrested was when I was 13. I had gotten a BB Gun for Christmas and me and a friend though it would be funny to go down to the local post office and shoot the windows out of the mail trucks. My mom was furious and I was grounded forever for that one. Felt a little bad for it.
Which was the crime you did you commit and that you never repent?
I didn't feel bad for telling that cop he was an asshole because he was being one.
What's a legal thing that you'd call "drug"?
Sex and music
What really gives you "addiction"?
Sex and music haha
 

THE FINAL QUESTION
Don't you think that's the right time to cut your hair and find a decent job? Ahahah!!!
Now why would I want to do something crazy like that!?

Playgrounds Magazine

by Alice Barkwell
February 2005

Interview with Cleve

Rockets to Ruin is a kick ass band we saw at Atlantis Music Conference and begged to come and play in Columbus. You will undoubtedly thank me! Columbus rockers who have been here a few years may remember singer Cleve Willis from one of his amazing former band's Takoda that played here in the 90's. Here's more about what he is up to now!

PG:  So you're finally playing Columbus. How do you describe your music?
Cleveland:  We are a straight up rock and roll - no rocket science - rock band! 
PG:  You used to sing for a band called Takoda, of which I was huge fan!  Takoda played at Rockmyers and at Cool Aid here in Columbus. What do you remember about Columbus?
Cleveland:  I remember every time we went down there the Columbus fans were just GREAT and so supportive!  It was fun--they always made it fun.  I hope it will be that way this time!
PG:  How many bands have you been in since then?  Tell me about them.
Cleveland:  I've been in a couple.  The first one was Superconductor.  We actually had a record deal with an indy label.  Unfortunately it ended up being a tax write-off due to internal and external personalities that caused us to disband.  Lee Banks was in that band with me, he was the original guitar player from Sevendust.  Then I was in a project with JJ from Marvelous 3 and Dave Gara from Skid Row.  We just called that one Project or Cleveland Rocks.  We recorded, and sounded sort of Black Crowes-esque.  Someone paid for us to make a demo.  It was great - could have gone really far, but the guitar player had certain personal things going on and Dave got the Skid Row gig. There is always something with bands.  During that time was when Mike - the guitar player of Rockets - and I decided to definitely put something together.  Mike and I decided that we have a great chemistry so we put together Rockets.
PG:  Describe your bandmates to me in as few words as possible.  Start with Chris. 
Cleveland:  Chris is all rock and roll.  He is our Nikki Sixx.
PG:  How about Mike?
Cleveland:  Mike and I have a connection I can't describe, and Mike's talent is just overwhelming!
PG:  How about Rob?
Cleveland:  Rob is the most fun and talented in-the-pocket drummer I have ever seen, and I am just lucky to be playing with him!  He also has the best hair! 
PG:  And how would they describe you?
Cleveland:  (laughs) As a.. I don't know.  They have me around because I have a good voice and a good, solid energy.
PG:  Not to mention your crazy stage presence.  Why are you calling yourself Cleveland now - when it used to be Cleve?
Cleveland:  Cleveland was easier for people to remember right off the bat instead of having to repeat my name three times.  They associate it with Cleveland, Ohio. The bigger picture of that is that it's a new time, a new creation, and new rock and roll!  A new beginning. 
PG:  And Cleveland is where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is too!  Who have you guys opened for and played with?
Cleveland:  King's X and Buckcherry, and we did a few shows with Josh Todd; Etherseeds, who were on Roadrunner Records, and the wonderful Warm Gunns of course!
PG:  I love Mark to death.  He was here last night with Angie Aparo.  Have you seen him with Angie?
Cleveland:  They did a Smith's Olde Bar show a few weeks ago and it was awesome!  Oh man it rocked!  With Mark in a band there's no denying it!  Warm Gunns are one of our buddy bands!
PG:  You guys made an album lately?  Self produced?
Cleveland:  Yes we did an EP that Mark actually mixed for us.  We recorded it at Grassroots Studios right on the outskirts of Atlanta.  We will have it for sale at the show.
PG:  What songs will stand out on it?
Cleveland:  A song called "Revolution," a song called 'Helpless," and a song called "Burnin'."
PG:  How do you all write your songs anyway?
Cleveland:  We all collaborate, but lately Chris and I seem to work on lyrical stuff together, and like I said earlier, he's my Nikki Sixx!  This is helpful for me because it gets me out of myself and into something a little different.  It lifts me up and brings me to a different place when I need to go in order to be more creative! 
PG:  You often work at Smith's Olde Bar.  I was wondering if you learn a lot from watching all the cool bands they have there.
Cleveland:  Yeah, working at Smith's has helped me broaden my horizons of what I listen to.  Everything comes through Smith's, from national acts, anybody from Butch Walker to King's X to The Pleasure Club to Train and Tonic.  One of the advantages of working here is developing relationships and you see stuff that you normally wouldn't look at or go see, and it has helped me broaden what I like and I also see a lot of stuff here that is really good for what it is, but is so not my thing... and I don't like it!  I am not into a lot of stuff but it is what it is!
PG:  I loved it when you had the Kings of Leon there - oh my goodness!
Cleveland:  Yeah Kings of Leon are doing great.  We end up seeing a lot of things before they really get big!  The thing that Smith's is great at is giving me the advantage of hearing other bands and becoming aware of what people like, and what I can find to apply to a rock band in the other bands I see that I wasn't aware of before.  Does that make sense?
PG:  Sure. At what age did you start singing?
Cleveland:  I saw my Mom perform at The Fox Theater when I was 8 years old.  She was a backup singer.
PG:  And you said I wish all those people were clapping for me!  Right?
Cleveland:  That's exactly what it was!  I actually started out fooling around with guitars and trying to play instruments.  That didn't really work out for me, so I started dabbling a little in my voice.  I started to perform when I was 16 or 17 years old.  I was already performing at McGruder's and the Wreck Room.
PG:  What bands did you love and who inspired you?
Cleveland:  Motley Crue, The Cult, and Guns and Roses were all influential on me.  Then I got into some heavier stuff like Slayer.  The roots were always bands like Kiss.  The Black Crowes also had a lot of influence on us.
PG:  What are your favorite other bands today?
Cleveland:  Velvet Revolver of course.  I still listen to old bands like Motley.  I listen to some European rock and roll like The Hellacopters and the Backyard Babies.  A European band called Hardcore Superstar is amazing.  The Wildhearts are great! 
PG:  If you couldn't sing, what would you probably be doing?
Cleveland:  Teaching Yoga.  I am an avid traditional Yoga person.  I would probably be teaching Yoga and working for a band maybe.
PG:  How is the Atlanta rock scene these days?

