Yesterday you met Zakk, so today you meet Maggie. You already know Neil, and ... maybe one day you will meet Gary... (he may turn famous one day, so I protect him... joking ! )
The press release is almost over. Just need to read it one more time just in case, and then, Ilo and I will think about venues and promoters. I hope it will help us !
Maggie's Hollywood Story !
1) What makes you decide to play music, and especially guitar/bass/drum/... ?
KISS! When I was younger, I wanted to be Gene Simmons! That's why I play bass. My parents took me to see KISS when they performed in Glasgow in 1992 and it just blew my mind! I've been a big fan ever since. As I got older, other bands made me want to play in bands as well such as Rachel Stamp, Frank Zappa, Chic, Parliament Funkadelic... All of those bands have had an influence on how I play, my approach to music and of course, my approach to performing live... we just need fur coats and a spaceship and I'll be very happy!
2) How did you meet your band mates and what makes you decide to play with them ?
I met Gary a long time ago as both of our old bands were doing a gig together. My band was on first and for some reason, I was dressed as Gene Simmons (in full make up!). Gary was freaked out by this and said "I hope I'm never in a band with that guy". Ironically, I said the same thing to my band mates about him as he didn't know anything about KISS! A few years later, Gary asked me if I wanted to do a few shows with him in Glasgow as his bassist couldn't make it and since then it's turned into a year and half of playing together and having many good nights out... but with less KISS make up.
The first time I met Zakk, all he said was "Well... He has a stupid haircut... He'll fit in". He hadn't even heard me play a note but already his mind was made up! A Joker's Rage were left without a bass player 2 weeks before a show in York, so since I knew Gary, he asked me to step in and learn the songs so the show could go ahead. After spending a week learning their set, I was on stage with them and no one mentioned anything about the old bass player, just that the new guy was really good. After the show, Zakk took me aside and said the band now sounded better than it ever had. Since then, we've worked together putting together the stage shows, ideas for artwork/posters etc and running our record label, Black Tongue Records.
With regards to Neil, I met him at a gig we were doing with Gary somewhere in Glasgow. Straight away we hit it off and he's been a great friend ever since. We normally meet up and play together just because we enjoy it so much! He really enjoys playing in weird time signatures so it's always a challenge for me to push myself further as a bassist and you need that in a rhythm section! Also, he's completely insane and probably keeps the bones of the Elephant Man in his cupboard.
The first time I met Zakk, all he said was "Well... He has a stupid haircut... He'll fit in". He hadn't even heard me play a note but already his mind was made up! A Joker's Rage were left without a bass player 2 weeks before a show in York, so since I knew Gary, he asked me to step in and learn the songs so the show could go ahead. After spending a week learning their set, I was on stage with them and no one mentioned anything about the old bass player, just that the new guy was really good. After the show, Zakk took me aside and said the band now sounded better than it ever had. Since then, we've worked together putting together the stage shows, ideas for artwork/posters etc and running our record label, Black Tongue Records.
With regards to Neil, I met him at a gig we were doing with Gary somewhere in Glasgow. Straight away we hit it off and he's been a great friend ever since. We normally meet up and play together just because we enjoy it so much! He really enjoys playing in weird time signatures so it's always a challenge for me to push myself further as a bassist and you need that in a rhythm section! Also, he's completely insane and probably keeps the bones of the Elephant Man in his cupboard.
3) What can you say about them ? (as person, musician, alien, ...)
Gary is easily one of the hardest working people I know. Neil turns into Jim Carrey when you give him lots of sugar (becoming one of the funniest people I know). Zakk is Ron Jeremy's love child.
4) What will be, for you, the perfect AJR's gig ? (let's be crazy, you have no money limit !)
The perfect AJR gig would be to have Rachel Stamp as a support act playing their first album from start to finish (with all of the B-Sides). Then AJR perform on a recreation of the KISS Love Gun Tour stage set from 1977 and blow everything up while dressed as Al Jolson.
5) Why should you book AJR in France ? Sell yourself !
...Did I mention we travel with a monkey? You want to meet the monkey, don't you? He's called Charles. You'll only meet him if you book us.
And, the all thing about Kiss is true, they are some pictures on Facebook. Maggie convinced Gary to dress and make up like Kiss ! I love them !
:) The monkey makes for a good story! You work hard and you love your work. I really admire that. :)
RépondreSupprimervery interesting.... your work is cool!!
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