D-Day: Thank you for speaking with D-Day's Revenge! How long has The VM Underground been on the air?
VM: Much thanks for the opportunity! VMU started as a online e-zine like yourself for like the first year I believe 2004. We had some set backs keeping everything going so we stopped for awhile. Then the Myspace craze was around and set up there for awhile till I found a new webmaster. Then I saw a bulletin for a online station www.krushradio.com I didn’t want to be a DJ just wanted to promote bands. The owner Doc Nasty said give it a shot talk to the other Dj’s so I did everyone was so cool. Then I thought to myself damn this is live broadcasting how in the hell do they do this? I gave it a shot and it snow balled from there 4 years the VMU has been around and 3 years on internet broadcasting and sydicated.
D-Day: Did you start out doing interviews for a webzine before movie to internet radio? If so, tell us about that.
VM: I used to do film reviews many years back for an old online zine which never launched off then never thought of writing for anyone after that I really sucked at it The VMU webzine was a project and a hobby didn’t think so many bands were interested in interviews. They flock like sheep! During the film review days I was playing in bands and going to film class in San Bernardino Ca studying screenwriting and directing. I wanted to do movies but didn’t pan out. I left college and the band scene and started going solo and did the entertainment thing as a hobby. And again the DJ thing just happened I had no radio experience just was fun at the time.
D-Day: Who has been some of your more exciting interview guests? Why?
VM: The best was the guys from Black Label Society and Hi Deserts based Waiting for Decay. WFD came by to do a acoustic set here in my home studio and on the phone I had Craig and JD of BLS was such a blast you have to hear the podcast @ http://www.vmunderground2.podomatic.com/
The Waiting for Decay one is on another pod page. Don’t ask me why!
a lot of scrolling!
D-Day: You don't have to name names.... but have you ever started an interview and then thought to yourself... "What the fuck did I get myself into by interviewing this moron?"
VM: Man there has been a few. There was this one guy that got mad called “$#%$%” He hung up on me after the interview because he thought I was unprofessional when I asked him if his girlfriend supported him in his music career. Then I asked if you going to get married? I ask those questions because as every musician knows about the relationship issues in music when you don’t have the person supporting your dream. We’ll he took it personal and another time this big artists called and they think I am some journalists that I was supposed to ask the special in depth questions. Man no one pays me for this I’m doing the artists a favor in promoting them. I get hundreds of bands knocking on my door dying to get on the show those are the ones I want to talk to they are the supportive people who care. Dude in all some of the people I talk to big or small loosen up and have fun its not a crime to laugh.
D-Day: You've also been in some bands as well. Do you still record music also?
VM: Yes I left the band scene in 99 been in and out of project for many years. Music is a hobby now. I just finished my 2nd solo album called “Willow Street CD 1” all the info and projects are @ www.myspace.com/vm
D-Day: Are there any bands that you've played in that you really wish was still active due to the potential for discovery?
VM: LOL no! I did love working with a lot of musicians through the years and loved the bands I were in going solo was the best thing for me. But there was a band early 90’s here in So Cal called “Ritual” I was in we still keep in contact with a lot of the players. Yes I know there is a lot of Ritual’s back then but believe it or not we were a Christian Death Metal band at that time. I got some heat from peeps about the Death Metal thing but hey guys grow up it’s just a style of music. We had a great sound and good exposure for the time and the 2 demos we recorded were produced by Roger Martinez of Vengeance Rising and Jim Barnes for the 2nd out here in California. More info at this link
D-Day: What advice would you give anyone wanting to start a radio program such as yours?
VM: Dude tough question seriously! I just went out and did it and it snow balled. Everyone is different some people can go on the thousands of sites out on the net and DJ! Mothers, Wives, Actors, Grandmothers, Models, Authors, Glass Blowers and ect ect are having their own shows. Most do it for fun some are serious. If you have personality keep pressing on and work it. As for me I just keep doing it make time for it just like a band or a writer you have to stay dedicated. I work with a great team and interview many talents from film, models, musicians, writers, artists, authors and producers the list goes on. All it took was a willing person with a speaker phone and a mic and just go for it. But I did learn not to sit on 1 station because of promotional reasons I chose to syndicate because more ears the better. My podcast downloads over exceed the live broadcast because of the time issue we are late night for some. Like I said no one pays me to sit on 1 station with 20 listeners I’m my own boss. I entertain my fans and they enjoy and download if they miss a interview. The key thing is have something entertaining and not a boring show where a DJ sits for 20 mins being a human jukebox ques up a list then goes have dinner or a smoke leaving their comp then comes back says a few words then back to format. Hey don’t get me wrong I seen some pretty good #’s with them doing that! My show isn’t for everyone there’s a lot of talk and interviews and it’s not easy. I have a small following but that’s who I entertain they love it.
D-Day: Thank you again for speaking with us. Any final words?
VM: Much thanks to you press on and work your ass off! And another note ever thought of having a radio streamed off your site (cough hint hint) rock on on!
Vic Mendoza
The VM Underground Show
Be sure to check all the links above and find out more about Vic and his projects!