Cleveland:  There is radio support here with 99X and 96 Rock.  We've had air play on both stations.  Bands are beginning to support one another better than they once did. The scene is getting incredibly great.  I am real excited about what is going on with it lately!
PG:  What are your favorite places to play?
Cleveland: Smith's Olde Bar, but we mainly do nationals.  Ten High is our favorite place to play.  We've sold it out a couple of times.  The sound there is so good and the vibe I just love!
PG:  Was The Atlantis Music Conference helpful to you guys?
Cleveland:  Atlantis was extremely helpful to us!  We were such a brand new band - we are just now almost a year old.  We had a good buzz going on about being a fresh new band, and we stood out.  Thanks to the help of Nicole Jurovics and Mark Willis. 
PG:  Where would you like to you see yourself in 5 years?
Cleveland:  Without a doubt this band is going to be really big.  It will be a household name.  We will be on our 2nd or 3rd album by then and be touring continuously. 
PG:  What is your dream tour?
Cleveland:  Velvet Revolver and us, that would be my dream tour!
PG:  How famous do you want to get?
Cleveland:  As big as I can be and still be able to maintain who I am.  I would like to be recognized and respected. 
PG:  What will you do with your rock star money when you make it big?
Cleveland:  I'm pretty conservative actually.  The first thing I want to do is buy a new car - I already have a nice car but I would buy a nicer one.  I wouldn't blow it!  With the last record deal I had I was able to buy a house.  With my next one I can pay it off, how does that sound? 
PG:  What would you say to Columbus rock fans who are wondering whether to come to your show Feb 25th at SoHo?
Cleveland:  I would say that at our show you will get a fun, real rock and roll show.  Nothing fancy, just a straight up old fashioned rock show with some new music!  Hopefully they will walk away remembering a handful of our songs.  And we'd love to meet the musicians from your bands down there, too!  Everyone please come out and see us!

Mega Metal

October 2004 

Interview with Chris

Mega Metal:  Tell us a little about your band or current project (when you formed, name, members, etc.).
Chris:  The name of the band is Rockets To Ruin and we're based in Atlanta.  The members are Cleve - vocals, Mike - guitar, Rob - drums, and I play bass.  Cleve and Mike originally formed the band, and they auditioned a ton of bass player and drummers before me and Rob joined.  I met them through a mutual friend and Rob has known them for a long time, but when they first started putting the band together, he was playing with someone else so he couldn't commit.  The band has been complete since the fall of '03. 
Mega Metal:  How did you decide on the band's name? 
Chris:  We thought about a bunch of different names, we even had a big board in our rehearsal space we would write ideas on.  I have a fascination with outer space anything to do with rockets, planets, stars, aliens and shit like that. I wanted to call it Rockets To Mars, but they thought that sucked - lol.  I thought it would be cool to have something with that kind of vibe to it.  I'm also a huge Ramones fan; I thought it would be cool to combine Rockets to Russia and Road to Ruin. So that's how we decided on the name. 
Mega Metal:  Let's talk about your current CD - where did you record it? 
Chris:  The new CD should be released within the next couple of weeks and will have 6 songs on it. We were hoping it would be ready by now, but nothing ever goes as planned in the music business.  It was recorded at 2 different studios. 2 tracks at Koda studio and 4 tracks at Grass Roots studio. Both are here in Atlanta. 

