HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN MUSIC?
- I started dj'ing at the age of 12. Spinning at block partys and
sweet 16's all over Brooklyn Queens...The rock n roll samples on
hip-hop albums and my fathers musical taste struck my curiousity about
rock n roll. At around 15 I started teaching myself guitar and the
rest is history. I was given amazing oppurtunities by two of my now
best friends and mentors JOHNNY PODELL and KENNY LAGUNA. I was taught
everything about touring, playing, and managing by holding every job
imaginable for these people. I was not only playing shows but learning
every facet of the business from making coffee, driving buses, tour
managing, studio sessions, booking international tours, merchandise
and sales... to playing opening slots for them and there artists for
huge crowds at major venues.
HOW DID YOUR BAND FORM AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL VISION?
- Well ive been in many bands. My last band THE RESISTANTS was formed
as a musical co-op where I used many different musicians for different
projects. I had members of JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS and NEW YORK
DOLLS mixed in with high school and college friends. I even had JOAN
and her manager KENNY LAGUNA produce a couple of tracks and take us on
the road with them. The new band LUFTHANSA HEIST is more of a
three-piece, psychedelic garage band with occasional background
vocalists. Its also a group of friends that are all interested in the
creative process. My musical vision is to earn a living playing music,
travel, and delivering the pure spirit of my influences to fans. I
love the writing, recording, and playing process and I just hope to
stay in it forever. Its peaceful and spiritual and fits best with my
personality and lifestyle.
WHAT OR WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
- Well when I started as a dj I was listening to artists like ERIC B
AND RAKIM, EPMD, and BDP. On the rock n roll end I was influenced by
so many....THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, THE BEATLES, THE ANIMALS, THE
KINKS, THE PIXIES, THE BEACH BOYS, DION AND THE BELMONTS, FRANKI
VALLI, BOB DYLAN, THE CLASH, etc....I can go on for days on the Rock n
Roll. I have also been very influenced by the politically driven
musicians such as MINOR THREAT, FUGAZI and SEX PISTOLS. As well as the love,
politics, and protests of the sixtys and seventies. I was also
influenced by the fifties doo-wop I was exposed to while working at my
grandfathers butcher shop as a child.
WHERE CAN WE SEE YOU PERFORM OR HEAR YOUR MUSIC?
- I am currently writing an album for LUFTHANSA HEIST so im not
playing so frequently. I recently played the first in a series of
concerts at the new JOHN VARVATOS store in the old CBGB space and also
a sold out show at THE KNITTING FACTORY NYC. KEITH RICHARDS was in
attendance so that was super cool! A very significant moment in my
career. You can find tour dates and some raw tracks at
www.myspace.com/LUFTHANSAHEISTNYC. You can also find some stuff on
youtube if you just search the bands name.
ANY FUTURE PROJECTS OR TOURS COMING UP?
- I recently shot a music video for my song "A TRAIN". We will be
screening it at our next gig or party so you can check the myspace for
those details. After this next album I will be submitting as an opener
for some larger acts and hopefully by winter we will be on the road
seeing the world.
