DJ's Spotlight: An interview with Dizzy Fox

 

Hey there everyone DJ Dizzy here & once again its time for a band interview this time around with Dizzy Fox who is an emerging hard rock band.  Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

1. Stanley started to play his bass guitar 2011.
Luke touched a guitar for the very first time in 2010, but only started to play in 2013.

Criss started to pound down on his drums in 2012

Freddy plays the guitar since 2005 and started out by covering nirvana and acdc.

Me for my part I started to sing around 2011/2012, but only started to take it seriously around 2013.

Who are your biggest influences?

2. Our inspirations range from a good chunk of 80s sleaze n' hair metal bands like Ratt, Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P, G n' R, Skid Row, Van Halen and so on, over to more modern bands like Crazy Lixx, The Darkness, Marilyn Manson, H.e.a.t. We could probably go on like this for hours, there's always something you can pick up, cause there's tons of great music out there ;). But our main inspiration would be the golden age of rock music in our opinion, the 80s!

What advice do you have for any aspiring performers?

3. Be cool! Don't be an asshole to people! Play music with people you like to be around with, enjoy it and you'll hear the end product... but! Rehearse, usually when we skip a week or two we sound like shit for the next few songs, but then we catch it again, since we're Dizzy Fox ;) haha. But really now, rehearse!

How would you say music has impacted your life?

4. Music is the device that keeps us breathing, how else would we be able to let off so much steam? Running around the block? Yoga classes? Hell no! In our case it definitely is a bunch of guys playing their instrument, rockin' the stage, having a great time! It's creativity, personality, power and passion.

Any gigs in the future?

5. Next time we'll hit the stage is on the 5th of may at the Nothing But Metal Festival in Malters, Switzerland. We still have some unreleased songs ready for you guys, however you will have to be patient for some other upcoming stuff as well ;) We're also getting back into writing new material and will be playing a few shows in autumn, but nothing official yet!

Special thanks to them for the interview & I wish you nothing but luck in their career & all the best! So until then be radically righteous & I'll catch you on the flipside~

DJ's Spotlight: An interview with Paradise Rose pt 2

How'd you get started in music?

Piano lessons, started singing and writing some original material in 2000...started singing rock/hr in  2010

Who are your main inspirations or influences? God first, then musically Guns N Roses is what got me singing

How would you say music has impacted your life?

    Performing is a high to my life. .love to entertain people and would like to perform for more charitable events to help people that could use help in different ways.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

        If you love to play or sing....it'll hit you sometime...let it rip.

Any new gigs or works in the future?

        If it wasn't for gigging...it would be no fun for me...all about playing live and making people smile..so yes...gigs are always in the works.

We'll be continuing on with the rest of the interview so until then be radically righteous & I'll catch you on the flipside!

DJ's Spotlight an interview with Paradise Rose pt 1

Hello everyone DJ Dizzy here & I recently sat down with Brad Thorne the co founder &  guitarist of the band Paradise Rose who are a cover band of Guns & Roses.  This is jut the first out of a couple parts. Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?  

I was fascinated by electric guitars at an early age.  I remember being fascinated when I saw a neighbor's band playing in his basement when I was about 4; and I was assessed with the guitar ever since.  My father was an organist and pianist, so he gave me piano lessons as a kid.  Then I started playing guitar at age 12 when I started taking guitar lessons at an after school program.  But I quickly got bored because my parents heard it was better to start on an acoustic guitar and then switch to electric later, so that's what I had to do and I hated it playing that acoustic guitar!  But I finally started up lessons again a couple of years later, and finally got my first electric guitar soon after and started my first band when I was about 15. 

Who are your main inspirations or influences? 

My first love was the Beatles, but it was Kiss who got me playing in a band.  I wanted to be like Ace Freely, and even today my main guitar is a sunburst Les Paul!  My first band used to play most of the songs on the Alive album, and then we moved onto other bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, etc.  I grew up in Amherst Massachusetts, so I used to listen to classic rock stations like WAQY in Springfield or WCCC in Hartford, which I recently found out quit being a rock station back in 2014.   