Mega Metal:  Who produced the CD? 
Chris: We produced it ourselves. 
Mega Metal:  How long did you spend recording the new CD?  How did that compare to the last CD (If applicable)? 
Chris:  This is our first release. 2 of the tracks (Shadow and Waiting For You) were recorded about a year and a half ago before I joined the band, but Rob did the studio session with them.  The other 4 tracks (Revolution, Burnin', Helpless, and Because of You) were recorded over a weekend with VERY long days. 
Mega Metal:  Were you happy with the final product? 
Chris:  Yeah, we're pretty happy with it.  There are always things you want to go back and change, but overall it's turned out pretty good. 
Mega Metal:  After listening to it after the final mix, what went through your head?
Chris:  I haven't heard the final mix yet.  I've only heard a rough mix.  We're getting the final any day, and I can't wait for everyone to hear it. 
Mega Metal:  What are your current tour plans, if any? 
Chris:  No tour plans right now.  The main cities we play are Atlanta and Birmingham. We're getting ready to go to Raleigh and want to start playing other surrounding cities soon. 
Mega Metal:  Describe your live performance? 
Chris:  It's like sex: aggressive, sweaty, loud, and the girls love to scream...ok ok...that was a little cheesy... lol. 
Mega Metal:  Do you have a personal favorite song to play live? 
Chris: It's a tie between Helpless and Burnin'. 
Mega Metal:  Have you ever had any mishaps or crazy things happen while on stage? 
Chris:  Nah, No crazy mishaps on stage yet. 
Mega Metal:  What has been the highlight of your career thus far? 
Chris:  With Rockets, we've done some pretty cool shows.  We've gotten to open for King's X and Josh Todd a couple of times, and we've played with Ed Roland of Collective Soul. 
Mega Metal:  Who are your influences? 
Chris:  Nikki Sixx, Duff McKagen, Rachel Bolan, and Pete McClanahan.  Most people have no idea who Pete is, but he played for one of the most underrated bands ever called Warrior Soul, and it's a shame because he's such a great bass player. 
Mega Metal:  If we looked at your CD collection, what CDs would we see? 
Chris:  You would see stuff like Backyard Babies, Hellacopters, Crue, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, Ramones, NY Dolls, DGeneration/Jesse Malin, Monster Magnet, Jane's Addiction, Flickerstick, and Warrior Soul.  My favorite bands are the ones that have that glam/70's punk vibe to them. 
Mega Metal:  Are there any new bands out there that you see potential in? 
Chris:  They aren't really new or anything, but I think that the Backyard Babies have the potential to be the next GnR if they had the right push. They are just an amazing band. 
Mega Metal:  What are your feelings about downloading and file sharing? 
Chris:  I don't really care if someone downloads our songs.  As a matter of fact, they can go to www.rocketstoruin.com and download 2 right now.  I think bands really need to shut the fuck up and stop crying about it.  Downloading isn't hurting record sales.  I think sales are down because almost everything on the radio and MTV sucks.  Labels need to stop signing cookie cutter bands where there are 20 on the radio that sound exactly the same.  How many more Emo, Pop Punk or Nu Metal bands do we really need??  I think the majority of people who download, will actually go and buy the record if the songs are good enough.  Of course there are some exceptions, but I don't think those people are affecting sales to any great extent. 
Mega Metal:  What does the next year hold for you and your band? 
Chris:  More shows and our manager is going to start shopping us soon. 
Mega Metal:  Do you have a website or email address our readers can contact you at? 
Chris: Our official site is www.rocketstoruin.com and they can e-mail us at rocketstoruin@yahoo.com. We also have a page up at www.myspace.com/rocketstoruin. 
Mega Metal:  Do you have a street team? 
Chris: We don't have an official street team, but we have some very cool fans that help us out a lot with passing out flyers and helping to get the word out. 
Mega Metal:  What bands are you listening to right now? 
Chris:  In my car right now I have Velvet Revolver, Monster Magnet, Pure Rubbish, Pleasure Club, Warrior Soul and Crue. 
Mega Metal:  Describe your local music scene? 
Chris:  The scene here is OK.  We need more Rock clubs - we just had 1 close and 2 more are getting ready to. 
Mega Metal:  Any last comments? 
Chris:  Thanks for the opportunity to do this interview and everyone should buy our CD when it comes out.  Make sure to visit us at www.rocketstoruin.com!

