My new good buddy, Joey Vera, (as I will claim from now on, at least...haha!) noticed my line in the last interview about a possible "part 2" and agreed to answer a few more questions. While I tried to get into the individual bands a little more this time and get some good scoop for you guys, I also couldn't help throwing in a couple of bullshit questions to keep things light. As expected, Joey was cool with it and played along nicely.
So in the true Holiday Spirit, I offer up a second dose of one of the most hardworking musicians in the biz. Merry Christmas.
D-Day
D-Day: So how did the gig with Anthrax come about? Did the Anthrax guys maybe see you in concert or check out an album? Possibly a "Bass Player For Hire" magazine?
Joey: I've been friends with them for many years. But I had a closer relation once John Bush joined them 1992 (John was my singer in Armored Saint). Once Frankie decided to leave the band, I think I was one of the first people they called. Of course I said "hell yeah!"
D-Day: Are you considered a "touring member" of Anthrax or will you also be sitting in on meetings about future projects and stuff?
Joey: I'm pretty much the touring guy. They don't need me for "meetings".
D-Day: Is there a future for you and Seven Witches? Fill us in….
Joey: At this point I'm pretty much only going to be involved as an outside guy, whether it be engineer, producer, songwriter. I can't give the commitment they need for anything else. It's something Jack Frost and I will talk about when the time comes. We're still good freinds though.
D-Day: Our regular readers know that I’m a HUGE mark for the earlier Seven Witches, especially "Second War In Heaven". While I really love the other discs and recommend them to anyone and everyone constantly, I’m just a big fan of the earlier style in general. While I know that you weren’t involved in all of them, do you have any preferences to the types of styles when you play them live?
Joey: I sort of see the last few records being a little more modern which is what I prefer. There's a few tunes I like from the earlier records though.
D-Day: Let’s try a hypothetical question. The Wacken Open Air Festival calls the management for Anthrax, Seven Witches, Fates Warning, Engine, Tribe After Tribe and Armored Saint and says they want them all to perform next year.
What the Hell do you do?
A) Gather the bands together and yell, "Show me the money!!"
B) Gulp down some coffee and Red Bull and play with every band.
C) Draw straws and hope you made the right choice.
D) Say, "Sorry guys, I’ll be touring with Twisted Sister this year."
Joey: D) Definatley Twisted Sister. I've always had a secret desire to wear fringes and make up onstage. C'mon, for just one night!
D-Day: Fates Warning and Armored Saint would be considered "legendary" bands to true metal-heads around the globe yet aren’t always mentioned with bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica or even Dio when the general public makes their lists. (or at least in the States) They’re both obviously GREAT bands with great histories. What are your general thoughts on this? Could you give us a good rant on the matter?
Joey: There's no need for a rant. The fact is that Saint never reached a level of success that these other bands you mentioned have. Many people feel like maybe we should have but the truth is, we never got there. Which is why you won't see us on a general poll.
D-Day: Does Anthrax ever call the members of Public Enemy to join them on stage during the rap songs?
Joey: We just did a tour with Dio in the States last September/October and when we played in NYC, Chuck D (Public Enemy) came out onstage for Bring the Noise. It was fuckin incredible! It's not something that happens every day. In fact I think it had been 10 years or something since it last happened.
D-Day: When can we next expect to see you on the road?
Joey: I have no plans for the States. I'll be going to Europe with Fates Warning in Feb, then with Anthrax out in South America Feb - March.
D-Day: Are there some future album projects that we can look forward to as well?
Joey: I'll be mixing a recording session for a French band called Maladaptive in a few weeks. I think they are changing record labels right now.
D-Day: Any news on the producer side of things?
Joey: That's about it for now. I mean, I recently
engineered the vocal tracks for the new Anthrax
record The Greater of Two Evils which is out
now. But I only engineered the tracks, I was
not working as producer.
D-Day: Being with all of those bands, you must
have some dealings with the politics of the label
business. What advice can you give to the
struggling musicians out there?
Joey: Maintain a sense of humor.
D-Day: I seem to remember reading something about you working with Lizzy Borden in the past. What was that involving?
Joey: I've played bass on selected tracks on about 4 of their records. I've been freinds with those guys since the early days. We've both been slugging it out here in LA since 1981.
D-Day: Would you contribute your Mohawk to a love of the Punk lifestyle and/or music? Or maybe an Apache heritage?
Joey: Although those reasons sound so romantic, I really only contribute it to the fact that I'm losing my hair, so this is my last attemp at a hair style!
D-Day: Have you ever been approached about writing a book or to contribute to a magazine about your experiences on the road with so many great bands?
Joey: Not neccessarily with regard to that specifically but about an Armored Saint history. I might be contributing to a few books being written about the metal scene in LA from the early days with or without regard to Saint. I actually really like writing. I once wrote a Bass Players colum for Circus Magazine from 1985-1988. It was really cool.
D-Day: How do you feel about free contributions, like perhaps a "tour diary" for some cool site like D-Day’s Revenge?
Joey: I'd consider it depending on how busy I was at the time.
D-Day: There’s been plenty of press about how the 80’s glam bands would scope out hot chicks in the crowd and have special signals to give the roadies on which ones to send back stage. Do you guys do that too?
Joey: No special signals. It was more like. "Hey, did 'ya see that hot chick over by my side?" Then the roadie goes and gets her for himself.
D-Day: And finally…. You had a great quote to end the first segment of the interview that stated your goal is to "Have a good time, all of the time". How long do you see yourself being in the touring business? I know you have a great resume for producing, but what about on the road?
Joey: Well as long as I am enjoying what I'm doing, I could tour forever. I could see myself getting more selective as I get older. Maybe even try some different things. But I do like performing.
D-Day: Thanks again, Joey!
Joey: Thank you and thanks to all who have given me support. Hope to see you on the road!
12/24/04