I'm definitely a hard rock guy; but I also love bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.  I always felt the Skynyrd guitar players were under-rated. My first concert was when I saw 38-Special and Foreigner open for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Springfield Civic Center on June 15, 1977.  Man, what a show.  Then Ronnie was dead only 4 months later, what a shame.  I've seen them numerous times in various configurations since.  I haven't seen the newer version with Rickey Medlocke though, but I want to.  And don't get me started on Billy Gibbons!   

And of course Guns N’ Roses and Slash has been a huge influence, and even more so lately due to Paradise Rose.  Don’t get me wrong, I was always a Guns fan. I mean, I remember exactly where I was the first time I ever heard Welcome to the Jungle.  I was like, that’s it!   So since then they have been one of my favorite bands, but I never played much of their stuff because not many vocalists can handle their songs.  I played Mr. Brownstone in a band back in Lowell Massachusetts but that’s about it.

But when I saw Stephen's ad looking for a guitarist back in December of 2016, I figured it could be a great fit.  I’ve always played with a style similar to slash; melodic blues-based hard rock.  I’m happiest when I’m improvising leads, even though I have to capture Slash’s iconic stuff pretty much note-for-note when I’m playing with Paradise Rose.  

How would you say music has impacted your life? 

Well, there would be a big hole in my life without music.  It is really the thing I have always wanted to do.  When I was in high school, I was the lead guitar player in a pretty good band called Blanny.  We had around 20 original songs, but never quite got to the point where we recorded an album.  I wish we didn't give up on that band when most of us went off to college - we kept it going when we were freshman at Umass, but eventually we drifted apart.  What a shame, I think it we had kept it going we could have gotten somewhere.  I still have about 5 originals and a few covers that we recorded one weekend on a 4-track, and I still love to play those songs once in a while; there are a couple that are pretty good.  

I played in bands on and off for years, but after I moved to Jersey I hadn't really done anything until pretty recently.  I tried to put bands together many times, but found it just wasn't as easy as it used to be.  So in 2011 I got into recording in a big way when I got Garageband on my first iPad.  And from there it is history; I got bitten by the songwriting and recording bug.  

So today, in addition to Paradise Rose, the Guns N' Roses tribute band, I also have my own solo thing going.  I've released two solo albums under the name Thorne.  The first was Thorne - At the Edge, which featured Mark Alan Dooley on lead vocals.  And the second was Thorne - Thurtis Creed, with vocalist Staffan Karlsson from Sweden. 

Paradise Rose has been a lot of fun already, even though we’re still a new band.  We've played some pretty cool gigs already; our first gig was at the Stone Pony, and recently we played the Queen in Wilmington.  What a great venue that is to play!

What advice would you offer aspiring performers? 

Well, one big thing is that I let my parents convince me to play it safe and go to college; have a back up plan.  But what I didn't do right was, I should have had a back up plan that was parallel to my love for music, not instead of my music career.  So I ended up becoming a plastics engineer and a quality engineer, I should have majored in music or become a SOUND engineer.

The other thing is, I wish I had learned more music theory.  I mean, I actually took quite a bit of theory in high school and college.  I just never applied it to my guitar playing nearly as much as I should have.  I pretty much play completely by ear.  I know you hear that a lot, but it is really true.   

For aspiring songwriters, I highly recommend a songwriting and music collaboration website called Kompoz.com.  But beware, it can become addictive!   But I met all of the players on my first three albums on that website.  

And get good at social media!

Any new gigs or works in the future?

My number one project right now is definitely the tribute band.  Paradise Rose has shows on Saturday May 19 at Dingbatz in Clifton NJ, Saturday July 14 at Paul's Tavern in Belmar NJ, and Saturday August 18 at Bar XIII in Wilmington DE.  I just heard today that we got another show the first weekend in June at the AquaMania Music Festival up in Lake Hopatcong.  

We're also working on shows at places like Debonaire Music Hall in Teaneck, and a few other places that will hopefully be announced soon.  One thing I really want to play this year is the Roar to the Shore Motorcycle Rally in Wildwood.