Rock Confidential

by Jesse Capps, Editor

June 19, 2004 

Interview with Chris

Confidentially Speaking With Rockets To Ruin 

How long has Rockets To Ruin been together? 
The band has been complete since the fall of 2003 and we started playing shows in mid November. 
Tell me about the members of the band. 
You don’t want to know anything about those guys - they are trouble...just joking. Cleve is the singer and Mike plays guitar. Our current drummer Rob is on loan from a band called Union Drag, so we are looking for someone permanent. 
Cleve and Mike are the ones that initially put the band together. I met them through a mutual friend after my last band broke up, and within 5 minutes of us playing together for the first time, I knew it would work. As soon as I walked in and saw a Les Paul/Mesa Boogie and Mike cranked out some old school Kiss style riffs, that was it. Our writing style, attitude, personality, influences…everything…we were all on the same page. 
How would you describe your music? 
I don’t mean to sound vague, but it’s just straight up Rock n Roll. We grew up on bands like Kiss, GnR, Crue, Ramones and The Cult, so we have elements of those bands in our sound. Great hooks, riff oriented, raw with lots of energy. 
How serious is the band? Are you in it for the long haul or just for fun? 
Very serious! This is what we do and we are in it for the long haul. I couldn’t imagine my life without playing music. It’s what keeps me sane. 
What makes Rockets To Ruin different from everybody else? 
When you compare us to the mainstream bands out there right now, we sound nothing like them. We aren’t Nu Metal, Pop Punk, Emo or anything else trendy. We aren’t complaining about how bad our lives are, bitching about how our parents sucked and how the world isn’t fair. 
Our music and attitude about what we do is what makes us different from everybody else. When people come up to us after a show excited, telling us how much they liked us, and that they didn’t even know there was a band like us in Atlanta, and how they are sick of everything they hear on the radio, that’s when we know we are doing something right. People are tired of the same boring, bland bullshit. 
Tell me about your live show. 
Very loud, energetic and fun. 
What would you say is Rockets To Ruin's greatest accomplishment so far? 
We’ve only been doing shows for about 7 month’s and we seem to win over new fans at every show and have a decent following already here in Atlanta. 
We are getting some airplay on a handful of radio stations (go to www.rocketstoruin.com  to see the list). 
We were recently chosen to play the Atlantis Music Conference in late July. 
Anybody cool that you've shared the stage with? 
We did a couple of shows with Josh Todd and recently played with Ed Roland of Collective Soul. We have a couple of tentative things coming up, but I don’t want to jinx it. You’ll have to visit our site on a regular basis and once they are confirmed, it will be posted there. 
Who are some of your influences?  Who made you want to make music? 
Nikki Sixx, Duff McKagen, Rachel Bolan, Pete McClanahan (Warrior Soul), Dee Dee and CJ from the Ramones. 
Motley Crue was the band that made me want to be a musician. I was 14 and saw them at the Day On The Green festival on the GGG tour, and I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Loud guitars, pyro, hot chicks walking around, Tommy’s drum kit spinning around…everything was so over the top. The whole vibe about being at a concert like that was cool! 
What's your immediate goal(s) for the band?  What about long-term goal(s)? 
Our immediate goal is to go into the studio in August to record a 5 song EP. Keep writing and play live as much as we can with whoever and wherever. Long term, same thing every band wants…get a deal and tour. 
Do you throw in cover songs in your live set?  What are they? 
No cover songs. We’ve talked about doing some for fun, but we just haven’t done it yet. Maybe someday. I’ve always wanted to cover Love Destruction by Warrior Soul. Maybe I can convince the other guys. 
What are some bands you listen to regularly? 
I just got the new Velvet Revolver and it rules! I’ve been listening to Backyard Babies, Monster Magnet, Soil, Hardcore Superstar, D Generation, Donnas, Datsuns, Turbonegro and the Wildhearts. 
Are radio stations, media, and venues supportive of local music in Atlanta? 
96 Rock and 96.7 The Buzz are very supportive of local bands here and have been great to us. There is a local paper here called The Creative Loafing that does articles on local bands all the time. Atlanta also has a lot of clubs here for bands to play. That’s one of the reasons why I moved here….. 
What do you like best about Rock Confidential?  Why? 
Well, you guys interview cool bands plus there are a lot of hot girls to look at. You can’t ask for more than that. The only thing I would improve on is MORE pics of Tiffany Teen….LOL. Other than that, you guys are great! 
Here's your chance to tell us about your website and anything else you want to promote. 
That’s for letting me do this interview! It was fun... 
Make sure to visit us at RocketsToRuin.com for upcoming shows. Again, if everything goes as planned, we will be in the studio in August to record an EP. Once it’s finished, people can get it through the site and at shows. In the meantime, we have a couple of songs on our site for people to download.