Playgrounds Magazine (www.playgroundsmag.com)
Interview with Cleve
by Alice Barkwell
February 2005

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 Garra 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!

Rockets to Ruin perform at SoHo Bar & Grill February 25 followed by local rock band Spent.
www.rocketstoruin.com