I have another Thorne album called Worlds Apart that should be released soon, it also features Mark Alan Dooley on vocals.  I think he is going to mix the album also; he mixed most of the songs on my first album, and I really like his mixing style. I’ve also recorded a couple of songs with a vocalist from Australia named Mark Farmer, and I'm hoping we'll have enough songs to release an EP soon.  

Plus I have a metal anthem in the works called Hail Heavy metal, that I think is going to be really cool.  And I've started working with a local vocalist named Sonny Zackeo on some new original songs.  Sonny used to be the vocalist for a couple of original Metal bands from Jersey called Midnite Hellion and Iron Front.

Finally, I'm looking to start a local original hard rock band to record an album and then hit the road.

So here's to you Paradise Rose I wish you nothing but luck in all of your success & hope that yo keep going strong. Well that's going to do it for me so until then I'll catch you on the flipside be radically righteous!

DJ's Spotlight: An interview with Four Trips Ahead

Hey there everyone DJ Dizzy here & I've had the pleasure of interviewing none other than Four Trips Ahead who were really kind to take time to answer a few questions. Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

My mother was a singer with a touring choir for over 25 years; they performed at many famous venues in NYC including Carnegie Hall and St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as throughout Europe and North America.  The Dumka Choir recorded several albums which she helped produce as well. I used to sit and listen in on her rehearsals on Friday nights in the East Village in Manhattan. It was an exciting time to be hanging out in such a creative place. My father was a jazz and ska fanatic, and he constantly played records. Growing up, music was always present in our home.  I ended up singing in several bands throughout high school and college while studying voice and playing NYC clubs and other East Coast venues. I also toured a bit nationally in earlier bands, which solidified it for me.  You can say it’s in my blood.

Who are your main inspirations or influences?

This is a very hard response to give—Queen, KISS, David Bowie, The Wailers, Thin Lizzy, The Beatles, Nina Simone, Sly + the Family Stone, Cheap Trick, Led Zeppelin, the Bad Brains, King’s X, Marillion, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Anthrax, Aerosmith, Kate Bush, Living Colour, UFO, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Third World, Faith No More, Glenn Hughes, Steel Pulse and Prince as well as a host of others.

How would you say music has impacted your life?

Music is life.  Without it, I am nothing.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

Work on your craft--rehearse, rehearse, and then rehearse some more.  Play with and learn from the best.  Learn your favorite songs but make sure to write your own music and lyrics.  Go see bands live and develop your own unique live show.  Be bold and brave and play from the heart.  And prepare to be rejected, misunderstood and ignored---it doesn't mean what you do isn't good or important.

Any new gigs or works in the future?

FTA is currently working on new material for our next release--we are super excited as the songs are shaping up to be some of the most dramatic and powerful music we've written together.  The next move to return to the studio to begin tracking in the coming months--FTA is hoping to do a special crowdfunded release.  We should be playing in the next two to three months during the summer.  We just debuted a live in-studio video for "December" from our Spin Recording Studios session with AXS which was great.  Check it out here--

Interview and video premiere: Peter Wilso

So I just want to thank FTA for taking the time to do this interview & I wish you guys nothing but luck in everything. So until then be radically righteous & I'll catch you on the flipside!

DJs Spotlight: An intervew with Banner Elk

Hello everyone DJ Dizzy here this time its another interview once again this time from a group called Benner Elk. Who are an indie band. Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

I began with music as a fluke. I was 5 years old, started playing the piano

randomly in our living room, and my parents and their friends thought it was

cool that I memorized the tune they were singing and played it note for note

on the piano just to do that. I had no idea what all of the fuss was about when I did that, and at

5 years old, (my mom tells me) I walked away so nobody would bother me. 

Who are your main inspirations or influences?

The list is huge! 

For vocals it is: Nina Simone, Etta James,

Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles,

Patsy Cline, Nat King Cole, 

James Taylor, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, 

Ann Wilson, too many to list.

Guitar is: Steve Morse, Jimi Hendrix, and

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Songwriting: the Beatles, Paul McCartney,

Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, Joni Mitchell, 

Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Soundgarden,

Chris Cornell, too many to list, I'm sure I'm leaving out so many.

How would you say music has impacted your life?

When things were tough age 5, age 6, I'd hum, and if

things in the house were insane, I'd sing to myself, or lock

myself in a room and play music to calm down.

Then my 2 brothers would play the Beatles, Led Zeppelin,

McCarntney/Wings, and also, in my dad's car I'd hear Billy

Joel and jazz, so I was drawn to music, 

plus piano, it was always

something I needed somehow, or something with me.

Music pretty much saved my life. I've been told I was so lucky

I didn't have addiction in my family and I do believe that cause

I had a hell of a time. 

By age 14 I just went to the piano to get out feelings and it helped.

And it all stayed with me, through lonely times, depression, breakups, family stuff,

losing people (and by the time I was 27 I had lost so many people to illnesses.)

What advice would you offer aspiring performers? Don't give up if you love

it and feel like you have to do it. Do your own thing, craft your own style.

Work the craft. If you are songwriter, write it, rehearse it and be ready.

If you are singer, work it (I studied classical, jazz, blues and so much and I'm still

learning on guitar and keyboards, all of the time.) 

Performers have to get comfortable by being in front of 

people a lot til you can get to where it is (after the first 20 seconds of nerves)

like you are right at home doing your thing. Preparation, loving the moments,

videotaping your show to see what you wanna change, knowing how to do your sets, it takes time but for performers, it is key. Don't pass up any big, real opportunities and link to other musicians all of the time, too. 

Any new gigs or works in the future?

Me and the guys are going back in to record 12 brand new originals I wrote

(I'm a crazy radiohead girl walking around)

from June through the summer into Fall we hope to release those or have someone help us with mgmt/promotion . I'll be backstage for Rockfest so looking forward to that next week and it's so great cause it will be Ozzy Osbourne and Halestorm and I'm very excited to be doing that with Fretboard Magazine.

One friend helping the band just linked us to a National promo company for shows and events for South Florida, yet...ahead, our goal now is the right promo/mgmt co. and opening for big things, 

shows, colleges, tours, festivals, events, etc.. 

Some originals

are online at www.bannerelk.band    

We have May-June local gigs and...

our buddies are working a Fall schedule out for events

I hear yet the dates will be posted soon so stay tuned.

So here's to you Banner Elk Nothing but luck in your music & your career. So until then I'll be seeing you so be radically righteous & I'll catch you on the flipside

DJ's Spotlight: An interview with: Falling Into Red

Hey there one & all DJ Dizzy here. I've been doing my share of interviewing bands & one of them is called Falling into Red who while on tour took the time to answer a few questions, Enjoy!

How'd you get started in music?

- Scott: I come from a very musical family. My brother Ray is also in the band.  Our father had a small recording studio, played in bands and was always making music during our childhood... there was always a jam session going on at home and as we got older, we just fell into it.  Amy has always loved music and has such a great musical ear. She also is great with words and is the driving lyrical force of the band. 

Who are you're biggest influences or inspirations?

wow there are so many. We’d have to say as far as bands: Alter Bridge, Starset, Breaking Benjamin, ADTR, I Prevail... so many other great bands out there too. In addition to being in a band, we are big fans as well.  Scott loves and has also written music for film and video games, so there is a cinematic influence also. 

How would you say music has impacted your life?

Great question, but hard to answer. I mentioned how much music was part of us growing up... it was always there and just part of us from the start.  I don’t know any different.  I can’t imagine not having music as a means of expression or outlet.  Music is what keeps us going.

What advice would you offer aspiring performers?

While it's a little cliché, I'd have to say don't give up on your vision or artistry.  As soon as you start creating something only because you think you should (as opposed to because your heart tells you to), your art will suffer... and it's actually pretty obvious.  Be true to yourself.  Also, take time to learn the business of music.  You are very much on your own these days and while it is art, you have to approach it like a business to be monetarily successful. 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

Yes!  We are always creating.  We have a new EP we hope to release this summer sometime.  And there will be some shows to support it :)

So with that I say best of luck to you guys in your music & I wish you nothing but the best. Until then that's going to do it for me so be radically righteous & I'll Catch you on the flipside!